Editorial Reviews

Uplifting, spiritually charged, and diverse, Del Mundo: A Gift of Poetry is a delicate collection from poet Jose Day. Ranging widely from social commentary and historical reflections to longing love poems and intimate portraits of everyday life, these pieces are outwardly simple, but emotionally complex and universally relatable. There is a general lack of imagery and poetic style, in lieu of narrative recollection or musing in verse form. More variety in the structure of the poems could give the collection greater range in that storytelling vein, making this intimate and revealing collection even stronger.

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Dirt Road Main Street by Cynthia L. Clark is an engaging rock ‘n’ roll dive into the world of music, memory, and the madness only love can inspire. Tano and Holly are star-crossed and time-cursed lovers, allowing this book to explore the challenges of true connection, the pain of life’s lonely roads, and the indescribable power of music. Written in simple prose, but edged with truck-stop grit, the dialogue is sharp and Southern, while the plot moves quick, unconcerned with excess descriptions or flowery language. Navigating life’s obstacles to hit the perfect chord of true love is no easy feat, […]

A 2020 collection of savagely good writers, The VD Anthology, Vol. 2 brings together more than a dozen excerpts, stories and poems from Club Verbal Discharge. From letters to Coronavirus and nostalgic greasy spoon tales in London to modern-day bigotry and the trauma of losing one’s sight, these are hard-hitting and unpredictable pieces. Laced with British vernacular and colloquial speech, this eclectic gathering is well-edited and curated, without any notable weak points, and displays a masterful use of language. These stories come across as gritty, authentic and raw, yet they are also polished and precise, evidence of the obviously talented […]

Take a thrilling dive through the darkness of Seamax prison in Croft by Jason Palmer, the climactic final installment of The Max trilogy. These pages are packed with meticulous heists, brilliant scheming, all-out brawls, and a simmering, palpable tension that makes it difficult to put this prison thriller down. Percy Croft’s methodical mind makes for riveting narration, while the juxtaposition of brutal jail yard violence with delicate planning and clever manipulation is a storytelling feat. Providing a last glimpse into this dramatic world of dirty alliances, perpetual threats to the gangland throne, and heavy questions of morality and responsibility, this […]

Brimming with imagination and magical jumbled-up creatures, Journey to Jumbalot by Ryan Wakefield details the delightful adventure of a curious cat in a strange new world. In search of his human, Alby ventures to a land that is similar to our own, but doesn’t follow the same rules of physics, evolution, or basic reality. This wildly creative children’s title is ideal for young readers who enjoy the whimsy and fantasy of children’s books, but also want to move up in their reading level. The writing is straightforward and easy to read, the vocabulary is diverse, and there is a good […]

A raw and visceral journey through the alleys and penthouses of America, Big City Secrets is a striking tale of pushing through pain to discover one’s potential. From an abusive childhood and early abandonment issues to complexes around sex, intimacy, money, and success, this book and its sympathetic protagonist shy away from nothing, turning a spotlight on human nature through the smudged and fickle lens of Los Angeles. With gritty, unpolished dialogue that seems like it’s pulled right from the street, and a matter-of-fact style of storytelling reminiscent of Bukowski or Bret Easton Ellis, this is a sleazy, but urgent […]

Three quick and creepy stories are born from the same spooky children’s toy in Dollhouse by J.C. Bratton, who artfully plays on such classic fears as vengeful toys with scores to settle, dolls who want to swap lives with their human “best friends,” and childish superstitions that suddenly become fatally real. All three stories are succinct and clearly crafted, but feel somewhat rushed, and while the writing is well-edited and clean, there aren’t enough peaks or twists in these mini-plots to build suspense. A bit more exposition, character development, and world-building would make these clever stories even stronger, but as […]

A compelling and uncompromising memoir, Strawberry Roan: Growing Up in the Shadow of Hermit’s Peak is the powerful life story of author Judy Beil Vaughan. Whether she describes pushing back against political injustice, standing up for gender equality, or simply learning and growing through an intimate link to the natural world, Vaughan has delivered an inspiring tale of independence, stubbornness, and fortitude. She isn’t afraid to shine light on her darkest days and personal struggles, imbuing this memoir with true vulnerability. The writing is authentic and immersive, so whether you love horses or the picturesque Southwest, or simply admire tales […]