Editorial Reviews

An allegorical work of fiction that feels very close to home, Zombie by Clifford Benjamin is a controversial landmine of a novel, parodying deadly political villains and many of America’s recent woes. A vile, racist, and power-hungry POTUS flexes his cruelty across his people and the world in this dystopian reimagining of societal and political collapse. While the story is gripping and graphic, some of the formatting and technical details need improvement, including inconsistent capitalizations, a multitude of misspelled words, and other grammatical issues. With so many rough edges, Benjamin’s powerful and timely commentary loses a fair degree of impact, […]

An intensely suspenseful thriller centering around the investigation of the brutal murder of two young women by a serial killer, Sons of Brutality is decidedly dark but gripping. Plumbing the seamy depths, the novel goes underground to find snuff clubs, drug-addled Satanists, occult murder, and the mob. A strong central detective is key to the genre, and Jeudy brilliantly sketches veteran detective Addison Mowbray, who believes in liquor and loyalty above all else. If you like your thrillers with a true sense of dark realism, Sons of Brutality is an expertly written and page-turning thriller that has all the makings […]

A newly forged legend and an uncertain leader work to overcome their own guilt and dark shadows in Vale of Darkness by T.C. Elofson, the second installment of the Waterbringer Series. Deepening this masterfully crafted world with even more lore and legend – and an even greater evil that threatens a nascent empire – the author defies stereotypes in the genre, blending cultural traditions from fantasy and historical realms alike. With lyrical precision in scene-building, and an ominous blanket of suspense over much of the prose, this richly imagined adventure is exhilarating, and delivered with a savvy pen.

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A thoughtful and emotional collection of short fiction, POMSILv2 by Sheldon Charles is a captivating and unpredictable group of stories. From young lovers finding connection on a dance floor to Covid-inspired casino drama, future fiction about terraforming, and hard-hitting reflections on military legacy and PTSD, Charles once again proves his versatility in subject, mood, and execution. Some of the narration suffers from telling, rather than showing, but the pace of the stories is consistent, and the characters are cleverly crafted. With an ear for authentic emotions and an eye for both contemporary and classic themes, this collection is in turns […]

Elizabeth Buchmann combines evocative photography and equally compelling poetry in her innovative and immersive collection The Meticulous Unveiling: A Visit to the Mind. In nine diverse sections that evoke both a sense of openness to the world and pensive self-reflection, Buchmann explores such concepts as freedom, love, instinct, ego, pain, natural healing, and happiness. There is sometimes an incongruity in the language between verses, giving some poems a halted feeling, but overall, this collection is impressive for its erudition and success in navigating two separate mediums; it’s somber, at times, but also playful in the placement and quality of […]

Author and illustrator Stacey Penix has crafted a spirited journey through a child’s expansive imagination in her creatively illustrated book Where Do Balloons Go When They Disappear?? This engaging children’s book follows a young boy who wonders what happens to balloons when they fly away, with readers following the balloon as it possibly travels through the galaxy, across the ocean, and more. Using well-timed rhyming and coupled with brightly colored and detailed illustrations, the book is expertly crafted, while teaching a subtle lesson about loss. Some concepts may be too sophisticated for young children, such as “atmosphere,” but this can […]

Two young boys learn about the excitement, risks, and proper usage of their new high-tech toy in Drone Adventure by Chris Mather. With the increasing popularization of drones in recent years, this is an important read for a new generation of gadget-savvy children. Despite the occasional slant rhyme and awkward syllable count in the rhythmic flow, the writing is straightforward, educational, and engaging. The quality and cleverness of the rhymes improve as the book progresses, and despite being quite short, Mather packs in plenty of understandable and critical information for young drone users. Balancing simple illustrations with an instructive two-part […]

Penned with the linguistic and lyrical mastery of a trained storyteller, Rupture State by MB Bartkowski is a dramatic piece of future fiction, replete with thrilling twists and subtle philosophical undertones. Otto, a young man ostracized from everything he knows is forced to unravel the mystery of his collapsing life as he charts an unknown course to the other side of the world. While this may seem like a vague and familiar premise, it is elevated to profound heights by the skilled voice of the author. Summoning visceral environments, capturing tension with ease, and driving the story along with powerful […]