SPR’s book reviews of new self-published books
Jaway, Pama, Serra, Krizzles, and a myriad cast of other future soldiers lie at the heart of this story, as they try to unite The Land and avoid the insolent incursions, and explosions, of the Rebels. This classic premise of good and evil takes place in an insect-infested world that nature has begun to violently reclaim, which ends up posing more of a threat than enemy soldiers ever could. Many […]
The collection features six enchanting science fiction and fantasy tales, set everywhere from historical seventeenth-century England to the futuristic darkest reaches of space. Drake’s subjects also entertainingly run the gamut: the dead soul of a witch’s boyfriend trapped in a dreamcatcher, a surprising seance with a devilish twist written in play format, and a story about a declinatory sculptor inspired by the Biblical milieu of William Blake.[…]
The book focuses on fifteen influential women with ties to the country, such as the leading cancer researcher Mina Bissell, the prominent chess champion Dorsa Derakhshani, and the inspiring Florida legislator Anna Eskamani, alongside stunning illustrations by female Middle Eastern artists. The book also features sections and sidebars calling attention to related topics, such as the Iran-Iraq War, gender disparities in STEM fields, […]
Just as months and seasons have their own personalities, Johnson has grouped these haikus under loose themes – “January” questions independence and personal disappointment, “February” focuses on the trials and triumphs of family, “March” is a series of prayers and reflections on divinity, and so on throughout the year. Whether readers consume this […]
Navigating the assassination attempt of her dear friend Father Melvyn, Mrs. B. is back in the hunt for the would-be killer with quiet determination, wicket wit, and her feline-boosted sleuthing skills. The crime hits close to home, and brings her even closer to Detective Jake, adding strong emotional tension to an already taut narrative.
Balanced well between bursts of action, lightbulbs of discovery, intimate moments of reflection, and meticulously written dialogue, Della Notte […]
This short, easily readable book contains 35 poems, all focused on similar themes of wishing for companionship. The female-coded narrator expresses her desire for a girlfriend and imagines what they could do together: activities like going to the fair, having a picnic, making art, watching movies, baking cupcakes, stargazing, and attending Pride.
Scheck’s tight focus on simple activities – as opposed to over-the-top romantic gestures – effectively highlights the intensity of longing for basic […]
Kat Robbins may not be afraid of anything, not even a great white looking for a scuba diver dinner, but that doesn’t make her isolated life on an Arctic icebreaker any less monotonous. The bleak endless ocean means plenty of time to ruminate on the shadows of her past, until a mysterious wreck draws the crew into dark and uncertain waters. Stranded in an icy expanse and stalked by an ancient, life-sucking evil, the crew of Soviet misfits, suspicious […]
A murder inside an immersive virtual reality world called SCAPE leaves investigators terrified and mystified by the implications. Identifying a deadly flaw in an escapist platform that serves billions brings up an impossible question: what are the true boundaries of reality? If our mind believes something deeply enough, can it be manifested with deadly consequences? Bringing the story home for today’s readers, the novel questions […]