John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Aneiress Torian is back for another engrossing adventure with his eccentric cadre of companions in Athens Ophelia The Partitioner: Doemitonal Magic by Zachary Aneiress. The son of Athena’s ever-growing powers are no match for the delicate act of introducing your first boyfriend to your father, but when a sinister force from the underworld threatens to destroy his newfound joy, Aneiress must conquer his demons, both inside and out, to protect the many loves in his life. The fiercely contemporary tone and timely themes don’t entirely counteract the problems with grammar and editing, but this latest gritty installment is still packed […]

Flipping the paradigm of human domination on its head, The Scorching: Just Press Play by Nick Snape is an inventive new sci-fi series that reimagines survival for our species, carving its own niche in a hugely entertaining mash-up of post-apocalyptic, alien invasion, and climate fiction. The titular apocalyptic event has driven humans underground and under the sea, even as a newly arrived alien force delivers potential salvation on an overheated planet. With genetic modification, mind control, conspiratorial rebellions, and a powerful undercurrent of savage social critique, this opening of a new trilogy is a staggeringly original and timely release from […]

A humorous and heartfelt gathering of musings to ease our worries about getting older, The Little Black Book of Birthday Wisdom: Quotes on Aging, Life, and Birthday Cake by Mike Kowis, Esq. is a clever and entertaining guide that also includes some surprisingly sage wisdom. Casually divided into themed chapters of quotes, aphorisms, and advice on mortality, this coffee table collection delivers diverse advice for life throughout the year, whether you’re looking for comfort, catharsis, or a good crack-up. From legendary thinkers and international superstars to actors, comedians, politicians, and anonymous wordsmiths, this well-organized read is another charming gem from […]