Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

See These Bones is a fascinating dark work of science fiction and dystopia, and was penned by author Chris Tullbane. The central figure in this would-be heroic tale is Damian Banach, an eighteen-year-old who discovers that he has inherited a deadly and undesirable superpower from his murderous father, David. At the Academy of Superheroes in Los Angeles, David hopes to escape the tragedy of the Crows and their penchant for necromancy, but the accompanying silent ghost of his mother suggests that his haunted days are far from over. But once at the Academy, there are more people to despise him, and far greater challenges waiting than he could ever have imagined.

Recommended for mature young adults and adult readers due to some swearing and violence, this is a realistic and emotive look at the dark side of superpowers, which grabs its readers from page one. Author Chris Tullbane puts heart and soul into Damian, giving us the deadly backstory to the fascinating Crows, and the dark destiny that awaits the hero will have readers empathizing with so much. Alongside this superb character work (which extends into the whole Academy and its inhabitants), there is a great consideration for magical realism, mixing superheroes into Los Angeles with realistic and amusing consequences. The dialogue, too, is suitably snappy but not overdone, keeping this a fun sci-fi conceptual piece, but also a relevant dystopian drama. Overall, See These Bones is a must-read for any dark superhero fiction fan seeking an original new tale.

Reviewed by Maureen Dangarembizi for Readers' Favorite

The Girl Who Found The Sun by Matthew S. Cox is a YA sci-fi fantasy set in a futuristic Earth. After decades of world leaders ignoring environmental threats, the planet is finally brought to its knees when the insects die out and a climatic disaster hits. Humanity is nearly wiped out. Less than two hundred people remain in an underground Arc and they are the last of humanity. At least that's what Raven Wilder has been taught all her life. As an engineer who keeps the Arc from falling apart, she's aware of their home's failing systems. The situation is brought to a head when her six-year-old daughter gets sick and a trip to the surface proves that the ground may not be as toxic as they have been led to believe. Raven must not only face her fears but break a centuries-old belief system.

I really loved The Girl Who Found The Sun, not only because I love science fiction but it could not be more relevant than at this particular point in human history. Matthew S. Cox takes a birds-eye view of what could happen if we continue to ignore the planet's environmental woes. The fact that Raven is living at least six generations after an environmental melt-down makes her the perfect judge for this generation. She's part of the generation that has been affected by other people's ignorance and thinks it's stupid to ignore such signs. Make no mistake, this book is not preachy but an entertaining history of what could happen if humanity doesn't wake up. I loved the characters in this book and the plot is thought-provoking. Lovers of the CW's The 100 will love this book.

Reviewed by Edilyn Trinidad for Readers' Favorite

Nicole Mabry’s Past This Point is a dystopian novel about a virus that swept the United States East Coast. The main protagonist, Karis Hylen, found herself trapped inside the quarantine area with dwindling food supplies and only her dog Zeke as her company. She watched in horror as the situation deteriorated, leaving her desperate to escape. As the days passed, cabin fever became another enemy to be conquered as well as the smell of rotting corpses that hung the air. Past This Point is filled with nerve-wracking scenes as Karis not only has to fight her fears but also the worst side of humanity that a pandemic can bring out. It’s a story of finding one’s true self amid daunting adversities.

Nicole Mabry’s Past This Point is a must-read! I found myself relating to Karis Hylen and loving how resourceful she is. The story is so realistic, I was biting my nails while reading it. Nicole Mabry described how a pandemic can bring out the best and the worst in people. It’s a wake-up call that tells us nothing is permanent and the comforts that we have now could be gone in a flash. It also reminded me how lucky I’ve been so far and I took notes of what Karis did to survive, just in case. I was inspired by the development of Karis’ character. I might just take a leaf out of her book in terms of strengthening my stamina; you never know how long we’ll be in this mess.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Enemy of the Gods: Sometimes, Dreams are Overrated is a work of science fiction and paranormal fiction penned by author C. Hofsetz. The premise of the novel works with the idea that the realm in which we go to dream is a different but parallel reality altogether, known as Pangea. Here, a race of alien god-like creatures resides, but when they call upon the help of prisoner Zeon on Earth, they expect him to help them with their war. Neuroengineer Zeon knows little of the consequences of failure for without a world in which to dream, the whole of the human race would die.

Exciting, conceptual, gripping and fascinating, this is a novel that ticks all the boxes for a truly alien science fiction experience. Subverting so many of the traditional norms about alien wars, conquest and contact has enabled author C. Hofsetz to create a serious, credible and often quite frightening type of alien ‘god’. Their presence gives chills to the reading experience at every appearance, and the description and struggles of Zeon in between make the whole novel rush by at a breakneck pace. There’s plenty of personal drama for the conflicted Zeon, who is a well-drawn and relatable hero that readers can get behind but also be fascinated by his skills and his past. Scenery descriptions also have that fantastic cinematic quality, making them larger than life and easily imagined in readers’ minds. Overall, Enemy of the Gods is a superb novel with much to offer both casual and hardcore science fiction readers.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

The World Without Flags by Ben Lyle Bedard is a post-apocalyptic sequel to the first installment, The World Without Crows. While the entry novel certainly props up its sequel, the book reads perfectly well as a stand-alone as it follows protagonist Kestrel, also known as Birdie, through her first-person narrative. Birdie and a communal group of survivors are in a perpetual fight against a devastating worldwide plague aptly named the Worm, a parasitic invertebrate that infects its hosts through water and renders them either catatonic or a “crack” into a zombie-like state. The ravaged landscape of what used to be the United States is broken down into pockets of body politic clusters that are incredibly and justly terrified of new outbreaks. A war of power brews between two of these pockets: the Stars and the Gears. When Eric, a man Birdie regards as family, falls ill, Birdie is pushed to the limit to save him against all odds in a new world that offers no mercy.

Ben Lyle Bedard does an excellent job of crafting a fresh story in the dystopian genre with The World Without Flags. The world-building is exceptional and there are no holds barred when it comes to the horror and more violent aspects, offering instead a visually brutal prospect that is reminiscent of The Clockwork Orange in its gritty, terrifying depictions. A prime example of this is the pyres established to burn the dead, who are first pulverized by worms that internally devour hosts, and excreted by flame as it licks away at what's left of a human body. The body count is high and any attachment a reader might have to the ancillary characters will be as short-lived as those who become infected. I loved Birdie's tenacity and the fact that she is a young black woman. I was also impressed by Bedard's pragmatic approach to Birdie's feelings, especially how cognizant she is of a romantic attachment being preposterous even if control over caring is impossible. It's refreshing when an author bends closer to realism. It is the restraint that is the hallmark of a seasoned writer, which Bedard clearly is.

Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

I’ve got good news for people who are fans of post-apocalyptic war stories. The After War by Brandon Zenner is the first book in The After War Series that will go down as one of the best in the genre. The writing is so good that you will feel you are right there in the ruins with these great characters, making decisions that will shape the destiny of the human race. These are stories of survival, but just as important, they are stories of hope. I’ve read a few post-apocalyptic tales, both individual stories and series dealing with this all too probable possibility, and The After War is one of the best I have read. It is rich in detail and the characters are fully human, with all the strengths and weaknesses that come with that. The After War grew on me, as I think Brandon Zenner intended it to do. Page by page, it introduces this strange new world to us. Then Zenner shows us the hard decisions that these survivors must come to grips with.

For the most part, the characters are always what attracts me most to a novel and The After War has some great ones, major and minor. I liked the two cousins most of all. Brian and Steve reminded me of the relationships I have had with relatives and friends over the years. Other characters like Simon and Carolanne were interesting but the cousins fascinated me. The plot is important in a story like this and Brandon Zenner handles plot well. There is a sense of building to something, and the wonders of this new reality are peeled off layer by layer. The setting is great and very believable. Everything is done well. You will like this book and find it hard to wait for the next one.

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

Will Butler, the “Old Man” Dr. Jesse Johnstone, and rebel Malila Chiu continue on their quests for their respective governments in Exiles’ Escape, Book 2 of the Old Men and Infidels series by W. Clark Boutwell. The Unity and the RSA are heading for a major conflict and each side needs all the information they can get. They also need dedicated fighters to bring the resolution to a satisfactory end, obviously with different outcomes for opposing forces. Malila works through the underground to try to escape back to the Outlands, Jesse works again with the military and Will goes undercover for the RSA while others step up to do their part in providing information. Lieutenant General Jourdaine of the Unity knows that things are not what they seem. Malila is not gone, but the question is whether she still poses a threat. Without connection to the CORE, it doesn’t seem likely, but now is not the time to take chances. Even with the help of the Higgins' in the passageways under the transportation belts, Malila is on the run for her life, trying to stay one step ahead of recapture.

Pieces fall into place as the strategies play out, setting the stage for the next volume and full-blown war. Strong writing, fantastic imagination and detailed sub-plots make Exiles' Escape a great read. Focusing on individual characters makes the book seem like a series of vignettes, each interesting and intriguing. The pace within each section is good, action is exciting with unexpected twists, and the characters experience some interesting revelations that help determine their paths. Although Exiles’ Escape is not at its best as a stand-alone volume, I'd encourage readers to grab Outland Exile first to set the whole story in its rightful context. This dystopian series about rebuilding after civil war provokes thoughts regarding government oversight in life and the role of the individual in society. Begin at the beginning and you will have a rewarding literary experience.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Saturn: The Cassini Division is a work of fiction in the science fiction and action/adventure sub-genres and was penned by author Joseph W. Hudgens. Written for adult audiences due to some mild references to sex and infrequent usage of adult language, this complex and engaging work takes science fiction in a fascinating and thought-provoking new direction. In a far-flung future, we find ourselves with successful protagonist Victor J. Lugo, whose efforts in the world of stem-cell farming and working with the human gene have taken him far. But as his sudden rise to fame is halted by a dangerous finger of blame, we follow Lugo on a nail-biting adventure of intrigue and thrills to discover the source of the problem before it ruins his life.

Author Joseph W. Hudgens has created a conceptually rich science fiction adventure tale that takes elements of thriller and corporate mystery into its complex and rewarding plotline. The beats of the story are well spaced and exceedingly well planned to give both Victor and ourselves the chance to piece elements together without being spoon-fed, which results in a sophisticated and adult feel to the tale overall. I also enjoyed the overarching theme of the consequences of growing human body parts and interfering with the human gene and stem cells, which is presented in a fascinating way that shows both sides of the coin. Overall, Saturn: The Cassini Division is an intriguing work that shows plenty of sophistication and will be sure to please casual and hard core science fiction readers alike.

Reviewed by Kris Moger for Readers' Favorite

Ruins of Fate: The Omni Towers, Prequel by Jamie Waters takes place after a world similar to Earth now is devastated by environmental disasters. Forced to sift through dangerous ruins just to survive, the main character, Skye, struggles to maintain her precarious place in a scavenging camp. As well, she must protect her young son who is considered a burden by the camp’s leader. During a particularly risky hunt for supplies, she and her partner Leo save a young girl, who not only might ruin Skye’s place in the camp but brings with her a mystery that might completely alter everyone’s future.

For me, Ruins of Fate by Jamie Waters delivered a fantastic adventure. I enjoy reading good dystopian stories, especially ones dealing with an Earth-type world with a touch of mystery and magic. This book is filled with compelling characters, danger, and more. Waters weaves together her ideas to create a driving plot that makes the book hard to put down. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. Ruins of Fate is the perfect set-up for a series that dystopian fans would love. The author is a talented writer and works her skills to build a world so real that it’s almost an unnerving prophecy of what the future might hold if Earth’s environment falls apart. However, at no point did I find it preachy, which would have weighed the story down. The journey of Skye and those around her has just the right amount of intimate detail and action.

Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

The world’s population has been reduced to a more manageable level thanks to a deadly version of common influenza. In the dystopian novel Gone to Ground by Cheryl Taylor, this means that people have to move closer together and live in so-called APZs (Authorized Population Zones). As in they have no choice. Everyone who refuses to move is branded some sort of rebel, either forced to move or simply removed from society (i.e. killed). When Maggie’s time comes to move to an APZ with her son Mark, she decides that it’s not the future she wants for herself and her son. From her work as a journalist, she remembers the stories about an isolated ranch, somewhere near a canyon. The two flee, but they are not the only ones who know about that ranch. One of the cowboys who originally lived in the area also decided to settle down there as the ranch has everything needed to live. Maggie and Mark arrive first but have little knowledge of ranch life. When O’Reilly turns up, life takes a turn for the better thanks to his knowledge. But then it also takes a turn for the worse. Because O'Reilly has knowledge the government doesn’t want to come out, and they’ll stop at nothing to find and silence him.

In the beginning, I thought Gone to Ground by Cheryl Taylor would be too much of a “western/cowboy” type of dystopia. However, I do enjoy survival stories in dystopian worlds, especially when they aren’t too unrealistic, which this plot isn’t – it could very well one day be like that, considering the world we currently live in! Fortunately, this is a wonderfully entertaining story with just the right amounts of everything: some romance – but not cheesy and not overdone; lots of wild places, realistic survival problems (e.g. how to store enough water for an emergency); a small cast of well-written, engaging characters and a plot that kept you turning the pages. My favorite character, I have to admit and hope the author won’t curse me for it, is Houdini. He stole the show. He’s a true star, and I hope Maggie’s attitude isn’t a reflection of what the author thinks of that magnificent character. You’ll have to read the book yourself to find out more about the most entertaining and heroic character of the book.