Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Not Literary by Auriane de Rudder

Auriane de Rudder’s collection of short stories Not Literary is a showcase of an original narrative voice and gritty realism.

De Rudder’s stories are peopled with those you see at four AM, drinking like sunrise depended on it; the type of characters you partied with one night that you can barely remember. Reminiscent of Brett Easton Ellis, de Rudder explores many of the same themes – moving the time period from the eighties to the significant trials of this century. De Rudder has captured the aimlessness of post 9/11 youth, raised on cynicism and fear, when there wasn’t much else […]

Josh Machado Halcro2021-06-25T04:22:26+02:00June 24th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Auriane de Rudder, Short Stories|

Review: Sun Wolf (Space Unbound Book 2) by David C. Jeffrey

A stunning follow-up to the debut of David C. Jeffrey’s Space Unbound series, Sun Wolf is an invigorating shot of prophecy, elevating the stakes for this future world to a universal scale.

While the first book in the series sets the foundation of actors, alliances, advancements, and unique alien life forms, this sophomore serving delves deeper, exposing more complex enemies and a much larger conflict than mere resource squabbling. When the greatest discovery of Earth’s New Age of Space becomes unstable, everything humanity has fought for could be wiped out of existence.

The fearless Aiden Macallan, the eccentric Elgin Woo, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-07-20T06:07:33+02:00June 20th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: David C. Jeffrey, Science Fiction|

Review: Mommy, Daddy Please Teach Me! by Michael A. Brown

A colorful, inspiring, and heartwarming children’s book, Mommy, Daddy Please Teach Me! by Michael A. Brown is a treasure trove of wisdom for young children. Exquisitely illustrated by Zoe Ranucci, this vivid storybook touches on some of the countless opportunities for learning that parents can share as their children grow.

From their very first lessons in life to more abstract ideas of self-esteem and joy, parents provide critical support for a child’s view of the world. Whether teaching a child how to cook, explaining the value and importance of money, or encouraging them to seek out professions that excite them, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-07-20T02:23:43+02:00June 20th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Children's Books|

Review: Shadow of the White Bear by J.W. Webb

A high-fantasy feast for fans of the genre, Shadow of the White Bear by J.W. Webb is the perfect final chapter to the brilliantly crafted Berserker trilogy, part of the larger Legends of Ansu series.

Jaran Saerk continues his hero’s journey, returning with Savarna to face the sinister force that is Sheega the witch on Valkador. What neither realize is that the element of surprise is gone, and an even greater evil lingers in the shadows, waiting for its chance to strike a devastating blow. Desperate to find their friend Finvar, but also wary of the deadly dangers that await […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-07-19T02:42:49+02:00June 17th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy, J.W. Webb|

Review: The Adopted Son by Claude Renaud

Unbreakable ties across time and a brilliant snapshot of untold history make The Adopted Son by Claude Renaud a gripping, perspective-shifting thrill.

A mysterious figure from Paul Quinn’s past appears in Sydney two decades after their fateful encounter in the days leading up to the fall of Saigon. After hearing Hao Tran’s story of struggle, and feeling sympathetic to the plight of Eric, her son, whose father was one of Quinn’s fallen military comrades, this retired spy’s quiet life turns upside down, and long-buried heroism bubbles to the surface.

Not only does he adopt a fatherly approach to this unexpected […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-08-02T03:51:28+02:00June 15th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Claude Renaud, Historical Fiction, Thriller|

Review: Susan: A Jane Austen Prequel by Alice McVeigh

Fans of Jane Austen and Victorian literature will be easily enraptured by Susan: A Jane Austen Prequel by Alice McVeigh. Honoring the original voice of characters more than two centuries old, and capturing the subtle tension and emotional complexity of youthful independence, this stylistic gem is an ambitious and memorable homage.

The novel delves into the untold story of one of Austen’s most original antagonists – Lady Susan – in her early years as a disruptive force. After her insolence gets her kicked out of a boarding school, it is decided that she will be sent away to become more […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-24T08:04:13+02:00June 15th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Alice McVeigh, Historical Fiction|

Review: Generation AI by Katerina Thomas PhD

Delivery a hard dose of reality, and a realistic path forward, author Katerina Thomas neatly outlines the monumental changes coming to our world in the form of artificial intelligence – and how it will affect all of life as we know it – in Generation AI: The Rise of the Resilient Entrepreneur.

Many may be vaguely aware of the AI storm brewing on the horizon – one that will make millions of jobs obsolete as they are done more efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively by hyper-precise machines, or executed expertly by intelligent algorithms. Like so many other looming crises in […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-06-14T07:33:58+02:00June 14th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Business, Katerina Thomas PhD, Social Science|

Review: Summer of Haint Blue by Jimmie Martinez

Author Jimmie Martinez captures the raw, beautiful, and painful truths of both the rural and urban South during the 1960s in his YA novel, Summer of Haint Blue. A long-form narrative study on race relations and a deep dive into that tumultuous decade, this novel is draped with Spanish moss and bayou personality, which help to top-dress the strong and compelling plot.

Told through the eyes of Justin Couvillion, a teenage boy coming to terms with his own family history and their Cajun roots, while also trying to understand the racism so embedded in Louisiana, even in his own […]