John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Review: To the Sacred Valley with Koko by Ayyappan R. Nair

Writing a book that can hold a young person’s attention, while also guiding them on a healthy path is not always easy, but Ayyappan R. Nair manages to do so in the marvelous book, To the Sacred Valley with Koko. Cleverly blending science fictional elements with a relatable story and powerful underlying messages, this book is ideal for middle school readers, but holds wisdom for any age group.

A number of stories gradually interweave through the larger narrative, from the advanced robot-designing James’ family to Ankit, the primary character of the story, who lives in a state of constant […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-22T11:04:22+02:00July 29th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Middle Grade Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Aura (The Senses Novels Book 1) by K M Aul

Shifting your perspective as a reader is one of the fundamental reasons to pick up a book, and great authors can immerse readers in worlds they couldn’t have imagined before the first page. In Aura, the first installation of the Senses Novels by K M Aul, the author does not hesitate to throw readers off the deep end of all they assume about the world – and about how it’s going to end.

The gifted young characters that sit at the center of the novel, particularly Jacob, must navigate their own inherent struggles in the larger world, while also […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-22T04:32:54+02:00July 25th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Christian Fiction Book Reviews, Fantasy Book Reviews, Religious Fiction Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Escape to Death by Stephen Perkins

There are plenty of wild stories about the seedy underbelly of Hollywood, but in Escape to Death, the incredibly imaginative new novel by Stephen Perkins, Tinseltown is given a dark makeover with supernatural twists at every turn. From film noir detectives to the monstrous lives of the rich and famous, this novel is a non-stop ride that careens from one devilish thrill to the next.

When a young prostitute lands in L.A. with big dreams, her murder cuts that future short, but that doesn’t mean her ghost will let things go. When a seasoned PI with a classic gruff […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-07-26T10:49:30+02:00July 25th, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Hollywood for Authors, Horror Book Reviews, Paranormal Book Reviews|

Review: True North by Roger Rooney

While Vietnam has been a part of popular culture for more than five decades, there has always been a shadow hanging over that conflict, and many of the books, movies, commentaries, and documentaries haven’t always focused on the personal element of this savage period in Vietnamese and global history. In True North, author Roger Rooney tackles the Vietnam War with a fearless blend of history, romance, philosophy and, most importantly, brutal truth.

The unique approach to this conflict comes in the form of its two main characters, star-crossed accidental lovers on opposite sides of the battlefield. Rooney chose unusual […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-02-21T06:17:50+02:00July 24th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Military Book Reviews|

Review: The Tree that Grew Through Iron (The Panagea Tales Book 1) by McKenzie Austin

In The Tree That Grew Through Iron, the first book in The Panagea Tales, McKenzie Austin has created a remarkably inventive and magical novel that transports readers to a future where the world as we know it is no more.

After the natural world is destroyed by the greedy hunger of men for industrial achievement and production, a new system of survival must be established. In the landmass of Panagea, Time Fathers rule over each of their divisions, ensuring that time flows smoothly and industry proceeds uninterrupted. Nicholai Addihein – a Time Father and the story’s protagonist – discovers […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-08-15T10:46:37+02:00July 19th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews, Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Foundry: Dianis, A World In Turmoil by Frank Dravis

There is a certain appeal to sci-fi that bridges both time and space, with the genre containing relatable characters, as well as fantastic elements of which humans can presently only dream. In The Foundry, author Frank Dravis has constructed a marvelous new sci-fi and fantasy adventure, perfectly in balance between reality and imagination, establishing a rich new universe in this genre-bending series.

Dianis is a small, out-of-the-way planet, easily overlooked on the galactic scale, but what it holds within – an incredibly rare and valuable mineral – puts it on the front line of an all-out war for domination […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-02-17T12:04:16+02:00July 9th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: A Smuggler’s Path by I.L. Cruz

A delightfully creative adventure, A Smuggler’s Path by I.L. Cruz stands alone in a very crowded fantasy genre, boasting a youthful, energetic spirit and a wonderful new world to explore for readers of fantasy.

The Enchanted Isles are the place where magic fled when the world of men became too dangerous for mages. When the fires of the Spanish Inquisition burned, it was time for the magic-wielders to find safer shores. However, after struggles and violence arose between the three founding sisters of the isles, the freedom of this magic disappeared. It once more became a sacred thing, something to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-03-11T10:18:33+02:00July 6th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: Tell Me When I’m Dead by Steven Ramirez

The zombie genre has exploded in recent years, and unfortunately, so many similar stories have begun to run together, making it less of a desirable avenue for both writers and readers. However, there is still hope for this genre niche in the form of Tell Me When I’m Dead by Steven Ramirez. The first book in a trilogy, this slow-burning thriller does far more than simply promote an everyman into a zombie-killing hero, introducing readers to a uniquely compelling protagonist.

Leading this novel from start to finish is Dave Pulaski, who is not the type of character you’d expect to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-21T09:36:58+02:00July 5th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Horror Book Reviews, Zombie Fiction Book Reviews|