John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Outlining the frequently overlooked aspects of writing and promoting a work of nonfiction, The Call to Authorship: How and Why to Write, Publish and Promote a Nonfiction Book by Tim Lindsay is a thorough overview of the entire process for writers looking to expand their skills and audience. The journey from nascent idea to a polished, published work of nonfiction consists of countless crucial decisions – from goal-setting, content gathering, and structural outlines to line editing, formatting, and cover design. With its broadly applicable ten-step approach, supported by dozens of task subcategories and checklists, this is both a philosophical and […]

A servant-to-savior story that resounds with revolutionary thinking, What is the Weight of Magic?: The First Book of Ku Borfutukeshti by Dennis Paul Himes is a sprawling fantasy, centered on control, liberty, and the burden of hiding your true nature. Ku Tementen arrives in the city of Darmis to study her blossoming magic, which is an exciting improvement from her previous life of servitude. However, the unique qualities of her magic put a target on her back and a destiny at her feet, sending her on a collision course with the unpredictable powers of a fading empire. For its lavish […]

A sweeping saga of novellas rife with political intrigue, dangerous desires, and a fearless queen on the rise, Fatima’s Story: The Complete Novellas (A Tale of King Justice) by Evelyn M. Exley is an exquisitely crafted piece of high-fantasy romance. Princess Fatima finds herself hidden away in a palatial prison, only to fall in love with the resident ghost – a fateful decision that could destabilize the throne and spin the known world into chaos. Dark, tender, and lyrically developed, this cumulative collection of stories follows one young woman’s eye-opening journey into adulthood and the responsibilities of righteous rule, for […]

A soul-searching tale of connections that never truly end, Mama’s Still Dead by Anne Davidson Keller tells the humorous and affecting story of an overwhelmed researcher who finds otherworldly support for her “rotting-bagged-salad of a life.” When Lily’s family and sanity simultaneously start to crumble, her long-dead Mama is drawn back through the veil to guide her through a painful and unexpected chapter of life. A reflection on grief, memory, and the human need for compassionate support, this earnestly penned novel boasts an endearingly clever narrator, a splash of Southern charm, and a trove of wisdom for anyone who feels […]

A hard-hitting ensemble adventure in the Human-Born Era series, The Legends that Awaken by Susan Markloff expands the enthralling world of Tilion and the endless conflict that defines it. Though life has settled into a strange normalcy for the young elemental heroes of Agerius, the burdens of leadership, betrayal from within, visions of the past, the challenges of parenthood, and the hopes of an entire world still lie on their shoulders. Stretched thin by side quests and war, but united in their defense, the Human-Born’s commitment to the cause of peace is continually tested. As the characters show more maturity […]

A tragedy worthy of Shakespeare, taking place in the colony that would become South Africa, Of Treason, Grace, and Redemption by Olaf van Renen is an existential family drama with a stirring international backdrop. The Dunne and Kemp families are on seemingly opposite sides of the waning conflict between the British Crown and Dutch settlers, but their clans become dangerously tangled together, as loyalties to blood and heritage are pitted against the insistent power of love. Vividly summoning a contentious historical moment, this well-researched portrait starkly reveals the heartbreak, horror, and human costs of war, delivering a timeless reminder of […]

A scathing satire stretching from Lucifer’s fall to fake news on smartphones, Lord of the Eastern Hemisphere of the Universe: Your Current Involuntary Election Campaign by Joseph Dopp is a comedic conspiracy theory come to life that hits painfully close to home. In the not-so-distant future, Lord Fink and Joseph Dopp face off in a monumental election to rule the future – one is an algorithm-fueled tool of financial control and ownership, the other is a truth-telling anarchist determined to liberate humanity. Successfully staying “one step ahead of reality,” while mercilessly skewering both the sinister and ridiculous facets of modern […]