John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

The Night Sky by C.A. Cordova

A delightful and heartwarming adventure into a bitter winter world of precious narwhals, evil antagonists, missing grandfathers, and sacred duties, The Night Sky by C.A. Cordova is an innovative work of YA visionary fiction.

In a dystopian future, one young girl embarks on a journey to discover her birthright as she searches for someone she loves after he mysteriously disappeared in a vicious blizzard. However, she won’t be alone in her search – not after learning that her grandmother was once a legendary protector of the narwhals, just like her missing grandfather. As Nadia’s heroic young eyes are opened to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-10-11T05:56:54+02:00October 11th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

How To Make Money In Stocks by Fred A. Green

Specialized financial education for a new generation of creative investors, How to Make Money in Stocks by Fred A. Green is a cutting-edge guide based on real-world experience. From the most basic rules of stock market maneuvering to calculated tactics for advanced investors, this book has something for any level of interest. Green writes with an engaging and conversational tone, as he almost wills his audience to take his advice, but the supporting knowledge should be taken very seriously. There are some sales-y aspects throughout the writing, and some cliche verbiage that makes the book seem less credible, but Green’s […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-10-11T05:46:01+02:00October 11th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: What’s Wrong With a Pet Dinosaur? by Tony Philips

A whimsical, heartfelt, and laugh-out-loud collection of poetry and drawings, What’s Wrong With a Pet Dinosaur? by Tony Philips is a carefree but carefully crafted bundle of fun. Bouncing between surreal slices of fiction and narrative poems about more relatable experiences, the poet takes readers through a wild maze of imagination and the wonders of growing up.

The titular poem is a short and silly one, encapsulating the wry, tongue-in-cheek humor that many of these quippy poems lean into. “What Comes After Z” is longer, and written with more humor, along with some sage wisdom from the mouth of babes. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-11-24T11:02:15+02:00October 11th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Children's Book Reviews, Poetry Book Reviews|

Divorce Bucket List by Jennifer Harris

A compassionate companion read for those struggling through the pain and trauma of divorce, Divorce Bucket List by Jennifer Harris is a brutally honest and vulnerable memoir – as well as an invaluable guide. Walking readers through some of the most common crises of separation and divorce – self-doubt, fear, anger, desperation, and mental overload – the book offers commiseration and confession, not a lecture. While many other instructional books on overcoming trauma are dry or formulaic, Harris’ voice is funny, self-aware, original, and transparent; no emotion is left unexplored, nor are personal failings. Despite the casual tone, the editing […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-10-07T07:20:48+02:00October 7th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Handing Down Hope by Nate Slaymaker

A refreshing and generation-spanning guide towards healthier communication and a brighter future, Handing Down Hope by Nate Slaymaker is a relatable map for the mighty task of parenting, coaching, or managing teenagers.

Through his own experiences with foster children, generations of students, and other assorted teenagers coming in and out of his life – some with significant challenges and unfair amounts of baggage – Slaymaker has constructed a succinct catalogue of lessons learned. The chapter framing is intriguing, laying out both the common errors and more effective strategies as binaries – rather than acting purely as a “how-to” book, it […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-10-07T06:53:17+02:00October 7th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Education Book Reviews, Parenting Book Reviews|

Review: Of Starlight and Plague by Beth Hersant

A catastrophic spiral of human folly and unflinching perseverance, Of Starlight and Plague by Beth Hersant is a stunning cautionary tale, and an engrossing dystopian thriller. Whether you’re a lover of zombie fiction or a sucker for stories about genetic engineering, this novel is a slow-burning but riveting ride.

After an impossible-to-predict tragedy robs him of his daughter, shortly after losing his wife, Dr. Aaron Pickman turns a corner in his life. Fueled by grief, he dedicates his life to finding a cure for rabies, the rare culprit in his daughter’s case, while also possibly revolutionizing drug-delivery techniques to the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-10-07T03:42:57+02:00October 6th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Apocalyptic Fiction Book Reviews, Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews, Zombie Fiction Book Reviews|

Lilly Of The Mountains by D.L. Yoder

Tragedy, greed, desire and freedom collide in Lilly of the Mountains by D.L. Yoder, a 1940s period novel of Colorado homestead life and the sweet satisfaction of self-discovery.

The fearless widow at the heart of this story is unrelenting in her quest for independence and true liberation – from money, from men, and from societal expectations. The forces that conspire to control her, woo her, or continue the patriarchal reign of her recent years, are no match for the cleverness and sheer will that this entrancing protagonist brings to every scene.

From the gossipy nature of small mountain towns to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-14T07:33:56+02:00October 5th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

As Vaan Made Us by Jonathan Sobe

Unlikely heroes rise to counter the encroaching tide of a world shattered by idolatry, greed, fear, and blight in As Vaan Made Us by Jonathan Sobe. This uncertain, dystopian future is richly detailed – a carnival-mirror reflection of today’s petty squabbles and increasingly inevitable collapse. Thick with themes of salvation, redemption, and liberation, the book offers sharp social critiques and an undeniably dark escape into a borderless, barely recognizable world. Though some light proofreading would clear up a few sloppy errors, the prose buzzes with confidence and prophecy, supporting a spiraling narrative that is both suspenseful and addictive.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-10-05T06:50:30+02:00October 5th, 2021|Categories: Editorial Reviews|