John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Author Raven Simmons has summoned strange and supernatural worlds to explore in The Invitation Series, a collection of short tales overflowing with eroticism, mystery, danger, and the unexplained. From sinister voices in the mind to dark masters of seduction, this is a mix of fantasy and fear, boasting prose carefully edited to be powerful and enthralling. The dense narration is often juxtaposed with weaker dialogue, but each of these four sections is complex and rife with tension. Though some of the language veers to the clichéd, Simmons wields the pen well, delivering an eerie and evocative read.

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Religion, family values and finding a higher purpose come to the forefront in The Story of Me by Raven S. Simmons. Readers are granted intimate access to Ariel’s mind as she navigates the complex waters of adolescence, faith, early romance, and identity within a strict Christian upbringing. The stream-of-consciousness style takes some acclimating, but it soon makes this an immersive and powerful read. The narration could be slimmed down to improve the pacing of certain scenes, but as a whole, this is a raw and unfiltered glimpse of a young woman making mistakes, finding new truth, and growing up on […]

A patient and intense psychological thriller, Her Eyes Underwater weaves a sense of impending doom from the opening pages. Balancing the voyeuristic pleasure of a budding romance with the creeping fear that something terrible awaits, this true crime-inspired novel is a revealing peek at the addictive and potentially dangerous nature of love. Some of the dialogue feels unnatural, and there are some sections of overworked description, but the pacing is strong and the delicious tension is perpetual throughout. Touching on themes of abuse, dominance, and obsession, Her Eyes Underwater is a powerful start to this new series.

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Identity in Shades by Shamir Kali Griffin is the sound of truth being shouted from rooftops and whispered under the covers; these are verses that echo gunshots and summon ghosts from generations past. A vulnerable, visceral, and inspiring collection, each poem pulses with authenticity and demands that readers return for a second taste. Swinging wildly from the political and cultural to the personal and emotional, these pieces rarely follow a meter, and while rhyming is prominent and occasionally forced, it avoids being childish or sing-song. Glimmering with Native American allusions, a poignant grasp of love, and a humbly nostalgic voice, […]

Written in accessible and engaging language, The Origin of Life on the Earth by MK Gali is a thought-provoking and deeply researched book exploring scientific thought throughout recorded human history. Explicating religious traditions over thousands of years and slowly debunking historical belief systems, this book provides a comprehensive perspective on where and how life began, seen through the knowledge and claims of everyone from ancient Greek philosophers to Charles Darwin. There is an impartial, journalistic feel to certain sections, but the author’s personality is also allowed to shine, despite keeping his personal beliefs opaque. This volume stops at the year […]

Two young beavers learn the true meaning of brotherhood and respect in The Beavers Weave by Max Hanson. This short, direct, DIY-illustrated book is intended for children, particularly those with younger brothers and sisters who are adjusting to life with a sibling. While the underlying message is important and subtly introduced, the execution of the book stumbles. With so little text on the page, there is simply no room for grammatical errors, and that’s not the case here. Additionally, while children’s books are often short, the story feels rushed and would benefit from more descriptive language, as well as higher-quality […]