John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Grace in the Wings by Kari Bovée

Dripping with 1920s swagger and enough twists to trip up a flapper, Grace in the Wings by Kari Bovée is a romance-fueled mystery with Manhattan skylines, unfettered ambition, and plenty of murder to go around. Grace Michelle is an entrancing and magnetic dynamo of a character that carries this book on her ingenue shoulders. This roaringly good novel is a loving homage to an era, a captivating story of painful growth, and a twisted mystery that will leave you wanting an encore.

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John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-06-25T10:02:44+02:00June 23rd, 2019|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Silent Spring: Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War by Patrick Hogan

There are those non-fiction books and memoirs that transport readers back in time, and then there are books like Silent Spring Deadly Autumn of the Vietnam War, which change one’s view of both the past and present in one fell swoop. Detailing the personal experience of the author, Patrick Hogan, a Staff Sergeant who served in Vietnam for three years, and the decades of his life that followed, this book is a shocking and eye-opening account of American military tactics and blatant disregard for human rights.

Most readers may already be aware of the stories of napalm and Agent […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-02-21T06:17:33+02:00June 19th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: History Book Reviews, Memoir Book Reviews, Military Book Reviews|

Review: The Capsule by Olga Loukianova

As our world continues to be increasingly reliant on technology, the fear of losing one’s individuality is similarly growing. Author Olga Loukianova presses hard on that slow-burning wound with her dystopian novel, The Capsule, a chilling take on the fate our species.

During the so-called “Age of Perfection,” life has been simplified and streamlined. People exist within perfect capsules, where all their physiological needs are met and managed by Systema, the technological savior of humanity. Interaction with reality outside the capsules is discouraged, and in most cases, unnecessary, as you can instead exist in Net City, which offers all […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-19T05:11:28+02:00June 19th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews, Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Dolph the Unicorn Killer and Other Stories by Martin Lastrapes

For anyone tired of vampires that glitter and werewolves who are really just confused about their identity, Dolph the Unicorn Killer and Other Stories by Martin Lastrapes is right up your alley. This award-winning author has stepped away from his hit novels and into the realm of raucous short stories, and this is a collection of high-fantasy weirdos with a healthy dose of drugs, sex and rock ‘n’ roll tossed in for good measure.

Set in modern-day Las Vegas, this madcap stream of stories has everything that a horror fan would love, but certainly doesn’t miss a beat for fans […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-06-19T16:41:13+02:00June 18th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Horror Book Reviews, Short Stories Book Reviews|

Review: Dreadmarrow Thief (The Conjurer Fellstone Book 1) by Marjory Kaptanoglu

Given the barrage of young adult fantasy novels in recent years, it can be difficult to find one that truly stands out. Dreadmarrow Thief is a stellar entry into the genre of YA fantasy, and an exciting first installment of one such new series. Author Marjory Kaptanoglu has cultivated a vibrant and enthralling new world for fans of high fantasy to explore.

The spunky protagonist at the center of this wonderful adventure is Tessa Skye, an apprentice with a dangerous secret: a magical object that allows her to transform into a bird and soar over the forest – a forbidden […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-06-19T13:49:23+02:00June 17th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Golden Keys to Open Doors by Harry Meier

In the realm of modern spirituality, there are many authors who propose to have the answers, or to know the correct path for spiritual well-being, spawning an entire spirituality industry – valued in the hundreds of billions—for people to lean into in order to clear their mind and cleanse their spirits. In Golden Keys to Open Doors: About Spiritual Cotton Candy, author Harry Meier exposes some of his biggest criticisms with the modern realm of spirituality, and provides his own alternative path.

Meier takes a unique approach to his subject, because where so many other spiritual gurus and guides […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-07-15T10:25:28+02:00June 8th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews, Spirituality Book Reviews|

Earth Log by Blaine C. Readler

There are plenty of things we take for granted as humans, but few things seem as easy to overlook as our self-awareness. In Earth Log, a new novel by Blaine C. Readler, that same great power is bestowed upon a ferret, who “wakes up” one day overwhelmed with curiosity, questions, and a new appreciation for the complexity of life.

As the ferret moves through its small universe – his owner Joanne’s apartment – he figuratively and literally bumps into obstacles and quandaries that domesticated animals typically don’t ponder. From tumbling through a laundry shoot, losing his home, and witnessing […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-06-07T12:13:20+02:00June 7th, 2019|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: A Glossary of Life by Manny Garcia

Language is arguably the most important advancement of our species, the tool that helps us define and explain our experience and existence. While all words are useful, some are timelessly tied up in mystery, wisdom, philosophy and emotion. Author Manny Garcia has collected and defined some of these universally significant ideas in his new book A Glossary of Life: Deeper Meaning Behind Our Most Common Words, which is almost certainly unlike any text you’ve ever read.

If you’re expecting a narrative story, this isn’t the book for you. As the title implies, it truly is a glossary – one […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-02-21T07:51:32+02:00June 6th, 2019|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews|