SPR’s book reviews of new self-published books
Sons of Empire by Chandler McGrew
Seamlessly blending technology and magic in his exhilarating new novel Sons of Empire, author Chandler McGrew has delivered a brilliant allegorical adventure and a bold opening salvo in the World of Arras series.
Trastan, the son of a legendary High Magister, is suddenly sent away from all he knows to learn the hard lessons of war, leadership, and sacrifice, but his bloodline legacy calls him to something far greater – and potentially darker. As new forms of mysticism threaten the realms of old magic, violence seems inevitable, and sinister puppet masters pull strings from the shadows, pushing the great empires […]
Tracing humanity’s trajectory from systems of faith to our modern era of science, Red Thread: Occult to Science and Beyond by Anne Kampf looks to find overlap and common ground between these two seemingly opposing forces.
A delightful book that revisits Irish folk tales and legends, Pixylations by Joe Laudati tells the story of a rebellious and talented pixy called Faela, immersing the reader in a spellbinding story about friendship, love, and self-acceptance.
Transcending the boundaries of history, culture, and traditional narration, From Where We Threw Dogs by Stephen Mellor is a visceral and haunting new novel about family, destiny, and the cycles of fate from which we can never escape.
A sprawling and original adventure in a familiar magical paradigm, The Burning Bandit by Lauren Louise Hazel is a richly imagined work of high fantasy.
Author Noah William Smith offers straightforward and sage advice for finding greater happiness in his new book, 2024… Your Year of More, a personal yet universal work of self-help.
An engrossing work of dark fantasy, Queens of Moirai by Rhiannon Hargadon is a wildly imaginative novel marked by the strong presence of gods, fate, and magic, drawn in part from Greek mythology.
A psychological and paranormal crime thriller, Simon’s Dream by Jeremy Howe is a gripping hunt for long-overdue justice. Surreal, spiritual, and undeniably creative, this slow-burning novel digs into powerful themes of unfulfilled purpose, vengeful justice, and the casual violence of our modern world.