Latest Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: God in Drag by Kristine Madera

A touching tale of humility, healing, and the unpredictable paths of every soul, God in Drag by Kristine Madera is a travel novel that positively shines with humanity.

Micah Connerly has spent over a year in India searching for his absent stepfather, a holy man named Raj who doesn’t seem interested in being found. Criss-crossing the sprawling country to reconnect with this last remnant of his family, Micah has arrived in the sacred city of Varanasi, and the ashram where Raj allegedly stayed. After performing a simple act of compassion, Micah’s own health and future are put in jeopardy, so […]

Review: Second Nature by Thomas Drago

A gritty, dread-inducing drama that explores lingering extraterrestrial trauma in small-town New York, Second Nature by Thomas Drago is a character-driven gem of science fiction.

When an alien force snatches nearly a dozen people from their homes, only to return them the next night to a hallowed stretch of indigenous land, it shakes the foundation of reality for the fictional town of Warrington. Eighteen months on, normalcy has yet to return, and the survivors remain haunted by the memories of their indescribable abuse aboard the alien craft. Some authorities explain away the mystery as a mass hysteria event, leaving the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-03-09T17:58:11+02:00March 9th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Belonging to the World by Barry Hoffner

An emotional adventure that transcends borders and the boundaries of devotion, Belonging to the World: A Journey from Grief to Connection in Every Country on Earth by Barry Hoffner details the author’s epic journeys through love, loss, and healing.

In 2017, Hoffner’s life was upended when his wife Jackie died suddenly while travelling in Africa, leaving him heartbroken and drifting in the face of unimaginable loss. Beginning with the fateful trip that led to her death and the subsequent months of traumatic fallout, this memoir shifts back to the past, laying out the decades of chance decisions and international leaps […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-02-20T15:56:15+02:00February 20th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Travel Book Reviews|

Review: The Ape Who Gazed Beyond by Fernando Reich

A heady exploration of our collective past, future, and the pathways in between, The Ape Who Gazed Beyond: A forgotten story of humanity guided by what has not yet occurred by Fernando Reich is an illuminating poetic reflection on humanity’s potential.

Penned by a tech veteran fascinated with quantum connections and species consciousness, this is a remarkably accessible and inviting collection of ideas on where we came from, where we’re headed, and how we’re actually going to get there. From walking upright and discovering the function of fire to developing language and sharpening the tools that would build our future, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-02-11T17:01:42+02:00February 10th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|

Review: The Soul’s Reckoning by Shireen Anne Jeejeebhoy

An inventive second chapter of Shireen Anne Jeejeebhoy’s post-life saga, The Soul’s Reckoning (The Q’Zam’Ta Trilogy Book 2) continues its creative swirl of speculative fiction and existential imagination.

Following her emotional sojourn through the Earth-Heaven Interdimensional Expanse, Charlotte Elisabeth has finally crossed the Barrier with the help of her soul family, and now faces the next step of her afterlife evolution: preparing to return to Earth. This unexpected stage of her heavenly track requires Charlotte to reconcile with her family, something that she was supposed to do before she abruptly chose to end her life. Accompanied by her soul family, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-02-02T18:59:57+02:00January 29th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Houdini and Doyle: The Return of Jack by Leon Cygman

An untamed thriller that pits the bloodiest lore of England against a pair of legendary historical figures, Houdini and Doyle: The Return of Jack by Leon Cygman is an entrancing historical thriller.

Thirty-five years after Jack the Ripper’s murderous spree in the back alleys of Whitechapel, a vicious copycat emerges to continue his legacy of terror and gore. One of the city’s first female constables is on the case, along with DI Swanson and Chandler, but the investigation is further aided by two unlikely sleuths -legendary author Arthur Conan Doyle and the master of deception himself, Harry Houdini.

When Harry […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-01-09T16:40:41+02:00January 9th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fantasy Book Reviews, Thriller Book Reviews|

Review: Winter Comes in June by David Crane

A visceral and intimate account of two future parents who know the world is about to end, Winter Comes in June by David Crane is an intriguing mixture of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction.

When a scientist on the moon discovers a planet-killing asteroid on a collision course with the Earth, humanity has 30 days to prepare for annihilation. Told through the converging stories of Oksana, an astronaut close to the disastrous discovery, and Michael, a geologist on Earth who survives the Amira impact, this is a before-and-after account of worldwide devastation.

From the impenetrable depths of Hydra Cave and the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-02-20T15:56:24+02:00December 1st, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Apocalyptic Fiction Book Reviews|