Fantasy Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: Hoplite Ridge by Sean Patrick Sayers

A masterful blend of speculative science fiction, allegorical mythology, and visionary fantasy, Hoplite Ridge by Sean Patrick Sayers is a sparkling and original glimpse into the past, present, and future of humanity.

The timeless conflict between mortals and gods has reached another apocalyptic turning point, and on the blasted world of Elysium, humanity’s fate once again hangs by a fraying thread. Osiris, a ruthless god of destruction, arises once more to wipe mortals from existence, convinced that they have once again reached too close to heaven, with their technology threatening to tear a hole open into the realm of the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-04-23T15:10:21+02:00April 23rd, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews, Latest Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

LoveVortex and the Drakor’s Curse by Pekka Harju-Autti

A swashbuckling adventure to the edge of the known world and the boundaries of reality, LoveVortex and the Drakor’s Curse by Pekka Harju-Autti is a philosophical and visionary work of fantasy.

Tasked with expanding trade relations for the British Empire, a veteran sea captain and his son journey to the Bay of Bengal and the mysterious Andaman Islands, where they encounter a local tribe suffering the weight of a dragon’s terrible curse. Every islander is born with the date of their death tattooed on their forehead, and as this isolated society dwindles, they are becoming more desperate for answers, and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-04-22T14:44:17+02:00April 21st, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Desiderata by M.P. Desmarais

A fellowship of unlikely companions unites to topple a tyrant and liberate an empire in Desiderata by M.P. Desmarais.

Ruling with an iron fist over his kingdom of Ezmondia, Armando is a towering villain, determined to oppress his subjects through conditioning campaigns of violence and media manipulation. He is also in desperate need of a new power source to fuel his sprawling reign, and the potency of shadow magic could be the risky solution that solidifies his control forever. Standing against this sinister foe is Gerrard – a living legend who is starting to feel his age, Andromeda – a […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-03-05T16:39:38+02:00March 5th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Witch Hunt (Shadow World Book 2) by Tim McRae

An intrepid hero must once again face her ageless enemy in Witch Hunt by Tim McRae, a dark and enchanting second installment in the Shadow World series.

Niri, Gryff, and Sara continue their deadly journey as both hunters and hunted, seeking a way to defeat The Witch, while also staying out of her vicious clutches. From wood sprites, winged sylphs, and sinister Dark Riders to haunted swamps, lost castles, and a plethora of portals, McRae’s story is imbued with unique magic, side quests, unexpected allies, as well as bursts of supernatural conflict. Niri’s masterful command of Qi and elemental magic, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-01-13T19:02:00+02:00January 13th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: The Discovery of Magic by L. J. Evias

An archery champion and her unlikely fellowship are transported to a mystical realm in dire need of saving in The Discovery of Magic by L. J. Evias, the creative first novel in the Intrigue of Magic series.

Facing the prospect of moving away and leaving behind all she loves, Alice Harper is determined to win an archery scholarship and find a tangible reason to stay. However, when she and her pals stumble through a mysterious cave portal to another world, the extracurricular stakes get significantly higher. Separated upon their arrival, these five young travelers must navigate a highly divided world […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-03-07T17:54:02+02:00December 5th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: A Mage’s Path by I.L. Cruz

The dramatic final installment of The Enchanted Isles series, A Mage’s Path by I.L. Cruz concludes this sweeping saga of magical revelation and selfless heroism.

Having left Canto behind, along with a heartbroken friend and the love of her life, Inez seeks out the mysterious Avo in the realm of Faery for guidance on remedying the many magical crises surrounding her. Inez’s mother remains trapped in a powerful cowrie shell and her increasingly accessible magic still feels too out of control to wield against the very real enemies that threaten her, let alone aid her quest to return magic to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-02-03T19:54:51+02:00December 1st, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Spirit Quest by Tim McRae

The first book in the Shadow World universe, Spirit Quest by Tim McRae is a dramatic, romantic, and adventurous introduction to a gripping new fantasy series.

Suspended in a timeless and legendary past, the prodigious fighter and magician Niri must confront once again the terrible dark magic of the Witch. Niri is sworn to protect her world from evil, a promise that has sustained her through unimaginable danger and pain. Cooped up in her house in the Old Forest, and still recovering from a fight with the evil Witch that almost cost her life, she perceives a certain unrest in […]

Marina Dora Martino2024-12-09T15:15:12+02:00November 13th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Mr. Average and the 12th Stone by Ben Run

A microcosmic drama with existential implications, Mr. Average and the 12th Stone: Watch Your Mandibles by Ben Run is a mind-bending work of experimental fantasy, told from a thoroughly unique perspective.

Ave may be the best optimizer in the Ant Nest ant colony, but even his eternal loyalty and devotion to Hari isn’t enough to make him forget about the woman who has been visiting him on New Year’s Eve every year for the past eleven years. She is the reason he has been saving up all of his reflection time – all those carefully guarded seconds and emo-seconds – […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-11-13T13:46:25+02:00October 31st, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|