Lead Story | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Ophiuchus Flinched by Z. Bennett Lorimer

A riveting second installment from Z. Bennett Lorimer, Ophiuchus Flinched (Tales of Ciel Book 2) expands the fantastical realm of Ciel as one young woman’s destiny begins to unfold. In this high-flying realm of conspiratorial plots, airborne battlefields, and sociopolitical drama, a young generation of heroes persist in the fight for survival under an oppressive regime of elite overlords.

Following on the dramatic events of Book 1, Effie Strait leaves the only sky island she has ever known after proving herself to be one of the most Gifted plebiscites in a generation. As a result, she has fallen into the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2026-02-13T09:15:57+02:00February 12th, 2026|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: MIJO: We Bend, Not Break by Francisco Castillo

A stirring portrait of the immigrant tradition in America and the burdens of memory that can bury us, MIJO: We Bend, Not Break by Francisco Castillo is an absorbing tale of resilience and reinvention.

Capturing the intergenerational trauma and trajectories of one fearless Mexican-American family, the story depicts the diverse journeys of Joaquín, his son Alejandro, and grandson Gabriel. From the violent dead ends of rural Mexico and back-breaking work in the tomato fields of southern California to struggling up the white collar tower and assimilating into contemporary US culture, this sprawling narrative runs the gamut of the immigrant experience […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-12-09T09:50:37+02:00December 8th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, International Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Memory, Memory, Go Away by Christopher W. Selna

Laden with warnings for our troubled times, Memory, Memory, Go Away by Christopher W. Selna is a timely piece of speculative fiction that echoes with contemporary weight.

In a parallel reality to our own, citizens of the United Founded States of America can participate in a program that wipes away traumatic memories, thanks to the technology of a company called NeuroGlo. Challenging the timeless pillars of religion and the insidious healing power of pharmaceutical drugs, this technology has radically reshaped society’s collective response to trauma, grief, loss, and regret.

At the heart of this rebellion against the societal dominance of […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-12-04T10:47:11+02:00December 3rd, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews, Speculative Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Being Human: A User’s Guide by David Ellis

A timely consideration of the foibles, failures, and turning points that define our lives, Being Human: A User’s Guide – Past Performance is Not a Guarantee of Future Results by David Ellis is a revealing combination of memoir and self-help manual, and a testament to the liberatory power of self-knowledge.

As a psychologist of more than four decades, Ellis sets out to answer some of the biggest questions that have been brought before him over the course of his career. From uncovering the root causes of our myriad existential problems and seeing the positive side of mistakes to eliminating despair […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-12-01T14:33:27+02:00December 1st, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: For Such a Time as This: Appointed to Rise by Amy Bragdon

A fearless collection of uplifting lessons and stories about the powerful potential we each possess, For Such a Time as This: Appointed to Rise by Amy Bragdon is a rousing call to life-changing action. Reflecting on her own biographical journey and the legacy she intends to leave behind, the author artfully distills a bounty of wisdom she has gathered along the way.

Structurally, the book presents ten Appointments – philosophical and personal truths that “will reframe your identity, restore your hope, and reignite your purpose.” These include embracing the purposeful “yes” in your life, choosing courage no matter the cost, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-11-26T13:55:57+02:00November 26th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: Déjà Vu by Niki

A genre-defying exploration of art, death, identity, and redemption, Déjà Vu by Niki is an afterlife drama like no other, and a modern-day sojourn into the realms of mythology.

When the emotionally tortured Zenia makes the fateful choice to cut her life short, she is forced into a soul-baring trial by the Queen of the Underworld. As punishment for her fatal sin, Zenia must traverse the damned worlds of her own making and memory, where “her body carries proof of a crime,” each arm stained with blood she cannot wipe clean.

From revealing interrogations with the ancient Chorus and delirious […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-11-13T09:59:24+02:00November 12th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: The Half-Full-Glass User’s Manual by Richard A. Meyers

A unique and effective blueprint for self-improvement that aims to simultaneously educate, amuse, and inspire, The Half-Full-Glass User’s Manual: Mindfulness Meets Playfulness: A Guide to Joy, Gratitude, and Guffaws by Richard A. Meyers is a breezy and thought-provoking guide to maintaining a healthy mental space.

Cleverly designed as a rediscovered philosophy (The Manual) linked to a long-lost tool (The Glass) that can grant access to a higher level of awareness (The Consciousness), the book insistently nudges the reader into a journey of self-discovery. With the central conceit that using The Half-Full Glass, which we all possess in some form, and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-11-11T15:08:13+02:00November 11th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Self-Help Book Reviews|

Review: It’s Time to Grow by Freddie Floyd Jr.

A provocative collection of sacred riffs and existential essays, It’s Time to Grow: How Focusing on Spiritual Growth Can Transform Your Life and Relationships by Freddie Floyd Jr. is a fount of healing wisdom that doesn’t hold back. Combining a healthy dose of tough love with impassioned reasoning and sound interpretations of Scripture, this is an unfiltered guidebook for spiritual and personal growth.

Building on humanity’s established need for more maturity, kindness, and self-awareness, both as believers and citizens of the world, the author presents a wide-ranging collection of essays about areas of life where improvements can be made. He […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-10-27T17:51:07+02:00October 27th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Religion Book Reviews, Self-Help Book Reviews|