John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A whip-smart revamp of Homer’s epic, The Woke Iliad by George Boreas is a carnival mirror reflection of today’s global chaos and a savage critique of political and social correctness, which doesn’t hold back. When the most disagreeable woman in America is kidnapped by the cretinous leader of Moldova, conflict is unavoidable and a nuclear holocaust is entirely on the table. While the prose is occasionally over the top, and the allegorical writing can be heavy-handed, the sardonic tone is consistent, biting, and undeniably amusing. This frightening vision of an over-woke future will have readers laughing out loud, but also […]

A charming, relatable, and colorful introduction to cybersecurity and general online safety, Oh No…Hacked Again!: A Story About Online Safety by Zinet Kemal is an important read for children in today’s gadget-filled, tech-driven world. The story of Elham, Imran, and their clever mom touches on potentially risky situations online that kids face all the time, even if they don’t realize it, and offers advice on how to stay safe and protect your privacy. Quick, simple, inclusive, and educational, this vibrantly illustrated book will leave readers with plenty to think about next time they jump online, regardless of their age. While […]

Saved by a mysterious woman one day and bought by her the next, Johnny finds himself tangled up and fumbling through the enigmatic worlds of art and event planning in Miss. A and Johnny’s European Escapade LONDON by Silver Vixen. However, books aren’t the only thing bound in leather in this exotic, newly-revealed realm of decadence and desire. Boasting prose that blushes, titillates, and teases, this pulse-pounding novella from the Femme Fatale Rescue Diaries is smart, steamy, and charming – the kind of high-end romance that will leave readers satisfied in all the best ways.

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A raw and savagely contemporary novella, Post-Bliss by Jay Honeycomb taps into the fears and existential angst of today through tangential, subtle, and compelling storytelling. An actor with nothing to lose slips into the confounding worlds of alternative medicine – new-age, natural, psychological, and artificial – while another plotline leaps around Australia on an abstract, reality-adjacent adventure. Mingling storytelling forms, playing with time, exploring dreams, and injecting the prose with powerful personal philosophy, this visionary read is dense with intention, allegory, and thoughtful commentary on the increasingly strange times of the present day.

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A book that simultaneously highlights what makes people unique and what unites us, I Celebrate My Skin by Nonku Kunene Adumetey, with illustrations by Mary K. Biswas, is an inspiring and easy-to-read children’s book focused on identity development. Brightly colored illustrations accompany the bursts of positive prose and inclusive language, making this a vibrant and meaningful addition to any child’s bookshelf. More text would be welcome in the middle section of the book, but the activities at the end of the book are engaging and thought-provoking. Boasting modern illustrations and timely themes of acceptance and cross-cultural sensitivity, Adumetey has crafted […]