Editorial Reviews

Thousands of years in the future, a legendary warrior named Hachi and her symbiotic-linked golem awaken from cryo-sleep into a darker age in Hachi + Araine: Awake by Michael G. Hurston, the first book in The Dream Series. After returning to Earth, she discovers the shocking legacy of her universe-jumping ancestors and a treasure map through space that leads her and a resourceful companion into a blistering adventure across the stars. Dodging cosmic slavers, exploring taboo desires, and overcoming the guilt of her own past, Hachi must find a way to forgive herself and fulfill her original mission, even […]

The elite warriors of Alpha Team are tasked to unravel the maniacal scheme of a vengeful villain seeking to compromise the global food supply in Operation Cavolo by E.S. Benton, the second installment of The Silent Codename series. Careening from one explosive scene and clever bit of investigating to the next, the Alpha squad faces a deadly countdown to disaster, while internal strife and old secrets threaten their unity. With rapid-fire plot twists and a labyrinth of motives and betrayals, Benton’s adrenaline-fueled story is equally visceral and relentless. Part black ops spy thriller and part procedural military drama, this action-heavy […]

In Rhyming Riley: The Dog that Rhymes All the Time, author Tracy Markley tells a charming story about a labradoodle’s life and loves, told in clever rhyme. Going through his daily routine – from playing with toys to barking at strangers – Riley’s day-to-day will spark instant recognition for any child who has a beloved pet. While the story doesn’t veer too far from the very familiar, and the illustrations seem computer generated and therefore less tactile, this book is well-crafted for early readers, given the recognizable storyline and endearing guide.

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An anti-heroine battling accusations of treachery while fighting for her home makes The Assays of Ata by K.I.S. a striking introduction to a new fantasy series. Ata is a magically-abled spy for Pandia, but bringing about the fall of Cinnae, her nation’s sworn enemy, means executing a desperately tangled plot and navigating unexpected allies, murderous motives, veiled threats, and kingdom-shaking betrayals. From multilayered military maneuverings and palace intrigue to fantastical scheming and the visceral awakening of ancient powers, this first book of The Chronicles of Áitarbith series is an impressively elaborate and carefully crafted work of epic fantasy, with a […]

Maddie Bennett is courageously healing both mind and spirit after being rescued from a regime of fanatics by her still-missing brother in Revealed Mercy: A Journey into the Tower of Trust by Eve M. Harrell, an inspiring second installment in her Christian coming-of-age series. To save his son, David Bennett must make a deal with the devil that threatens everything he stands for, while the divine fate of the world hangs in the balance. Weaving subtle lessons from Scripture into a suspenseful and enveloping plot, Harrell’s spiritual focus remains a sturdy foundation for the tenacious Bennett family as they seek […]

A multilayered journey into greater self-knowledge and spiritual confidence, Revealed Truth: A Journey from Fear to Faith by Eve M. Harrell is a Christian YA drama with wisdom for readers of all ages. Maddie Bennett is struggling with the anxiety and panic of teenage life, and the deep faith instilled by her family may not be enough to overcome the symptoms. Her father is fighting his own battles, serving his country by keeping cybercriminals at bay, but in such dangerous times, keeping both his family and his clients safe is a daunting task. Imbued with righteous lessons and relatable characters […]

A mischievous work of contemporary satire, Diamondback by D.R. Capp is a wild but shrewd commentary on the clash of business and culture. When greedy developers turn their eyes on Skyview County for a tourist-drawing mega-mall, disrupting the local culture and bulldozing rattlesnake habitats is just a necessary evil for another modern monstrosity. However, the local resistance is fierce in opposition, as well as unconventional in their retaliation, from monster truck vandalism to food court bombings, resulting in a bizarre yet trenchant David and Goliath novel armed with venomous critiques of appropriation, consumerism, and stereotypical thinking.

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24th-century capitalism and life-draining technology have perfected a deeply dispiriting dystopia, but radical hope is still hard to kill, in Spreadsheet Cultists by Dane Sullivan, a prescient but ominous work of speculative fiction. When a half-educated machine intelligence engineer gets scooped up into the inner workings of a corporate police state, it’s a job that could dramatically change his life, but also an opportunity for rebellion from within the belly of the beast. A savage satire of contemporary society and the dangerous path of technological dependence, convenient fascism, and humanity as an expendable resource, this cerebral piece of dystopian fiction […]