Author: Adam Fike Release Date: 19 March, 2021 Series: PEOPLE MAKING DANGER Genre: Literary Horror, Psychological Horror, Crime-Thriller, Noir, Horror Format: E-book Pages: 66 pages Publisher: – Blurb: SUBURBAN THRILLER. When a young girl goes missing, families fall apart and neighbors grow together with the help of their friendly local serial killer. PEOPLE MAKING DANGER is a collection of quick, fun, three-act, feature-length stories, full of suspense, surprises and dark humor. All told in the present tense. Like reading a movie.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Adam Fike’s The Quiet Ones is a sinister slice of small-town noir with a macabre twist: neighbors who “grow together” under the shadow of a serial killer. Set in the sleepy but unsettling town of Clearfield Falls, the story layers the ordinary things like funerals, lawn services, and office gossip with the grotesque, where bodies double as fertilizer and everyday people reveal darker impulses. The writing blends dark humor with chilling violence, making the mundane (like mowing lawns or family dinners) feel like it’s always one step away from horror.
What stands out most is theinterplay between banality and menace. Characters like Ruth, who hides behind oversized glasses, and Junior, the deceptively gentle gardener, embody the theme that danger doesn’t always roar, sometimes it whispers. Fike’s pacing is cinematic, cutting between suburban kitchens, cemetery burials, and sinister sheds with a rhythm that keeps readers uneasy yet hooked. While the sheer length of descriptive passages and overlapping storylines could overwhelm some readers, the atmosphere is thick, immersive, and undeniably memorable.
Overall, The Quiet Ones succeeds as a dark, satirical portrait of community and complicity. It’s a story that asks unsettling questions about what people are willing to ignore to maintain comfort, and whether monsters are truly outsiders or simply the neighbors we never look at too closely.
Author: E.F. Nordmed Release Date: July 14, 2025 Series: Genre: Cozy Mystery, Science-Fiction Format: E-book Pages: 184 pages Publisher: – Blurb: Stout works as a tech by day, saving up money to achieve his dream of leaving the planet. His plans are thrown in disarray when he’s asked to look for a missing college student, Andrew, and he quickly finds himself over his head while looking for answers. He reaches out to his old flame, Yasmeen, who works on the police force for help. Yasmeen is unhappy with the corruption she sees in her job, but is trying to change the force from the inside. When Stout asks her for aid, she’s hesitant to assist his amateur investigation, but when he’s falsely framed for murder and kidnapping knows she has to get involved.
Can they navigate Corporate Security agents, industrial spies, and the criminal underground to rescue the student and clear Stout’s name before it’s too late? Will they be able to stay true to their values in a world that rewards corruption? And will they let their feelings for each other reignite, or will the world get in their way?
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
E.F. Nordmed’s Market of the Never Setting Sun is a refreshing entry in the sci-fi mystery space. It’s a novel that blends the grit of corporate corruption and industrial espionage with the charm of a cozy mystery’s slower, character-driven heart. At its center is Stout, a weary but determined tech worker saving every penny for his dream of leaving the planet. That dream is derailed when he’s asked to track down a missing college student, Andrew, a seemingly simple favor that spirals into a dangerous web of intrigue.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its atmosphere. The titular market feels vibrant and lived-in, a place where technology, trade, and corruption intersect beneath the glow of a sun that never sets. Nordmed balances worldbuilding with accessibility, never bogging the reader down in jargon but giving enough detail for the setting to feel tangible.
The character dynamics are equally engaging. Stout is a reluctant hero, stumbling into danger out of obligation rather than ambition, which makes his growth believable. His rekindled connection with Yasmeen, the police officer caught between her moral compass and a corrupt system, adds depth both to the plot and to the emotional stakes. Their relationship feels authentic and the tension between their personal bond and the larger mystery keeps the narrative engaging.
Thematically, the novel resonates. Questions of justice, integrity, and survival in a system built on exploitation underpin the mystery. The story doesn’t shy away from pointing out how corruption seeps into institutions meant to protect, but it does so with a cozy tone that makes the critique approachable rather than bleak.
The prose itself is straightforward and effective, but at times leans on exposition when showing would have been more immersive. Still, Nordmed’s clean writing style makes the book highly readable, and the lighter touch aligns well with the cozy sci-fi niche it occupies.
Market of the Never Setting Sun is a thoughtful, atmospheric sci-fi mystery that stands out for its grounded characters, morally resonant themes, and cozy but suspenseful tone. It’s a satisfying, engaging read that will appeal to fans of sci-fi with heart, mystery with conscience, and stories that ask what it means to hold onto your values in a world that rewards corruption.
Author: David Finley Release Date: 3 November, 2021 Series: Genre: YA Dystopian Satire, YA Humor, YA Adventure, YA Science Fiction Format: E-book Pages: 204 pages Publisher: FINWORKS Blurb: Like Orwell’s 1984 — but even funnier! In a grim School-centred dystopia where humour is outlawed and laughter—even a single HA!—is met with an excruciating electric shock to the neck, Billy 9F is the ultimate threat: he’s a Class Clown. When he’s labeled a menace for his extremely convincing and sublimely funny fake snot, barf and turd pranks, Billy joins a underground comedic resistance movement with a mysterious new student, Jamie 9F, her mysterious grandfather, the Major, an ultra-mysterious revolutionary leader named Poopoo the Clown, and Billy’s not-at-all
mysterious but highly malfunctioning android mentor, Uncle Mike. To free his imprisoned parents, save his little sister’s life and liberate the joyless populace, Billy must fully realize his own natural-born gifts and harness the awesome power of laughter. Darkly funny, fast, and surprisingly hopeful, BILLY 9F is perfect for readers 12 years of age to infinity who love page-turners with big ideas—and lots of laughs.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
David Finley’s Billy 9F is a wildly inventive YA dystopian satire that blends absurdist humor with biting social commentary. The novel follows Billy, a schoolboy living in a rigid system where laughter is outlawed, rules are enforced with demerits and “Pain Collars,” and conformity is the highest value. His life takes a strange turn when his parents gift him “Uncle Mike,” a 57-year-old man who becomes both an irritating companion and an unlikely ally. From there, Billy stumbles into secret wars with clowns, underground resistance movements, and surreal teachers who bulldoze into dining rooms mid-meal.
What makes the book compelling is its sharp use of comedy as rebellion. Whether it’s fart jokes elevated to acts of protest, or the way “outside laughter” becomes a weapon against authoritarian control, author Finley underscores the importance of humor as survival. The recurring presence of Uncle Mike, bumbling, exasperating, yet oddly endearing, adds both comic relief and thematic depth. Jamie and the Major, resistance figures who guide Billy, give the narrative more emotional resonance and direction.
From an editorial perspective, the book occasionally overindulges in repetition. Uncle Mike’s constant chatter and some extended slapstick routines could have been trimmed without losing impact. Still, the playful prose, the creativity of its dystopian world, and the rhythm of dialogue keep the pages turning.
Overall, Billy 9F is equal parts absurd, satirical, and heartfelt. It asks readers, young and old alike, to remember the radical power of laughter in a world that insists on taking itself too seriously.
Author: Josh Martin Release Date: 13 April, 2025 Series: B&G Mystery: We Can’t Tell You (Book #3) Genre: Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Psychological Thriller Format: E-book Pages: 119 pages Publisher: – Blurb: The terrifying mystery has taken yet another turn. The stakes are higher than ever. Grayson’s running out of time… It’s a frenetic race to an ending you won’t see coming! The exciting conclusion is finally here. Buckle up!
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
With Part III, B&G Mystery pushes the series into even darker, more labyrinthine territory, tying together threads of family trauma, supernatural manipulation, and the relentless questioning of what is real. Grayson remains at the center, but the narrative expands to test his endurance (emotionally, physically, and spiritually) as he faces deeper betrayals and revelations.
The atmosphere continues to be the series’ greatest strength. The imagery is often chillingly cinematic: houses that appear and vanish, the eerie pendants that tie characters to forces beyond comprehension, and the grotesque presence of Replicas, which hint at an apocalyptic design far larger than Grayson’s personal struggles. The recurring motifs of rain, sigils, masks, and mirrors take on even heavier symbolic weight, layering the story with mythic resonance.
As with the previous installments, the book does occasionally stumble under its own weight. The dialogue can still feel circular, with characters volleying cryptic half-truths that slow pacing rather than sharpen tension. Some middle chapters linger too long on Grayson’s inner turmoil, repeating questions the reader has already internalized. That said, Part III raises the stakes in ways that make the payoff worthwhile. The climactic confrontations are both grotesque and heartbreaking, a reminder of how personal loss lies at the center of this sprawling supernatural puzzle.
We Can’t Tell You, Part III by Josh Martin delivers a darker, more ambitious continuation of the saga. While it inherits some of the repetition issues from earlier volumes, its atmosphere, symbolism, and devastating emotional core make it a gripping addition. For readers who have followed from Parts I and II, this installment deepens the nightmare in ways that will both unsettle and haunt.
Author: Susan Wan Dolling Release Date: 5 August, 2025 Series: Song Dynasty Poets Genre: Earnshaw Books Format: E-book Pages: 283 pages Publisher: – Blurb: Volume I, Hundred Tongues, enters the world of Nothern Song Dynasty poets. It begins with a romantic warlord followed by “A Short, Short History of Song China”. Then comes a serious scholar-warrior, and a popular poet-songwriter whom some considered “vulgar”. Following them is a pair of good friends who were exiled and separated from each other. Two poets, one called “heroic and unrestrained” and the other, “delicate and elusive,” concludes this selection from the first part of the Song dynasty.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Susan Wan Dolling’s Hundred Tongues is both a doorway and a companion to the lyric world of the Song Dynasty. This first volume, devoted to the Northern Song poets, sets the stage with translations that feel alive while also providing readers with enough context to understand the cultural, historical, and literary forces at play. From Li Yu’s haunting captivity poems to the bold voices of Su Shi and Qin Guan, author Dolling ensures that each poet is introduced as a strong voice with personality, context, and resonance.
What impressed me most is author Dolling’s balance between scholarship and accessibility. The book explains the difference between shi and ci, the intricacies of tune-patterns, and the cultural symbols woven into the lyrics (from wutong trees to migrating geese) but never in a way that alienates a newcomer. Instead, she offers these notes conversationally, as if guiding the reader through a gallery of poems, pointing out details they might have otherwise missed. This makes the translations not only comprehensible but deeply enjoyable, carrying both the music of the originals and the intimacy of personal reflection.
The translations themselves lean toward clarity and lyricism rather than ornament. They are readable aloud, and this simplicity allows the imagery to shine. At times, the commentary repeats information already offered, and some readers may wish for a stronger map or timeline to situate the poets within the dynasty. Still, these are minor quibbles when weighed against the richness the book provides.
On the whole, Hundred Tongues succeeds in what so many poetry collections fail to do, it makes the poems feel urgent and present rather than relics of a distant age. For readers familiar with Tang poetry who wonder what came after, or for anyone curious about the depth and subtlety of Chinese lyric, this book is an illuminating, thoughtful, and highly readable introduction. It is a project that feels both scholarly and personal, and that combination makes it linger. Its a beautiful entry point into Song Dynasty poetry, with translations that are clear, evocative, and anchored by commentary that both informs and invites.
Author: Geoffrey M Cooper Release Date: October 7, 2025 Series: Brad Parker and Karen Richmond Medical Thrillers Genre: Medical Thriller, Suspense Format: E-book Pages: 229 pages Publisher: Captain Thomas Publishing Blurb: Who’s killing the cancer researchers? A leading clinical investigator is butchered in his hotel room hours after receiving a prestigious award for cancer research. Weeks later, a second researcher is the victim of an apparently random mugging in a parking garage. Unexpectedly, crime scene DNA establishes that the two men were killed by the same woman. But her identity remains unknown, her motive is mysterious, and the connections between the victims are scant—except that they were both collaborating with Professor Brad Parker at the Maine Translational Research Institute. When the killer strikes close to home, Brad and his fiancée—state police lieutenant Karen Richmond—are drawn into a nightmare of maniacal revenge. Until Brad sets a trap for the killer…or falls prey to a trap the killer has set for him.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Geoffrey M. Cooper’s Betrayal of Trust sets its sights on the shadowy intersections of science, power, and morality, delivering a story that is as intellectually gripping as it is emotionally charged. It opens with a fiery hook and from that moment, the novel grips you with a potent mix of scientific intrigue, psychological drama, and the high stakes of justice gone personal.
The novel dives into the murky underbelly of academic medicine, exposing how power, reputation, and predation intertwine. As the story progresses, the author does a great job of raising the stakes from personal revenge to systemic rot. Author Cooper’s background in science lends the novel a razor-sharp authenticity. From clinical trial data to DNA evidence, the details never feel forced, but rather elevate the story’s stakes.
Brad Parker is an excellent protagonist and Shirley makes for a fascinating antagonist; she is morally complex, technically skilled, and driven by both revenge and justice. The interplay between Brad Parker and Karen Richmond is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Their combined expertise, science and law enforcement, creates a dynamic that’s both intellectual and emotional.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the book, there are moments where the narrative could have been tighter. Surveillance details and hacking logistics, while realistic, occasionally slowed the pace. Additionally, some of the secondary characters could have been fleshed out more deeply to add layers of emotional resonance. These are, however, just minor issues compared to the overall experience of reading this book.
Betrayal of Trust is a tense and timely thriller that explores what happens when power, science, and exploitation collide. Author Cooper balances ethical questions with a strong, suspenseful narrative, making this one of the more thought-provoking medical thrillers I’ve read recently. If you enjoy Robin Cook or Michael Palmer, this book deserves a spot on your shelf.
Author: Robb Watson Release Date: August 8, 2025 Series: Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy, Psychological Fantasy, Surreal Fantasy Format: E-book Pages: 77 pages Publisher: – Blurb: Ever had the exact same nightmare every night. Miles was beginning junior high and trying out for the basketball team. While trying to fit in and excel on the court, he started to have nightmares he couldn’t get rid of. In Dreamland, the court he once loved twists into a living nightmare. Monsters whisper his name. Shadows chase his every move. And at the center of it all stands Selim—a sinister, red-eyed creature that seems to know Miles’s deepest regrets. Miles must navigate a haunting dream world that mirrors his own mistakes. With the help of friends—both real and imagined—he sets out to uncover the truth behind the dreams. A fantasy about the monsters we create when we forget who we are.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Robb Watson’s Dreamland: Selim’s Echo is a darkly imaginative middle-grade/YA crossover that blends the pulse of sports fiction with the shadows of psychological horror and the tenderness of coming-of-age. Author Watson excels at crafting horror imagery that is both surreal and psychologically resonant. Selim, as the literal embodiment of Miles’s self-doubt and fear, is a masterstroke of symbolism. The dream sequences are cinematic, often evoking Neil Gaiman’s Coraline or the darker tones of Stranger Things.
At its core, this isn’t just a story about nightmares, but about guilt, regret, and ultimately redemption. Miles’s arc feels emotionally honest and hopeful. The second half of the book, where Miles becomes a guide within Dreamland to help Mia confront her own anxieties, expands the novel’s scope beautifully. It reframes Dreamland as not just a personal battleground but a shared space for healing.
Over all, Dreamland: Selim’s Echo is a vivid, unsettling, and heartfelt novel that balances horror with hope. Though it occasionally lingers too long in its dream cycles and could sharpen its supporting cast, it stands out for its inventive symbolism, strong emotional core, and its message: that the scariest monsters are often the ones we carry inside ourselves, and the only way to defeat them is to face them.
Author: Josh Martin Release Date: December 26, 2024 Series: B&G Mystery: We Can’t Tell You (Book #2) Genre: Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Psychological Thriller Format: E-book Pages: 115 pages Publisher: – Blurb: Grayson’s night isn’t over! Can he finally unravel the terrifying mystery that’s taken hold of his small town?
…or will he be another victim?
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The second installment of We Can’t Tell You wastes no time plunging us back into the eerie, shifting landscape where Grayson, Jane, Michael, Sophia, and Brooks remain entangled in a web of rules, betrayals, and realities that seem to fold in on themselves. The narrative opens with disorientation, Michael collapsing, Jane half-explaining, half-withholding, and Grayson struggling against the endless cycle of questions with no answers. From the very first pages, the book continues the claustrophobic dread established in Part I, and amplifies it with a sense of inevitability: the sense that Grayson is not just walking into danger but being deliberately shepherded towards it.
The author excels at atmosphere. The scenes are written with a cinematic eye for horror. The recurring symbols create a thread of mythology that grows darker and more complex as the story unfolds. The introduction of the Superior Entity and the horrifying suggestion of Replicas expands the scope, moving the tale from small-town occult mystery into apocalyptic cosmic horror.
Though I must point out the book’s two persistent weaknesses. First, the dialogue. While the constant volley of questions and evasive non-answers fits the theme of rules and manipulation, the repetition sometimes dulls its impact. Second, the pacing suffers in the middle stretch. While the buildup of symbols, diary clues, and shifting allegiances is fascinating, the narrative occasionally lingers too long on Grayson’s inner monologues, replaying realizations multiple times.
That said, the final act more than redeems the slower middle and, on the whole, We Can’t Tell You, Part II is unsettling, ambitious, and at times overwhelming, but it delivers a rare kind of dread that lingers. It is a compelling, nightmarish descent that fans of psychological and cosmic horror will find both rewarding and unforgettable.
Author: Veronica Preston Release Date: August 27, 2025 Series: Book #1 Genre: Spiritual Fantasy, Mythic Fiction, Speculative Fiction Format: E-book Pages: 201 pages Publisher: – Blurb: This isn’t a tale of horns and pitchforks. It’s a tale of questions, echoes, and exile. Book of the Devil: Genesis reimagines the Devil as Iblis—a being of fire, loyalty, and impossible choices. Born into a world of smokeless flame, Iblis is chosen to serve God, but he begins to question the nature of obedience, justice, and divine will. His rebellion is not out of vanity, but love, sorrow, and a desire to understand. As he rises through the celestial order, Iblis walks the line between sacred and profane, setting the stage for a fall that may be more holy than it seems.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Few books dare to give the Devil his own voice, and fewer still manage to do it with the lyrical weight and mythic imagination that Veronica Preston brings to Book of the Devil: Genesis.
Author Preston roots her tale in an expansive cosmology. The Devil here is not a caricature of evil, but a Jinn, born of smokeless fire, whose origins precede mankind itself. Through his eyes, we witness the birth of Nahar, a planet of singing trees, plasma-blooded beings, and a civilization bound by free will and consequence. The refusal to bow to Adam is rendered not as arrogance, but as clarity. In this reframing, the author invites readers to question centuries of dogma: what if the Devil is not our corrupter, but our tester, our liberator, the one who insists humanity use its mind rather than bask in blind innocence?
Thematically, the novel is a meditation on choice, identity, and the necessity of shadow. It threads together Quranic references, Biblical echoes, and speculative cosmology, creating a narrative that is both reverent and rebellious. The chapters read like a blend of scripture and epic fantasy, making the book feel at once timeless and startlingly modern.
As an editor, I must note that author Preston’s greatest strength, her lush, almost operatic prose, can also be the book’s stumbling block. Sentences often run long, heavy with imagery and metaphor. While this lends grandeur, it occasionally slows the pacing and risks overwhelming readers who crave more narrative momentum. There are places, especially in the middle chapters, where the philosophical musings could have been pared back in favor of tighter dramatic action.
That said, Book of the Devil: Genesis succeeds in something rare: it makes the reader pause and reconsider a story they thought they knew. It is provocative without being blasphemous, imaginative without losing its theological moorings. It dares to ask what if the Devil’s fall was not rebellion, but part of the Architect’s design?
Author: Eva Barber Release Date: December 9, 2024 Series: Dark World (Book 1 of 2) Genre: Speculative Fiction, Sci-Fi, Surreal Format: E-book Pages: 458 pages Publisher: – Blurb: Olesya was not born like other people but was found in the Siberian Forest by a couple unable to have children. Plagued by mysterious visions and dreams, she struggles to fit into a society both as a socially inept but brilliant child and as she becomes part of a research team to discover the nature of dark matter. The findings of this discovery never make it to the scientific community as the project leader goes missing and the physics lab blows up, destroyed by a powerful foe with seemingly noble intentions. Seattle detectives question Olesya in connection with the explosion and the disappearance of her boss. She becomes a person of interest until she herself goes missing. From her kidnappers, she learns that her parents, knowing she lacked a belly button, suspected she was created by the Russian government as part of a scientific
experiment, and emigrated to the USA to hide and protect her. She also learns she possesses powers related to dark matter and of the existence of a brother held captive since his discovery by the Russian government. Even though she suspects her kidnappers’ interest in her and their motivations aren’t so noble, she joins them in rescuing her brother. Catastrophic world events following the successful rescue force her to continue working with her foes to save the world from destruction. While working to save the world, Olesya experiences a moral dilemma and becomes someone she never thought she’d be—a mother. Olesya learns of mysterious chambers scattered around the world, and her visions return to haunt her, until she opens the chambers and learns their secrets, wishing she hadn’t. Now she faces the heart-wrenching realization that she must travel into a dark dimension to save the world from self-destruction. Worse yet, her daughter, Emery, is the key to humanity’s salvation and must follow her mother once she becomes an adult because she is the only being who can travel where no one else can to restore balance to the universe and return with an extraordinary gift for humanity. But powerful entities have reasons to keep the gift away from humanity and will do anything to stop her.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Eva Barber’s Unborn is a sprawling, multi-layered tale that weaves together mythology, science, political intrigue, and the raw intimacy of family bonds. At its heart lies Olesya, a young woman whose very existence straddles two worlds: the ordinary and the extraordinary. Discovered as a mysterious child in a Russian forest, she grows up to find her life intertwined with secrets of origin, otherworldly shadows, and a destiny that is as heavy as it is unavoidable.
What author Barber achieves brilliantly is the atmosphere. The shadow realm, where the unborn linger in darkness yearning to be born, is chilling and original. Some scenes are haunting and eerie, layered with sorrow and wonder.
Thematically, Unborn is preoccupied with identity, destiny, and the burden of choice. Olesya’s journey constantly tests the boundaries between science and the supernatural, fate and free will. The novel is ambitious, drawing on mythology, speculative science, and fears of loss and love.
That said, as an editor I must point out where the novel falters. At over 80 chapters, the pacing suffers under the weight of its own ambition. Some sections, particularly Olesya’s inner reflections, repeat ideas already conveyed, slowing momentum. And sometimes, the secondary characters and subplots dilute the focus.
Still, Unborn succeeds in leaving its reader with a lingering unease; the sense that destiny is both irresistible and cruel, and that love, even across impossible boundaries, may not be enough to undo what has been set in motion. Overall, Unborn is ambitious, atmospheric, and thematically rich, and it stands out for its originality and emotional depth.
Author: Josh Martin Release Date: January 27, 2025 Series: B&G Mystery: We Can’t Tell You (Book 1 of 3) Genre: Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Psychological Thriller Format: E-book Pages: 107 pages Publisher: – Blurb: 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.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
B&G Mystery: We Can’t Tell You by Josh Martin is an ambitious and unsettling thriller that begins in the quiet of a Wisconsin morning but quickly spirals into a labyrinth of déjà vu, cryptic notes, phantom figures, and rules that seem to govern fate itself. Told through the eyes of a seventeen-year-old whose memory and reality keep splintering, the novel places readers in the same disoriented state as its protagonist, never sure whether he is awake, dreaming, or being manipulated by forces beyond comprehension.
The book’s strength lies in its atmosphere. From the very first pages, the story is drenched in dread. The text messages, the mysterious trio in the woods, the near-death experiences at intersections, and the omnipresent feeling of being watched create a constant sense of unease. Symbolism is cleverly threaded throughout, providing narrative cohesion even when the plot itself veers into deliberate chaos.
I must point out that the narrative often undermines itself with repetition. Tension that should build steadily sometimes loops back on itself, making the pacing sag in the middle chapters. Yet when the book works, it works brilliantly. The closing chapters bring together many of the scattered clues and escalate the narrative into cosmic horror, suggesting that the story is not merely about one boy’s fractured reality but about humanity itself being manipulated, collected, and used.
We Can’t Tell You Part 1 is a bold, eerie, and at times brilliant psychological thriller that thrives on atmosphere and symbolism. It is a gripping, confusing, and unforgettable experience that lingers long after the last page, even if the reader is left with more questions than answers.
Author: Amanda White Release Date: January 27, 2025 Series: Genre: Fantasy, Adventure Format: E-book Pages: 192 pages Publisher: – Blurb: 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.
Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Amanda White’s The Fortunetelling Wizardand Other Stories from the Kingdom of Dar is a lushly imagined fantasy tale set in the kingdom of Dar, where magic is not merely spectacle but a dangerous, demanding force. At its heart is Hol, a young wizard bound to a tunic of wild magic, who dares to take on the mantle of being the fortune-telling wizard, thought to be extinct for over eight hundred years.
What makes the book so compelling is its voice. Told in first person, Hol’s narration is both intimate and wry, colored by his constant dialogue with his sentient tunic. This relationship, half companion and half conscience, lends the story a unique freshness, layering humor and heart into scenes that might otherwise veer too dark. The mythology of fortunetelling wizards is richly drawn, giving the narrative a depth of history that feels lived-in.
Thematically, the novel is about destiny versus agency. Hol is repeatedly warned that “knowing the future does not save one from it”, yet he clings to the belief that “telling the future saves others.” This tension drives the story, especially as he becomes entangled with kings, queens, banshees, and form stealers.
The book’s greatest strength, its rich and lyrical prose, is also, at times, its weakness. Sentences often seem to run long, layered with description and lore. While this creates atmosphere, it occasionally hampers pacing. A leaner approach could heighten the urgency of the plot without sacrificing its richness.
That said, author White succeeds in crafting a tale that feels both old and new. The interplay of folklore, political intrigue, and personal ambition gives the novel a layered texture, and Hol’s determination to prove himself makes him an endearing protagonist. The climactic confrontations, especially with the form stealer, are vivid, cinematic, and emotionally charged.
On the whole, The Fortunetelling Wizard is a thoughtful, atmospheric fantasy that stands out for its inventive magic system and its narrator’s unique voice. Though it could benefit from tighter pacing in places, it remains a worthy, ambitious contribution to the genre.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
The Reading Bud 