Editorial Reviews

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 […]

A combination of expositional narration, poetry, and photography told in episodic form, all detailing the life of a Black woman in America, Jigsaw Puzzle in a Vortex: A Collection of Memoirs by Aurora M. Lewis is an extraordinary and original take on the memoir genre. Growing up in southern California in the 50s and 60s, Lewis tells an unsparing story of racism and abuse, but also of beauty, defiance, and a very touching family life. A feast for the senses, both aesthetically and emotionally, this beautifully composed book is an exceptional mixed-media literary work for its honesty and its artistry.[…]

A reflective and raw peek into the tattered mind of a desperate academic, The Melancholy Strumpet Master by Zeb Beck is a heartfelt and carefully crafted novel about finding purpose where you never expected. Working his way through brothels, street corners, and shady upstairs rooms across Tijuana, Gilmore Crowell is trying to find his master’s thesis, but ends up discovering an enlightened new direction for his investigative passions. Addressing a broad array of themes, from research integrity, white privilege, and sexual identity to drug use, economic prejudice, and the importance of linguistic flexibility, this is an enthralling roller coaster of […]