Latest Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Secret Code of the Gospel by Albert Seidel

A logic-based assessment of the earthly history of Jesus and the cornerstone events of the Bible, The Secret Code of the Gospel: The Earthly Story by Albert Seidel offers a refreshingly pragmatic perspective on faith-based mysteries.

Examining the Gospels as religious reflections on historical events, Seidel attempts to parse fact from fiction and clear up some of the core questions surrounding Christianity’s origins, primarily the life and death of Jesus Christ, beginning with whether he truly existed. The preface clearly states the author’s approach to interpreting the Gospels: Jesus was an actual historical figure, and the Gospels are religious interpretations […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-04-27T11:43:54+02:00April 26th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Religion Book Reviews|

Review: Vendetta: Legend of The Iron Warrior Vol. 3 by T.V. Holiday

The third installment of a savagely unique series, Vendetta by T.V. Holiday holds nothing back as the Iron Warrior is drawn back from sabbatical for his greatest challenge yet.

When the titular hero receives a call that his crew needs help, he returns to the Seventh City for another clash of biblical proportions, heeding the call of his own loyalty to justice and peace. His time away was supposed to give him space to work on his faith and rid himself of any remaining demons; he has worked through the darkness and fear that once dominated his heart, and strengthened […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-04-21T16:28:38+02:00April 21st, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Religious Fiction Book Reviews, Urban Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: To Reclaim a Life by Nelson Erlick

A gritty and unflinching musing on living, dying, and the purgatory that can exist between the two, To Reclaim a Life by Nelson Erlick is a penetrating look at the human psyche.

Following the slow decline of his relationship with Rebecca Wilson, the last love of his life, Richard King faces the tragedy of watching her commit “suicide by cancer.” On her deathbed, she makes him promise to avoid any erratic behavior for two years, a thinly veiled request that he not take his own life, no matter the darkness of the days ahead. He honors her plea, while constantly […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-04-15T09:34:56+02:00April 14th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Mark of Cain by Z. Bennett Lorimer

The spectacular conclusion to a standout saga, The Mark of Cain (Tales of Ciel Book 3) by Z. Bennett Lorimer caps off a dramatic clash of duty and desire, which tears friends, lovers, and family apart in a battle for the future of Ciel’s skies.

Effie has been branded on the Anvil of Caste and elevated to the role of Patrician in the Aquilon Court. The loved ones left behind are now her subjects, further stretching the loyalties of her heart between the Crystal Throne, the citizens she is duty-bound to protect, and her own secret desires. A charming and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-04-08T16:27:42+02:00April 8th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Down to Earth: A Way of Being by Brian Gregory

Exploring everything from childhood development patterns to humanity’s meaning and purpose in the universe, Down to Earth: A Way of Being by Brian Gregory offers a curious and compelling new lens for life.

The book begins with an accessible introduction to popular science, the nature of our universe, the unique history of our planet, and humanity’s immeasurable impact on it, coupled with lesser-known concepts – e.g., holarchies of evolution and developmental thought. These “holonic structures” refer to the ubiquitous interconnections between the whole and part that shape every aspect of life, from “atoms—>molecules—>cells—>organs” at the physical level to “core being—>inner […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-03-27T17:26:00+02:00March 27th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|

Review: The Alchemy of Blood by Richard LaBrie

Raw, unguarded, and ultimately hopeful in the face of harsh reality, The Alchemy of Blood by psychologist and poet Richard LaBrie transmutes the creeping despair of an observant healer into a striking collection of sensitive artistry.

Divided into four distinct sections – Nigredo, Albedo, Citrinitas, and Rubedo – these poems mirror the progressive spiritual path outlined by Carl Jung. The work does not strive for clinical distance or assume authority in its proffered wisdom; instead, the speaker(s) in these poems are curious, playful, flawed, and often accidentally profound.

The first section, Nigredo, is marked by themes of self-destruction, anger, regret, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-03-24T11:03:21+02:00March 24th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry 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|