Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: A Madness Unmade by E.K. Larson-Burnett

Astoundingly clever and deftly penned, A Madness Unmade (The Deathly Inheritance Duology Book 1) by E.K. Larson-Burnett is a biting parody of life itself, and a youthful musing on the illogical nature of existence. Armed with a remarkably precocious protagonist and the narrative touch of a major writer in the making, this eccentric novel absolutely shines with confidence and originality.

As the sole living resident of the Underhallow, Laurel Rumbroom only keeps company with specters and her beloved ghost-cat Goose, but her relatively predictable days have been intriguingly disturbed by a mysterious string of necrotic deliveries. Each week, a new […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-06-11T10:04:39+02:00June 11th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Paranormal Book Reviews, Urban Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Extraterrestrial Noir by Rich Leder

A sardonic mixture of science fiction and snarky suburban drama, Extraterrestrial Noir by Rich Leder is a hilariously original genre mashup.

Maggie Devine is drowning in the suffocation of suburban competition and an embarrassingly stagnant marriage with her husband, Connie. Along with the three other couples and their children who call Hope Circle home, life is a predictable and increasingly dull rerun of picket-fence perfection that doesn’t quite live up to that American dream. All of that changes, however, when a mysterious silver box rockets down through the atmosphere and crashes neatly through the couple’s roof.

The box quickly begins […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-06-09T12:23:31+02:00June 9th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Satire Book Reviews, Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Archer’s Moon by J.W. Webb

Divine worlds collide and hunting hearts tangle in Archer’s Moon: Dawn of Legends (Legends of Ansu Book 1) by J.W. Webb, a high-fantasy adventure that explores the unique essence and emotional depths of human nature.

From her celestial perch above the planet of Ansu, Argonwui peers down in wonder and longing at the world of humans, a recent creation of her grandfather, the Weaver. However, her mother Elanion, the Emerald Queen, is the custodian of Ansu, and forbids her daughter from any such meddling and mixing with mortals; her roving father Oroonis does enough of that for the whole family.[…]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-06-06T10:28:30+02:00June 6th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Remembering by Peter Kennedy

A timely reflection on the profound and sometimes painful process of becoming who you need to be, The Remembering: A Journey Back to Self by Peter Kennedy is a reminder that personal transformation is unavoidable – and endless.

Kennedy’s story begins with an intense account of his participation in a sacred ritual – a temazcal ceremony in a traditional sweat lodge in Brazil. After being spiritually stripped bare, and concentrating on how to achieve emotional freedom, his existence feels irreparably changed, “as if a veil had been lifted.” Through the lens of his sacred experience in the jungle, he is […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-06-05T08:29:57+02:00June 5th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: The Mini-Quest Mindset by Esmond Lee

A common-sense companion for the overwhelming modern world, The Mini-Quest Mindset: Master Your Focus, Manage Priorities, and Achieve More by Esmond Lee is an innovative guide for taking back control over your priorities, attention, and productivity.

Burnout is a growing and worrying trend – the point when a person reaches a point of physical, mental, emotional, or occupational exhaustion, compromising their ability to perform tasks or live their life in a healthy and sustainable way. There are certain seasons in any life when responsibilities and pressures relentlessly pile up, and the subsequent to-do lists can feel overwhelming, or even paralyzing. […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-06-04T16:22:41+02:00June 4th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Business Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: Vallen by Kenton J. Moore

A coming-of-age steampunk adventure with classic fantasy foundations, Vallen (Cloudbreakers Book 1) by Kenton J. Moore is a richly imagined story of loyalty, memory, and the dreams that define us.

Cole Vallen is a simple country farmer who feels destined for something more, namely the sky-high ambition to become a noble Cloudbreaker – a revered warrior of the realm. However, when that dream is deferred by an unexpected peace, a night of bitterly drunken revelry sends his life spiraling in an entirely different direction. Awakening to find himself as the sole survivor of a mysterious explosion, with angry fingers pointing […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-06-03T12:26:12+02:00June 2nd, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: La Fête de la Vie by Jacqueline Miller Bachar

A well-curated collection of powerful stories and poetry that celebrate life without ignoring its painful realities, La Fête de la Vie: Stories & Poems by Jacqueline Miller Bachar is a literary testament to human resilience.

The characters that populate these fraught and unpredictable tales often wear strong emotions on their sleeve, unable to contain hard truths that they have been hiding from or holding inside. As the Foreword explains, much of this collection was written while the author was supporting her husband as he battled and overcame cancer; themes of grief, mortality, regret, self-reflection, and a weighing of life’s scales […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-05-29T12:01:16+02:00May 28th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews, Short Stories Book Reviews|

Review: Zephyr’s Flight by Ray Strong

An enchanting tale of epic ambition and destinies that change the world, Zephyr’s Flight: The Dragons’ War by Ray Strong is a female-driven YA adventure and a compelling first chapter in a promising saga.

Astria, a young girl with an uncanny affinity for dragons, dreams to ride them someday and become one of the legendary protectors of her people, just like her missing father. Since he disappeared in service as a Dragon Rider, the chance to train and prove herself has been nearly impossible, but sometimes the wandering dragons of the realm can choose their own partner.

When Astria encounters […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-05-28T07:38:29+02:00May 27th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, YA Fantasy Book Reviews|