Editorial Reviews

A whimsical and wickedly fun read that leaps off the page in vivid and detailed illustrations, Badfreaky: The Meanest Witch is a wildly creative new children’s book by Konstantinos Adamopolous. Tracing the tangled tale of Meanloudmouth and Badfreaky, this book plunges young readers into a magical world of nasty witches, quirky characters, daring adventures, sinister schemes, and an upside-down town in desperate need of saving. Although some of the language feels stilted or awkward, possibly due to jumbled translation, the images are mesmerizing and this smile-inducing story is an unpredictable delight.

 […]

Displaying the flexible mind of a scholar, artist, and mystic, Duncan Van Etten has built a profoundly good first-time collection of poetry in The New Orations: Vol. 1. Moving effortlessly between poetic forms of haiku, free verse, and sonnets, and dancing between complex subjects of jealousy, hope, nature, and even the futility of art, Van Etten demonstrates a versatile style, respect for tradition, and a mastery of language. Along with the more prose-leaning pieces often resembling lyrics or spoken-word improvisation, there are poems that will pique any reader’s interest, whether you love hip-hop, Shakespeare, or Ginsberg.

 […]

David Myles Robinson raises the bar once again with the legal exploits of Pancho McMartin in Tropical Deception, the fourth installment of his series. Combining the tension of a murder mystery with the procedural drama of a legal thriller, along with a colorful cast of suspects, this novel is a quick and enticing read. Despite the occasionally flat delivery of dialogue and exposition, the story is laced with tempting red herrings, cleverly penned language, and a deftly crafted plot. For those readers seeking an immersive escape with a healthy dose of tropical swagger, Robinson makes it hard to stop […]

An ambitious and visceral work of dark fantasy, Wolf Omega by Joseph Stone is a fantasy delight for lycanthrope lovers, and anyone who enjoys a wild, generation-spanning epic. Expanding the literary lore of werewolves in new and creative directions, this 17th century adventure is a well-researched novel of self-discovery, empowerment, family, and vengeance. Dripping with rich language, the storytelling is patient, thanks to the author’s confident voice, and undulates between dramatic dialogue, intrigue, and action. Aside from the occasional clumsy or hackneyed description, this second installment of The Lykanos Chronicles is a ravenously good read.

 […]

Drawing on a broad spectrum of fields and perspectives, Predict Your Success is an intuitive and impactful guide for discovering your authentic path and remaining resilient through life’s storms. The declarative confidence of the author is encouraging, breaking the complex and daunting tasks of self-improvement and goal achievement into much more digestible steps. The author’s tone is perfectly balanced between an authority and a trusted advisor in this original and engaging personal development guide.

 […]

An homage to fatherhood, history, and America’s beloved pastime, Shadows of Swayne Field by Ronald R. Harrington is a masterful journey of memory and a nostalgic adventure into the past. Family secrets and paternal legacies give this book a looming sense of mystery, while Harrington’s patient storytelling and creativity will appeal to readers of all genres, whether they’re sports fans or not. While there are some editing errors and occasionally heavy-handed passages of exposition, the narration is charming and the characters are relatable. Ultimately, this book is a love story to baseball, a celebration of forgotten history, and a narrative […]

A bilingual adventure through memorable moments of childhood freedom, The Last Day of School? by Jordan Saez is a unique and timely children’s book that opens children to the possibilities of education and new languages. This simple read not only explores the rapid changes for children in elementary school, but also highlights the fundamental joys of education – even when we are forced to study apart. The author takes her real-life experience as a teacher and transforms it into a colorful memento of these unprecedented times, imbuing the book with both charm and a sense of authority about everything school […]

Adapting the legendary battlefield wisdom of Sun Tzu for the conflicts of the inner self, The Ordinary Leader by Geoff Lew is an original and easy-to-read guide for personal improvement. Profound mantras and insights abound, not only from Sun Tzu’s classic advice, but also from Geoff Lew’s anecdotal storytelling and depth of research. Told partly in parables, history lessons, and practical lectures on attitude and resilience, this book is both existential and academic. While the writing occasionally takes tangents, this is part of the ultimate message – “victory” can take on many forms, as can the profile of a good […]