John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

A radical surge of secularism in New York City threatens a critical foundation of American freedoms in An Advent for Religious Liberty by Ray Keating. Fresh off his landslide victory, the liberal mayor of NYC takes aim at removing religion from the public square, fueling the massive political and cultural divide of the city. Channeling contemporary fears and crises into a compelling story, Keating raises the political stakes for Pastor Grant in this installment, with the pastor righteously battling for his beliefs, his community, and the freedoms he holds dear. This headline-inspired novel is more politically focused than other installments […]

Undying loyalty and a desperate desire for revenge make Edda Green by Peter Sarda a riveting dive into radical German politics and one woman’s battle to reclaim her past. A haunted veteran, a fierce lover, and a savagely effective spy, the titular character of this intense novel is a gritty warrior like few others, as she reels from the death of her closest comrade and investigates violent racists terrorizing Hamburg. Her relentless search for justice exposes the heart of a horrific international plot, but in the shadowy realm of espionage, even the sharpest hunters can become the prey, resulting in […]

A swashbuckling tale about the bonds of family and the true measure of wealth, Dream Quest by Frank C. Senia is a charming and imaginative escape. Michael and Tara are eager to explore the world, so when their grandfather shares the family’s treasure-filled legacy, the intrepid siblings can’t resist the call of adventure. However, word of their ambitions has gotten out, and where there are gold and jewels, menacing pirates are rarely far behind. From witches and curses to ancient ruins and mysterious castaways, this absorbing adventure story tracks the pair of daring navigators who will need every scrap of […]

A chilling novella born from the backstory of a tabletop game character, The Evil in the Swamp by Elizabeth Decker-Benjamin is a quick plunge into adventure horror and fantasy folklore. A young Steam Visala named Stüm Dümplin, the child of a djinn, recounts his story of the manipulative vampires and shadowy fiends that attacked his hamlet. In a world of mythical terrors and magical dangers on every side, this is one young boy’s heroic tale of hard-won lessons and bittersweet survival. Told evocatively through Decker-Benjamin’s moody first-person narration, this vampire-infected world feels acutely ominous, as if potential danger lurks with […]