Literary Fiction Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Review: The Clock in the Water by Crissi McDonald

The Clock in the Water by Crissi McDonald is a startlingly original take on magic realism – a mixture of mythic fantasy and romance. Set in the present day on an island in the Pacific Northwest, the novel uses the ocean in all its depth and mystery as a backdrop for a story about love, family, trust, and friendship.

The characters in this story have a profound connection with the ocean where they live – a connection that transfers to the reader, drawing you into their mystical connection with the sea. The Keykwin, an ancient people who are both men […]

Review: Bespoke Betrayals and Sartorial Secrets by Marc Kage

An intricate portrayal of the way work, life, and love interact with each other, set against the backdrop of industrial upheaval and social unrest, Bespoke Betrayals and Sartorial Secrets by Marc Kage is an impressive slow-burn of a novel. With the style of a literary novel and the intrigue of a thriller, Kage has achieved a remarkable blend of character nuance and suspense.

As the title suggests, the fundamental question at work in this novel is that of trust. Everyone is holding something back from everyone else, from business partners to romantic partners, or even family members, as Kage portrays […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-05-19T09:23:22+02:00May 18th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Literary Fiction Book Reviews|

The Golden Manuscripts by Evy Journey

Expertly blending well-crafted romance and high-stakes adventure, The Golden Manuscripts by Evy Journey is a descriptive escape into an exciting world of discovery, struggle, and growth.

Daughter of a career diplomat, Clarissa’s life begins by criss-crossing the globe, but her passion for art drives her forward, straight into a hunt for a historic treasure, and into an unexpected relationship that will come to define her life. This long-form tale of Clarissa’s life, along with some love and looting, is entrancing and educational, particularly her tête-à-têtes with Nathan, which are both flirtatious and fascinating to follow, making for an outstanding duo […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-04-28T08:27:51+02:00April 27th, 2023|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Action and Adventure Book Reviews, Literary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Entanglement – Quantum and Otherwise by John K. Danenbarger

An awe-inspiring novel, Entanglement – Quantum and Otherwise by John K. Danenbarger is a story of crime, death, love, and the contradictory nature of human relationships. Tied together by what could seem almost like destiny, Geena, Beth, Kevin, Davis, Joe, and Martin are entangled in a deeply moving novel where there is neither total damnation nor the hope for full redemption.

Professor Martin Case, Joe’s lover of many years, is working on an important theory in the field of quantum physics. He believes his work, craftily hidden to protect his discovery, will change the world, merging the lines between science […]

Marina Dora Martino2023-03-01T16:03:23+02:00January 10th, 2023|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Literary Fiction Book Reviews, Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Redding Up by Richard Snodgrass

Richard Snodgrass seamlessly plunges readers back in time with his latest collection, Redding Up, unveiling more incredible stories from the fictional mill town of Furnass.

Rich characterizations and powerful (yet broken) figures populate these stories, particularly in “Remaindered,” one of the strongest in the collection. In this hard-edged snapshot of life, a local woman named Carla Brossick confronts a disgraced ex-minister about a horrific sin of his past, even as she tries to overcome her own demons, and keep her aging head above water.

“Her Father’s Daughter” starts readers off with a story of homecoming, of a prodigal daughter […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2025-07-17T19:04:03+02:00October 11th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Literary Fiction Book Reviews, Short Stories Book Reviews|

Seven Beyond by Stella Atrium

Wielding a wickedly original pen and a universe-shattering imagination, author Stella Atrium delivers a tour de force of sci-fi fantasy in her sprawling novel, Seven Beyond.

Presenting an unseen world of immortals and powerful beings, as well as alien races that have intermixed with humanity, this novel is a symbolic and allegorical tale of spiritual connection, and the dark edges of consciousness beyond our understanding. Dr. Meenins sits firmly at the center of this story, as he is taken on an internal journey to free his troubled mind, embarking on this metaphysical quest to perhaps find the answers to […]

SPR2023-05-23T16:49:34+02:00June 10th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews, Literary Fiction Book Reviews, Visionary Fiction Book Reviews|

Sortilege by Linda Gibson

An intricately crafted and gorgeously written inter-textual novel that weaves two interrelated stories together, Linda Gibson’s Sortilege is a must-read for fans of hybrid works and metanarratives.

In the contemporary plotline, a woman in her thirties named Emily (“Em” for short) is blundering through post-divorce existence after moving back home. The stories of two other women cross into Em’s tale, one of whom is reading a gothic-style novel that becomes the second main plotline of the novel.

Despite how confusing these braided pieces might sound, the author handles this Gordian knot of a narrative with style and grace. The novel […]

Michelle Hogmire2022-01-03T11:01:49+02:00December 28th, 2021|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Literary Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: All That Will Remain by Richard Snodgrass

An epic American drama, All That Will Remain by Richard Snodgrass is a stunning portrait of small-town life suddenly revealed by the lights of the broader world.

This is not the first time the author has proven his ability to gracefully transport readers across time and space – his body of work is an homage to eras long past, linked through themes of industry, resilience, power, and the murky, ever-shifting idea of the American dream. This latest offering is an intimate and revealing peek into a temerarious family of rugged survivors as they navigate the rapidly changing landscape of war […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-18T09:14:58+02:00December 5th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Literary Fiction Book Reviews|