Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Magi Apprentice by Dan E. Hendrickson

A narrative clash of mysticism, science, geopolitics, and biblical lore, Magi Apprentice by Dan E. Hendrickson is a unique piece of historical fiction, exploring the religious sects, governments, and individuals who likely played a part in the star-driven journey to the birthplace of Jesus.

Rassan is a young military officer and friend to Prince Phraates, heir to the Parthian Empire. When a rogue magi embarks on a secret pilgrimage to Jerusalem, through Parthian lands, Rassan is sent to meet him on the road, only to find that his caravan has been attacked by bandits. The magi’s final wish sends Rassan […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-25T11:22:59+02:00October 24th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Religious Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Naimera: Sapient Quest by Michael Ganzberger

A gritty work of sci-fi that feels ripped from a near-future headline, Naimera: Sapient Quest by Michael Ganzberger is the thrilling second piece of his biosynthetic space saga. After proving their incredible capabilities in bringing down the world’s most dangerous man, the NAIMERA program is enlisted once more for a task that just might end up saving the species.

On Earth, reports of mirage-like flying saucers and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena with impossible abilities have become harder to hide or explain away, heating up an already dangerous arms race for the recovery of this presumed alien tech. Under the guise of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-01-08T11:02:12+02:00October 19th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Tip’s Magical Journey by Barbara Mishkin, Illustrated by Jason Shiver

Tip’s Magical Journey: The Ride of Discovery and Inspiration by Barbara Mishkin is an inspiring children’s book that promotes empathy, kindness, and celebrates the beauty of diversity. Inspired by the author’s own experience, this modern tale is both moving and funny, telling an important lesson through a child’s travels around a city.

Tip is a young boy of 8 ½ years and he has a secret hobby – he loves riding the train and exploring the city. Thanks to Tip’s curiosity, open-mindedness, and candor, he sees the complex world around him as an exciting opportunity to meet new people, with […]

Marina Dora Martino2024-01-04T16:40:23+02:00October 19th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Children's Book Reviews|

Review: From Bonham to Buddha and Back Again by Clementine Moss

The rare kind of memoir that makes one forget it’s not a novel, From Bonham to Buddha and Back Again: The Slow Enlightenment of the Hard Rock Drummer by Clementine Moss is an exhilarating and enlightening read.

Slowly revealing the autobiographical puzzle of her own music-infused life, from wild leaps to NYC, meditative mountain retreats, and early romance over drum kits to cross-country tours, sleepless benders, and bittersweet final shows, this book is laced with reckless adventure. Taking readers backstage in every sense of the word, the prose lays everything on the table – beliefs, passions, secrets, dreams, and the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-12-22T19:20:07+02:00October 18th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Music Book Reviews, Spirituality Book Reviews|

Review: Dancer on the Ceiling by Mark Nutter

A gleefully bizarre collection of stories, Dancer on the Ceiling: More Darkly Humorous Tales by Mark Nutter is an unforgettable work of absurdist fiction that will have you scratching your head and laughing in equal measure. Abandoning the normal boundaries of narrative structure, character consistency, or reality itself, this is tongue-in-cheek writing at its best.

There are stories of divinely gifted carpet artists, a massage master who can coax life back into a severed limb, a casino fat cat who markets to children, and a size-obsessed billboard baron, just to name a few of the oddities scattered in Nutter’s strange […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-12-18T14:58:17+02:00October 18th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Humor, Short Stories Book Reviews|

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|

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|

Review: Before the Dawn by David Crane

A multilayered piece of fantasy that plays with horror and thriller tropes, Before the Dawn by David Crane is a vivid and intense novel with a long list of memorable characters. This ingenious book will give readers a taste of a wholly original vampire universe – a wonderful example of world-building that surprises, moves, and prompts the reader to think about our everyday world.

In a cold New York that is both dangerous and mundane, Cindy and Frank get to know each other at night. Cindy, a 150-year-old vampire that is stuck forever at the age of thirteen, and Frank, […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-11-22T19:02:31+02:00October 12th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Vampires Book Reviews|