Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Remember Us by E.T. Gunnarsson

A post-apocalyptic road novel with a strong pair of protagonists in a richly described dystopia, Remember Us by E.T. Gunnarsson adds a fascinating new layer to his Odemark series.

Two years into his time on new-world Earth, Simon is ready to brave the wasteland, leap into frontier life, and see what beauty the recovering planet still holds. However, when a starship falls out of the sky, just as Simon dreamed that it would, he convinces Anna to join him on a quest to find the craft, and their relationship is entertaining from the start; Anna’s vague annoyance at his naïveté […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-08-08T17:26:16+02:00August 7th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: E.T. Gunnarsson, Post-Apocalyptic|

Review: Legends of Earth by David Gwinn

A science fiction adventure with some downright Shakespearean twists, Legends of Earth by David Gwinn is a breathless mash-up of police procedural and space opera that is a page-turner from the first page.

When a seasoned cop is pulled into a mind-boggling new case – a woman single-handedly cutting the power and knocking over banks in broad daylight – Officer Sharpe has no idea how deep this new rabbit hole will go. He certainly doesn’t expect it to carry him to the other side of the galaxy – to a planet that seems to desperately need his help.

Tass, the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-09-29T12:01:43+02:00August 3rd, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction|

Review: The Four Year Hitch by Don Cox

A heartwarming novel that plays with narrative stereotypes about love and happy endings, The Four Year Hitch by Don Cox is an affecting work of romantic contemporary fiction. Although the main characters are clearly destined to be together, circumstances and individual mistakes keep them apart for a long time, making this tender piece of fiction feel as romantic as rooted in reality.

Joshua and Julie have been best friends since they were seven years old. They know everything about each other, all the little quirks, dreams, and secrets, starting from their big life aspirations all the way down to […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-09-14T16:14:46+02:00August 1st, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction|

Review: Where Martyrs Rise Snowflakes Don’t Fall by Albert M. Jabara

A fictional manifesto plumbing the lyrical depths of spirituality, the horrors of history, and the contradictions of human existence, Where Martyrs Rise Snowflakes Don’t Fall by Albert M. Jabara is a confident and belief-challenging read, offering an eye-opening blend of religious theory, philosophical narrative, poetic exploration, and historical analysis.

Yunus Nef’i is the main protagonist of this novel – a philosopher, scholar, poet, journalist, and author – who has spent his life fighting for the oppressed and overlooked, examining the faults of the world with his caustic and fearless pen. Some chapters read as a memoir, digging into Yunus’ experiences […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-09-06T16:05:17+02:00July 30th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction, Religion, Social Science|

Review: Broken Sky by John Harvey

Pushing the boundaries of YA science fiction, Broken Sky by John Harvey is the spectacular first installment of the Cirrus Chronicles saga.

A young mechanical genius who prefers the company of machines far more than people, Jack Scatter is a classic sci-fi protagonist – an outsider youth with untapped but impressive skills pulled into an epic adventure that will decide the fate of two worlds. One of those worlds is Cirrus, a massive Earth-like space station positioned on the opposite side of the Sun, where Jack lives, and the other is humanity’s home world itself, which is prophesied to end […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-09-05T12:24:36+02:00July 17th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction, Young Adult|

Review: Karl Myers by Jeff Lee

An instantly immersive story of innocence lost and justice miscarried, Karl Myers by Jeff Lee is a patiently profound piece of 1950s fiction – a visceral, dark, and poignant drama, which offers a snapshot of a sinister time that America has yet to fully escape.

Karl Myers is a melancholic ex-Marine police chief with a stack of regrets, an unwavering hunger for justice, and a raised eyebrow at the backwards beliefs that still flourish in the town he calls home. Jerry Peterman is a scarred veteran with a quick temper and no tolerance for weakness, let alone disobedience, from either […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-07-18T15:42:58+02:00July 12th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Historical Fiction, Jeff Lee|

Review: The Light Within Darkness by David C. Jeffrey

Pushing the sci-fi adventure genre and this ambitious series into uncharted space, The Light Within Darkness by David C. Jeffrey is a tremendous third chapter in the Space Unbound saga.

The voidoid portals may be safe from destruction for now, but the greatest threat to humanity has fled into the unknown chasm of space, gathering power and hiding from the Alliance. Aiden Macallan is more than the intrepid mission commander sent to find this existential enemy – he is also seeking his own long-awaited revenge against Cardew, the monster responsible for his mother’s death.

The scrappy crew of the Sun […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-08-29T13:43:01+02:00July 3rd, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: David C. Jeffrey, Science Fiction|

Review: Across the Divide by Elizabeth Bernays

A charming memoir by entomologist and writer Elizabeth Bernays, Across the Divide: The Strangest Love Affair explores new forms of love later in life. Joyful, but also profound and reflective, the book is an enchanting and memorable read that mixes levity with deep emotion.

With eloquent and engaging prose, Bernays tells of her complex and beautiful relationship with a married woman in her 50s. Linda and Elizabeth fell in love despite their differences, after both had been married to men. Both of them led successful careers and had experienced loving marriages, but they couldn’t be more different as people, and […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-08-24T13:31:57+02:00June 29th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: LGBTQI, Memoir|