Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Beginning of Arrogance by Bryan Cole

Author Bryan Cole debuts his A Paladin’s Journey series in stunning style with Beginning of Arrogance, a page-turning sword and sorcery adventure that will thrill devoted fantasy fans. The freshly imagined realm of Baltorc and Watford’s dramatic denizens set a coastal stage for the rise of a sinister new evil in this creative and compelling origin story.

An aspiring hero taking the first steps of his warrior’s journey, Krell is an ambitious and readily likable protagonist at the core of this novel. Bearing a heavy secret – the voice of the sea god ReckNor in his mind – Krell […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-09-25T17:26:00+02:00September 25th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy|

Review: The Helper by Jeff Lee

Author Jeff Lee plumbs the depths of human darkness and resilience in his gritty, visionary novel, The Helper, an intersecting tale of disparate lives in the deadly orbit of fate. Scrawled across the endless canvas of New York City and far beyond to realms past reality in the Connecticut countryside, this is a spiraling story of redemption, destiny, and survival.

After the high society son of a priest is attacked by a gang of homophobic skinheads, his axe-wielding rescuers bring him home like a wounded animal, across state lines, where he embarks on a journey of healing and self-discovery […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-30T14:43:53+02:00September 13th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Jeff Lee, Visionary Fiction|

Review: Search for Complete by Stephen G. Hardy

Poetic, philosophical, and imaginative, Search for Complete by Stephen G. Hardy is a novel about love, loneliness, and friendship within a delightful fantasy framework.

As Christopher, Laura, and David strive to find their own paths to happiness, the reader is guided through a whirlwind of emotions and insightful examinations of each character’s psyche. Both lyrical and symbolic, this book manages exactly to do what its title suggests – not give straightforward, easy answers on how to achieve “completeness,” but rather to beautifully describe the twists and turns of the journey towards happiness.

Christopher has just moved away from Seattle for […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-10-20T10:49:30+02:00September 6th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Visionary Fiction|

Review: An October’s Journey: Poe’s Final Gift by James McKenna

Luring readers into a carefully crafted tale of supernatural mystery, author James McKenna delivers a profoundly puckish novel in An October’s Journey: Poe’s Final Gift.

On October 1, 1849, on the occasion of his 22^nd birthday, Jonathan Brandt’s party is graced and haunted by his father’s old friend “Eddy,” though the world better knows him as Edgar Allen Poe. In addition to his attendance, Poe also presents Jonathan with a macabre gift, an unbelievable story of witchcraft, and an invitation to join Poe on a nebulous (and undeniably dangerous) adventure.

Poe is trying to figure out the ending to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-04-18T12:35:39+02:00September 5th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fantasy, James McKenna|

Review: The Eternal Heir by Liv Viola

A dark, gripping work of vampire fiction, The Eternal Heir is Liv Viola’s remarkable debut novel, and an exceptionally strong first installment of the Risen World series.

In a world in which even immortal, powerful vampires have to endure cruel rulers, this is also a story about love, family, and belonging that is emotionally challenging and rewarding. As the title suggests, family history, inheritance, and the passing down of power are all a pivotal focus of the novel. Ava is an orphan and her heritage is a mystery to her, which prompts her to investigate her roots, but little does […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-10-19T11:27:13+02:00August 28th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy, Vampires|

Review: The Clock in the Water by Crissi McDonald

The Clock in the Water by Crissi McDonald is a startlingly original take on magic realism – a mixture of mythic fantasy and romance. Set in the present day on an island in the Pacific Northwest, the novel uses the ocean in all its depth and mystery as a backdrop for a story about love, family, trust, and friendship.

The characters in this story have a profound connection with the ocean where they live – a connection that transfers to the reader, drawing you into their mystical connection with the sea. The Keykwin, an ancient people who are both men […]

Marina Dora Martino2024-03-22T17:47:35+02:00August 24th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy, Literary Fiction|

Review: Pondering the Mystery of Life by Audrey C. Shields

Offering a thorough and unbiased portrait of spiritual origins and belief throughout history, Pondering the Mystery of Life by Audrey C. Shields addresses some of the greatest questions we face as human beings with consciousness and self-awareness. With an engaging tone, impressively deep research, and a stated desire for clarity and good-faith exploration, this is a unique read in the increasingly crowded genre of spiritual guidance.

Beginning with early analyses of the religious instinct to create religion as a means of putting order to chaos, and the counterpoint of seeing God as a concept, rather than an omnipotent, immortal, or […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-18T14:04:02+02:00August 24th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Spirituality|

Review: Alpha and Omega: Awakening by Peter J.D. Woodruff

A collision of realities, times, gods, and demons makes Alpha and Omega: Awakening by Peter J.D. Woodruff an eye-opening and mind-bending work of dark fantasy.

When the fabric of reality rips apart, Earth becomes a divine battlefield, and an apocalyptic hellscape of otherworldly fiends with a hunger for human flesh. As the world plunges into darkness, new heroes will be forced to rise, unlikely as their chances of victory may be, but some of the survivors feel more connected to this unearthly crisis than others.

Xavier is hearing things, seeing visions, and being called by an indescribable beacon. After meeting […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-16T12:35:17+02:00August 22nd, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy|