Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Venus World by Hywel Richard Pinto

The Venus World by Hywel Richard Pinto

A femme-dominated future falls into fracture and peril in The Venus World by Hywel Richard Pinto, a sprawling slice of post-apocalyptic and speculative fiction.

Men are reduced to reproductive necessities after a freak biohazard virus is unleashed on the world, wiping out males across the world in staggering numbers. With their population diminished and their power contained, it seems that the future truly is female, but not all are in agreement about the way forward.

Six queens rule over this new world, and each of their regions has its own supplies and demands, leading inevitably to conflict and decidedly bad […]

Review: Pike’s Passage by John J Spearman

Pike's Passage by John J Spearman

Taking an unexpected turn in the Sandy Pike series, Pike’s Passage by John J Spearman is a stellar second installment of his sci-fi saga. Capturing the same authenticity in terms of detail and world-building, this follow-up turns inwards to a more adventurous and character-driven drama, rather than a sprawling epic.

When Sandy Pike sees his lifelong dream of being a starship captain slipping away as the Alliance stumbles into an unthinkable cosmic defeat, he refuses to let the mistakes of other men steal his shot at happiness. The idea of entering the freight business means a smooth transition away from […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-09-16T03:50:24+02:00August 12th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Eudora Space Kid: The Great Engine Room Takeover by David Horn

Eudora Space Kid by David Horn

A precocious little rebel with her eyes on the stars makes a name for herself in dramatic fashion in The Great Engine Room Takeover by David Horn, the first book in the Eudora Space Kid series. A fun-fueled tale of a young girl chasing down her dreams at light speed, this is an accessible and entertaining start to the series.

With a gentle bipedal wolf for a mother and an octopus-headed humanoid father, Eudora Jenkins’ family is anything but normal. She also lives on Athena, the flagship of AstroFleet, and has a very hard time staying out of trouble, meaning […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-05-02T10:54:59+02:00August 10th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Middle Grade Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Pandemic by Dieter Gartelman

Pandemic: How Deadly Will It Get? by Dieter Gartelmann

A novel that strongly argues the point that reality is stranger than fiction, Pandemic by Dieter Gartelman is a fictional retelling of the pandemic still wreaking havoc around the globe, and a hypothetical fate we all may still face. Blending true history with semi-hysterical visions of the future is a storytelling gamble, but Gartelman hits the mark in this prophetic and troubling portrait of America.

Having a diverse range of protagonists provides a uniquely well-rounded perspective on the global crisis at the center of this story. Michael Thompson’s expertise in public health, his wife Dorothy’s intrepid reporting skills, John Othallo’s […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-09T02:49:26+02:00August 9th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Vice Chairman’s Doctrine by Ian Domowitz

The Vice Chairman’s Doctrine by Ian Domowitz

A denizen of both the academic and the corporate worlds, author Ian Domowitz offers a look at the inner workings of industry from the perspective of those tasked with leadership while being denied any specific guidance and any real authority in The Vice Chairman’s Doctrine: A Guide to Rocking the Top in Industry Version 4.0.

Receiving the role of “vice chairman” was Domowitz’s entry into the behind-the-scenes realm of corporate oversight. He soon noted that job descriptions for this title indicate that it “typically goes to a top executive who has been shafted.” Reorganization and other factors can result […]

SPR2021-08-25T04:09:28+02:00August 8th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Business Book Reviews, Leadership Book Reviews|

Review: Tokyo Zangyo by Michael Pronko

Tokyo Zangyo by Michael Pronko

A spectacular plunge into the dark heart pumping beneath Tokyo’s shining streets, Tokyo Zangyo by Michael Pronko is the fourth stellar installment of his Detective Hiroshi series. From the gripping opening scene that sets a deadly tone, to the breakneck investigation’s dramatic climax, this novel rarely lets up in intensity or intrigue.

Detective Hiroshi Shimizu is once again summoned to the site of a grisly mystery – a bucho businessman named Shigeru Onizuka found splattered on the pavement beneath the building where he’d done his life’s work. However, his work at Senden Infinity also included being a notorious bully and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-24T02:38:20+02:00August 5th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Detective Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: That Which Remains: Reunion by M. Tess Ossenelli

That Which Remains: Reunion by M. Tess Ossenelli

An unpredictable ride of murder, intrigue, revenge, and old loves long thought buried, That Which Remains: Reunion by M. Tess Ossenelli is a one-of-a-kind thriller for romance and action fans alike.

After his sister, Tess, disappears, Dr. Evan Kaufman’s volatile emotions explode, putting his career and future at risk. Following a loose trail of breadcrumbs that only deepen the mystery of her abduction, it becomes clear that something even more sinister than a serial killer has put his sister and best friend in danger. He hires a young private eye to help in the search, not expecting to instead find […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-03-21T05:20:05+02:00August 3rd, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Romance Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: A Mirror Above the Abyss by Oleg Lurye

A Mirror Above the Abyss by Oleg Lurye

A brilliant blend of fuzzy historical fact and conspiratorial fiction, A Mirror Above the Abyss by Oleg Lurye is a dark and thrilling dive into the shadows of the past that is nearly impossible to put down. Set in the nearly present day, under the wild rule of the Trump administration, this political, journalistic, and historical thriller doesn’t hold back in its raw intensity.

When an ambitious Washington Post journalist with a notorious nose for a story is offered the biggest scoop in a generation, it is hard for Max Malin not to start seeking a place for his Pulitzer. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-17T08:40:01+02:00August 3rd, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|