Editorial Reviews

Ninth Planet by Jason Palmer is a thrilling work of dystopian sci-fi short stories showing how a dystopic future is led much more by people’s darker instincts than it is by future tech. From aggressive marketing practices that have turned people into atomized and lonely individuals, to wars on worlds in which magic and weapons intertwine, this book gets the adrenaline running, while also offering profound reflections on the present-day world. Propelled forward by action, but also posing difficult questions about the future, Ninth Planet is the rare short story collection that is also a page-turner. Standing out from other […]

One young man must defy the oppressive distinctions of a futuristic society in Nations of Niche, a frightening parable of the future by Micah Ingram. In this uniquely imagined dystopia, one’s class has been replaced by one’s “niche,” resulting in a chilling allegory of a restructured world, wherein humanity has reinvented ideas of purpose, labor, productivity, and the meaning of life itself. At times, the book reads more like a fable than a novel, without much emotional development of the characters, but still with a clear focus on the thematic message. The premise is strong, but the book is […]

A dystopian vision of a divided America comes pouring from the pages of The Greater Good by Seth Daniel Parker, a relentless prophecy of a novel that will make you shudder with recognition. A Job-like protagonist escapes the matrix of a mind-shattered nation to become a firebrand for the next revolution. With ominous and poignant undertones of Kafka, Orwell, Heller, John Kennedy O’Toole, and even Hunter S. Thompson, the author pulls back the curtain on a sick society, while poking fun at our unspoken and collective terrors with wit, shock, and raw storytelling power. Laced with timely social critique and […]

An engrossing remastered fairy tale from the delicate pen of author Jenny Knipfer, The Regal Pink is a well-crafted first installment of the Retold Fairy Tales series, which reimagines classic storylines. Flipping genre tropes of the damsel in distress, Diana is a rebellious and curious flower-fairy determined to free the wish-granting Daniel from the cruel clutches of his uncle. As these young protagonists chase down their own destinies, defying expectations and supporting each other’s journeys, the slippery slopes of love are seemingly impossible to avoid. With straightforward prose and a stripped-down storytelling style that moves at a fast pace, this […]

A Distant Light by D.A. Callahan is an original and compelling novel about the deep and troubled bond between two sisters. A terrible accident leaves ten-year-old Reagan an orphan and her legal guardian turns out to be her cold and bitter half-sister Payton. Not wanting anything to do with her, she sends Reagan to a faraway and – as it turns out – dangerous private school. After everything that has transpired between them, can Payton find it within herself to help her sister? A profound and heart-twisting exploration of sibling dynamics, A Distant Light is a multifaceted story that delves […]

A lone wolf warrior and living legend with a rifle comes face to face with his unburied past in I See You by Benjamin J. Burton, a short but tense psychological thriller. Assigned to eliminate a deadly terrorist, a black ops American sniper discovers that the ghosts of his previous victims seem intent on ruining the covert op. With detailed military action, troubled heroes, and surprising supernatural twists, this fast-paced story is recommended for its unique mixture of paranormal horror and military thriller. A thorough edit would clear up the occasional grammatical errors and overdramatic formatting, but overall, this is […]

Close Yet Far by Sierra Treewater and Roberta R. Carr is an emotionally charged novel about Coral and Shay, two bright and ambitious teenagers who lead very different lives. Coral’s perfect family lives in a beautiful house, while Shay and her mother have been homeless since the premature loss of Shay’s father. Thanks to a school speech competition, Shay has a chance to showcase her talent, leading to Coral becoming aware of her privilege. With intimate prose supporting two sensitively drawn protagonists, Close Yet Far is a story about social justice and friendship that will make readers laugh, cry, and […]

An alluring academic with a magical secret, and a bloodthirsty detective with centuries of life experience, collide in Witches at the Gate, a riveting mystical mystery by M Greenhill. After a coven of witches is slaughtered in modern-day Salem, a professor of the occult joins the hunt for a sinister killer, but uncovers a much larger and darker plot – one that will resurrect an ancient evil and open the gateway to Hell. Though the premise has notes of other sagas, the engaging overlap of folklore, Gothic gore, and supernatural romance makes this addictive novel an exceptional intro to […]