Editorial Reviews

Lucky Red: A Lunar New Year Tale by Mika Mayen is an enchanting children’s picture book to discover the legend behind the Lunar New Year. One day a man in red arrives at a village by the sea and promises the villagers to rid them of a terrible beast, colorfully brought to life by illustrator Icha Jati. While some of the language may be a bit complex for young children and need explanation (“plagued” or “bleakness,” for example), the eye-catching illustrations are incredibly vivid and expressive throughout, and the captivating storyline offers important cultural instruction. All told, this is an […]

A scattered gathering of memories, visions, and streams of enlightened consciousness, Welcome Home: What if I chose to live after death? by Gaspar Michel is an abstract exploration of life and death. This experimental memoir reads like a dream journal crossed with a philosophical thought experiment, adding a healthy dose of spiritual cross-examination and Christian revelation. The final thesis merges ideas of personal connection, heroic meaning, and truly believing that God will answer our prayers, for a conclusion that is both surreal and thought-provoking. That said, the reading experience is undeniably hurt by poor formatting, problematic editing, and a lack […]

A steamy tale of revenge and barely restrained desire, Her Unbreakable Protector by Alessa Kelly is a hero-filled thrill for romance readers of every kind. The practically perfect Sam may be slightly haunted by his military past, but he is a stunning Montana hunk, one who will do absolutely anything to protect the innocent, particularly when his abducted lover comes into the crosshairs. Steeped in luscious language and visceral scenes of both drama and pleasure, this book flexes between wild extremes of intensity and powerful themes of trust, passion, and self-control. The dialogue could do with more depth and authenticity, […]

A mysterious discovery from the past unites an unlikely pair of curious allies in Peter King and the Magic Stone by Frank C. Senia. To learn the truth about a deadly accident that ruined a town and countless lives, a young boy and a grizzled outcast must peer into the past in order to reshape their own futures. An allegorical exploration of regret, trauma, and redemption, this is a touching story of unexpected connection and compassion. The prose is straightforward, with matter-of-fact narration and blunt dialogue, which does make the story somewhat two-dimensional in its delivery, but the underlying emotions […]

Pebbles and the Biggest Number by Joey Benun, illustrated by Laura Watson, is an immaculately designed book for children that will help them discover the world. When Pebbles the butterfly realizes that he has never counted beyond the number of flowers in his garden – 42 – he sets off on a quest to find the highest number. Complete with interesting scientific facts, such as the temperature of the sun, each page is also a learning experience, alongside Pebbles’ engaging quest. Some of these facts are a fair bit more advanced than the story, but all in all this is […]

Cutting boldly through the packed and redundant genre of self-help books, Not Your Mama’s Bible: A Street-Smart Self-Development Book by Pasha Tay is an uncut peek into streetwise philosophy. Without coddling or gentle affirmative touches so common to self-help, the author lays down the hard truths of social strata, dumb luck, coping mechanisms, failure, determination, and achievement for those readers who are open to a complete shift of mindset. Tay’s tone is relentlessly confident, the personal anecdotes touch on both the hilarious and the vulnerable, and the range of subject matter is impressively broad, while deeply relatable. Nailing the balance […]

Jackie TuLight retraces the steps of her difficult life in Jackie Strong Self, a candid and clear-minded memoir with a dense focus on childhood neglect, nearly fatal injuries, systematic injustice, and overcoming trauma. While healing from years of illness and abuse, Jackie had to muster up her inner strength and faith in God to make her own way in life and become a leading computer technologist, resulting in a life story that is at once harrowing and uplifting. With an unadorned and direct style, Jackie Strong Self is an engaging and inspiring read for TuLight’s open honesty, telling a […]

A sprawling work of YA fantasy about legacy, duty, family, and courage, The Gatekeeper of Pericael by Hayley Reese Chow is an entertaining adventure through a magical jungle where the stakes couldn’t be higher. Training to be the new guardian of an ancient gate between worlds is a lot for young Porter, who would much rather be playing soccer and video games, but destiny and poor timing force him and his cousin into the battle of their lives against an evil shaman intent on enslaving the souls of innocent Earthlings. Steeped in fast-moving action and magical drama, this is an […]