John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Review: What Branches Grow by T.S. Beier

Author T.S. Beier paints a grim and brutal American landscape in What Branches Grow, depicting a dystopian world where books are sacred, humans are a commodity, and trust is perhaps the most elusive resource.

Three decades after a war devastated the natural world and reduced civilization to scrabbling ruins, a mysterious woman on an impossible quest manages to keep hope alive. When Delia arrives at the walls of Churchill, she makes it clear that she’s only passing through, and looking for a safe place to sleep until she can continue on her journey north. Gennero, the right-hand enforcer of […]

Dad Can Be Anything by Ray Colon

A touching and beautifully illustrated homage to fathers and sons everywhere, Dad Can Be Anything by Ray Colon is a feel-good read with a clever use of rhyme. Celebrating the creative, supportive, and essential relationship between a father figure and a growing boy, the language of this short book is simple, but heartwarming, while the poetic rhythm is fun and amusing. The playful words and universal message are perfectly mirrored by the rich and surprisingly detailed illustrations, making Dad Can Be Anything a stand out on a child’s bookshelf.

[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-06-23T09:42:04+02:00June 22nd, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Ellie Everlasting by Isabel Scheck

Readers are returned to Neverland in Ellie Everlasting, an original new novel from author Isabel Scheck. Introducing a fresh heroine to this classic story, and bending the edges of J.M. Barrie’s original world, this is a well-penned and whimsical dive into a reimagined fairy tale.

When Ellie is brutally murdered in her mint-green dress by her girlfriend’s brother, she discovers that the “other side” is none other than Neverland, and she awakes to find herself face to face with Peter Pan himself, along with Tinkerbell twinkling in her ear.

While Ellie comes to terms with her own death – […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-07-23T02:34:22+02:00June 22nd, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Tokyo Traffic by Michael Pronko

Detective Hiroshi returns for another tantalizing dive into the underbelly of Japanese culture and crime in Tokyo Traffic by Michael Pronko. From the seedy dungeons of pornography rings to the beating heart of Tokyo’s moneyed class, this detective thriller is raw and gripping, told by a confident, complex, and creative author.

The gruff sleuth at the center of these mysteries is pursuing a new case- a brutal murder tied to the insidious porn and human trafficking rings of Tokyo. It is clear from the start that this is a triggering topic for Hiroshi, something that brings out a primal rage, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-07-09T02:55:19+02:00June 21st, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Crime Fiction Book Reviews, Detective Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Zero Solar by Anthony Robinson

Author Anthony Robinson sets Earth and Mars on their final collision course in Zero Solar, the concluding chapter of his thrilling near-future series. Bringing all the characters together for a collision of cosmic proportions, this installment finally answers the questions that have been brewing for two books, but also presents some new mysteries and twists along the way.

Mark Bowen remains in the belly of the beast, playing both sides against the middle and trying to stop the most destructive war in human history. It is becoming harder to remain in Prince Dothan’s good graces, particularly when Bowen knows […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-07-03T07:23:05+02:00June 17th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Golden Dreg Boy Book 1: The Slums by D.K. Dailey

With the world on the delicate edge of disaster, a young boy must face the truth about his past, the sins of the present, and the possibility of a revolutionary future in Golden Dreg Boy: The Slums by D.K. Dailey. This first book sets the stage for a longer series in which the remains of civilization have sequestered in the cities that have been transformed into starkly divided kingdoms of the rich and the poor.

The protagonist, Kade, brings an original narrative voice as a “Golden” firmly set in his ways, accepting of the brutally unequal world order out of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-07-03T03:30:57+02:00June 17th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews|

Parasomnia by JC Bratton

The line between the realms of dreaming and reality gets blurry in Parasomnia, a mysterious and romantic ride by author JC Bratton. A sleepless grief drives one woman to paranormal heights in search of new connection, and the author’s creative mind lays the groundwork for a strong plot. The character development smacks of authenticity, but there is a tendency toward inorganic dialogue. While an editorial hand could help polish the rougher patches, the combination of self-exploration and mystical romance makes this a quick and intriguing read.

[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-06-15T08:53:16+02:00June 15th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Glenwood Fables: The Ruins of Parnice by Danni O’Lenci

Glenwood Fables: The Ruins of Parnice, the first in a four-part fantasy series, is a sparkling debut from author Danni O’Lenci, who immediately proves her confidence and comfort in the genre. Despite the classic foundation of an unexpected journey that becomes more about the characters than the ultimate quest, there is an original twist to every aspect of this story. In an often repetitive niche, the book is distinctly refreshing, with a masterful use of colloquial speech and organic dialogue. Benefitting from a poetic touch in the prose, the language is clever and surprising, reminiscent of other legendary fantasy authors. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-06-15T08:05:31+02:00June 15th, 2020|Categories: Editorial Reviews|