Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Torn by Richard Snodgrass

A novel about the challenges of homecoming and the hopeful pursuit of second chances, Torn by Richard Snodgrass is a visceral story of love, loss, and legacy.

John Lincoln Lyle returns to his hometown of Furnass after twenty years in the Army, but his time away was transformative and unforgiving. After years of experimental surgeries on his face following a devastating accident, he conceals the ghastly wounds with a mask, but his family name won’t let him hide for long. Navigating the perils of public life for the first time in two decades, investigating the tangled state of his family’s […]

Review: Cheap Talk, Big Gains in Education by Dr. Matthew Weinberg

Boldly reimagining education in a comprehensive, compassionate, and inclusive way, Cheap Talk, Big Gains in Education by Dr. Matthew Weinberg presents an innovative approach that is desperately needed in our modern paradigm of knowledge distribution and retention. Promoting principles of collective effort and collaboration, rather than the hyper-individualization of Western culture, this meticulously organized book offers an ambitious and potentially controversial vision for the future, one that will require commitment and participation on an international scale.

Driven by the neurological disorder and subsequent struggles of his own daughter, the author spent years researching, exploring, testing, and adapting a more representative […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-07-14T16:35:16+02:00July 14th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Education Book Reviews|

Review: USA: Where Dogs Have More Rights Than You Do by Robert Okine

With a playful philosophy and unabashed reporting on the state of the union, USA: Where Dogs Have More Rights Than You Do by Robert Okine is an observant romp through America, with amusing evidence provided through the lives and luxuries of man’s best friend.

An alphabetical journey like no other, this whimsical travelogue takes readers from the glorified sled dogs of Alaska and the penthouse pups of New York City to dog-friendly real estate in Delaware and two-stepping hounds from Tennessee. With a keen eye for easily overlooked facets of the country, Okine gives an entertaining and frequently tongue-in-cheek overview […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-08-13T11:49:58+02:00July 14th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Pets Book Reviews, Travel Book Reviews|

Review: The Phoenix by Eric Van Allen

A tangled tale of second chances, risky deals, and the curious kindness of strangers, The Phoenix by Eric Van Allen is a fiendishly clever YA novel that crackles with Gothic energy.

A protective young guardian and provider for her siblings, Callie skeptically accepts an offer from an eccentric neighbor that seems nearly too good to be true. Working and living in a macabre funeral home will mean hanging out on death’s doorstep, but it beats getting harassed by predatory neighbors or having social services split up their already fractured family.

In this new home of corpses, forbidden doors, and secrets […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-08-11T12:05:33+02:00July 9th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: YA Fantasy Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

Review: The Blue Roses by Kent Yorkson

A profound tale of friendship, romance, and the beautiful collisions of human existence, The Blue Roses by Kent Yorkson is a quietly provocative work of literary fiction.

Set against the timeless backdrop of New York City’s dramatic glamor, the story centers on Mark, a gifted painter, and a seemingly perfect couple, Hans and Yukari – a prominent diplomat and a prodigious musician, respectively. As their friendship grows and their lives entangle, the powerful nature of their bond becomes a meditation on intimacy, partnership, and emotional liberation. Exploring the perennially fascinating subject of alternative relationships, Yorkson’s novel takes an honest and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-08-08T17:04:55+02:00July 2nd, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: LGBTQI+ Book Reviews, Literary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Celestial Gate Murders by Thomas Chung

A multilayered mystery exploring everything from techno-fascist evil to faith-based charlatans, The Celestial Gate Murders by Thomas Chung is a dramatic international thriller.

When 20-year-old Eunyoung mysteriously vanishes, leaving behind only a note explaining her desire to “experience a new world,” it sends her parish and chorus of friends into a quiet panic. However, she isn’t the only parishioner to go missing – a catechumen and a new friend of hers named Kim Yongbin has also gone off-grid, and some have speculated that their sudden disappearance could be linked to the The Celestial Gate – a secretive cult known for […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-08-04T10:47:19+02:00July 1st, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: International Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Juice by Peter Deadman

A coming-of-age adventure in a near-future dystopia, Juice by Peter Deadman is an original YA story about finding truth and forging your path through an unpredictable world.

Will has spent his childhood with his mother and uncle in a humble community of survivors, protected against the “dangers” of the pre-Devastation world by the Council and their strict beliefs. After receiving long-delayed news about his father in Coal City, Will embarks on a harrowing journey of self-discovery. From juice-generating Factories and vengeful energy barons to savage wilderness attacks and unexpected romance on the road, this young hero relentlessly pushes forward in […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-07-28T12:45:58+02:00June 13th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews, Young Adult Book Reviews|

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|