book blog by Heena Rathore-Pardeshi | Of Whiskers And Words
Author: Heena R. Pardeshi
Heena is the author of the award-winning novel Deceived. She works as the novel critic and the chief editor at a local publishing house in Pune, India. She is an animal lover as well as an animal activist.
She loves books, music and wine. Travelling and learning about new cultures is an integral part of her life.
She is presently learning Piano and French language.
She lives in Pune, India with her beloved husband and 6 cats.
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Josh Martin for his debut supernatural thriller series release, B&G Mystery: We Can’t Tell You: Parts 1, 2, and 3.
Book: B&G Mystery: We Can’t Tell You Author: Josh Martin Publication Date: July 20, 2024 Publisher: Independently Published Genres: Mystery, Supernatural Thriller, Horror Page Count: 100
About the Book
From Book 1: Have you ever awoken from a deep sleep and still feel like you’re dreaming? A few minutes of confusion is certainly common….. But what about several months? Not so common, unfortunately. One day, not quite a year ago, it happened to me. I couldn’t shake the feeling. I could remember, and not remember, all at the same time. Confused? Yeah, I was too…. Still am, as a matter of fact. That one morning changed everything. I mean everything. Nothing could have prepared me for the events that followed. Prepare yourself….
You’re about to see why.
You can find B&G Mystery: We Can’t Tell You here: Amazon
About The Author
Josh Martin
Bio – Josh is happily married and a father to two awesome boys. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2007 with a major in Sociology. The B&G Mystery series is his first published work.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Amanda White for her latest release, The Fortune Telling Wizard and Other Stories from The Kingdom of Dar.
Book: The Fortunetelling Wizard And Other Stories From the Kingdom of Dar Author: Amanda White Publication Date: January 27, 2025 Publisher: Amanda White Genres: Fantasy Page Count: 192
About the Book
Legends and common knowledge don’t always agree, but when it comes to wizards the facts are not so far from the stories. Both say that tunics are made from wild magic. Both say that a len who catches, tames, and puts on a tunic is a wizard. And both say that a wizard is named and known by his deeds. Take Duin the Fearless or Bjarne the Vengeful as examples. My name is Hol and I am a wizard of the kingdom of Dar. Though this is true, what name will come from my deeds is yet unknown. From the time I was young, my mother said I would be known as Hol the Proud. The Queen once called me Hol the Loyal. The other wizards of Dar call me Hol the Upstart. Most times, I fear I will be remembered as Hol the Failed. My tunic has its own opinions about what I should be called. In fact, my tunic has opinions about everything. If it has its way, I will be known as Hol the Fortunetelling Wizard. But there hasn’t been a fortunetelling wizard in Dar in over eight hundred years and because I didn’t actually catch or tame my tunic, I fear even more that I might not even be a wizard at all. I want to prove my mother wrong. I want to prove the other wizards wrong. And most of all, even if my tunic ends up being right, I hope I prove myself wrong as well.
Amanda White is a fantasy and literary fiction writer. With a firmness of heart, she believes as Toni Morrison said, “If you find a book you really want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” More and more, she sees the need for books with valiantly good characters, worlds that can be fixed, and hopeful and optimistic endings. This is not to say that her characters don’t have flaws (doesn’t everyone?), make the wrong choices, or have the occasional (or frequent) fit of temper. This is not to say that the worlds represented aren’t already broken or quite imperfect. This is not to say there isn’t plot, plotting, loss, pain, or growth. But rather that, overall, as the stories unfold, optimism wins out over pessimism and the hope that is served up both hot and cold is flavorful enough to taste.
She currently lives in Dallas, Texas where she dreams of mountains and high-altitude, low-humidity air and (barely) survives city living by being close enough to her young nephew and niece to play whatever it is they want to play (usually and often something to do with Pokemon or unicorns).
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Author: Allen Wyler Release Date: 7 July 2025 Series: Deadly Odds Genre: Medical Thriller, Thriller, Cyber Thriller, Suspense Format: E-book Pages: 281 pages Publisher: Stairway Press Blurb: On a Sunday morning, an unsuspecting parishioner collapses on the steps of a church. Moments later the CEO of a cardiac pacemaker company receives a phone call from an electronically distorted voice demanding that they shutter their business by the end of the week, or he will continue to kill implanted patients. Arnold Gold’s team of cyber detectives must now race the clock to track down the hacker’s identity and stop him before he can kill other innocent victims. Arnold Gold and his team of techie geniuses break their vow—no new clients—when a hacker launches a deadly game targeting AI-driven pacemakers. Another heart-stopping read from Allen Wyler.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Deadly Odds 8.0 by Andy Wyler is a tightly woven medical cyber-thriller that feels both frighteningly plausible and compulsively readable. The story opens with a seemingly ordinary Sunday morning at church, shattered when a parishioner collapses, his AI-driven pacemaker fatally compromised. Almost immediately, the CEO of a cardiac device company is threatened by a faceless hacker: shut down your operations or more people will die.
Enter Arnold Gold and his team of cyber detectives. Known for their vow of taking on no new clients, they are forced to break it when lives hang in the balance. What follows is a relentless chase through the shadowy world of hacking, corporate sabotage, and medical technology vulnerabilities.
What I loved most about this book is how author Wyler blends medical science with cutting-edge cyber warfare. The plot is terrifying because it’s plausible, the idea that someone could weaponize pacemakers through AI isn’t far-fetched in our world of interconnected devices. That plausibility gives every chapter a pulse of urgency.
Arnold, with his brilliant but socially awkward demeanor, anchors the story. His sharp intellect paired with his team’s collective skills makes for some clever, nail-biting investigative sequences. At the same time, author Wyler doesn’t lose sight of the human stakes: each victim is a reminder that this isn’t just a game of codes and firewalls, it’s about real lives being extinguished with a keystroke.
The pacing is tight, the tension unrelenting, and the moral questions layered just enough to keep you thinking even as you flip the pages in a rush.
Deadly Odds 8.0 is another heart-stopping entry from Allen Wyler, perfect for readers who enjoy thrillers that merge medical technology, cybercrime, and high-stakes suspense. If you’re looking for a story that feels both entertaining and frighteningly possible, this one’s a must-read.
Author: Rudy Ridolfo Release Date: 2 May 2025 Series: Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction, Humour, Essay Format: E-book Pages: 131 pages Publisher: – Blurb: Job Junky is a bare-bones memoir of work, survival, and everything in between. Told in short, raw chapters, it reads more like a barstool confession than a polished life story. Rudy Ridolfo worked over 50 jobs while chasing a creative dream—from managing shady bars and moving trucks to airport tarmacs, martial arts dojos, and indie film sets. Along the way, he crossed paths with unforgettable coworkers, chaotic bosses, and even icons like Al Pacino and Robert Redford—learning not from their fame, but from how they worked
There’s no tidy arc or grand revelation here. Just true stories from the grind—gritty, absurd, and unexpectedly funny. If you’ve ever clocked in, burned out, or wondered what the hell you’re doing with your life—this one’s for you.
“A funny, delightful, and incisive tour of working odd jobs.” —Kirkus “Wild… Reading this book is a ride.” —Independent Book Review “Fast, matter-of-fact, and full of memorable moments.” —San Francisco Book Review “Insightful, humorous, and engaging.” —The US Review of Books
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
There are memoirs, and then there are wild, gut-punched, whiskey-soaked truth bombs like Job Junky. Rudy Ridolfo’s unconventional chronicle of forty-odd jobs spanning decades reads like Hunter S. Thompson and Charles Bukowski got together to document the gig economy before it had a name.
What begins as a sardonic retort to a dismissive remark, “You were in the movie business,” spirals into a fever-dream confession about the absurdities of surviving while chasing a creative life. From sewage trucks and donut shops to nightclubs, acting gigs, and near-death moments, Ridolfo throws you headfirst into scenes that are messy, hilarious, and heartbreakingly human.
The structure is episodic, like reading journal entries dictated by someone who’s part philosopher, part hustler, and part accidental prophet of the working class. And it works. Because Ridolfo doesn’t just tell us what he did—he shows us how it felt to be discarded, desired, disoriented, and ultimately defiant.
There’s something profoundly liberating about this book’s refusal to be polished. The stories are vulgar and vulnerable in equal measure, peppered with gritty humour and surprising emotional depth. As a writer, I found myself admiring how effortlessly he shifts tone—from bawdy to tender, from surreal to sobering. It’s memoir meets street theatre meets a cigarette break in a film noir.
But what elevates Job Junky is that it’s not just about jobs. It’s about identity. About masculinity. About family wounds and inherited violence. About the price of pursuing art when life keeps shoving reality in your face. It’s not merely a working man’s diary, it’s a manifesto of survival with grace, even in degradation.
That said, the book’s rawness may not suit everyone. Some anecdotes push boundaries, and others may come off as overly indulgent or chaotic. But in Ridolfo’s world, that’s kind of the point—there’s no tidy resolution, only a relentless will to keep moving.
Ultimately, Job Junky is a masterclass in lived experience, told by a man who has nothing left to prove and everything to confess. It’s equal parts tragic and triumphant, and if you’ve ever felt like your “real job” was just a myth you’re still chasing, this book is for you.
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Allen Wyler for his latest release, Deadly Odds 8.0.
Book: Deadly Odds 8.0 Author: Allen Wyler Publication Date: July 8, 2025 Publisher: Stairway Press Genres: Medical Thriller, thriller Page Count: 281 For Readers Of: John Sanford, Don Winslow
About the Book
On a Sunday morning, an unsuspecting parishioner collapses on the steps of a church.
Moments later the CEO of a cardiac pacemaker company receives a phone call from an electronically distorted voice demanding that they shutter their business by the end of the week, or he will continue to kill implanted patients.
Arnold Gold’s team of cyber detectives must now race the clock to track down the hacker’s identity and stop him before he can kill other innocent victims.
Arnold Gold and his team of techie geniuses break their vow—no new clients—when a hacker launches a deadly game targeting AI-driven pacemakers. Another heart-stopping read from Allen Wyler.
“Deadly Odds 7.0 is one of the year’s best thrillers.”
—BestThrillers.com
“Arnold Gold and the team are back at it in this techno-thriller, the focus on detail to real world technology threats brings a level of realistic danger.”
—JT Gaietto, Digital Silence, LTD.
“The crime at the heart of Allen Wyler’s latest techno-thriller will give you chills when you realize how entangled we all are with our technology.”
—Steve Goble, author of the Shamus Award-nominated Go Find Daddy
About The Author
Allen Wyler
Allen Wyler is a retired neurosurgeon who lives in Seattle. Allen’s thrillers have twice been nominated for the prestigious Thriller Award. He has served on the Board of Directors of the International Thriller Writers and is also an active member of the North American Crime Writers and Mystery Writers of America.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Author: Andrew Masseurs Release Date: 1 June 2025 Series: A Day in the Life Series (Book 5) Genre: Post-Apocalypse, Thriller, Dystopia, Survival Horror Format: E-book Pages: 428 pages Publisher: – Blurb: ‘A Tale of Revenge!’ Vengeance! Lucy is hunting down the men who did her wrong. One victim at a time! How can she achieve this in a world full of vicious predators both human and inhuman and who is the unlikely stranger she has grown an alliance with? Can Michael, Shelby and the Uncles of the Apocalypse free Tim, Steven and Mr Oscar from the horrific chains of The Hunter and most importantly will Horacio complete the twelve tasks to become an Uncle?
Will Tony, Luke and Matt survive the wrath of a woman scorned and what dreams are haunting Teresa’s nightmares? All these questions and more will be answered in the exciting fifth book in the A Day in the Life Series. A book you won’t want to miss and will not be able to put down. The vengeful, merciless tale of, ‘The Ghost Whisperer!’ Join in the fight to survive…
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The fifth instalment in Andrew Masseurs’ A Day in the Life series, The Ghost Whisperer, is a relentless plunge into a brutal, post-apocalyptic nightmare where survival is never guaranteed and alliances are as fragile as the bodies that make them.
Author Masseurs wastes no time immersing us in his bleak, creature-infested world; a place where monstrous predators roam freely, the cold itself feels like a weapon, and trust is as dangerous as betrayal. Through a web of interlinked perspectives the novel balances the intimacy of personal vendettas with the sweeping scale of survival horror.
The prose is cinematic yet gritty, pulling you through narrow corridors, ice-bitten roads, and tense face-offs that feel like they could detonate at any second. The atmosphere is relentless, and even moments of camaraderie are undercut by the knowledge that trust can be a death sentence.
What author Masseurs does brilliantly is layer human conflicts over the already hostile environment. The grotesque, otherworldly predators are terrifying, but it’s the moral compromises, the fractured loyalties, and the moments of desperation that make the novel so unnerving. You never quite know whether the real danger is outside the door or sitting across from you at the fire.
While it’s part of a series, The Ghost Whisperer stands strongly on its own, though readers familiar with earlier books will appreciate the deeper character arcs and recurring threads. It’s violent, tense, and at times deeply unsettling, but it also has an undercurrent of resilience that serves as a reminder that even in a world this far gone, vengeance, loyalty, and survival are still deeply human drives.
The Ghost Whisperer is a gritty, atmospheric continuation of the A Day in the Life saga that blends creature horror with the even sharper horror of human nature. Not for the faint-hearted, but highly recommended for fans of apocalyptic fiction that doesn’t pull its punches.
Author: Sebastiano Lanza Release Date: March 27, 2025 Series: Burn My Shadow (Book 1) Genre: Graphic Novel Format: E-book Pages: under 100 pages Publisher:Markosia Enterprises Blurb: November 2113. Tharmas and K – outcasts of society – are in dire need of supplies. They journey to Leipzig, the nearest megalopolis. Here, Tharmas comes to knowledge of an impending speech by Thomas Crowley – the head of public relations of the European Commission. Tharmas is positive Mr Crowley holds a dark truth, which will lead him to what he’s after.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
From the very first panel, Face in the Sand pulls you into a bleak, wind-scoured world where survival is as much about grit as it is about sheer luck. This opening issue of Burn My Shadow doesn’t waste time with exposition dumps, instead, it drops us straight into the desperate trek of Tharmas and K, two unlikely companions bound together by necessity. Hunger gnaws, water runs low, and the only constants are the endless desert and the shadow of danger that seems to follow them.
The sepia-toned palette by Iacopo Calisti sets the perfect tone for this dystopian landscape where the muted colours aren’t just aesthetic, but they press down on you, almost making you feel the grit in your teeth and the oppressive heat on your skin. The dialogues keep the pacing sharp, giving urgency to their terse exchanges and adding weight to the silences between them.
What I loved most was how quickly the author establishes a sense of moral tension. This isn’t just another survival story; it’s about the choices you make when the world has stripped away comfort, civility, and certainty. The city they eventually reach is no haven, it’s a place of masks (literal and metaphorical), rigid control, and desperation. The faceless enforcers are unsettling, their uniform anonymity acting as a chilling contrast to the raw humanity of the people scraping by.
The action sequences are tight and cinematic. The supply run chase had me flipping panels with bated breath. If this first issue is any indication, Burn My Shadow promises a gritty, morally complex journey where every step forward costs something. It’s tense, atmospheric, and unflinching. It is a story that asks how far you’d go to survive, and who you might become along the way.
Author: L J Ambrosio Release Date: 21 July 2025 Series: Reflections of Michael Trilogy (Book 3) Genre: Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction Format: E-book Pages: 166 pages Publisher: Louis Ambrosio Blurb: From America to the streets of Paris, A New Life follows two friends as they navigate grief, love, and self-discovery in a city filled with history and hope. A New Life is a story that lingers long after the last page. In the shadow of personal loss, two men journey from America to Paris in search of healing, purpose, and a place to belong. Set against the romantic backdrop of Shakespeare and Company bookstore, A New Life is a poignant tale of love, loss, and the transformative power of friendship, literature, and new beginnings.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
A New Life by L.J. Ambrosio is the third book in the Reflections of Michael Trilogy. It is one of those deep, philosophical books that doesn’t merely tell a story, it makes you to pause and listen. It’s a meditation on grief, friendship, memory, and the philosophical pursuit of freedom, wrapped in the intimate bond between two men, Ron and Louie, as they go through life in Paris after profound personal losses.
At its core, this novel isn’t plot-driven; it’s character-driven, emotion-led, and deeply poetic. Author Ambrosio invites us into the world of Shakespeare and Company as a sanctuary, a home for the broken and the brilliant. Through rich, dialogue-heavy scenes and introspective monologues, we witness Louie and Ron as they rebuild their lives and identities in the wake of death, trauma, and exile.
What I found particularly compelling is Ambrosio’s ability to layer personal grief with historical and literary subtexts. Through references to St. John of the Cross, Virginia Woolf, Hart Crane, and Sylvia Beach, the novel situates its characters within the lineage of great thinkers, artists, and seekers, many of whom were outcasts in their own time. This intertextual depth lends the book a haunting resonance, reminding us how art often emerges from profound solitude.
Louie, who is at once fragile and radiant, feels like a character born out of longing. His bond with Ron is tender, real, and beautifully undefined; it resists the binaries of friendship and romance, instead embracing something more nuanced: chosen kinship. Other secondary characters add their own textures to Louie’s emotional backdrop, shaping his growth and reminding us that human connection is always political and spiritual.
This book isn’t for readers who crave fast pacing or traditional plot arcs. It’s for those who enjoy wandering thoughts, philosophical digressions, and the meditative rhythm of characters sitting in cafés talking about art, grief, and the unknowable future. It’s a novel that asks you to slow down and feel rather than simply read.
There are moments where the prose becomes slightly repetitive or self-referential, but even that feels intentional, as if echoing the loops of memory and grief the characters are caught in. And there’s something profoundly healing in that.
Overall, this is a book about remembering, and in remembering, beginning again. Author Ambrosio gives us a novel of resistance; the resistance of the artist, the queer body, the intellectual, and the survivor. And in doing so, he leaves us not with answers, but with a space to contemplate our own “new life,” whatever that may mean.
Author: Brett Hodnett Release Date: 2 April 2025 Series: Genre: Apocalyptic, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Speculative Fiction Format: E-book Pages: 242 pages Publisher: – Blurb: A remarkable exploration of family, society, and what makes us human, HUMAN will take you from the post-apocalyptic world of the near future, to the two very different societies that emerge 15 million years later, where those few surviving individuals have evolved to become something that we might not fully recognize as human. When Ayla’s research takes her to a remote river in Canada’s far north, Chris brings their daughter to an isolated island in the southern Pacific. Though at opposite ends of the earth, they both awaken one morning to black skies, and a night that doesn’t end. Slowly, Ayla and Chris begin to realize that humanity has been…
… inexplicably wiped out, and only their isolation has saved them. Besides the handful of people around them, they are now alone in the world. As they struggle to build new ways to live, they must also struggle with how to let go of their past.
Millions of years later, when their descendants finally meet, they have evolved to become two very different kinds of humans, with two very different civilizations. As each tries to build a better world for themselves, navigating love, loss, betrayal and success within their own societies, their biggest challenge may be to recognize the humanity of the other.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Spanning timelines that leap not just decades but millions of years, HUMAN is a genre-bending, mind-expanding tale that defies easy categorization. At its heart, this novel is about survival, of the individual, the species, and above all, of meaning. What happens when humanity is pushed to its limits? What remains?
We begin in the aftermath of an environmental apocalypse, with Ayla and a group of survivors trying to rebuild society from the ashes of catastrophe. This is not your typical dystopia. There’s a measured quietness here, an introspective tone that lingers on community, on language, and on grief. As the book unfolds, we shift to completely different worlds—one thousands of years in the future, under the ocean, with genetically evolved descendants of humanity like Kakapen and Emee; and then again, even deeper into a far-flung speculative future.
What’s striking is how seamlessly author Hodnett moves between perspectives. The transitions from Ayla and Luke, to Edvar and Ilusia, to Isko, to Kakapen and Emee, and beyond—all build toward a cumulative meditation on what it means to be human in any form. Despite wildly different settings and physical realities, there’s a throughline of connection, love, and the need to be seen.
The novel is also deeply anthropological. It’s not just worldbuilding, it’s world-layering. We see how cultures form, how language evolves, and how rituals replace memories. And even when society becomes alien, the emotions remain achingly familiar.
Stylistically, the writing is clean, at times sparse, but rich with internal reflection. Author Hodnett allows silent moments to breathe and trusts the reader to engage with the ideas without excessive exposition. And while some readers may find the multi-era structure disorienting, I found it quite satisfying as if I were reading a long, braided essay disguised as speculative fiction.
If I have a quibble, it’s only that certain sections—especially in the second and third narrative strands—could benefit from more emotional grounding. Sometimes the ideas leap ahead of the character arcs. But the final act brings it all together with poignant clarity.
In short, HUMAN is an ambitious, genre-straddling novel that asks questions instead of giving answers. It’s perfect for readers who loved Cloud Atlas, The Overstory, or Annihilation—and for anyone who finds themselves wondering, not just what our future holds, but what kind of people we become to survive it.
Author: Djanee Release Date: 21 October 25 Series: Genre: Science-Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Faith-Infused, Thriller, Action, Christian Literature Format: E-book Pages: 296 pages Publisher: Xulon Press Blurb: Sophie and her friends have been captured and held prisoner for the purpose of obtaining intelligence they do not have. They have been burned, tortured, and abused for days right after having everything that they have ever known destroyed and taken away from them. They discover from a prophecy that mysteriously appeared to them in the night that they are destined to escape. Motivated with determination and purpose, they must develop a plan for freedom. What they don’t know is that past all the dangerous guards and the unsurpassable escape route is a surprise that will change their lives forever. Djanée loves writing songs, novels, poetry and singing. Her Christian faith is the cornerstone of her life. Inspired by the action and the adrenaline from three separate dreams in one night, what began as a mini-story on a few sheets of loose-leaf paper evolved into the digital writing of an 800 plus word story. The thrillers and twists in the story surprised her, and the different elements in the story wound up melding together flawlessly as though planned. Realizing this had to be more than happenstance she felt led to publish her book, which has become a series.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
More Than Conquerors: On the Run by DJanée is an energetic and highly imaginative work of Christian speculative fiction, blending sci-fi, action, and faith themes into a fast-paced, futuristic narrative. At its heart, this is a story about perseverance, belief, and survival against overwhelming odds that’s a clear reflection of the author’s intent to fuse entertainment with deeper spiritual resonance.
The world-building is ambitious: a futuristic society layered with danger, advanced technology, and oppressive systems. Yet, at the core of it all is faith, which is presented not as a preachy addition but as an organic part of the characters’ journey. Author DJanée’s writing captures the urgency of the chase, the desperation of her characters, and the resilience required to keep moving forward, even when the world seems intent on crushing them.
What worked well for me was the sheer momentum of the narrative. There’s rarely a dull moment; the plot races along with the same relentless energy as its protagonists, who are constantly on the run, battling not only physical adversaries but their own doubts and fears as well.
However, at times, the execution wobbles slightly and some parts feel overwritten, certain characters could benefit from more depth, and the pacing occasionally sacrifices clarity for speed. That said, the message shines through: faith can be the anchor in the most turbulent of storms.
I’d recommend this book for readers who enjoy speculative fiction infused with faith, action, and a strong sense of purpose. Think of it as a futuristic spiritual thriller with heart.
Author: Marie Lukic Release Date: April 2025 Series: Kingdom of Nerada (Book #2) Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade Format: E-book Pages: 105 pages Publisher: – Blurb: Dottimar returns to the sunken sea kingdom and desperately tries to awaken her son, rainbow dragon, Cathoundral, who has been enchanted by Orange Faery. Ancient faery Verimetus and her grand-daughter, Blue Lantern faery, Vermial, lead Triton, the dragons and the merfolk into the Abyss in an attempt to find Triton’s missing daughter, Princess Sirena Mirashal.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
If you’re someone who loves classic fairy tale energy (think shimmering kingdoms, ancient magic, enchanted creatures, and brave quests) then The Faery Enchantment by Marie Lukic is bound to charm you. Author Lukic has created a rich, imaginative world where dragons, merfolk, and faeries collide in a story brimming with wonder, danger, and heartfelt moments.
At its heart, this is a tale of family, loyalty, and the lengths we’ll go to save the ones we love. Dottimar’s desperation to save her rainbow dragon son, Cathoundral, sets the tone for a story full of high-stakes adventure. Meanwhile, Verimetus and Vermial (who might just be my favorite characters) add layers of ancient wisdom and courage to this already magical narrative.
The underwater scenes are beautifully rendered and feel lush and vivid, and the blend of folklore with fantasy is handled with a delicate, almost lyrical touch. Author Lukic’s world-building feels expansive and lived-in, with hints of deeper mythology beneath the surface.
While I loved the story, at times, the pacing felt a little uneven. Certain sections could have been tighter to keep the momentum flowing, especially for younger readers who thrive on action and clarity. However, the richness of the world and the warmth of the characters more than make up for it.
The Faery Enchantment is perfect for fans of The Water Horse or The Spiderwick Chronicles, those who love their fantasy with a splash of wonder, heart, and a dash of darkness.
Author: Robin S. Hasuki Release Date: June 1, 2025 Series: Genre: Literary Fiction, Surreal Fiction / Magical Realism, Contemporary Fiction, Slice-of-Life Fiction, Japanese-Inspired/East Asian Literature Format: E-book Pages: 321 pages Publisher: JCA Press Blurb: Tokyo Tangents is a quietly haunting, speculative fiction novel, laced with Japanese pop culture and metafictional nudges. Fans of Haruki Murakami, Makoto Shinkai, Andy Kaufman, or David Mitchell will feel right at home in this dreamlike Tokyo, where nothing is ever quite what it seems. In the neon-lit party districts, between chiming convenience stores and countless hole-in-the-wall eateries, hidden histories lurk in every back alley. On the sweltering city streets, two strangers stumble upon a mystery that stretches far beyond their understanding of themselves and their place in the world. A fading pianist, haunted by the weight of a crumbling career. A pharmacist, driven by the ghost of a brother long lost. Linked by a fleeting encounter and an inexplicable connection, they begin pulling at threads that unravel long-buried secrets—about their families, their pasts, and the seemingly solid seams of the universe around them.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
If Murakami were a bit more playful and less obsessed with wells, you might end up with something like Tokyo Tangents. Robin S. Hasuki has crafted a quietly surreal, oddly poignant picture of Tokyo, woven together through tales of commuters, piano players, secret doors, and mysterious women who vanish into the city’s folds.
This isn’t a book you read in a single sitting. Rather, it’s one you slip into, chapter by meandering chapter, much like wandering through the back alleys of Tokyo itself. Author Hasuki excels at capturing the ennui and madness of modern urban life, giving us characters whose loneliness feels tangible, yet whose eccentricities spark genuine curiosity.
What really worked for me was the understated humor and the surreal, almost dreamlike unfolding of the plot. The writing is restrained yet richly atmospheric, striking that uniquely Japanese balance between the absurd and the subtly melancholic. The intersections between characters, the piano player with his secret job and the pharmacist haunted by a family heirloom, feel like disparate threads that somehow harmonize by the end.
It’s not without its imperfections. Some parts stretch longer than necessary, and there are moments when the pacing lags, perhaps intentionally to reflect the monotony of daily life, but it risks testing the reader’s patience.
Still, Tokyo Tangents is a book for those who savour atmosphere, character introspection, and stories about the unnoticed magic tucked into the cracks of everyday existence. A charming, subtle, and strangely affecting debut.
Author: Marie Lukic Release Date: April 2025 Series: Kingdom of Nerada (Book #1) Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade Format: E-book Pages: 145 pages Publisher: – Blurb: Princess Isabella embarks on a quest to find a magical cure for her tragically ill mother, Queen Julianne. Her exciting adventures lead her to hunt and fly sea dragons. Will Isabella finally discover a cure when all others have failed? She also encounters Cyclops Ponder and his family as he battles for freedom after slavery. An exciting adventure into a fantastical world where wonder thrives, danger lurks and humour occurs at every turn!
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Isabella Airyfairyabelous & the Sleepy Dragon by Marie Lukic is a fantasy book that is whimsical, witty, and full of wonder. It is a joyride through a richly imaginative world that children (and adults with a playful heart) will adore.
Princess Isabella is no ordinary royal—she’s brave, quirky, and driven by a fierce love for her mother, Queen Julianne, who’s fallen gravely ill. When traditional cures fail, Isabella sets off on a quest brimming with dragons, magic, unexpected allies, and some seriously laugh-out-loud moments.
What I loved most is how effortlessly author Lukic blends classic fairy tale elements with modern charm. The writing sparkles with humor, the world-building is vibrant and whimsical, and the characters are unforgettable. There’s depth beneath the adventure with themes of courage, freedom, and love running throughout the tale.
For young readers, this is the perfect introduction to fantasy as it is accessible yet layered with emotion and meaning. And for grown-up readers? It’s a reminder of the kind of magic we used to believe in. I’d recommend it for fans of How to Train Your Dragon, Ella Enchanted, and the kind of stories that make bedtime reading a nightly event to look forward to.
Author: Jake Bennett Release Date: July 10, 2023 Series: Genre: Young Adult, Epic Fantasy Format: E-book Pages: 436 pages Publisher: – Blurb: Reika is a changeling, a human girl brought up in a kind community of Metazoans, a sapient zoomorphic species who migrated from a distant land long ago. She works as a servant at the King’s citadel. But all this changes when Reika and her friends Melito and Tabitha—royal guards at the citadel—are attacked by rebel Metazoans led by the fearsome sorcerer Magnus. Facing death, Reika’s true nature is revealed by the light of the full moon; a dormant power is awakened, and Reika’s destiny changes forever.
In order to heal the darkness awoken in Reika’s soul, and to escape the machinations of powerful foes, she will need allies. Thus begins an epic journey spanning multiple continents and cultures, through magical and material perils, and even bending the fabric of time itself… Lunarmancer is the debut YA fantasy-epic by Jake Bennett, a novel that marries the brilliant ensemble casts of Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy with Tolkien’s luscious world-building.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Lunarmancer by Jake Bennett is a sweeping, richly imagined fantasy epic that blends classic genre tropes like magic academies, prophecies, chosen ones, with a surprisingly intimate emotional core. What begins as a tale of self-discovery rapidly unfolds into a sprawling, multi-threaded saga of war, identity, loss, and resilience.
At the heart of it is Reika, a former servant girl grappling with a curse that transforms her into somethign she never imagined. Her journey is full of pain, sacrifice, and moments of profound inner reckoning. As a reader, and especially as a developmental editor, I was struck by the way Bennett threads psychological realism into a fantastical framework. Reika’s arc isn’t just a magical evolution; it’s a deeply human coming-of-age shaped by trauma, survival, and rediscovered agency.
What impressed me most is how author Bennett manages to juggle a vast ensemble cast including Junayd, Kenzuo, Lief, Destrian, and so many others, without losing narrative focus. Each character, even those on the margins, feels fully rendered with complex motivations and believable flaws. Thankfully, the villainy isn’t cartoonish and the heroes aren’t infallible. It’s this grey-toned morality that adds gravitas to the story, grounding its epic battles and magical lore in real emotional stakes.
The world-building is elaborate and detailed, perhaps a touch overwhelming at times, especially with terms like Dragelve Consortium, Somnium Carcerem, and Ferrum Champions flying fast and a bit too early (for me personally), but readers who love rich lore will find much to feast on. There’s a real sense of history behind every location, political alliance, and magical artifact.
Stylistically, the prose leans towards cinematic, with fast-paced scenes punctuated with high-octane action. But where author Bennett shines is in quieter moments, like a quiet conversation under moonlight, that give the narrative its soul.
What keeps this book from being a full 5 stars is pacing: there are moments where exposition threatens to bog down the emotional momentum, and the sheer number of locations and lore elements can be disorienting. That said, it’s a minor flaw in what is otherwise an impressively ambitious debut.
For readers of Brandon Sanderson, Tamora Pierce, or Fullmetal Alchemist, Lunarmancer will feel both nostalgic and refreshingly bold. It’s a tale of found family, inherited power, and the subtle, unglamorous courage it takes to choose your own path, even when fate has already written your story.
Author: Rudith Moore Release Date: May 11, 2025 Series: Fall of Haven (Book #1) Genre: Speculative Fiction, Thriller, Literary Fiction, Dystopian Format: E-book Pages: 282 pages Publisher: – Blurb: ‘It was Hae-sol’s idea, Haven. Always been obsessed with medicines and the idea of healing those he deemed broken, perhaps because of the cruel way he was raised and the trauma that’s festered because of it… or perhaps because inwardly, he’s struggling to maintain his sanity, refusing to admit it until he can find and secure a definite remedy.’
Kyun-ho was eleven years old when him and his best friend created Haven. They made Haven to help Kyun-ho’s brother cope with the cruel way society and their family treated him due to his schizophrenia. Hae-sol and Kyun-ho would pretend to be his doctors, and Tae-kyun was happy because they only treated him with what made him happy. Candy and teas for medicine, toys and games for therapy. That was Haven. Until Hae-sol notices Tae-kyun’s condition is getting worse. Until Hae-sol is no longer pretending to be his doctor, because he’s convinced he can truly fix Tae-kyun and anyone else he deems broken. Until time has passed, and now they are 30, and only one of them can recognize the harm that came from Hae-sol’s doctoring, and the horror of all the crimes they’ve buried beneath that treehouse Haven was birthed in. This is the story of Hae-sol and Kyun-ho, and the aftermath of a purposeful game of pretend.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Reading Children of Dysphoria by Rudith Moore feels like stepping into a slow-burning fever dream that stares directly into the disquieting face of society, trauma, identity, and the perilous tightrope between victimhood and vengeance. This is literary dystopia at its most searing, but also at its most nuanced.
The story weaves between multiple deeply traumatized characters—Kyun-ho, Hae-sol, Tae-kyun, Hyeong-cheol, and others—all children and teens weathered by neglect, abuse, institutional failure, and inherited pain. It reads like a series of fragmented testimonies carved into the walls of a collapsing world. Moore’s style is lyrical and feverish, sometimes poetic and sometimes claustrophobically visceral, but always emotionally exacting. Every sentence feels like it costs something. And you feel that cost.
The trauma here is not sanitized. It’s complex, intersectional, and real—told through children navigating psychosis, autism, addiction, suicidal ideation, generational abuse, and religious gaslighting. The prose doesn’t flinch from showing us what it means to survive in a world that refuses to see you as worthy of gentleness. But even in that brutal clarity, there is grace. There is care.
What astounds me most is how author Moore lets each character remain fully themselves, neither purely victims nor perfectly redemptive. Kyun-ho, for instance, is deeply flawed, a child forced into a caregiver role, riddled with guilt and anger, desperate for control in a life shaped by chaos. His love for Tae-kyun and complicated grief over Hae-sol are layered with such honesty, it’s hard not to ache with him.
There’s no plot in the traditional sense, and that’s intentional. The narrative moves like memory in a fragmented, circular, and nonlinear way. Scenes echo and haunt each other. The pacing is deliberately erratic, forcing the reader to experience the confusion, fatigue, and spiraling disassociation these children live with every day.
This book is emotionally rich, deeply upsetting at times, and will leave you gutted. But it’s also one of the most important portrayals of complex trauma and neurodivergence I’ve come across in contemporary fiction. It doesn’t just ask for empathy; it demands understanding.
Children of Dysphoria is not for everyone. But if you’re willing to sit with discomfort, to read with your whole heart, this book will stay with you. It’s a masterwork of pain and love, of what it means to be broken and still reaching for something more. This book is not for passive readers. But if you allow it, it will reward you with an unforgettable reading experience that lingers in the bones.
Highly recommended for readers of Kathy Acker, Carmen Maria Machado, and Samuel R. Delany. A devastating, brilliant work of speculative literature.
Author: Darke Conteur Release Date: January 7, 2025 Series: Genre: Fantasy Format: E-book Pages: 390 pages Publisher: – Blurb: It’s 1982, and fourteen-year-old Evandra Shade befriends earth-muffin, Skye Daniels. Their friendship is a salvation from the social pressures of high school, especially when damage to the school is dubiously linked back to them and they must repay the school for the damage. A daunting task, until Skye learns Evandra has a secret; her family belongs to a magical society, and the girls quickly concoct a plan that will pay off the debt, and could make them popular. Skye knows how to make natural hair dye and Eva knows how to infuse creative, mental and physical enhancements into the solution. Want to be more creative? Dye your hair yellow! Want to pass that exam? Blue hair will help you retain all the knowledge you read, and no one suspects there’s real magic behind it, even with a warning that states prolonged exposure to the ‘magical dye’ will have serious consequences. Before long the entire student body is awash in a rainbow of bright colours, but more importantly, success.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
What starts as a cheeky, fun idea with two teens creating a magical hair dye to help pay back their school, turns into a surprisingly thoughtful and layered narrative about friendship, responsibility, and the moral grey zones of using magic to “fix” what life throws at you.
Eva and Skye’s characters feel refreshingly real. Their dialogue sparkles with teen wit and weariness, and their bond with a mix of codependency, mischief, and genuine care, grounds the entire story. Eva, born into a magical family, is cautious and self-aware; Skye, her normie best friend, is impulsive and passionate. The magical hair dye they concoct to boost academic performance starts as an innocent hustle but quickly becomes a social phenomenon with unintended consequences.
There’s a lot to love here: the cozy world-building with its spells and Yule flames, the textured family dynamics, the hints of larger magical systems just beneath the surface, and the way the story never forgets it’s about two girls trying to make sense of their power — both magical and personal. The writing is brisk, charming, and unafraid to lean into the awkward and the vulnerable. And the author doesn’t shy away from heavier moments of jealousy and insecurity to the ethical dilemmas of magical capitalism.
What I loved most was the commentary on consent and boundaries. The dye may sparkle and shimmer, but it also influences emotions and behaviors making the line between intention and manipulation razor thin, and the book knows it.
If you enjoy contemporary fantasy that feels nostalgic yet emotionally intelligent, this book hits the mark. Think Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Nevermoor, with a slice-of-life format that makes space for character growth over spectacle.
It’s a perfect start to what I hope is a long, magical series. Can’t wait for more of Eva & Skye’s adventures.
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Rudy Ridolfo for his latest release, Job Junky.
Book: Job Junky Author: Rudy Ridolfo Publication Date: May 2, 2025 Genres: Memoir, Humor, Work & Society Page Count: 168 pages
About the Book
50 jobs. One dream. All true.
Job Junky is a fast, funny memoir of a life built on side gigs and survival work—from moving trucks and martial arts dojos to cold-call centers and indie film sets. Rudy Ridolfo takes you through decades of unpredictable jobs, where the real drama came from the coworkers, bosses, and sometimes downright bizarre encounters along the way.
Over the course of dozens of jobs, Ridolfo crossed paths with people you don’t forget—bizarre coworkers, explosive bosses, and the occasional icon like Al Pacino and Robert Redford, whose presence left lasting impressions. While navigating the unpredictable world of indie film, he honed his craft as a director and acting coach, drawing lessons from both the chaos and the characters around him.
Told in quick-hit chapters with zero fluff, Job Junky is perfect for anyone who’s ever clocked in, burned out, or just wondered if they’re the only one still figuring things out.
“A funny, delightful, and incisive tour of working odd jobs.”
—Kirkus
“Wild… Reading this book is a ride.”
—Independent Book Review
“Fast, matter-of-fact, and full of memorable moments.”
—San Francisco Book Review
“Insightful, humorous, and engaging.”
—The US Review of Books
Quotes from the Book
“Most people don’t really talk about it, but everyone has a story.”
“There is no reasoning, only compromise”
“… when you feel that the universe is about to give it all to you in a magic bubble of joyous gifts that usually lasts about as long as an actual soap bubble.”
“The workers who believed they were too important to get fired always got fired.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m doing the same thing in another dimension right now.”
About The Author
Rudy Ridolfo
Rudy Ridolfo is the pen name of an indie filmmaker and master of side jobs. After working some 100 jobs to fund his creative pursuits, he wrote Job Junky — a gritty, darkly funny memoir chronicling a life lived between film sets, sewer trucks, and survival gigs.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Author: Alia Luria Release Date: August 12, 2025 Series: Genre: Memoir, Cultural, Japanese Culture Format: E-book Pages: 196 pages Publisher: Unsolicited Press Blurb: Geri o Shimasu: Adventures of a Baka Gaijin invites readers on a witty, unfiltered romp through 2008 Japan as experienced by Alia Luria, a self-proclaimed “clueless foreigner.” Luria dives headfirst into the quirks and challenges of Japanese culture, from decoding onsen etiquette and enduring public embarrassment to exploring the oddities of love hotels and the loneliness of bustling crowds. With laugh-out-loud anecdotes and moments of poignant self-reflection, she unpacks the universal hilarity and humanity of navigating the unfamiliar. Whether she’s fumbling through train etiquette, braving bizarre foods, or embracing the messy beauty of cultural exchange, Luria’s candid storytelling is blunt, occasionally cringeworthy, and always unapologetically real. This collection is a hilarious and heartfelt reminder of the chaotic, awkward, and transformative adventures that shape us all.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Geri o Shimasu: Adventures of a Baka Gaijin by Alia Luria is a brilliant, ballsy, and wildly unpredictable collection that reads like a love letter to Japan written by someone who knows exactly when to laugh, when to cry, and when to just say, “Geri o’shimasu!”—whatever that means in the moment.
This is not your traditional travel memoir. It’s sharp, fast-paced, and unapologetically personal. Through a series of biting, irreverent, and occasionally heartwarming vignettes, O’Shimasu invites us into her Japan — not the glossy, curated version, but a chaotic, intimate, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heart-splintering ride through cultural collisions, language mishaps, and moments of deep insight.
This isn’t a book that plays by the rules. And yet, beneath the humour, there’s a steady current of vulnerability such as reflections on identity, aging, desire, loneliness, and belonging. Author Luria knows when to let the absurdity shine and when to peel it back and show us something raw and real.
Stylistically, it reminded me of a cross between David Sedaris and Banana Yoshimoto — razor-sharp observational humour meets quiet emotional resonance. Each chapter’s accompanying reflections serve as both cultural footnotes and emotional pivots, adding layers of meaning to even the most outrageous tales.
As someone who reads across genres and edits with a focus on voice and tone, I found this collection to be an exceptional example of voice-driven non-fiction. Author Luria’s writing isn’t just fearless, it’s fiercely hers. There’s nothing performative here; it’s messy, it’s real, and it’s electric.
Highly recommended for readers who want to travel, reflect, laugh, and occasionally wince — all in one sitting. Geri o Shimasu: Adventures of a Baka Gaijin is a memoir that dismantles Japan’s culture, devours it, and dances in Japan’s weird little alleys with a bottle of sake in hand.
Author: Rowena Hawkins Release Date: June 24, 2025 Series: Genre: Memoir, Cultural Literature, Asian Literature Format: E-book Pages: 232 pages Publisher: Earnshaw Books Blurb: “The two of us against all of them? How unfair for them.” Seeker Hokuren’s big break is coming: the prince of Velles hires her to find his missing daughter. Tracking down all those lost pet cats for a pittance has finally paid off. Together with her eager but raw elven assistant Cinna, Hokuren quickly sees the case spiral into much more than a mere missing princess. There’s an elf kidnapping scheme, magic said to no longer be possible (never trust the wizards), a long lost goddess, and a monstrous captain of the guard in the middle of it all.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
My Father is Police, Lah! is an absolute delight of a memoir that dances between personal anecdote, cultural snapshot, and a rich, layered historical narrative. Author Rowena Hawkins invites us into her childhood in 1960s colonial Singapore, painting each memory with wit, honesty, and a keen eye for detail that only someone deeply immersed in the literary craft can achieve.
What struck me most was the authenticity of her voice. Author Hawkins achieves that rare balance: a conversational, often hilarious tone that is deceptively light, yet beneath which runs a profound undercurrent of nostalgia, family dynamics, colonial politics, and cultural intersections. The book isn’t simply about her father, a Malay prince-turned-police officer, but about a sprawling community of characters: the richly drawn servants, eccentric neighbours, and Singapore itself, captured at a very particular moment in its evolution.
The episodic structure works beautifully, each chapter reading like a self-contained story that contributes to a greater mosaic. From run-ins with supernatural forces to harrowing moments during the racial riots, from family feuds to hilarious childhood escapades, every vignette is vibrant and alive. The prose flows with effortless clarity, peppered with cultural nuances and linguistic texture, Singlish, Malay, Cantonese, and Tamil, woven organically into the narrative.
And yet, under the humour lies a deeply affectionate portrait of a father’s dedication, a mother’s resilience, and a nation’s complex colonial legacy. Hawkins doesn’t shy away from the messy, the awkward, or the painful, and renders them with such grace and candour that you come away feeling both entertained and oddly moved.
For readers who love richly detailed memoirs, cross-cultural narratives, or intimate histories of Southeast Asia, this book is an absolute must-read. As someone who reads and edits memoirs regularly, I found myself admiring Author Hawkins’ ability to maintain both levity and depth, and her mastery in capturing the sensory world of her childhood so vividly. I highly recommend this book to all the readers not just as a memoir, but as a literary time capsule of Singapore’s multi-ethnic, post-colonial identity. This book is an absolute gem!
Author: P.S. Bartlett Release Date: June 13, 2025 Series: Genre: Science-Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Aliens Format: E-book Pages: 295 pages Publisher: – Blurb: They told her she’d be studying human behavior. They never said the subject wasn’t human. Lana Delaney isn’t the kind of girl who chases adventure. A champion swimmer and psychology major, she keeps her world small—school, training, and staying invisible. But when her bold, unpredictable new roommate Willie bursts into her life, Lana starts to believe maybe she doesn’t have to hide forever. Everything changes when she accepts a summer internship at a classified research facility. Her assignment? To observe an unusual subject known only as Project J.
His name is Hiro. He isn’t human. And he’s been waiting for her. Trapped in a saltwater pool and fading fast, Hiro speaks through thoughts, memories, and something deeper Lana can feel. With the help of Logan—a conflicted but charming tech specialist—Lana begins to unravel a web of secrets, cover-ups, and buried truths. Now, caught between two powerful connections and a dangerous conspiracy, Lana must decide how far she is willing to go to save the only being who has ever truly seen her. Perfect for fans of Starman, Arrival, and The Host, Hiro-J: Energy is a romantic sci-fi thriller about memory, trust, and the invisible energy that binds us all.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Hiro-J: Energy by P.S. Bartlett is an absolute delightful read. It is a genre-bending fusion of science fiction, psychological drama, light romance, and quiet suspense that had me fully immersed from the first chapter. At its heart, this is not just an alien contact story — it’s an exploration of connection, trust, and the profound complexities of human (and non-human) empathy. Lana is written with remarkable tenderness: a young woman carrying subtle wounds, whose growing relationship with the alien being Hiro (or J) feels natural, emotional, and at times, surprisingly profound. The depiction of the telepathic bond between them is particularly well-handled — neither rushed nor over-sentimentalized. Instead, it unfolds with an intimacy that makes every moment between them compelling.
What impressed me most was the restraint in the pacing — the story takes its time, allowing us to sit with Lana’s doubts, her growing intrigue, and the psychological weight of being at the center of something far bigger than herself. The ethical layers — about science, exploitation, and autonomy — give the narrative extra depth without overwhelming its core. And Hiro as a character who is non-human yet beautifully relatable, stays with you long after the book ends.
Structurally speaking, the book balances dialogue and introspection quiet well, and despite the heavy themes, it never feels bogged down. The prose is crisp, accessible, yet thoughtful and that’s just the way a novel like this should read.
For readers who enjoy character-driven sci-fi with a touch of mystery and emotional resonance, HiroJ: Energy is a highly rewarding read. It is emotionally intelligent and has enough intrigue and suspense to cater to different kinds of readers.
Welcome to TRB Lounge. Today, I’d like to welcome P.S. Bartlett, author of HIRO-J: Energy, for an author interview with The Reading Bud.
About The Author
P.S. Bartlett
P.S. Bartlett (pen name), an award-winning author, was born on Valentine’s Day in Baltimore, Maryland, near the historic sites of Fort McHenry and Federal Hill. As the youngest of eleven siblings, she was surrounded by history and enjoyed cycling to explore these national landmarks with her friends during her childhood. She released her debut novel, Fireflies, in 2013 and has since self-published twelve books. During the pandemic, Peggy used her writing skills to freelance in copywriting, editing, and beta-reading, which helped her regain lost income and grow her freelance business. Collaborating with authors has become a fulfilling passion, as she enjoys helping others achieve their writing goals. She has also added publishing and social media management to her list of offerings to her clients. Alongside her literary endeavors, she loves reading, painting, drawing, and learning anything new. While writing and coaching other authors takes up much of her leisure time by choice, she treasures the moments spent with friends and family. Currently serving as a full-time marketing director, Peggy hopes to transition into a full-time writing career upon her retirement in 2026 and continue her work supporting other authors. “Always remember to go for what you want, no matter your age, because whatever makes you happy and fulfilled is always worth your time.”
Her motto: I’m taking a fantastic voyage. Won’t you join me?
Welcome to TRB! Could you provide our readers with a personal introduction beyond your official Author Bio?
P.S. Bartlett (pen name), an award-winning author, was born on Valentine’s Day in Baltimore, Maryland, near the historic sites of Fort McHenry and Federal Hill. As the youngest of eleven siblings, she was surrounded by history and enjoyed cycling to explore these national landmarks with her friends during her childhood.
She released her debut novel, Fireflies, in 2013 and has since self-published twelve books.
During the pandemic, Peggy utilized her writing skills to freelance in copywriting, editing, and beta-reading, which helped her regain lost income and grow her freelance business. Collaborating with authors has become a fulfilling passion, as she enjoys helping others achieve their writing goals. She has also incorporated publishing and social media management into her offerings for clients.
Alongside her literary endeavors, she loves reading, painting, drawing, and learning anything new. While writing and coaching other authors occupies much of her leisure time by choice, she treasures the moments spent with friends and family.
Currently serving as a full-time marketing director, Peggy hopes to transition into a full-time writing career upon her retirement in 2026 and continue her work supporting other authors.
“Always remember to go for what you want, no matter your age, because whatever makes you happy and fulfilled is always worth your time.”
Her motto: I’m taking a fantastic voyage. Won’t you join me?
Beyond the blurb, can you share a unique aspect or background detail about your book’s setting or characters?
I’m guessing a scientific institute that is secretly housing an alien being is pretty unique, but who knows? I suppose that’s subjective to the reader.
Every book begins with an idea. What was the initial inspiration that led you to write this particular story?
Sometimes, or rather, most of the time, I hear a voice in my head that starts getting louder. It starts telling me a story. This particular time, I thought of an ordinary person who is caught up in extraordinary circumstances. How Hiro joined the party is still a mystery. I started outlining and thought, how cool would it be to meet an alien being and make that ultimate connection—love!
Fantasy often tackles profound themes. What central message or theme do you hope readers will take away from your book?
That emotional intelligence is important to our survival, and that we love who we love, even if it happens to be an alien.
Of all the characters in your book, is there one you feel particularly close to? Why?
Definitely, Lana. She and I are very much alike—introverted extroverts. I believe she’s an INFJ-A personality type, just like me.
How do you approach character development in a fantasy setting to ensure they are relatable to readers?
I draw all my characters from life. Having been on Earth for a long time, I have met, known, and loved people from all walks of life. I’m very observant, much like Willie in the story, and I can quickly identify a character’s attributes and flaws.
What served as the primary inspiration for this book? Was it an existing myth, a personal experience, a dream, or something else entirely?
I honestly don’t know. I think I wanted to dispel the “Little Green men” from Mars myth and tell a story about people who were the exact opposite of what we’ve seen in the movies. Hiro is like a big, beautiful, sweet E.T. type of person.
How long did the process of writing this book take from inception to completion?
I started the book in late October 2024, if I remember correctly. I began three books within a few weeks of each other, but this one kept calling to me. As a writing coach and editor for other authors, my work kept me so busy that I had to schedule time to work on Hiro-J. All in all, it’s not a huge book, so it only took me about three months total.
Are there other stories or fantasy worlds you’re currently developing?
No, I’m going to stick with Hiro for a while. I’ve already started forming the plot for Book Two.
What attracts you to the fantasy genre specifically? Do you explore other genres as well?
My first novel, Fireflies, was a blend of fantasy and magical realism. I believe life is full of mystery, and we don’t always need to look to aliens, dragons, fairies, and vampires to find that magic. I believe that if we shut off our electronics, sit quietly in the world, especially in nature, for a while, and “touch grass,” as they say, we can feel the magic of the real world around us. However, I’ve a whole series about female pirates, also known as Historical Fiction. I’ve written Historical Romance, Fantasy, and Contemporary Romance, and now I’ve added Science Fiction Romance. I write what I want to read and what excites me at the time.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Was the journey straightforward, or did you face challenges along the way?
I’ve been a writer my whole life, as well as an artist and dreamer. However, I didn’t publish my first book until 2013. Challenges? Try being married, raising children, working a full-time job, and taking care of an elderly parent. Writing has been and continues to be my escape from the real world, as is reading. I make time to escape, I guess. It’s much easier now, though. It’s only the full-time job that holds me back.
Can you describe your typical writing routine?
I brew a pot of coffee, have some dinner, go into my home office, and play with my cat for a bit. Then, I sit down to play a computer game or scroll through BookTok for about 30 minutes to clear out the day’s cobwebs. After that, I open my manuscript, read back the previous chapter from the night before, and start banging on the keyboard.
Editing is a crucial part of the writing process. How do you approach revisions and self-editing in the context of a fantasy narrative?
I’m a fixer and I love it. Anything that can improve the story, I’ll do it, no matter how long it takes. Mistakes you better. I’m lucky to have a great beta reader who isn’t afraid to tell me the truth… the cold, hard truth.
With the growing popularity of audiobooks and multimedia adaptations, have you considered these formats for your work?
I have several audiobooks for my other books. I have so much on my plate right now, trying to market Hiro-J, that the audiobook is way down the list for now. However, I am looking forward to having it created.
If you had to describe your writing style in three words, what would they be?
Outline. Adjust. Write.
What tools or methods do you prefer for writing – computer, typewriter, voice recording, or traditional pen and paper?
Good old Microsoft Word and my PC. Nothing fancy.
Could you share five books or authors that have influenced your writing, especially within the fantasy genre?
Definitely George R.R. Martin. I re-read A Song of Ice and Fire at least once a year. He is a master. There are five books in that series, so there you go. Seriously, though, he is my ultimate writing hero. Now, I can tell you about my favorite authors in other genres, such as Stephen King, for Horror, Elisa Braden, Elizabeth Johns, Julia Quinn, and Mimi Matthews, for Historical Romance. J. R. Ward—The Warden is my queen of Dark Romance. The list goes on and on.
How do you tackle Writer’s Block when working within the expansive boundaries of fantasy?
Read something else by another author or a different genre. I read, read, read, and listen to an audiobook. It cures me every time.
What piece of advice would you offer to budding writers, especially those looking to venture into fantasy
Read a bunch of fantasy books in the area you wish to write in. Fantasy is a vast genre with numerous subgenres, so be discerning. Read as much as you can to understand the genre and then sit down and just write!
Thank you, author Bartlette, for taking the time to answer our questions and for all your insightful answers!
About the Book
Hiro-J Energy
They told her she’d be studying human behavior. They never said the subject wasn’t human. Lana Delaney isn’t the kind of girl who chases adventure. A champion swimmer and psychology major, she keeps her world small—school, training, and staying invisible. But when her bold, unpredictable new roommate Willie bursts into her life, Lana starts to believe maybe she doesn’t have to hide forever. Everything changes when she accepts a summer internship at a classified research facility. Her assignment? To observe an unusual subject known only as Project J. His name is Hiro. He isn’t human. And he’s been waiting for her. Trapped in a saltwater pool and fading fast, Hiro speaks through thoughts, memories, and something deeper Lana can feel. With the help of Logan—a conflicted but charming tech specialist—Lana begins to unravel a web of secrets, cover-ups, and buried truths. Now, caught between two powerful connections and a dangerous conspiracy, Lana must decide how far she is willing to go to save the only being who has ever truly seen her. Perfect for fans of Starman, Arrival, and The Host, Hiro-J: Energy is a romantic sci-fi thriller about memory, trust, and the invisible energy that binds us all.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Author: Quinn Lawrence Release Date: April 17, 2025 Series: Cinna and Hokuren (Book 1) Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery, Humour Format: E-book Pages: 310 pages Publisher: Fondence City Press Blurb: “The two of us against all of them? How unfair for them.” Seeker Hokuren’s big break is coming: the prince of Velles hires her to find his missing daughter. Tracking down all those lost pet cats for a pittance has finally paid off. Together with her eager but raw elven assistant Cinna, Hokuren quickly sees the case spiral into much more than a mere missing princess. There’s an elf kidnapping scheme, magic said to no longer be possible (never trust the wizards), a long lost goddess, and a monstrous captain of the guard in the middle of it all.
When Cinna is caught in the crosshairs, Hokuren is working for more than the needed pay: she’s got to uncover every secret to save Cinna’s life. They’ll need to work together against militant librarians, crazed acolytes, and even her former boss in the City Watch. Because as Hokuren’s bond with Cinna grows, it seems everyone believes the biggest secret of them all is hiding within her unassuming assistant. . . A lighthearted and fast-paced fantasy adventure full of action, mystery and sly humor, Cinnamon Soul is also the heart-warming exploration of an unbreakable bond of friendship forged between two women as they struggle against the forces of the elite and powerful.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Wow! What a ride. Cinnamon Soul by Quinn Lawrence is a deeply character-driven exploration of identity, trauma, and the complicated inheritance of power. At the heart of this story is Cinna, an orphaned elf with no illusions about her place in the world. She’s sarcastic, stubborn, and scuffed by life—but that’s what makes her so compelling.
From its opening pages, the novel delivers a whip-smart narrative voice that’s impossible to ignore. Cinna is a force, barreling through the alleyways of Velles chasing criminals one moment, and then stumbling, quite literally, into a spiritual awakening the next. When it’s revealed that a goddess named Senara has been secretly living in her soul since birth, the narrative pivots into something far more layered: an examination of consent, purpose, and self-determination.
What I found particularly affecting was how the novel treats divinity with skepticism. Cinna doesn’t revere Senara; she challenges her. And the more the goddess reveals about Cinna’s past and future, the more the novel begins to interrogate the very idea of divine right. It’s bold, philosophical, and filled with ethical grey zones that I loved wading through.
But don’t let the existential themes fool you because this book is also funny, fast-paced, and full of brilliant world-building. The magical systems are creative, the politics are messy and real, and the supporting cast grounds the narrative in emotional truth. Hokuren’s steady presence and fierce protectiveness offer the perfect foil to Cinna’s recklessness.
The soul-world segments, dripping with surreal detail, gave me Spirited Away vibes but laced with a distinctly adult kind of grief and growth. There’s something truly special in how author Lawrence renders the soul: moss-covered ground, blueberry-dotted dresses from forgotten childhood dreams, and monsters that speak like mentors.
By the time I turned the last page, I was exhausted in the best way. Cinnamon Soul confronts and demands that we question who gets to shape a destiny, and whether inherited power, divine or otherwise, is ever truly benign. Highly recommended for readers who crave emotionally rich fantasy with brains, heart, and teeth.
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author P.S. Bartlett for her latest release,HIRO-J: Energy.
About The Author
P.S. Bartlett
P.S. Bartlett (pen name), an award-winning author, was born on Valentine’s Day in Baltimore, Maryland, near the historic sites of Fort McHenry and Federal Hill. As the youngest of eleven siblings, she was surrounded by history and enjoyed cycling to explore these national landmarks with her friends during her childhood. She released her debut novel, Fireflies, in 2013 and has since self-published twelve books. During the pandemic, Peggy used her writing skills to freelance in copywriting, editing, and beta-reading, which helped her regain lost income and grow her freelance business. Collaborating with authors has become a fulfilling passion, as she enjoys helping others achieve their writing goals. She has also added publishing and social media management to her list of offerings to her clients. Alongside her literary endeavors, she loves reading, painting, drawing, and learning anything new. While writing and coaching other authors takes up much of her leisure time by choice, she treasures the moments spent with friends and family. Currently serving as a full-time marketing director, Peggy hopes to transition into a full-time writing career upon her retirement in 2026 and continue her work supporting other authors. “Always remember to go for what you want, no matter your age, because whatever makes you happy and fulfilled is always worth your time.”
Her motto: I’m taking a fantastic voyage. Won’t you join me?
They told her she’d be studying human behavior. They never said the subject wasn’t human. Lana Delaney isn’t the kind of girl who chases adventure. A champion swimmer and psychology major, she keeps her world small—school, training, and staying invisible. But when her bold, unpredictable new roommate Willie bursts into her life, Lana starts to believe maybe she doesn’t have to hide forever. Everything changes when she accepts a summer internship at a classified research facility. Her assignment? To observe an unusual subject known only as Project J. His name is Hiro. He isn’t human. And he’s been waiting for her. Trapped in a saltwater pool and fading fast, Hiro speaks through thoughts, memories, and something deeper Lana can feel. With the help of Logan—a conflicted but charming tech specialist—Lana begins to unravel a web of secrets, cover-ups, and buried truths. Now, caught between two powerful connections and a dangerous conspiracy, Lana must decide how far she is willing to go to save the only being who has ever truly seen her. Perfect for fans of Starman, Arrival, and The Host, Hiro-J: Energy is a romantic sci-fi thriller about memory, trust, and the invisible energy that binds us all.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Author: Alisanya Release Date: June 28, 2025 Series: The Adventures of Chii (Book 1) Genre: High Fantasy, Adventure, Coming-of-Age, Format: E-book Pages: 333 pages Publisher: Nekomancer Books Blurb: Would you have the strength to get back up after losing everything? Chii’s peaceful life is shattered when a dark mist engulfs her village, turning everyone into shadowy specters… except for her. Terrified, she flees into the woods, stumbling upon a group of bandits who sell her into slavery. After a long, agonizing year, Chii escapes the horrors of captivity and encounters unexpected allies who help her find her strength. With newfound skills, she sets off adventuring, determined to uncover the mystery behind the shadowy fog that stole her life. Little does she know, the eerie mist—and her own self—harbors a far more sinister secret than she could have ever imagined…
This high fantasy tale of a charming, resourceful heroine features an intricate and unpredictable plot, strategic combat scenes, and shocking revelations. The outcome of the action-packed battles hinges on clever tactics and teamwork, as each individual—friend or foe—possesses their own unique abilities and weaknesses. And with stunning illustrations scattered throughout, the world and its diverse characters truly come to life. Don’t miss out—begin your adventure today!
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The Adventures ofChii by Alisanya is one of those books that reads like a heartfelt anime adventure with surprising emotional depth and an unexpected undercurrent of darkness. What starts as a coming-of-age tale of a sweet, spirited catgirl quickly morphs into a layered journey through trauma and power reclaimed.
Chii, the titular heroine, is a petite catgirl whose idyllic childhood is torn apart by a mysterious mist that turns her entire village into howling, shadowy spectres. From that moment on, her life spirals into slavery, survival, and slowly—painfully—freedom. I found the setup heartbreakingly vivid. There’s a real sense of emotional texture in how author Alisanya portrays the grief, betrayal, and vulnerability of a child thrust into a brutal world not of her choosing.
But Chii is no passive victim. As the story unfolds, she evolves—emotionally and magically. She finds allies, trains with fae warriors, joins tournaments, investigates disappearances, and grapples with the demonic power pulsing within her. It’s all set in a richly imagined fantasy world. The magical systems are well thought-out, the dialogue feels anime-authentic, and the tone blends charm with stakes in a way that kept me engaged throughout.
What I loved most was Chii’s voice is that it’s innocent without being naive and determined without becoming jaded. Whether she’s facing bandits, rival mages, or emotional betrayal, her spirit remains luminous. The supporting cast—Akila, Leon, Samir, Ethan—each bring different energies to the story, and some of their arcs genuinely surprised me. That said, I did find a few scenes leaning into genre tropes a little heavily, and the pacing, particularly around the middle chapters, occasionally stalled.
For fans of Sword Art Online, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, or The Rising of the Shield Hero, Chii will feel both familiar and fresh. And with its hint of darker themes like demonic influence, moral ambiguity, and emotional sacrifice, it’s clear that this is only the beginning of a much engaging saga. I am looking forward to Volume 2!
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author P.S. Bartlett for her latest release, HIRO-J: Energy.
Book: HIRO-J: Energy Author: P.S. Bartlett Publication Date: September 16, 2025 Genres: Sci-Fi Romance, Fantasy Romance, Magical Realism Page Count: 285 pages Publisher: P.S. Bartlett
About the Book
They told her she’d be studying human behavior. They never said the subject wasn’t human. Lana Delaney isn’t the kind of girl who chases adventure. A champion swimmer and psychology major, she keeps her world small—school, training, and staying invisible. But when her bold, unpredictable new roommate Willie bursts into her life, Lana starts to believe maybe she doesn’t have to hide forever. Everything changes when she accepts a summer internship at a classified research facility. Her assignment? To observe an unusual subject known only as Project J. His name is Hiro. He isn’t human. And he’s been waiting for her. Trapped in a saltwater pool and fading fast, Hiro speaks through thoughts, memories, and something deeper Lana can feel. With the help of Logan—a conflicted but charming tech specialist—Lana begins to unravel a web of secrets, cover-ups, and buried truths. Now, caught between two powerful connections and a dangerous conspiracy, Lana must decide how far she is willing to go to save the only being who has ever truly seen her. Perfect for fans of Starman, Arrival, and The Host, Hiro-J: Energy is a romantic sci-fi thriller about memory, trust, and the invisible energy that binds us all.
P.S. Bartlett (pen name), an award-winning author, was born on Valentine’s Day in Baltimore, Maryland, near the historic sites of Fort McHenry and Federal Hill. As the youngest of eleven siblings, she was surrounded by history and enjoyed cycling to explore these national landmarks with her friends during her childhood. She released her debut novel, Fireflies, in 2013 and has since self-published twelve books. During the pandemic, Peggy used her writing skills to freelance in copywriting, editing, and beta-reading, which helped her regain lost income and grow her freelance business. Collaborating with authors has become a fulfilling passion, as she enjoys helping others achieve their writing goals. She has also added publishing and social media management to her list of offerings to her clients. Alongside her literary endeavors, she loves reading, painting, drawing, and learning anything new. While writing and coaching other authors takes up much of her leisure time by choice, she treasures the moments spent with friends and family. Currently serving as a full-time marketing director, Peggy hopes to transition into a full-time writing career upon her retirement in 2026 and continue her work supporting other authors. “Always remember to go for what you want, no matter your age, because whatever makes you happy and fulfilled is always worth your time.”
Her motto: I’m taking a fantastic voyage. Won’t you join me?
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Author: Alexander Morpheigh Release Date: September 8, 2024 Series: Genre: Science-Fiction, Time Travel Format: E-book Pages: 432 pages Publisher: BookBaby Blurb: The protagonist, a young man named Theodore, is about 36 years old and resides in Athens. Following a car accident, he finds himself in the body of a young man from Ancient Greece who attempted suicide. Confused about his whereabouts, Theodore sets out to find people and seeks guidance from the Delphic Oracle – Pythia. Pythia reveals to Theodore that he must meet his true teacher, who alone can return him to his own time. To prepare spiritually for this encounter, Theodore’s best bet is one of the greatest teachers of European civilization – Pythagoras, who coincidentally lives during that era. Theo seeks out Pythagoras and becomes his student. Throughout his education, Pythagoras explains to Theodore why he ended up in the past and the significant mission awaiting him in the future. In the process, Pythagoras imparts a wealth of intriguing facts to Theodore, blending authentic Pythagorean teachings with alternative viewpoints from contemporary science. Theodore’s beloved Elena remains in Athens, and his lack of attention towards her weighs heavily on him.
Through his studies, Theodore learns the practice of lucid dreaming, enabling him to communicate with Elena in his dreams and share his experiences. In a critical turn of events, Theodore steals a bottle of expensive wine, leading to his arrest. Pythagoras intervenes, securing his release on bail. However, Theodore learns he can only remain on the island for a month. With his limited time, he must pass an interview with the local ruler. In another lucid dream, Theodore meets Alkeus, the young man from ancient Greece, who now inhabits his body in the present. Alkeus’ adaptability to modern life is hindered by amnesia, and he relies on others to remind him of his past. As Theodore’s training progresses, Pythagoras not only introduces alternative, scientifically backed perspectives on the Universe’s structure and the existence of parallel worlds but also takes him on journeys to explore them. Theo’s situation becomes dire – execution awaits him if he stays in the past, while arrest and imprisonment await him in the future. In a lucid dream, he encounters his future self in a café, realizing that his true teacher is none other than himself. Spiritual purification is the key to his return to the present. Is he prepared to embark on his crucial mission?
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The Pythagorean by Alexander Morpheigh is not a typical philosophical fiction; it’s a metaphysical odyssey layered with science, mysticism, and a yearning for wisdom. As someone drawn to the intersection of science, spirituality, and storytelling, I found this book not only intriguing but quietly transformative.
The novel follows Theo, a modern-day man whose life takes a surreal turn when he finds himself face-to-face with none other than Pythagoras himself, yes, that Pythagoras. What begins as a quest for answers morphs into an intellectual and spiritual apprenticeship that unravels Theo’s assumptions about knowledge, time, identity, and purpose. The dialogue-driven narrative, deeply Socratic in its approach, pulls you into a rabbit hole of ideas where philosophy, quantum physics, ancient rituals, and morality all intertwine.
What I loved most was how the author managed to bridge science and spirituality. The teachings of Pythagoras aren’t presented as practical, humane, and relevant. The book’s pacing meanders at times but this isn’t a novel you devour in one go but rather one you sit with, underline, and ponder. That’s also its strength. It challenges you to slow down and think, to really question what it means to live a meaningful life in the modern world.
For readers who enjoy philosophical fiction like Siddhartha and The Alchemist, The Pythagorean offers a rich and rewarding journey. It’s part fable, part sacred dialogue, and wholly original.
Author: Elizabeth Jaeger Release Date: September 16, 2025 Series: Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction Format: E-book Pages: 282 pages Publisher: Unsolicited Press Blurb: When the world first went into lockdown, on a lark, Jaeger started a blog. Then, on Day 12, the unimaginable happened. Her dad got sick and she rushed him to the hospital. What followed was a close look at what it was like to watch a loved one suffer from COVID. After a nineteen day battle, her father died and the family was stricken with grief. But grieving during the pandemic was drastically different than in a time of normalcy. There were no funerals. No religious services. No ability to mingle with friends. Just the heavy feeling of loss, which at times was suffocating. Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19 captures life in New York City – the constant sound of sirens, the new graves dug daily, the eerie silence and desolation of local playgrounds – the epicenter of the virus. In flashbacks throughout the narrative, vignettes illustrate her dad in happier times-a doting father, an adoring grandfather, a man who always put family first. It depicts encountering COVID up close and places it in a political and personal context. While the story is about one family, it is not unique. COVID touched everyone’s lives and many endured a similar experience.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19 by Elizabeth Jaeger is an exceptionally intimate, unflinching memoirs I’ve read in recent years. In a world oversaturated with distant, clinical accounts of the pandemic, Elizabeth Jaeger offers something heartbreakingly rare: a deeply personal narrative of loss that is both sharply detailed and universally resonant.
The book talks about the author’s father who fell gravely ill during COVID-19 lockdowns. What follows is a searing account of not just a man’s rapid decline due to COVID, but the implosion of a family’s entire emotional infrastructure in a time when even mourning was regulated and restricted. What struck me most is the clarity and honesty in author Jaeger’s voice. There is no melodrama here, just truth—raw, painful, and exquisitely observed. The way she balances the clinical with the poetic, the fear with the memory, the personal with the political, is nothing short of masterful. She weaves in flashbacks that breathe life into her father’s character—a man full of love, idiosyncrasies, and integrity—making the eventual loss even more gutting.
The depiction of New York City as both a ghost town and a siren-laced epicenter adds a haunting backdrop to her narrative. I found myself stopping multiple times, just to sit with the weight of it. And yet, this is not just a story about death—it’s about love. Fierce, unwavering love. It’s about remembering someone wholly and refusing to let their narrative be reduced to statistics.
Author Elizabeth Jaeger has not only chronicled her experience; she’s captured the grief of a generation. Stolen is a time capsule, a testimony, and a reminder that behind every “case” or “death toll” is a family forever changed.
Author: Ted Richardson Release Date: April 21, 2025 Series: Genre: Cozy Mystery, Mystery Format: E-book Pages: 274 pages Publisher: – Blurb: Theo has everything a promising musician could want. He’s the front man for the hottest band in New York City, with mad guitar skills and a pending record deal. The only catch: Theo is losing his mind. After his on-stage breakdown and six-week stay at a psychiatric hospital, Theo is ordered to move back home with his mother. As part of his outpatient treatment program, he is assigned a job as an orderly at a local senior home. There he meets Lucy, a terminally ill resident whose life is somehow mysteriously linked to his. One day Lucy overhears Theo practicing an original song in the music room. But what she hears isn’t possible. Lucy’s first boyfriend wrote the same song the night before he was murdered—fifty years earlier. Things only get stranger from there.
Desperate to make sense of the unexplainable things happening to him and reclaim his music career, Theo attempts to solve the cold case murder. In doing so, he hopes to find answers to questions he’s had his whole life. But it could cost him more than just his sanity in the process.
“The Flip Side is an inspiring drama/mystery wherein true love is lost and found over a period of 50 years…The author’s appreciation for music is pervasive throughout the narrative and often influences the intriguing plotlines. Author Ted Richardson (Imposters of Patriotism) delivers an impactful and fulfilling novel from start to finish that will leave the reader with a song in their heart, if not their mind.”
— Manhattan Book Review
“The Flip Side is a highly engaging story that includes endearing characters, charming descriptions, and an original storyline mystery that spans generations. The book also includes an ethereal element that takes a good story and catapults it into the realm of exceptional. We couldn’t put it down…This story excels at the necessary ingredient of conflict. Conflict exists on several levels: between characters, one’s own mind, and the passage of time are but a few of these. The description is so good that the reader can easily perceive the muskiness in the air when traversing a small, decrepit cemetery. The other mechanics of a good book are also present. The book is very well edited, the pacing is perfect, and the character arcs are extraordinary. The ending of the story goes beyond satisfaction into the realm of enlightenment. This book opens the mind in ways seldom achieved by fiction. If we said we absolutely loved this story and highly recommended it, we would still be underselling it.”
— Mystery Review Crew
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The Flip Side is a beautifully crafted, emotionally resonant novel that blends themes of mental health, identity, and metaphysical mystery through the lens of fame and personal redemption. From the first chapter, I was immersed in the life of Theo—a rock star trying to reclaim control of his life after a stay in a psychiatric hospital, grappling with trauma that refuses to stay buried.
What begins as a story of emotional survival deepens into a compelling psychological and spiritual journey. Theo starts experiencing vivid, disorienting memories of another life—those of Wyatt, a musician from the 1970s. Through therapy, reflection, and a series of surreal encounters, Theo uncovers an eerily real past life connection that leads him into the mystery of Wyatt’s untimely death.
Richardson’s prose is both lyrical and grounded. He handles the supernatural elements with grace, never tipping into melodrama. Instead, the novel maintains its emotional weight, balancing Theo’s unraveling mental state with moments of clarity, connection, and healing. The integration of past and present lives is done with a precision, and the pacing allows readers to sit with Theo’s transformation.
The novel touches on intergenerational grief, lost love, and what it means to carry a story forward—whether it’s your own or someone else’s. Supporting characters like Olivia and Lucy are richly drawn and help mirror Theo’s fractured self back to him in meaningful ways.
By the final pages, The Flip Side becomes less about solving the mystery and more about embracing wholeness. It asks: What if redemption doesn’t mean erasing the past, but understanding it? What if peace is found not in forgetting, but in finally remembering?
Teh Flip Side is a beautifully soulful novel. For readers who are drawn to psychological depth, metaphysical undertones, and a slow-burning emotional arc, The Flip Side will be a perfect pick.
Welcome to the TRB Lounge. Today, we are featuring author Elizabeth Jaeger for their latest release, Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19.
Book: Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19 Author: Elizabeth Jaeger Publication Date: September 16, 2025 Genres: Non-Fiction, Memoir Page Count: 275pages Publisher: Unsolicited Press
About the Book
When the world first went into lockdown, on a lark, Jaeger started a blog. Then, on Day 12, the unimaginable happened. Her dad got sick and she rushed him to the hospital. What followed was a close look at what it was like to watch a loved one suffer from COVID. After a nineteen day battle, her father died and the family was stricken with grief. But grieving during the pandemic was drastically different than in a time of normalcy. There were no funerals. No religious services. No ability to mingle with friends. Just the heavy feeling of loss, which at times was suffocating. Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19 captures life in New York City – the constant sound of sirens, the new graves dug daily, the eerie silence and desolation of local playgrounds – the epicenter of the virus. In flashbacks throughout the narrative, vignettes illustrate her dad in happier times-a doting father, an adoring grandfather, a man who always put family first. It depicts encountering COVID up close and places it in a political and personal context. While the story is about one family, it is not unique. COVID touched everyone’s lives and many endured a similar experience.
You can find Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19 here: Amazon | Goodreads
About The Author
Elizabeth Jaeger
Stolen: Love and Loss in the Time of COVID-19 is Elizabeth Jaeger’s first book. Her essays, short stories, book reviews, and poetry have been published in various print and online journals, including Margate Bookie,Caustic Frolic,The Blue Nib, Capsule Stories, Watchung Review, Ovunque Siamo, and Italian Americana. Newtown Literary published “The Treehouse,” which is a chapter from her novel in progress. Jaeger earned an MFA in creative writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an MA in history from William Paterson University.
If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com
Author: Rick Steigelman Release Date: May 4, 2025 Series: Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Coming-of-Age Format: E-book Pages: 244 pages Publisher: – Blurb: Jacquelyn Pajot is a nine-year-old American girl whose excitement over a solo visit to her grandmother in Paris is soon diminished by the discovery that the grandmother is far more devoted to dragging her to church every day than she is in showing her the much-anticipated sights of the city. Jacquelyn’s despair is remedied when she meets a pair of local girls, Nicolette and Genevieve, who are only too happy to lead the American astray. Jacquelyn, to her giddy astonishment, finds herself cajoled into joining her young companions in singing for money on the streets of Montmartre and leg kicking for laughs before the doors of the Moulin Rouge. Jacquelyn’s joy over this ‘new’ life is tempered when she learns the circumstances of Genevieve’s father, a charming but financially struggling cobbler. Employing her own creative skills to produce a flier, Jacquelyn devises an advertising campaign that quickly spirals out of her control and into the hands of her more mischievous friends. By means both legal and not, the two French girls set a dubious course that has Jacquelyn flirting with the prospect of prison, purgatory and, most perilously, her grandmother’s righteous indignation.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The Cobbler’s Crusaders by Rick Steigelman is the kind of book that sneaks up on you. What initially presents itself as a light-hearted caper quickly turns into a rich, character-driven exploration of found family, youthful rebellion, and a cobbler’s quiet revolution in the heart of Montmartre.
At its core, the novel orbits around Monsieur Joly, a quirky but lovable cobbler, whose shoe shop becomes a haven for three spirited girls, Genevieve, Jacquelyn, and Nicolette, each brimming with mischief and misplaced fliers. Their antics, ranging from accidental blasphemy to provocative street campaigns, are equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, constantly toeing the line between satire and sincerity.
The writing is sharp, warm, and laced with wit that never tries too hard. Dialogue dances with personality, especially when juxtaposing the multilingual confusion of the American Jacquelyn with her Parisian companions. I loved how the author uses humor as a subversive lens, a kind of resistance against social norms, parental expectations, and even moral rigidity.
Beneath all the comedic mishaps, there’s a beautiful sense of intergenerational connection. The dynamic between Jacquelyn and her grandmother, Catherine, is particularly touching as it anchors the story in emotional truth while allowing the young cast to explore their own emerging identities and moral boundaries.
If I had to critique anything, it would be the pacing. At times, the humor slows the narrative momentum, especially during longer sequences of misdirection and hiding. Yet, these scenes also add charm and character, so it’s a gentle flaw that you can forgive because the prose is just so full of heart!
This book is a gentle satire, a Parisian coming-of-age romp, and an ode to eccentric fatherhood all in one. I’d easily recommend it to readers who enjoy novels like A Man Called Ove or The Elegance of the Hedgehog, stories that offer laughter, but also invite you to pause and feel something deeper.
The Reading Bud 