Editorial Reviews

Set in a fantastic version of the 19th century, an unlikely group of young Celtic heroes faces down an impossible challenge in Saving the Dragons by Catriona MacRury. Showing off remarkable world-building skills and a deep well of creativity, MacRury delivers an immersive and engrossing read. While  the plot development is at times overly convenient, the story moves at a satisfying pace, replete with action and adventure throughout this entertaining fantasy.

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A young mushroom heroine is the protagonist of Lamellia: The Wizard in the Forest, a whimsical and meaningful children’s book by Gloria D. Gonsalves. Written in simple language, but heavily laden with symbolism relating to acceptance, race, cultural differences and oppression, this story is surprisingly dense for a children’s book, but the underlying message is continually compelling. Gonsalves has created a unique new world and boldly filled it with timely and relevant wisdom for a younger generation.

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Author Corey Wolff has delivered a powerful allegory about growth, change, trauma, and independence in The Journey of an Acorn. This simple children’s tale is a quick read, but its message of boldly forging your own way in the world, and helping others along the way, is timeless for readers of any age. Rich with evocative imagery, this is a charming and well-penned fable that can be read again and again.

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Penned from the whimsical perspective of a child, My Mommy Does Weird Things by Amelie Julien is a fun and heartfelt read for both children and parents. Focusing on some of the strange responsibilities of mothers, and how funny some of them must look to children, the book inspires empathy as well as laughs. The full-page illustrations are vibrant and engaging, and the translated text is well done – though “bizarre” may have been a better choice for the title. Most of all, the subject matter is universally relatable, with each page offering amusing insights about parenthood.[…]

Thomas Trimble spins a tall and entertaining tale with Mystery in the Mine, a quick and spooky read with a keen sense of history. When Michael Bishop inherits an old mine, he doesn’t expect the supernatural assistance that seems to be leading him to untold riches. Though the narrative relies a bit too much on exposition, rather than action and dialogue, this charming ghost story focuses on the value of hard work, hope, and a bit of luck to uncover your own personal riches.

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Childhood innocence and grown-up cruelty clash in Cape of Storms by author Bianca Bowers, a gripping coming-of-age tale woven through one of the darkest periods in South African history. Rosalinde is the precocious and endearing protagonist, an 8-year-old whose life is shaken and eyes are opened over the course of two shocking decades. With the South African landscape as a beautiful but sinister setting, this novel is a gripping and unforgettable account of one of humanity’s great failures, told with sensitivity and eloquence from a uniquely powerful perspective.

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No matter how far you go, you can’t run from the past, a hard truth that Stuart James discovers in Did You Hear About Stuart’s Desert Burial?: A Dark Tragicomedy and Cautionary Tale by David Bath. Getting roped into a half-baked scheme to rob a Vegas club, Stuart has no idea the chaos that Jenna and Gabe are about to bring down on his head for a payday. With whip-smart dialogue and visceral narration that would make Hunter S. Thompson proud, this is a savage and unpredictable scramble through morality, love, and deeply desperate times.

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Steeped in sinister plots, apocalyptic threats, and political subterfuge, Drowning is the riveting first book in Dean Comyn’s Something in the Water series. When a priceless new technology and its creator go missing, a new British task force snaps into action to prevent what could be a devastating catastrophe. This thriller is timely and hard-hitting, combining well-researched procedural police elements with high-stakes anti-terror action. Dripping with attitude and brimming with tension, Comyn’s debut novel sets a promising stage for the series to come.

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