John Staughton, Senior Reviewer | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Thalondor: Kingdom of Legends by Shane Lege

A hero from a strange land arrives to fulfill an ancient prophecy and save a magical realm from annihilation in Thalondor: Kingdom of Legends by Shane Lege, a classic clash of good and ultimate evil.

Awakening in a bewildered state, with only scraps of his memory intact, Valaric is mysteriously dropped into an unknown realm, where shadowy danger and confusion haunt his every step. However, after finding a treasure chest of supplies, weapons, and gold, this destiny-bound hero plunges eagerly into the throes of any adventure that may come.

Gathering companions in the forest along the way, such as Whisperwind […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-20T15:27:28+02:00October 16th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Voice Treaty Truth by Barbara Miller

Offering a compelling spiritual argument for a critical referendum, Voice Treaty Truth: Has the Christian Voice Been Heard? by Barbara Miller is a timely and powerful assessment of race relations and the existential future of Australia. The opportunity for a multiculturally inclusive and self-aware future for the nation are at stake, and this book looks at the Yes or No vote through a Christian lens, utilizing Scripture and traditional guidance to analyze the righteousness of this important vote. Examining racism, colonialism, justice, the Aboriginal identity, discrimination, and the greatest aspirations of a democracy, this well-organized book comprehensively analyzes the ethics […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-16T12:31:44+02:00October 16th, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Review: Resilient by Liz Grace

Offering living proof that there is light in the darkness, even if the tunnel never ends, author Liz Grace has penned an inspiring and unforgettable autobiography in Resilient: Surviving My Mental Illness.

In her teenage years, Grace struggled with the sudden loss of her mother, a fractured home where communication was scarce, and the isolation led to suicidal ideation and desperation. The book moves through various events and challenges of her young adulthood, creating a comprehensive picture of her family dynamics, social outlets, and pain points, buttressed by actual transcriptions of her journal entries from all those years ago.[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-12-11T15:02:31+02:00October 16th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Psychology Book Reviews|

Twisted Monarch by Athene Z. Adam

Author Athene Z. Adam delivers another entrancing read with Twisted Monarch, a stellar second installment of the Reign of the North Forest series.

In a future world populated by Earth’s exported prisoners, children have ceased to age, remaining trapped in a stagnant physical state, even as their minds progress. Having become enemies of Drimys – a murderous and power-mad king still grieving the apparent demise of his brother, Sergen and his rabble-rousing crew must fight back to prevent the torture and massacre of those deemed “different.” The residents of the dystopian planet Eiyesa must prove that age means nothing […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-16T13:06:54+02:00October 16th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Sons of Empire by Chandler McGrew

Seamlessly blending technology and magic in his exhilarating new novel Sons of Empire, author Chandler McGrew has delivered a brilliant allegorical adventure and a bold opening salvo in the World of Arras series.

Trastan, the son of a legendary High Magister, is suddenly sent away from all he knows to learn the hard lessons of war, leadership, and sacrifice, but his bloodline legacy calls him to something far greater – and potentially darker. As new forms of mysticism threaten the realms of old magic, violence seems inevitable, and sinister puppet masters pull strings from the shadows, pushing the great empires […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-05T13:37:50+02:00October 5th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Steampunk Book Reviews|

Review: Involuntary Flashback by Dave Garrett

Tapping into a classic noir vibe with a good dose of contemporary flair, Involuntary Flashback by Dave Garrett is a fast-talking, razor-sharp Big Apple mystery.

An old-school private investigator “on the top of the endangered list,” Rod Weyhengrubber is a reckless and charming protagonist with a soft spot for the vulnerable and easily manipulated. A town full of promise and desperation keeps him plenty busy, particularly the recent rash of disappearances of hopeful starlets and young dreamers. When a young ingenue named Lilly seeks sanctuary with Rod and his partner, Ida, it becomes a race to crack the case before […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-01-25T10:45:55+02:00October 3rd, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Detective Fiction Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Awakened Horror by Quill Holland

An exhilarating sci-fi thriller exploring good and evil on a galactic scale, Awakened Horror by Quill Holland is a twisted and expansive sci-fi novel with a cast of compelling and conflicted heroes. Haunted by a lingering fear that the Empire has somehow survived and is regaining strength, Raith struggles with the revelations of his past life as a brutal oppressor, despite his recent heroics and the victory of the Republic. En route to a diplomatic mission, Raith’s freedom and family are once again ripped away by his reincarnated enemy, but as a nameless existential terror descends on the scattered colonies […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-03T15:01:17+02:00October 3rd, 2023|Categories: Editorial Reviews|

Red Thread by Anne Kampf

Tracing humanity’s trajectory from systems of faith to our modern era of science, Red Thread: Occult to Science and Beyond by Anne Kampf looks to find overlap and common ground between these two seemingly opposing forces.

Beginning with a fascinating review of scientific and non-scientific paradigms throughout history, readers are invited to start connecting their own dots between the past, present, proof, and popular belief. From alchemy, esotericism, and astral myths to numerology, biblical clues, and the multiple layers of significance behind the zodiac, even those familiar with these topics will find new nuggets of wisdom and context within these […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-02T15:52:26+02:00October 2nd, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Spirituality Book Reviews|