Editorial Reviews

A collection of poetry and prose, Every Awful Thing by S.E. Bourne is written with verve and insight. Bourne creates a world wholly her own yet reminiscent of many great writers of the past who captured the plight of Middle America; Lucia Berlin comes immediately to mind, not just for the stripped-back prose and down-to-earth construction, but also in the way metaphor is deftly handled at every level of the narrative – a recognition of the beautiful poetry in the mundane things we do. The few flash fiction stories feel at home as well, with Bourne taking a poetic idea […]

In Female Prisoners of World War Two – a fascinating, and sometimes heartrending work of history – author Nikki McDove pays tribute to five women kept as prisoners of war during WWII. Women’s stories of heroism are often overlooked in military annals, but here, McDove deftly relates the terrifying conditions these females POWs lived through to tell their tales. The accounts are well-written with a fluent and journalistic touch, which can be devoured in one sitting, for a broadly appealing work. A recommended and eye-opening read for anyone interested in learning more about the female side of war and its […]

A clever novel finely attuned to the attitude, cadence, and emotional maturity of teenagers, Discovery of the Five Senses is a unique fantasy adventure that will thrill readers of all ages. The prose is rich with vivid imagery, with strongly visualized scenes that leap off the page, as well as an impressive range of vocabulary that will challenge YA readers, but not overwhelm them. A strong fantasy adventure with clever thematic foundations and a relatable cast, this is an engaging read from a debut novelist with a keen pen for youthful drama.

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Navigating psychological battlefields and exploring the long-lasting horror of PTSD, No Pistol Tastes the Same by Jacob Paul Patchen is a visceral novel of wartime, recovery, and healing. Both a slow burn and a grenade blast, the prose spills a relentless tale of hard choices, unforgiving duty, and the depths of utter desperation, even long after the bullets stopped flying. The author sets each chapter off with a tone-setting, thought-provoking poem, then dives back into the mud of war and the mess of domestic life; this palate-cleansing twist on classic military memoirs makes the story shine even brighter. At times […]

A woman hones her ability to hop to other centuries in Rachel Dacus’ hugely entertaining Undoing Time, the third installment in the Timegathering series, which can be read as a standalone. An adventurous romp about preserving democracy and protecting history from treacherous futuristic scientists, Dacus’ story is both timely and full of surprising twists. After a horrific breakup, Liv Pomeroy heads to picturesque Florence, Italy, where she uncovers her genetic disposition for time traveling, meets the potential new love of her life, and joins a dangerous mission involving the Revolutionary War. Featuring real-life forgotten sculptor Patience Lovell Wright, Dacus’ […]

A philosophical exploration of existence, science, and humanity’s progression of awareness, The Full Extent by Richard Botelho is a heady blend of cutting-edge theory and timeless musing. Spiraling deeper into tangled studies of perception and spiritual reality, this is a cerebral, yet enjoyably dense read that should be savored slow, and mulled thoroughly. Some of the later chapters come off as personal philosophy, rather than a historically backed stream of progress, but the challenging conclusions about consciousness will stimulate even the least outside-the-box thinker. Cleanly edited and polished to an academic gleam, this epistemological thesis is a mind-expanding thrill.

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Inspired by our recent societal shift to video calls and long-distance interaction, Video Conference Go Fish: The Rules and Procedures to Play on a Video Call with Real Playing Cards by Gerald Beaudry is a timely and creative guide for an on-screen card game. From a brief introduction of the concept and altered rules to gameplay examples and more complex variations, this quick read will allow you to easily translate this traditionally in-person game to the virtual realm. With such a small amount of purposeful text, every sentence should be as clear and simple as possible, and some instructions feel […]

A metaphysical vision of the afterlife, complete with divine tests and sage metaphors, A Trial of Rock and Rope by Nicholas Licalsi is a thought-provoking allegory with a healthy touch of mythology. After waking in an afterlife realm, Ferrun is tasked by the gods with a Sisyphean task, alongside other souls trying to drag their own rocks to the mountaintop. There is a surreal flourish to the prose and symbolism aplenty, nudging readers into commentaries on ambition, eternity, pride, purpose, and independence. Blurring the line between myth and philosophical treatise, this seemingly straightforward read is far deeper than might appear, […]