Editorial Reviews

An exciting, heartfelt time travel novel perfect for fans of “Sense8,” Scott Swisher’s Ring Fold follows a group of young people who can surpass space through interdimensional gateways. Five children of top-secret scientific experimental subjects have inherited a natural time-traveling ability, and now a threatening government organization is trying to hunt them down. The premise may seem somewhat familiar, but Swisher mixes up scene-setting and action-based adventure exceptionally well, moving with the instant pace of a TV series. His imaginative descriptions of different historical periods transport readers with ease, and strong character development make this enjoyable sci-fi tale a standout.[…]

A charming, relatable, and colorful introduction to cybersecurity and general online safety, Oh No…Hacked Again!: A Story About Online Safety by Zinet Kemal is an important read for children in today’s gadget-filled, tech-driven world. The story of Elham, Imran, and their clever mom touches on potentially risky situations online that kids face all the time, even if they don’t realize it, and offers advice on how to stay safe and protect your privacy. Quick, simple, inclusive, and educational, this vibrantly illustrated book will leave readers with plenty to think about next time they jump online, regardless of their age. While […]

A uniquely strange novel about three people whose connection seems to span across multiple lifetimes and worlds, Ayan Pratap’s Compilers is a mysterious, slow-burn novel full of murder, sacrificial ceremonies, and meditative trances. An elderly rideshare driver down on his luck crosses paths with a witchy woman seeking her son, setting off a chaotic journey across portals to the unknown. A heady mix of visionary fiction with touches of fantasy and character-driven drama, Compilers will appeal to readers who like their horror to lean heavily on occult and esoteric themes. The novel may at times be too obvious in its […]

Saved by a mysterious woman one day and bought by her the next, Johnny finds himself tangled up and fumbling through the enigmatic worlds of art and event planning in Miss. A and Johnny’s European Escapade LONDON by Silver Vixen. However, books aren’t the only thing bound in leather in this exotic, newly-revealed realm of decadence and desire. Boasting prose that blushes, titillates, and teases, this pulse-pounding novella from the Femme Fatale Rescue Diaries is smart, steamy, and charming – the kind of high-end romance that will leave readers satisfied in all the best ways.

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A raw and savagely contemporary novella, Post-Bliss by Jay Honeycomb taps into the fears and existential angst of today through tangential, subtle, and compelling storytelling. An actor with nothing to lose slips into the confounding worlds of alternative medicine – new-age, natural, psychological, and artificial – while another plotline leaps around Australia on an abstract, reality-adjacent adventure. Mingling storytelling forms, playing with time, exploring dreams, and injecting the prose with powerful personal philosophy, this visionary read is dense with intention, allegory, and thoughtful commentary on the increasingly strange times of the present day.

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A historical novel about four diverse women struggling to survive on the cusp of the 20th century, Carrie Hannah’s Epicenter is a deftly crafted, character-driven epic about fighting against sexism and never giving up. Caitlyn, Liah, Marianna, and One Feather’s stories are each uniquely compelling and all eventually converge in San Francisco, where the 1906 earthquake wreaks havoc in the background, for an intense and dramatic setting. While it’s sometimes painful to see these women treated so brutally, the characters’ perseverance and persistence are inspirational, and the author’s skill with characterization makes this a highly rewarding read.

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A book that simultaneously highlights what makes people unique and what unites us, I Celebrate My Skin by Nonku Kunene Adumetey, with illustrations by Mary K. Biswas, is an inspiring and easy-to-read children’s book focused on identity development. Brightly colored illustrations accompany the bursts of positive prose and inclusive language, making this a vibrant and meaningful addition to any child’s bookshelf. More text would be welcome in the middle section of the book, but the activities at the end of the book are engaging and thought-provoking. Boasting modern illustrations and timely themes of acceptance and cross-cultural sensitivity, Adumetey has crafted […]

A timely screenplay about environmental destruction, Russ Brandon’s Holy Smoke: Trapped by Hellfire is a fictionalized story about real fires that struck Yellowstone in 1988. A group of skilled rangers and firefighters battle the blaze while trying to save park visitors from the rapidly spreading inferno, for a story that is at once character-driven and action-packed. Scene descriptions are a bit wordy for a screenplay, and some characters come off more like caricatures than real people, given its historical basis, but Holy Smoke is an affecting tale about both the power of nature and human perseverance, which is relevant now […]