Editorial Reviews

A charming tale about patience, self-control, and motherly love, Birthday? Birthday!! Birthday!!! Impatient Patience’s Special Day by Michael A. Brown is a relatable and delightful new read for children. Brought to life with exceptional illustrations by Lovyaa Garg, this story is packed with subtle lessons, particularly about the importance of family, slowing down to appreciate the world, and how love can thrive over long distances. Some of the prose could be improved, including unnatural word order and awkward meter in certain sections; adding an extra preposition or conjunction could help some lines flow more smoothly within the sing-song rhythm. However, […]

A string of grisly killings disrupts the quiet life of a small town in Once Upon a Murderous Delusion by A.G. Russo, a probing look into the murky depths of mental health, trauma, and the unexpected origins of evil. Capturing the shock and sinister suspicion that can arise in a terrifying moment of crisis, the rich cast of investigators, nurses, patients, and suspects make this novel hard to put down, and even harder to unravel the gruesome mystery. Boasting visceral language that occasionally turns the stomach, and a suspenseful style of patient storytelling, this macabre slice of pulp fiction delivers […]

Delving into the delicate nuances of language, connection, belonging, and loss, My English Teacher and I by Mikhael Aroni is a passionate exploration of love and the complicated layers of power that inevitably exist within every person. Boasting vivid, three-dimensional characters from across the world – expats, teachers, travelers, and students – this novel offers a vulnerable peek inside the transient and challenging world of living somewhere you can’t quite call home. The cover doesn’t quite reflect the care and artistry inside, but the prose makes up for this, as the rich language of this novel is effortless, erudite, and […]

A haunting Gothic drama triggering humanity’s deepest and oldest fears, Behind the Veil by E.J. Dawson is a powerful reflection on mortality and the lengths some will go to find closure or their own separate peace. A suspenseful but patient ride from start to finish, Dawson has created an empathic and endlessly engaging protagonist in Letitia – tortured, but hardened and indomitable. The mystery of the kidnapped children unfurls in fits and starts, at its own pace, but the plot is well supported by a poignantly penned cast of characters that readers can envision and invest in. Emulating a 1920s […]

Specialized financial education for a new generation of creative investors, How to Make Money in Stocks by Fred A. Green is a cutting-edge guide based on real-world experience. From the most basic rules of stock market maneuvering to calculated tactics for advanced investors, this book has something for any level of interest. Green writes with an engaging and conversational tone, as he almost wills his audience to take his advice, but the supporting knowledge should be taken very seriously. There are some sales-y aspects throughout the writing, and some cliche verbiage that makes the book seem less credible, but Green’s […]

A compassionate companion read for those struggling through the pain and trauma of divorce, Divorce Bucket List by Jennifer Harris is a brutally honest and vulnerable memoir – as well as an invaluable guide. Walking readers through some of the most common crises of separation and divorce – self-doubt, fear, anger, desperation, and mental overload – the book offers commiseration and confession, not a lecture. While many other instructional books on overcoming trauma are dry or formulaic, Harris’ voice is funny, self-aware, original, and transparent; no emotion is left unexplored, nor are personal failings. Despite the casual tone, the editing […]

Focused on the mind-body connection and how self-love and general life improvements can help with healthy living, Summerlin Conner’s Losing the Weight: Loving Yourself, Living Your Best Life, and Losing the Darn Weight is a funny, relatable guide to working off the pounds. Conner offers advice on breaking out of the diet/binge cycle, the importance of meditation, and the value of discarding a dieting mindset with a balance of good humor and seriousness about the task at hand. While the manual can sometimes seem repetitive, Conner’s practical recommendations about plant-based recipes are an essential resource for readers.

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Unlikely heroes rise to counter the encroaching tide of a world shattered by idolatry, greed, fear, and blight in As Vaan Made Us by Jonathan Sobe. This uncertain, dystopian future is richly detailed – a carnival-mirror reflection of today’s petty squabbles and increasingly inevitable collapse. Thick with themes of salvation, redemption, and liberation, the book offers sharp social critiques and an undeniably dark escape into a borderless, barely recognizable world. Though some light proofreading would clear up a few sloppy errors, the prose buzzes with confidence and prophecy, supporting a spiraling narrative that is both suspenseful and addictive.

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