International Fiction Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

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: 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 Reviewer2025-12-09T15:58:48+02:00October 15th, 2025|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: International Fiction Book Reviews|

Afghani by Brendon Patrick

Delicately exploring the dark legacies of war in the Middle East, Australia, and beyond, Afghani by Brendon Patrick is a relentless historical novel following two warriors on parallel journeys.

Lacking a clear path in life, Patterson reluctantly joins the Australian Army, but is soon shipped off to Afghanistan in support of America’s post-9/11 retribution, going to war against his own family history. Meanwhile, a century earlier, a well-traveled Afghani cameleer flees to Australia to escape a Khan’s wrath, only to find himself oppressed by new forms of xenophobia and systemic injustice. These alternating timelines reflect eerily similar themes of identity, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-09-12T12:23:07+02:00September 11th, 2025|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, International Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Finding Isobel by Mary Behan

An absorbing and poignant novel about a woman’s search for identity and path in life, Finding Isobel by Mary Behan examines the complex and painful choices that can rip families apart, as well as the kind, loving choices that can bring families together.

Isobel has always had nagging questions about her roots, as her adoptive parents were reluctant to disclose anything about where she came from. In a quest to uncover her past, Isobel travels from Canada to New Zealand in an inspiring and emotionally charged journey, reflecting on the human need to have a sense of belonging with one’s […]

Marina Dora Martino2024-04-30T19:00:16+02:00March 19th, 2024|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, International Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: In B’tween: The Wisp by Nandita Banerjee

Otherworldly, thought-provoking, and innovative, In B’tween: The Wisp by Nandita Banerjee is a novel that poetically plunges into the mysterious potential of the afterlife. Picking up after No. 7: They’re Calling leaves off, this sequel finds a dark legacy of magic and morbidity affecting a new generation of the family.

Ravi and Priya have tragically passed on after a fatal fire, leaving their children Sonya and Sunny behind, but death is not the end of life so many of us expect. As young Sonya embarks on a weekend trip with new friends, hoping for some space from her brother and […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2024-02-06T12:25:54+02:00December 11th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: International Fiction Book Reviews, Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|

The Lost Souls of Guayaquil by Brian Gibb

Spectacularly creative and emotionally gripping, The Lost Souls of Guayaquil by Brian Gibb is an original and thought-provoking novel about life, death, and what defines us in between.

In a clash of beliefs, destinies, and capitalist ambitions, a young woman is torn between fighting beside her oppressed people and staying loyal to her supernatural calling as a healer. An intrepid journalist pushes back against the Ecuadorian government’s sinister manipulation of the press, even if that means landing a target on his back. The reluctant souls of the dead, frustrated at the fate of their still-living loved ones, and unwilling to […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-10-30T13:14:12+02:00October 30th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: International Fiction Book Reviews, Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|

Journey to the Heartland by Xiaolong Huang

A sprawling but delicate story of personal evolution, Journey to the Heartland by Xiaolong Huang expertly navigates the fine line between heartbreaking and inspiring.

Unpacking an abusive childhood as he strives for acceptance and perfection, Hanwei’s long journey away from innocence is remarkable in its stark detail. Juxtaposing the aspirational Chinese mindset of his youth with the free-thinking exploration of ideas in the west, this story is woven together on multiple levels, with themes of sexuality, cultural pressure, academia, and personal exodus, for a poignant meditation on freedom.

Examining whether we can ever truly be free of our past, Huang […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-07-22T03:15:15+02:00July 21st, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Contemporary Fiction Book Reviews, International Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: On the Precipice of the Labyrinth by Brian Snowden

1930s Charlottesville graduate William Benning embarks on an inspired mission to reach Spain in On the Precipice of the Labyrinth by Brian Snowden, an ambitious road story exploring romanticism versus reality.

Like many Americans, Benning is connected to Spain by ancestry, and is taken with the language. He secures passage to Spain by taking menial work on the ship across the Atlantic. A series of fortuitous encounters with friendly locals sees him landed in various lodgings and gigs, leading Benning to find himself in Civil War-era Spain, across the Pyrenees into beleaguered Basque country, hitching rides and trying out various […]

Cate Baum2022-04-11T04:13:11+02:00March 15th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, International Fiction Book Reviews|