John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Review: The Departing (The End Time Saga Book 4) by Daniel Greene

Having read this series from the beginning, one can expect something approaching greatness in Daniel Greene’s writing, and he does not disappoint with The Departing, the fourth installment of his End Times Saga. The stakes have been consistently raised throughout the course of this series, and the characters have traveled on impressive and well-planned plot arcs, revealing a talented writer and a body of work clearly conceived with a passion for the genre.

The world is still in chaos as the dead mindlessly push back the ranks of the living, threatening to exterminate humanity as we know it. However, […]

The Unkillables by J. Boyett

Blending genres is a popular approach in modern literature, as these fusions have endless potential for new revelation, so clearly shown in The Unkillables, a surprising dark horse of a novel that pits cavemen against zombies, with a few time travelers thrown in for good measure.

Gash-Eye and Chert stand at the center of this strange story – she a clever Neanderthal prisoner, and he a stubborn Cromagnon ruler, bound by a child and their determination to survive in a rapidly changing world of zombies and death. Romance takes a distant backseat to the action of the tale, but […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-21T09:36:44+02:00November 16th, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Horror Book Reviews, Zombie Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Demon Heart by David Crane

Thrillers set in far-flung locales hold extra appeal for those readers looking for an exciting escape, and the exotic, unbelievable nature of Demon Heart, a new novel by David Crane, certainly fits that bill. Similar to the author’s earlier work, this novel is an intense, chaotic and brilliantly executed story that dances on the edge of reality.

Naoko Kitamura is a rough-around-the-edges cop on the streets of Osaka with a dark family secret. A creature of Japanese tradition and mythology, she is a demon hybrid, capable of unleashing incredible powers when she needs to. However, she is also half-human, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-09T10:49:12+02:00November 14th, 2018|Categories: Book Excerpt|Tags: Urban Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Raised on Rock by Thomas Drago

Anyone who has ever set a personal dream aside understands the pain and nagging doubt that can come along with such a decision. Youthful ambition drives us to pursue even our most outlandish hopes, but as the years pass, those old possibilities dwindle and narrow, even if we hate to admit it. In Raised on Rock, a novel by Thomas Drago, this challenging shift in reality is explored in stark detail.

Dante Rose has been enthralled by rock and roll since he was young, and chased that rocker lifestyle for years through small-town North Carolina with his band Thorn[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-03T12:19:40+02:00November 7th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Music Book Reviews|

Undead: A Max Ahlgren Novel (Crucible Book 2) by Ryan A. Aslesen

Undead, the new novel by Ryan A. Aslesen, and the second in the Crucible series, is a refreshing take on zombie fiction in a crowded genre.

Max Alghren narrowly escaped in Alaska when he first crossed paths with the alien life form that could threaten all of humanity. When he is presented with a way to uncover the truth about his painful past, he once again puts his life on the line and leaps into the alien fray, this time in North Korea, with even higher stakes and more unbelievable monsters.

With graphic and gruesome descriptions, terrifying creatures, and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-05-21T11:30:48+02:00November 2nd, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Horror Book Reviews, Zombie Fiction Book Reviews|

Inevitable Dreaming by Dave Dröge

In Inevitable Dreaming, the new novel from Dave Dröge, readers are pulled into a heartfelt story of loss and redemption.

When Waldemar van Splunteren’s life collapses in dramatic and tragic fashion, he finds himself with few friends and no idea how to move forward. As a forensic psychologist, Waldemar understands how complex and dangerous the human mind can be, but when a friend of his late wife suggests a cutting-edge form of digital therapy, he agrees, desperate for closure and peace. Quite the opposite happens, however, and he gradually begins to uncover the truth behind his painful past, launching […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-11-02T11:40:22+02:00November 2nd, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Case of the Blonde with the Bad Nose Job by Carlo Armenise

Creating an engaging and unique PI is far from an easy job for an author, but in The Case of the Blonde with the Bad Nose Job by Carlo Armenise, this genre niche gets a fresh new face with an attitude that’s hard not to love. Sam Razor is a hard-nosed private detective with something to prove, and this first case of his is a sparkling and sharply written tale that should earn this author plenty of new fans.

When Margaret, a wealthy debutante with a banged-up nose and a worried sister, is kidnapped, there are plenty of potential suspects […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-03-10T12:35:02+02:00October 29th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Crime Fiction Book Reviews, Detective Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Paradigm Shift by S.T.K. Chan

The fundamental struggle between good and evil is one of the most common themes of literature, typically embodied through traditional heroes and villains. Diving deeper into the philosophy of goodness and evil, however, Paradigm Shift: Future Comes from Behind by S.T.K. Chan is an evocative novel about facing the problems of the world and finding realistic avenues for positive change.

At the center of this novel is Lisa, whom readers are introduced to when she is just a frightened girl on Malta as her world crumbles around her. In the midst of war, and the capture of her father, Lisa […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-12-17T08:51:26+02:00October 28th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|