John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A Monk’s Tail by Kyle Spencer

If you’re looking for a wondrous escape into a whimsical new world, A Monk’s Tail by Kyle Spencer should sit firmly at the top of your reading list. The world-building alone in this action-packed novel makes it worthy of a read, while the unique characters will leave you hungry for a sequel.

Bow is far your typical hero, but beneath his gruff exterior is a noble and loyal protagonist with recognizable character traits, despite being a firefox. The fact that all the characters are animals makes this novel initially seem childlike, but the themes being explored by Spencer – oppression, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-10-02T10:29:41+02:00October 1st, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Profit Wars by Mac Whitesides

Sometimes the near future can be far more terrifying than some far-distant dystopian hellscape, and in Profit Wars, author Mac Whitesides hits close to home with a tale set only a stone’s throw ahead of humanity’s present day.

In the year 2020, war has finally shed its façade and revealed itself as a game of profit. Victory goes to the highest bidder, particularly when you have the Global Force Protection (GFP) fighting in your corner. This massive global corporation can basically shift the tides of world power, selling its elite mercenary services for almost any cause.

Even those who […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-22T05:41:26+02:00September 25th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews, Science Fiction Book Reviews, Speculative Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Good Fight by Dan E. Hendrickson

The Good Fight by Dan E. Hendrickson is an action-packed, deeply researched novel that keeps readers guessing until the end and will have them on the edge of their seats from the start. The ambitious scope of the story, particularly the detailed procedures of numerous government agencies and a broad cast of relatable characters, makes for an addictive read that will pull you into this bizarre and sinister mystery.

Danielle Edwards may be the female protagonist of the novel, but much of the plot is driven by the rest of her family, who control a major automotive company and run […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-10-27T12:36:05+02:00September 17th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Freeing Linhurst: Into the Tunnels by Al Cassidy

With a bold spirit and a nose for a good mystery, one ghostly adventure was never going to be enough for young Jack Alexander. In Freeing Linhurst: Into the Tunnels, author Al Cassidy breathes fresh life into his courageous characters – Jack and Celia – from the first book in the series.

Two years have passed since they first delved into the secrets of Linhurst State School and Hospital, and both have dealt with their first fantastical foray in different ways. Jack has been tormented by the memories of Linhurst, from merciless teasing at school to haunting dreams that […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-05-20T05:16:45+02:00September 13th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Paranormal Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Galactic Mandate: A Radical Cause by M.R. Richardson

Being the heir to galactic reign may seem like the foundation of an easy life, but in the incredible world of Galactic Mandate, author M.R. Richardson turns that assumption on its head.

Devante, the protagonist of this story, is a troubled young man whose loyalties become savagely split, and as his destiny is revealed, he must choose between what he has been trained for, and the truth he knows in his heart. The galaxy is divided and heading for a catastrophic conflict between the Clone Defense Force and the Acolyte Empire. This is far from a simple story of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-09-11T10:38:34+02:00September 11th, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Space Opera Book Reviews|

To the North by Bruce W. Perry

The literary fascination with apocalyptic novels shows no sign of slowing, and Bruce W. Perry offers another darkly rich angle with To the North, a heart-wrenching story of loss and hopelessness following a devastating super volcano eruption.

Brad Garner is the unfortunate focal point of this tale, a man who finds his path leading across a barren, broken American West in search of family, refuge, and something resembling a future. While this novel initially seems like a solitary, existential journey, reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy at his best, Perry incorporates touching and sensitive scenes of social interaction, offering his own […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-22T05:36:20+02:00September 10th, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Apocalyptic Fiction Book Reviews, Post-Apocalyptic Book Reviews|

Pandemonium by Sean Farley

When you unexpectedly land in a twisted version of the afterlife, one finds strange bedfellows, and that surreal premise is taken to extremes in Pandemonium, the new supernatural fantasy by Sean Farley.

Jackson Armstrong is far from perfect, but the love he holds for his son launches him on an epic quest through a fiery realm of torture, evil and extremely unlikely allies. This wild and unpredictable ride through the depths of Pandemonium, a personal and uniquely creative take on Hell, is perpetually surreal and brilliantly penned. With constant tongue-in-cheek symbolism and cracking allegorical moments, this gripping novel will leave […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-09-10T09:40:40+02:00September 9th, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Paranormal Book Reviews|

Review: Cold Solar by Anthony C. Robinson

There is always an envelope to be pushed in the realm of sci-fi, and in Cold Solar, author Anthony C. Robinson smashes together unlikely companions in an incredibly creative setting, delivering a memorable and violent romp through a terrifying future. The complex premise and deeply interwoven characters, combined with Robinson’s unpredictable plot lines, makes for a genre-defying novel that reads fast and feverish.

In this visionary future, the dominant corporation that essentially rules Earth is rapidly flying towards a conflict with their oppressed colonies on Mars. While a Mars-Earth battle plot is not unique in the genre, this story […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-08-14T12:29:40+02:00September 7th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|