John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Three young lives are turned upside-down by a talking tree, launching them on a desperate quest to save the forest from dark forces in Treflins Three: A Staff, a Sword and a Stone by Elaine Smith. Following the path of so many YA fantasy novels, the bulk of the story is a harrowing journey to conquer an overwhelming evil, but the originality of the world-building helps this book stand out. There is a gentle edge to the narrative voice, with compassion and friendship taking center stage. While some of the language feels overly simplistic, Treflins Three is a unique and […]

Star-crossed lovers swirl and fearless fighters duke it out during a hot Brooklyn summer in Say Goodbye and Goodnight by author David Ruggerio. Capturing the classic air of tragic romance and blending it with modern urban drama, this is an immersive New York slice of life. A diverse web of stories weave believably on the pages and the dialogue feels ripped from reality, while the characters are patiently developed and perpetually entertaining. The prose is unpolished at times, but Say Goodbye and Goodnight still sparkles with authenticity and endearing charm.

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Taking an original angle on a tumultuous time in history, Silver Moon by Jenny Knipfer is a sparkling slice of historical fiction. Ambitiously detailing a diverse collection of characters, this World War I story bounces across space and time, delicately filled with vivid descriptions, nuanced moral dilemmas, and authentic relationships. Rather than focusing solely on the violence of this tragic conflict, Knipfer fleshes out the complexity of wartime – the domestic impacts, the psychological effects, and the enveloping nature of patriotism. The author isn’t afraid to challenge sacred ideals through her characters, which makes this novel a thought-provoking and surprising […]

Laced with acerbic wit and wisdom, Why Liv? by author John Sebastian Shifrin is a tongue-in-cheek triumph about surviving in the time of media madness, political decay, and the existential crisis that is our 21st century. The story reads as though the author distilled the anxieties and issues of today, then refracted them into a new narrative, creating an alternative universe that readers will intimately recognize – chilling, spiraling, and in desperate need of change. Managing to inject this much social commentary into a casually written novel is impressive, although some of the book does feel rushed, including many of […]

Author Andrew Ceroni pens a disturbingly relevant and poignant novel with Special Means, centering on a near-future dystopia with a conspiracy that feels ripped from today’s headlines. Intergovernmental deception, police brutality, unhinged greed, and hierarchical cruelty take center stage in this chilling story. The premise feels more journalistic than hypothetical, while the writing itself displays a strong and confident voice from start to finish. A morally conflicted protagonist creates a number of secondary conflicts that force readers to think about their own ideologies. Some editing errors pop up throughout, and there are some sections that drag due to unnecessary […]