Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Asset Nightfall: Digital Rebellion by Daniel P. Douglas

Riveting, brain-wrenching sci-fi that dances at the intersection of nightmare and prophecy, Asset Nightfall: Digital Rebellion (Wild Frontier Chronicles) by Daniel P. Douglas is a chilling piece of techno-fascist drama.

Three years after being caught hacking Federation accounts and draining their funds just a few seconds too slow, Kerstin Ahlers has become a reliably imprisoned asset of a merciless empire, forced into servitude as a covert operative. Embedded with insidious AI tech that surveils and restricts her actions while on mission, Asset Nightfall, as she is now known, receives new marching orders: steal military secrets from a remote space station […]

Review: Carbon Zero by Craig W. Stanfill

A sobering thriller about AI insurgency and the slippery slopes of societal collapse, Carbon Zero (Dawn of the AI Dystopia Book 1) by Craig W. Stanfill paints an ominous picture of a future looming just over the horizon.

When Abigail Thompson finally gets a big break – presenting her impressive AI pet project to the big boss at Intelligenics – she has no idea how much everything is about to change. Through a series of oversights, assumptions, and a painful lack of preparedness, her Xerxes program is unleashed on the world with a singular goal: achieve carbon zero. What begins […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-09-22T13:00:02+02:00September 21st, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Speculative Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll and Macy Grove

A vividly rendered rendition of a whimsical epic, The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Macy Grove, is a masterful update to a beloved classic.

When a fellowship of unlikely allies embarks on a quest to catch a mythical beast named the Snark, none expect their odyssey to be quite so surreal. Led by Bellman, these nine B-named companions (Banker, Barrister, Butcher, Baker, etc.) are a motley crew following a completely blank map across the sea in the hopes of capturing the legendary creature.

Through the poem’s eight “fits,” or chapters, these eccentric characters encounter numerous misadventures […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-09-16T10:18:33+02:00September 15th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Comics & Graphic Novel Reviews, Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: Bitter Honey by Yona Katz

A raw and incisive piece of contemporary romance, Bitter Honey by Yona Katz examines the shame we hide, the wounds we bury, and our quiet desires for closure that may never come.

Christopher is a hardworking Deputy District Attorney with an Adonis-like boyfriend, Julian, but something sour is simmering beneath the surface of their bond. Periods of intense connection and intimacy are followed by bitter fights, punitive behavior, and withheld affection, creating a destabilizing cycle that leaves Christopher confused, desperate, and endlessly apologetic.

On top of this domestic disturbance is the resurrection of Mathew Wexler, a long-lost connection from Christopher’s […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-09-01T15:03:55+02:00August 31st, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: LGBTQI+ Book Reviews, Romance Book Reviews|

Review: Relic Reborn by Iain Ralston

A dark fantasy bloodbath of noble knights and vengeful demons, Relic Reborn by Iain Ralston is an explosive, action-filled first installment of a new high-fantasy series.

Thousands of years ago, a demonic army from the plane of Shkigal was defeated and sent back to their realm, but not before their god and creator, Azzazul, sacrificed himself in a world-rending explosion to enable their retreat. Millennia have passed, the world has changed, and the names of the demon lords are barely remembered by the few human mages with the power to summon them.

On the mortal plane, the Syl ‘Van Knights […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-08-25T11:24:25+02:00August 24th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Play Like He Would by Heath Hamrick

Tragedy and triumph collide beneath the Friday night lights in Play Like He Would by Heath Hamrick, a gritty true story of perseverance, honor, and the lasting impact of loss.

After a tough string of losing seasons and discouraging setbacks, “Slugger” Hamrick eagerly takes over as the head coach of the Bremond Tigers – a small and scrappy football team from East Texas. The town still remembers what vicarious victory and gridiron glory feel like, fueling dreams of young players and the excited hopes of a community. After a modest start at Bremond, Hamrick needs to deliver a playoff run […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-08-21T11:03:01+02:00August 20th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Sports Book Reviews|

Review: The Third Estate: Devil’s Tango by D.R. Berlin

An adrenaline-filled thriller of professional killers and family secrets, The Third Estate: Devil’s Tango by D.R. Berlin offers another twisted dose of conspiracy in the Third Estate series.

When a John Doe lands in the ER with a slug in his gut, Captain Sophie Allard does all she can to save him, but he seems far more interested in passing her a cryptic message about a top-secret dossier. It isn’t long before two assassins arrive at the hospital, determined to learn the man’s final words, even if that means dropping more bodies, potentially sabotaging Sophie’s nascent medical career. However, before […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-07-29T17:56:30+02:00July 28th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Wolf in Wanderley by Dave J. Andrae

An unapologetic tribute to Gen X mentality and the timeless frustrations of aging, Wolf in Wanderley by Dave J. Andrae is a story of haunted pasts, hope for the future, and the cruel paralysis of the present.

Facing the downward slope of his modest career as a fringe filmmaker, Wolfgang Barnes hunkers down in Florida, settling into the limbo of life’s next chapter while working on his version of a memoir. After an unfortunate encounter with a mace-wielding neighbor, Wolf meets Maisy, the punk-rock twenty-something next door, and her mother Katherine, armed with her boomer logic and skeptical caution.

Unbeknownst […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-07-24T11:33:52+02:00July 24th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, Literary Fiction Book Reviews|