Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Fate of Our Union by Hildebrand Hermannson

The Fate of Our Union by Hildebrand Hermannson

The balance of harmony in the world is under threat, and a mythological age of unexpected heroes has arrived in The Fate of Our Union by Hildebrand Hermannson.

In this entrancing historical fantasy, the shadow of Rome’s boot is creeping across Europe, but the Germanic tribes and their mystical secrets have kept the invaders at bay. However, in a higher realm, gods play dice with existence, and the future of these diverse Sons of Men rests on the backs of a few unlikely companions.

Sunu the Saxon has recently proven himself and been renamed Red Stallion, Slayer of the Almighty […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-11T11:03:22+02:00October 2nd, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: MMMM: and the Music that Made Me by Heather Joy

MMMM and the Music that Made Me by Heather Joy

A no-holds-barred look at the life and mind of an unconventionally wild spirit, MMMM: and the Music that Made Me by Heather Joy is an unapologetic and lyrical memoir. Boasting thirteen M-themed chapters composed of long-form personal essays, and accompanied by essential listening material, this is a blunt and charming downpour of social observation and fearless personal reflection.

Slow-burning and clever, like a sharp standup routine stretched over a few hundred pages, these anecdotal recollections feel deeply personal and specific to the author, yet the revelations and lessons she reaches are often universally profound. There is a restless wonderment to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-25T11:58:24+02:00October 1st, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews|

Review: The Book Binder by C.A. Cordova

The Book Binder by C.A. Cordova

A captivating piece of ancient historical fiction, The Book Binder by C.A. Cordova is an unpredictable plunge into deception, decadence, and the dangerous power of knowledge.

In a world where women are forbidden from higher education or the wealth of literature, young Aria is a rebellious exception – a polyglot and a sponge for knowledge, thanks to her father, the bookbinder. When she saves the son of the pharaoh’s life with her hidden talents, she is quickly adopted into his cadre as an aegis – a highly respected mistress, as well as a secret spy. However, hunting down the heart […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-24T18:17:38+02:00September 25th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Pride and Perjury by Alice McVeigh

Pride and Perjury by Alice McVeigh

Exploring and expanding the already rich world of Jane Austen and her unforgettable cast of characters, Pride and Perjury: Twelve Short Stories inspired by Pride and Prejudice by Alice McVeigh is a freshly imagined collection of blushing stories from the lives of the Bingleys, Darcys, Bennets and more. From sisterly scheming and lovestruck lads come courting to golden-tongued gossip and eminently polite betrayals, these narrative offerings are classic examples of Regency romance.

“One Good Sonnet” is a particularly charming tale, detailing the obsessive devotion of one Paul Perkins Esq. – a suitor for Miss Jane Bennet. Brimming with sharp banter […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-24T11:37:14+02:00September 16th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Hotel Intrepid: Jack-of-all-Trades by Leo Peterson

Hotel Intrepid: Jack-of-all-Trades by Leo Peterson

A classic rebound romance with unexpected depth, The Hotel Intrepid: Jack-of-all-Trades by Leo Peterson is a contemporary mashup of cultural drama, noble deeds, and visceral desire.

Freshly liberated from a life doing what was expected, and free of her absent husband, Astrid launches herself into a fiery midlife obsession with Ty Machesney – an Italian stallion with an unbelievable backstory that ticks all her boxes. She tries to play it cool and casual, but when a charming, hotel-owning, sidearm-slinging hunk of a widower blows into her life at precisely the right time, it’s hard to refuse the hands of fate. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-09-11T17:03:36+02:00September 11th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Romance Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: My Butterflies by B. Evans

My Butterflies by B. Evans

An engrossing first novel in a new romance series, My Butterflies by B. Evans follows the slow-burn love story between Tessa and Jax, compelled like a magnet to be together, but circumstances keep them apart, while each has a past marked by grief.

Tessa has been on her university campus for a whole year already, but she has mostly kept to herself, but then she meets Jax. They have a lot in common, such as their love for rock music, but there is also something else that pushes them towards each other – an unbridled physical attraction, an unfathomable chemistry […]

Marina Dora Martino2024-10-15T10:42:31+02:00September 10th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: New Adult Book Reviews, Romance Book Reviews|

Review: Blood and Tradition by Marc Keyner

Blood and Tradition by Marc Keyner

An unlikely crew of allies must transcend all that attempts to divide them in Blood and Tradition by Marc Keyner, a thoughtful and entertaining fantasy escape into the fascinating land of Ylliora.

Desperate to give his unborn Half-Orc child a chance at survival, Mos plans to smuggle his still-pregnant partner, Ella, to a safe harbor and a new life with the help of an old seafaring friend. However, Captain Phara Everbloom has problems of her own, thanks to a power-hungry rival in town intent on squeezing her profits, sinking her reputation, and even assaulting her crew. Before Phara can sneak […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-11T08:22:56+02:00September 6th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Children of Sorrow by Marc Keyner

Children of Sorrow by Marc Keyner

An unexpected showing of family unity amidst palace intrigue and shadowy secrets, Children of Sorrow by Marc Keyner is a thrillingly dark and suspenseful continuation of the Tales of Ylliora series.

Dawson has spent a year trying to make a new life as a hauler down at the docks, scraping together coppers for honest work and keeping a watchful eye on his chosen community. However, given that his father is the Master of Spies in a city like Moncragh, Dawson can never fully escape the past, nor the wide array of deadly skills in which he was secretly schooled.

When […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-10-09T11:50:01+02:00September 6th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|