John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A classic piece of epic high-fantasy, The Fall of Magic (The Master’s Core Book 1) by Phoenix Rokni pits a relentless conqueror against a reluctant champion of hope. The cruel Prince Drazius has launched a brutal crusade of elven eradication in service to the dark god, while Volir, an elven warrior who longs to become a legend, must overcome his fear of leadership to unleash his full potential. Immersive bursts of battle and action sequences are matched by poignant examinations of duty, revenge, prejudice, trauma, and familial secrets, which will appeal to readers of both action-heavy and character-driven fantasy. While […]

Delivering a wealth of essential humor and wisdom about the everyday realities of parenthood, The Funny Side: Relatable Anecdotes from a Once-Frazzled Parent by Shari Marshall is a collection of entertainingly relatable stories about the exhausting chaos of family life. From life-or-death deliveries and a plethora of bodily fluids to nasal excavations and transforming into a low-key superhero, this book digs into the messy realities of being a parent, which manages to be both comical and brazenly honest. In equal measure, Marshall celebrates the incomparable experience of raising children – the magical moments of joy, pride, and disbelief that more […]

A magical, message-laden allegory from a playful and creative pen, Mana Ray: Summer Magic by Julia Maslova is an otherworldly novel about peeling back the facade of a “perfect life” and embracing one’s true nature. On the Earth-like planet Odagea, Mana Ray is rising eagerly through society, moving closer to her dream of becoming an upper-class doctor. However, a twist of fate sends Mana out into the wilderness, where forbidden magic still exists, which allows her to finally see the cruel truth of the hierarchical and oppressive paradise she once called home. Essential in its message of class consciousness, albeit […]