Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Transformations: Poetry and Art by G. Jordan Maclay Ph.D

Transformations Poetry and Art by Jordan Maclay

Transformations: Poetry and Art is an eclectic, whimsical, and deeply personal collection from the mind of G. Jordan Maclay Ph.D. From amusing vignettes about pets to cosmos-sized musings about existence and the foundation of the universe, this combination of poetry, prose, and art is like few other books on the shelf, especially from a Ph.D whose other published work is a dense text on quantum mechanics.

Turning the mind of a theoretical physicist towards the realm of poetry is inherently original, but Maclay is far more than a scientist with a flair for art. When appropriate, he effortlessly lays a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-07-13T01:24:31+02:00May 30th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Art Book Reviews, Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: Strung by Roske

Strung by Roske

The mysteriously-named Roske has summoned a magical land with their gifted pen in Strung, an ambitious and masterfully crafted story of forbidden love and the shattering of traditions.

According to Lysbeth Haywood’s ancestor, Alder, the magical and elusive Faye simply wish to be left alone, but the curiosity of humans is persistent and voracious, as is Lysbeth’s fascination with these supposedly mythical creatures. When an unwanted potential suitor, the Earl of Dorsit, brings an impossible treasure to her doorstep as an engagement gift, her heart is torn between curiosity and the fear of becoming another man’s wife.

The gift […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-07-11T03:47:31+02:00May 26th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Zodiac Revisited, Volume 1 by Michael F. Cole

The Zodiac Revisited, Volume 1 by Michael Cole

Shining an updated light on one of the darkest cases in American history, The Zodiac Revisited, Volume 1: The Facts of the Case by Michael F. Cole is an exhaustive exploration of this infamous mystery.

After more than 5 decades, the identity of the Zodiac killer remains unknown, as does the true tally of his unfortunate victims. What sets this case apart, as Cole explains, is the brazen confidence of the killer in his communications with the press, his ability to remain uncaught for all these years, and the unique nature of his criminal profile. What sets this book apart […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-06-17T09:01:47+02:00May 25th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: History Book Reviews|

Review: What Happens on Outlook by D.F. Nightshade

What Happens on Outlook by D.F. Nightshade

Examining human nature under a thrilling magnifying glass, D.F. Nightshade has constructed an incisive and powerful read in What Happens on Outlook. Peering into the lives of seven eccentric characters living on Outlook Street, each with a potential bullseye on their back, this slow-burning thriller is both entertaining and far outside the box.

Birdy is a new-age guru with an inexplicably smelly apartment and a lifestyle deemed too “rainbow” by the uptight members of the Committee. Sakamoto is an honest shopkeeper on Outlook Street with a remarkably even temper, despite being forced out of his space by ugly, unfair, and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-06-17T09:00:49+02:00May 25th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: There’s No Basketball on Mars by Craig Leener

There's No Basketball on Mars by Craig Leener

Author Craig Leener delivers an inspiring story of reaching impossible dreams, despite impossible odds, in his new YA novel There’s No Basketball on Mars, a stirring dream-fueled adventure.

Depicting a character on the autistic spectrum without falling into tropes or unfair stereotypes is challenging for some authors, but Leener approaches this protagonist with compassion, patience, grace, and humor. Lawrence Tuckerman is the sympathetic beating heart of this brilliantly told tale. Although his particular condition makes it more challenging for him to navigate a busy world of noise and people, it has made him a mathematical prodigy, a fact that […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-06-15T07:04:17+02:00May 23rd, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Dead Beckoning by Mike Cobb

Dead Beckoning by Mike Cobb

Steeped in the charm, pace, and painful realities of a bygone era, Dead Beckoning by Mike Cobb is a stunning peek into late 19th century America, and the lives embroiled in a tragic mystery.

Baker Bass is a Georgia country boy with the heart of a gentleman, who finds himself in small-town high society thanks to the love of his life, Ella. His ambitions take their family to Atlanta, where they shift to being small fish in an ever-growing pond. Running a successful sundry shop in a Southern city is no easy feat, but when he is falsely fingered in […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-09-15T10:48:58+02:00May 16th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Pike’s Progress by John J Spearman

Pike's Progress by John J Spearman

Pike’s Progress by John J Spearman is an action-splashed and cathartic installment of his innovative sci-fi military saga.

The Alliance has retaken control of some planets from HUW, but their previous power is far from restored, and the remaining Hegemony breakaway systems are a perpetual thorn for the recovering Alliance. Sandy Pike’s reputation and recent heroics have earned him a new ship – a massive dreadnought named the Audacious – and another chance at command, working within the Omega battle group.

The Alliance’s plans for a new offensive bring old comrades together again, including Monty Swift, a captain itching for […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-07-01T04:24:58+02:00May 16th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Essence of Stone (Lifestone Trilogy Book 1) by Haley Rylander

Essence of Stone (Lifestone Trilogy Book 1) by Haley Rylander

The first title in the anticipated Lifestone Trilogy, Haley Rylander’s Essence of Stone is an intricately layered, grandly descriptive fantasy novel about an elf kingdom facing potential destruction.

Rylander’s novel tells the story of Gellion, a skilled metal worker and political figure who moved to the city of Daro following his father’s wartime death and the disgrace of his former mentor. Daro has flourished since the end of the Great War, an epic battle against an evil phoenix that caused much loss of life.

Gellion’s prosperity can be attributed to a substance called vierstone, which helps elves become accomplished […]

Michelle Hogmire2022-06-07T08:49:40+02:00May 14th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|