Editorial Reviews

A frightening novel about America’s potential future, The Serpent Underneath by Julie A. Fragoules is a grim prophecy of societal collapse, and a rough-cut vision of what chaos might follow. Driven by a three-dimensional cast of familiar characters – selfless social warriors, manipulative power-mongers, incompetent politicians, and bedfellows of desperation – the post-apocalyptic narrative borders on allegorical, for a powerfully written literary warning. Further strengthening the prose is Fragoules’ masterful ear for dialogue, as well as her clear fluency in social, political, ecological, and philosophical issues, both current and imminent, resulting in a prescient and engrossing work of speculative fiction.[…]

Voices in the Sanitorium by Amy Lynn Walsh is a gripping spiritual thriller exploring the psychological effect that an abandoned sanatorium, said to be haunted, has on a family who recently made the move to Pennsylvania from New York. Since the night she camped near the wrecked building, Aislyn is not her usual self – does she just miss her old life in the city, or is there something more sinister going on in their new home? Weaving together the present with the past, the supernatural with the historic, and horror scares with a well-crafted detective narrative, Walsh creates a […]

A powerfully penned portrait of the past brought to life through the eyes of a remarkable young boy, Age of Conflict: Innocence Lost by Eric Lindsey is a striking glimpse into America’s scarred history. Wrestling with his own physical and emotional demons, Garit is a life-toughened but tender protagonist with youthful desires for an exciting future, but as the book’s title implies, innocence has little chance of survival in 1860s Virginia, as the fires of war began to burn. Written with meticulously crafted prose and dialogue that reveals class, culture, and character, this first installment of Lindsey’s ambitious series is […]

A gritty and steamy post-apocalyptic novel where violence is king and trust is the rarest currency, Rise by Margot de Kerk is a hard-nosed opening to The Iron Fists series. Harley is a tough-as-nails bartender at the only hotel in a burned-out town, but when a charming and mysterious construction trader arrives, it doesn’t take long for the gossip to start flying. The chances for actual romance amidst societal collapse and a minefield of gang rivalries are far from good, but Harley is not one to back down from a challenge. Written with an intentionally rough and raw pen, where […]

Diego the Smelly Dog, written by A.G. Russo with illustrations by Alona Baulina, is the story of the unique friendship between Ava and Diego, a smelly stray dog who shows up at her house. Ava is not allowed a pet because of the expense, so she must bring him to the shelter, but will anyone pick an old dog as their companion? A heartwarming tale with a happy ending, the story is both dramatic and tender, sending an important message about caring for those who may be unwanted and neglected. Finely illustrated with pictures that tell a story even […]

A riveting YA ride, The Ties That Bind by Susan L. Markloff is the globe-spanning second chapter of her Human-Born Era series. After defeating Cregorous with an ominous prophecy and seizing her foretold destiny, Jen must now connect with the other Human-Born hybrids scattered around the globe. However, the US government is hot on her trail, the ultimate motives of the mysterious Agerians remain suspect, and Jen still hasn’t tapped into the full depths of her power. With fast-moving action scenes and a colorful array of heroic young characters on bumpy journeys of self-discovery, this is an endlessly creative and […]

A mixture of academic intrigue and romantic torment, Southern-Fried Woolf by Drēma Drudge is a clever and intelligently written work that is part essay and part fiction. While dealing with yet another scandal around her rockstar husband Michael, Briscoe also has to write her thesis on Virginia Woolf’s To The Lighthouse. Healing through her literary work, sassy band manager and country music lover Briscoe attempts to make sense of her husband’s infidelity in a way one only can through art. A celebration of how books and music can help one transcend life’s daily trials, Southern-Fried Woolf is a quick-witted […]

A gritty tale of revenge, lust, and the fight for freedom, Fate by T. Kennington and C. Roth is the enrapturing second piece of their Karma and Fate Duet. Rowan and Micah are done running after finding something worth fighting for in the sultry embrace of LA, setting the stage for a traumatic face-off with their respective demons. However, Micah knows very well how dangerous her past can be for those she loves, and as the circle of retribution closes, it’s only a matter of time before more blood is spilled. Despite some awkward dialogue and plot twists that […]