Latest Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Canalis by John J. Holshoe

Sprawling, immersive, and riveting from start to finish, Canalis by John J. Holshoe is a top-tier sci-fi debut that shines with inspired visions of the world to come.

A century in the future, Mars has been colonized, while a fleet of mining transport ships skates through an interplanetary network of ice canals beneath the surface of the Red Planet. Sandin, an orphan crewman of the Westward Star, accidentally falls overboard during a foolish stunt and is left behind in the freezing tunnel, only to be rescued by a mysterious group of aliens from a secondary dimension.

Their assistance comes […]

Review: A Line in the Sand by A Mohit

An involving story of discovery and the transformative power of ancestry, A Line in the Sand by A. Mohit unravels the complexity of the Bangladeshi diaspora through the lens of one curious seeker.

When Irene Sebastian returns to her home country of Bangladesh, she does so as a “bigtime officer” for Starlink as they seek a new partnership to provide telecommunications for the beleaguered country. Being treated like royalty is a pleasant perk, but she doesn’t expect to begin a profound and identity-shaking journey into the past. With the assistance of her honorary brother Ishan, she probes into the mysterious […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-10-20T14:46:37+02:00October 15th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: International Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Turkey Is Not The Only Thing Getting Roasted by Robert Okine

A hilarious and unflinching takedown of America’s hungriest holiday, The Turkey Is Not The Only Thing Getting Roasted by Robert Okine serves up social commentary alongside state-specific laughs.

Laced with side-eye witticisms and punny wordplay, Okine presents a tongue-in-cheek celebration of the United States’ most “deliciously dysfunctional” tradition. Proceeding through 51 Thanksgiving anecdotes from every state of the union, along with the nation’s capital, this distinctly American review leaves no regional delicacy unturned.

From sage-burning gurus in Arizona and awkward icebreakers in Delaware to grudge-filled Tupperware trading in Illinois and ghostly visitations in Louisiana, these brief tales run the gamut […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-10-15T15:13:13+02:00October 15th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Humor Book Reviews|

Review: Ardent Wings on Jealous Skies by Z. Bennett Lorimer

An imaginative coming-of-age adventure that soars with epic potential for an entire series, Ardent Wings on Jealous Skies (Tales of Ciel #1) by Z. Bennett Lorimer is a timely tale of lofty dreams, destiny, and revolution.

A decade after Maug the Butcher’s brutal attack that orphaned Vanna, Effie, and Kai, the protective rule of the Celestial Armada perseveres, despite the tithes and conscription demanded of the inhabitants of the Zephyr Isles. However, not every Zephyrii is content with the Celestials’ rule, and the forced retirement of a legendary Wing Commander signals a powerful shift in the politics and power balance […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-10-10T17:30:34+02:00October 10th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Clinging to Hope by Glynda Howard McClure

A character-driven drama from the dawn of the 20th century, Clinging to Hope by Glynda Howard McClure is a meticulously crafted novel of loss, loyalty, and rugged survival against impossible odds.

When the sweltering East Texas summer is shattered by the horrific Galveston Hurricane of 1900, Willie Ann and her husband Gilbert are ill prepared for the deluge of disasters that lay ahead for their family. With their farm destroyed, the Wards are literally torn asunder, forced to rely on the kindness of community as they stubbornly rebuild. However, the loss of a home is just the first calamity for […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-10-03T16:03:59+02:00October 3rd, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Young by Nicholas John Powter

A sword and sorcery adventure set in a vibrant and violent land, The Young by Nicholas John Powter is a compact father-and-son character drama in a wildly creative setting. In The Deluge, where gods of the day and devourers of the night are locked in constant struggle for the souls of the living, a grief-stricken warrior must once again don his armor to defend the realm against encroaching evil.

Sven’s pastoral retirement is shattered when a murderous cult leader attacks his home and nearly beheads his son, Fren, launching them both on an arduous quest to root out a sinister […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-09-23T16:05:27+02:00September 23rd, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|