Editorial Reviews

Eerie, poetic, and mysterious, The Flowers of Hiraeth House by Angelica Krystel is an enthralling work of visionary fiction that is as beautifully written as it is enigmatic. Rose, or so she likes to call herself, is traveling on a train with no place to go, and no destination in mind, when she accepts a stranger’s offer to move into his place in Devon, where she is led to confront the darkest elements of herself, as the house acts as a kind of guide through her memory. Exploring topics such as love, grief, trauma, and the freedom to be oneself, […]

A charming and heartfelt novel set in a not-too-distant future, in which the sea has dried out, and rain is only a memory, Memoirs of Forgotten Yesterday by Aaron Grahame is a thoughtful work of literary fiction. Harry moves into a retirement home now that his health is deteriorating; confused by Alzheimer’s Disease, he lives at once in the present and in the past, with the boundary between memories and reality slowly breaking in his mind – a very real symptom, but one here that unfolds with Grahame’s lyrical prose. In the wrong hands, the story could seem to use […]

A collection of short stories inhabiting a universe full of mystery and wonder, The Unnatural Order of Things by Rick M. Clausen displays the author’s masterful command of the written word. In a series of surreal tales, we find thugs trapped in a desert loop, metaphysical visions of god-like horses, and the experiences of immortal cowboys, with each story being both eloquent and unpredictable. The stories possess a vital balance between fantasy and realism, so the narrative never becomes too absurdist to be believable, with Clausen mixing together straightforward prose with lyricism, authentic emotion with irony, for an innovative work […]

An unexpected homecoming means facing painful shadows of the past for Gwen Murphy in Paradise Reborn by Nick Bileci, the second piece of his Paradise Collection series. Gwen relentlessly digs into a sinister new threat afflicting the town, while seeking closure and vengeance for the sins she has yet to forgive. This intense narrative does not shy away from taboo and traumatic subjects, offering a dark and unforgettable look into complex realms of pain, poverty, abuse, addiction, and obsession, as well as the incredible lengths people go for redemption. The unusual dialogue formatting can be disruptive to the reading experience, […]

A candid and unfiltered collection of poetry about the crowded and complex life of a writer, mother, wife, explorer, and keen observer of life, Thief: Poetry and Prose demonstrates Bianca Bowers’ piercing poetic insight. Drawing inspiration from all corners of her life and beyond – ghostwriting insecurities, Billie Eilish, the moons of Jupiter, ancient cities – the poet’s curation paints a dynamic portrait that is both personal and universal. The free-verse style allows for fluid and full-scale descriptions, as well as creative enjambment for greater impact. A more traditional font for poem titles would help the overall tone, as […]

The third installment in Maggie Havoc’s Ancients series, Divinely Gifted carries on this ambitious theological epic with a deeper, more melancholic focus than previous installments, showing how actions can have dramatic consequences. In this third book, we find Ellie, Ruby, and Kaley still reeling from the events of Divinely Trained, with Ellie determined to carry on her mission to protect Heaven, and Ruby immediately thrown down a labyrinthine and dangerous path. More contemplative and personal than earlier volumes, Divinely Gifted expands this spiritual epic into a more character-driven work without losing the dramatic world-building and action-oriented storytelling, which define […]

A gripping tale of romance, betrayal, and forgiveness, Captured Angel by Cynthia L. Clark is a brutally honest peek into the crucible of commitment, and the undeniable power of true love. After suffering a tragic rejection in Clark’s previous novel, Dirt Road Main Street, Holly Harris rebounds into a sure-thing engagement with a man who adores her, but she can’t deny the significance of her ex-lover’s unexpected return and the fear that she is making the biggest mistake of her life. Navigating the pressures of family, friends, society, and her own pragmatic mind, this well-drawn protagonist’s conflict is painfully […]

A raw and fearless story of overcoming grief, loss, and betrayal, Canvas of Healing (Journeys of the Heart Book 1) by Suzette Welling is an empowering novel celebrating the power of second chances. After finding that her marriage had been collapsing long before her unfaithful husband died, Megan Hart returns to a place of cherished memories to overcome the shock and pain. There she must battle with new feelings of desire, balanced with the regret she cannot deny for the life she once led. Weaving evocative flashbacks into Megan’s journey of self-acceptance and personal revelation, Welling unveils a carefully crafted […]