John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

An evocative plunge into the stories that define our past and the promises that drive our present, The Secrets We Are Born by Patrick Seda is a stormy swirl of adventure and mystery, amid the relentless passage of time. Thomas and Martina are emotionally estranged twins with the shared trauma of never knowing their wayfaring father, but that is all about to change. As adults, they are begrudgingly reunited in a tropical hunt for paternal clues like treasure-hungry pirates, racing against mortality, and a mysterious illness that threatens to unravel any hope for their future. Immersive, original, and lyrical, Seda’s […]

A high-fantasy dive into the tangles of blood, matriarchy, loyalty, and magic, The Song of the Earth (Venom & Shadows Book 1) by A.E. Kost reveals a contentious world where ancient traditions, cultural taboos, and the boundaries of reality itself have begun breaking down. In this tale of wicked witches, Fae Queens, power-leeching lovers, and unpredictable demons, a child of prophecy has arisen, one who may finally release the Dark Lord from his imprisonment and overturn the balance of power between the realms. The simplicity of the prose doesn’t always match the complexity and ambitions of the plot, but the […]

A visionary thriller stretching from abyssal oceans to the voids of deep space, Where Light Does Not Reach by Tom B. Night is a boldly crafted sci-fi mystery. Soledad is summoned to the grisly site of a mass whale beaching, while thousands of miles away, Jack reckons with a physics-defying disappearance from the night sky. Along with a fierce passion for science and truth, they also share inexplicable out-of-body visions, and an unexpected destiny that could affect the future of the universe itself. Imbued with an unconditional love for the unknown, for our pale blue dot, and every species that […]

The ancient music of the mountain has drawn another Woodruff back home in Firefly Song (Books of the Kindling – Book Three) by Donna June Cooper. With burned bridges behind her, paternal justice served, and all her worldly possessions in tow, Thea returns for her brother’s wedding, but seeing old friends might just give her a reason to stay. As long-hidden secrets start coming to light, Thea finds the comfort and community she’s been missing, but the Woodsman’s legacy is strong, and the past she left behind won’t let go. Emotionally vivid, suspenseful, and laced with an enchanting whisper of […]