Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Remedy is the third book in The Forgotten Legacies Series by K.J. Simmill, an epic tale that plunges the reader into a world of magic with hints of mythology. This is a story that follows the quest of an adventurer into the sealed and forgotten realm, into The Depths of Acheron. But he can’t get what he wants from this world without giving to the banished what they claim to be rightfully theirs. The reader is introduced to a cast of powerful characters, a world on the brink of perdition, and one who wants to manipulate the powers that be to make the future his own.

I loved the level of conflict in this novel and its originality. The author creates worlds that are in conflict with each other and concepts that will excite the minds of readers. As one reads on, there is that tingling feeling that something huge could happen at any moment, and a lot of things do happen, dramatic and breathtaking. The conflict is monumental and it drives the plot, making it move forward from unexpected angles. It takes a lot of skill to write about an imaginary setting and make it feel like some place readers are familiar with, and K.J. Simmill seems to have this skill. The writing is beautiful, punctuated by compelling dialogues, streams of consciousness that explore the internal conflict in characters, and vivid descriptions of the setting, scenes, and characters. Remedy is an entertaining story with a spell that will continue to haunt readers after they are done reading.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Billy Gogan, American by Roger Higgins is the fictional tale of a young man's transition from a life in Ireland to his settlement in the United States. It begins with Gogan's Irish backstory at the onset of the country's potato famine, where Billy is prompted to leave under multifarious circumstances. The passage is brutal but he survives (whereas his companion Father O’Muirhily does not) with the friendship of Maire and Fiona. All three make it to New York but only Billy emerges unscathed in New York's Five Points, where Maire and Fiona have seemingly vanished into thin, polluted air. A search ensues and continues as Billy settles in, learns the ropes, finds love, and grows as he crosses paths with some of the Five Points' and Higgins' most fascinating, duplicitous characters. Maire and Fiona resurface, but the brutality of mid-19th century New York and the seemingly omniscient “man in black” continue to haunt Billy and those he loves at nearly every turn.

Billy Gogan, American is a truly ambitious undertaking by Roger Higgins. At times reading as closely to a memoir as it does to a work of fiction, Higgins brings a cast of characters and settings to life with an authenticity that is every history lover's dream. The undertaking could not have been easy, with dialogue that is accented with the same purity imparted in Higgins' detailed scenes. Billy's story is layered and interesting even when the writing (on occasion, but it's rare) lapses into substance over style. This is not a light read but it most certainly is a worthy one, and I'm comfortable recommending it to those who love a good adventure with a deserving protagonist, as well as to readers who get excited over meticulous detail and classic storytelling.

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

Once-Other by Lawrence M. Nysschens is a compelling blend of fantasy and sci-fi with a lot of symbolism, a story that vividly depicts the author’s creativity and ingenuity, from the quirky names of places and characters, to the unique voice, to the plot and setting. Set against the backdrop of a barren desert, the story features Once-Other, a citizen of Here-Born and a soldier, a man who is relentlessly tortured in many ways by his ex-wife. Besides the physical torments he must endure, he suffers the loss of the one thing he loves the most. He must look deeper inside himself to find the skills required to free himself and his people, but he must first overcome his fear.

I loved the concept behind this story, the symbolism, the powerful themes that come across neatly through the writing — freedom, love, personal growth, the power of the mind and romance. The writing is excellent and the author composes his sentences in a way that forces the reader to keep on reading. The pacing felt slow at the beginning, but increased fairly quickly. Once-Other is a multifaceted character that many readers can connect with. The conflict is built around his relationship with his ex-wife, which could be read in a very symbolic light. Lawrence M. Nysschens paints an interesting setting with great descriptive prose. For anyone who has been through a desert, this book comes with the many lessons that it communicates, and one of the things I loved about the desert in this book is that it isn’t a place of death, but of growth, of self-discovery. This is a story with relevant lessons and a lot of entertainment for readers.

Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

White Slave (A Novel) by Wayne Gilbertson is an action adventure story that would appeal to a diverse audience of mature young adults and adults who enjoy action stories that take place in Africa and who do not mind the topic of the sex slave trade. In East Africa, law enforcement has become very focused on protecting wild animals from the threat that poachers pose towards their decreasing numbers. Yet, this focus has left young women with less protection and the poachers have moved to take advantage of this oversight through kidnapping and selling beautiful young Caucasian women. Eli Walking Bear is an ex-bounty hunter who is hired by the family of one of the kidnapped young women to find her and bring her home. Is Eli Walking Bear able to do the job or will he fall off the wagon and leave a young woman a victim of the sex trade?

White Slave by Wayne Gilbertson has a cover that hints at the topic of sexual slavery without being perverse. I was initially concerned that I would find the sex trade aspect of the book to be too off putting to truly allow me to enjoy the story. That was not the case here. Wayne Gilbertson managed to show aspects of the sex trade without focusing too much on the graphic sexual aspects of it. I really liked how this book did not just have a male protagonist; instead, Jena and Zuleika end up working with Eli Walking Bear. I enjoyed the inclusion of the female characters as it showed that not all women are victims and not all victims have to stay victims. Overall, I truly enjoyed this book as there was not a single dull moment and the story line moved at a fast pace.

Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

When the Jaguar Sleeps: A Jungle Adventure is an exciting story by J.A. Kalis. Didier and Florent are the only survivors of a plane crash in a remote section of the Amazon jungle known for its hostile tribes. After giving up hope of being rescued, the injured men, frustrated by the sweltering heat, venture into the mosquito-infested jungle, looking for villagers to assist them. They come across a few murdered Indians and a gold artifact that Florent takes. The men eventually find shelter in an ancient Inca ruin rumored to contain Emperor Atahualpa’s treasure, interrupting the digging of a gang of ruthless looters.

When the Jaguar Sleeps is an engaging book by J.A. Kalis. He wrote an exciting treasure-hunting tale that I enjoyed immensely. The main characters, Didier and Florent, are interesting and very different in personality. Didier is more levelheaded and has survival skills while Florent constantly complains and makes rash decisions. The other characters are also convincing. I like the general pace of the story, which has terrific action in a nice jungle setting, and surprising twists in other settings with good visuals. When the Jaguar Sleeps: A Jungle Adventure is realistic and very well developed by the author, and it has a great beginning. The appealing cover illustration represents the story nicely as well. This book comes highly recommended.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Drift and Hum: The Great Canadian-American Novel by Robert Martichenko surprised me in many ways. This is a story that beautifully showcases the themes of love, friendship, family, and the search for meaning, a story that spans fifty years. Readers are introduced to the incredible “Beaver Brothers,” a group of four kids who embrace life as an adventure, seeking to find a foothold, facing all sorts of challenges and difficulties in the far North. As the young men evolve into adults, the bonds of friendship and love become even clearer and stronger.

Told in a fascinating voice that interacts with the reader sometimes, Drift and Hum: The Great Canadian-American Novel is warm, humorous and, at times, reminiscent of the joys and perils of living, believing, and loving. I was pulled in from the beginning by the arresting narrative voice: “I don’t want to die,” are the opening words of this beautiful story, and the words catch the reader off guard. Of course, no one wants to die, except if he was a nutcase. But hearing the words from the narrator hooks the reader, who immediately thinks something is at stake.

The stream of consciousness into which the reader is pulled gives powerful glimpses of the state of mind of the character and the reader is keen to find out what happens. Robert Martichenko has the gift of pulling the reader irresistibly into the mental climates of his characters and reminding them of their hopes and fears, their joys, their pain of simply being human. From the prose to the characters to the gripping plot, readers will have so much to savor in this beautifully told story. For a debut, this story is a success on many counts.

Reviewed by J. Aislynn d'Merricksson for Readers' Favorite

Sanyare: The Last Descendant by Megan Haskell is a bright, refreshing read. Haskell has opened the door to some rather unique fae realms and introduced us to beings such as the blood sidhe, who share many characteristics with vampires, but they are vibrant, living beings rather than undead ones. Rie is a human changeling, serving in the messenger corps of the Upper Realm’s High Court. She is accompanied by a posse of tiny yet lethal pixies, who are both friends and guards. Due to a series of unfortunate events and hidden ploys, Rie ends up on the run, framed as a traitor. In an effort to clear her name, Rie finds herself in the forbidden Shadow Realm. Here ‘help’ finds her in the form of Braegan, a blood sidhe, and Daenor, a prince of the Shadow Court. In the Shadow Realm, Rie finds a bit more than she bargained for, including information about her ancestry.

Haskell has done a marvellous job of bringing scenes to life. I found myself quickly immersed in the story, as if there with Rie, Braegan, and Daenor. Exquisite detail to setting added to the immersion, making for a wonderful experience. I particularly liked that you get to meet all kinds of fae, from the pixies, to gremlins, to fire elves, and more. I am looking forward to reading more in this series. Haskell’s Sanyare is a great read, full of unexpected turns and complicated relationships. If you enjoy forays into the realms of D & D, and the Forgotten Realms, á la Wiess/Hickman and RA Salvatore, you are sure to find this to your liking.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

“Forget your homes. Forget your families. You will never see them again. You belong to the Night Guild now.” Child of the Night Guild (Queen of Thieves, Book 1) by Andy Peloquin centers on young Viola, a child sold to pay her father's debts. Viola becomes Seven, training years for the Night Guild as a skilled thief under the harsh tutelage of Master Velvet. She eventually earns the name Ilanna and a place in the House Hawk. Yet her challenges never cease, as the cutthroat ways of the guild and the outside world await her.

The premise has some immediate familiarity as I’ve read fantasy stories regarding thieves’ guilds several times before. On the other hand, it’s structured differently so the story and the plot have an originality to them. Characterization as a whole has enough depth. Initially, Ilanna was not easy to root for. I expected her to be a bit more mature, personality wise, given her hard life in the Night Guild in order to become a worthy member. She can be somewhat impatient and easy to give in to her anger when things don’t go her way.

However, she has proven her worth and survives many obstacles. I like Werrin and Willem, Ilanna’s fellow Hawks, as they bring some wittiness to a harsh and dangerous life. The prose is clear-cut, which contributes to the flow of the plot. Although I personally didn’t like some of the events that happened to the female lead as she had been through so much, Child of the Night Guild is a good read.

Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite

A Deep Thing by A.K. Smith is a suspense novel about a young widow searching for her lost husband's secrets. Kendall Riggs lost her husband, Tim, over sixteen months ago in a diving accident in a cenote. She is still feeling the pain of her loss and is unable to overcome the grief that wracks her being. Life holds no meaning for her anymore. One night, in a moment of intense pain, Kendall takes a handful of pills to end it all. Realizing what she has done, Kendall runs to the bathroom and empties her stomach. When she exits the bathroom, her wedding picture falls off the wall. Kendall takes it as a sign and recognizes it is time to start living again.

The next morning she starts removing Tim's items from the house. Keeping only the most important and meaningful mementos of him, she stores the rest. During the cleaning process, she discovers a metal briefcase hidden under a bookshelf. The same day, she receives a call from a dive shop in Mexico. A diving trip that Tim had planned two years ago is ready. They need Tim's confirmation of his arrival date. It soon becomes apparent that Tim had secrets that may have gotten him killed. Kendall now finds herself caught between two covert groups. They are contending with each other to acquire what they suspect Tim has discovered and hidden.

A Deep Thing by A.K. Smith is a suspense story that is as exciting as a James Rollins novel. Kendall travels between Maryland, the jungles of the Yucatan and the waters of Mexico to decipher and fulfill her husband's wishes. Despite the animosity and heartache her stepson gives her, she valiantly forges ahead to finish what her husband has charged her to do. The characters were outstanding, including the villains. I found them easy to relate to. The plot is interesting and the storyline is fascinating. This is a captivating and engrossing story and I loved every bit of it. Reading this story was a pure pleasure. I recommend it to anyone who loves a good suspense novel with some ancient legends mixed in.

Reviewed by Marta Tandori for Readers' Favorite

Fast Track to Glory by Tomasz Chrusciel is a tautly woven thriller somewhat reminiscent of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. Very few people have the privilege of being called upon to offer their professional expertise and when Nina Monte, Professor of History of Religions at the Department of Historical and Geographic Sciences and the Ancient World at the University of Padua, is called upon to do so by the Ministry, she feels hard-pressed to refuse. Nina is tasked with a top secret mission; verifying the authenticity of an ancient artifact currently located inside an old sunken galley lying at the bottom of Lake Garda. Sweetening the Ministry’s request is the promise of a large ‘gift’ to her university as well as a personal reward to her. Heading up the underwater recovery of the artifact is Lammert van der Venn, a wealthy collector and his crew. However, once Nina arrives at Lake Garda and before she even meets van der Venn, she runs into a distraught local hotelier, Alessandro Pini, who wants a meeting with the wealthy collector in order to question him regarding the death of his chef and beloved friend. Apparently, van der Venn had been the last man to see his chef alive. Before Nina or Alessandro fully understand what has happened, they are both on the run, leaving Italy behind as they head for India, relentlessly pursued by a ruthless madman who will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants.

Substitute Brown’s suave symbologist, Robert Langdon, with Chrusciel’s gutsy Nina Monte, and you’ve got a fully-formed protagonist who can kick ass with the best of her male counterparts. Like Langdon, Monte knows her stuff and isn’t the type to roll over in the face of adversity – and the adversity comes fast and furious. Monte’s brain is tempered nicely at the beginning by her vulnerability that arises from her seeming inability to find the perfect mate. Hotelier Alessandro Pini provides a good foil for the more dedicated and mature Monte. He is a little brash, a little immature, but in some respects has more self-confidence than the more reticent Nina - yet there’s no denying the chemistry between the two which is important as the story progresses. And what a story it is! There’s history, religion, plenty of action, and rich descriptions of foreign places which keep the readers’ imaginations fertile and their interests engaged throughout.

While Chrusciel’s prose is taut and succinct, there’s a bounty of adjectives which lend themselves to heightening an already top-notch story worthy of an Indiana Jones adventure. Exotic sights, sounds and smells are described in sufficient detail such that they’re almost tangible, transporting readers to a special place where each new page heightens both the expectation and the odyssey. Whether you buy into the artifact or the meaning behind it is immaterial. Fast Track to Glory is a fast track to the afterglow that is sure to come from such a great read!