Fantasy Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Children of Cain: House of Dvanaesti by David R. Bishop & J. Scott Cordero ★★★★

Gabriel Hawthorne never chose an easy life – his days investigating some of the filthiest secrets, personal and political, have marked him out. But every man has his limit, and when Gabriel stumbles onto the biggest skeleton in human history’s closet, he must find a way to survive.

Hunted by legendary beings many call “vampires” and held in prison-sanctuary by a mythical cult of information, will Gabriel wriggle out of this ancient struggle alive or be just another victim of the longest war of human history? Knowledge is power in The Children of Cain: House of Dvanaesti by David R. […]

James Grimsby2015-10-10T06:06:03+02:00October 10th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Vampires Book Reviews|

Review: The Novel Life of Coral Ambrose by Bonnie Ballou

★★★★½ Novel Life of Coral Ambrose

The Novel Life of Coral Ambrose, by Bonnie Ballou, is a fun and imaginative magical realism story that will delight book lovers.

Coral Ambrose is a personal trainer by day and a voracious reader by night. On the surface, she seems content. But a five-year gap in her memories has spurred Coral to record every aspect of her life and to save every single book she’s ever read. Her apartment is filled to the max with books and journals. During a visit to a used bookstore, the owner gives Coral a messenger bag he claims will give her […]

T B Markinson2016-03-04T04:20:33+02:00October 6th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Gift-Knight’s Quest by Dylan Madeley ★★★★★

The Gift-Knight's Quest by Dylan Madeley All is not well in Kensrik, the largest kingdom of the known world. With the passing of one royal, and then the other, fate conspires on two young people unexpectedly bound for greatness in affairs far greater than they might ever have anticipated. Chandra, born of the now-late King Jonnecht but not of his queen, inherits the throne in an unusual succession devoid of the usual sons; and Derek, a man carrying a dead birthright of nobility stricken from honorable mention in the empire, fighting his own personal battle with furtive, yet increasing doubts. These two aimless wanderers, each of […]

James Grimsby2015-10-14T06:45:18+02:00September 28th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Old Way Of Winter (The Nimedian Ways Book 1) by M.P. Goodwin

★★★★½ The Old Way Of Winter (The Nimedian Ways Book 1) by M. P. Goodwin

When House Kérbholán is destroyed, purged by enemies and allies alike, only Kérbholán Néit seems to have escaped with breath in his lungs. Assisted by a scant few trusted friends and holding the lone item left to carry his ancestry, Néit pursues understanding, revenge, and above all, survival in The Old Way of Winter by M. P. Goodwin, Book 1 of The Nimedian Ways.

Firstly, the cover needs mention, as it is subtle and appropriate; the illustration (credited to Louis Lafont) is reminiscent of the covers and images in Tolkien works. The connection is perfectly suitable and the […]

James Grimsby2016-03-04T04:26:25+02:00September 21st, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

The Country of Innocence by Eric Fisher Stone

The Country of Innocence by Eric Fisher Stone The Country of Innocence by Eric Fisher Stone is the surreal, literary novel about a strange place named Mexas, where the Southwest has become one giant state, and animals and humans can converse with each other. After moving to Mazatlán on the Pacific coast, the Montoya are taunted by demonic iguanas, and Mateo Montoya must travel the long distance to Mazatlán to reach his family, an epic journey that becomes increasingly strange and perilous.

What makes The Country of Innocence unique, and effective, is that even with its absurd and surreal premise, the prose itself is straightforward, and the characters […]

Henry Baum2015-09-07T06:34:39+02:00September 7th, 2015|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Lost in Pain (Legend of Hollow Wood #1) by J. J. Dice ★★★★

Lost in Pain: Legend of Hollow Wood Book 1, by J. J. Dice, is an exhilarating fantasy adventure that pits good versus evil.

Jack wakes up in an alley standing over a dead body. That’s just the beginning of his troubles. The body suddenly disappears and Jack can’t remember anything, including who he is. He befriends a waitress and learns that his uncle is wealthy. He experiences visions that are truly terrifying and alert him that not only is he in grave danger, but so is his new friend.

Evil warlock Teiwaz has escaped from the realm of Farion […]

T B Markinson2015-09-28T08:00:36+02:00September 3rd, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Action and Adventure Book Reviews, Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Olga by Ted Kelsey ★★★★★

Olga, written by Ted Kelsey and illustrated by Dillon Samuelson, is an exciting novel for children that will captivate readers of all ages.

Jack and Sally are typical twelve-year-olds who experience the most extraordinary journey when they see a strange figure dancing in a dark field near their homes. They decide to investigate, and are whisked away to a mysterious cloud castle where they discover unfriendly giants who are plotting to invade Jack’s and Sally’s world. Can they escape from the giants and stop their nefarious plan?

Ted Kelsey has done a marvelous job crafting a story that will […]

T B Markinson2019-01-22T11:01:27+02:00August 4th, 2015|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Action and Adventure Book Reviews, Children's Book Reviews, Fantasy Book Reviews, Middle Grade Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: A Draemorian Chronicle: The Western World (Fated Book 1) by Sebastien Leonard ★★★★

A Draemorian Chronicle: The Western World (Fated Book 1) by Sebastien Leonard In the beginning, there was a tribe of nomads that took only what they needed and lived as one with the world. As time grew, the tribe became the tribes, and the tribes’ three wisest argued the nature of things: one argued light was the true creator, one argued dark, and one argued both were unreasonable and would only believe in what could be proved. They split the tribes into factions and distanced each other to far corners, leaving the undecided to rot in the fields.