Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Beyond the Father is the first book in the Gods on Trial series by Opëshum Patroz. Set in Xżyber, the smallest planet of the strange Warget Solar System, where the powerful suppressed the weak, and chaos thrived in the heart of the planet. The resources weren’t enough to sustain everyone, and a war was brewing just around the corner. The military leaders were preparing for an attack from the North while King Thio and his Queen Evaline were dreaming of moving away from the Central Kingdom. Everyone was struggling to survive, but was that possible?

Intricate and complicated in the best way possible, Beyond the Father had me entertained and wanting more. I can read a good epic fantasy, but my standards are very high when a story is categorized as epic fantasy/science fiction. Author Opëshum Patroz created a fascinating and curious universe where life after death was possible and cyborg-like “humans” existed. The story felt as if it was purposefully complex, and I loved that! The multiple POVs and a whole army of characters should have overwhelmed me, but they didn’t. I was lost in Xżyber’s intricacies and its four regions as it fought to survive. The characters were vital to the story and revealed secrets that Patroz hid. I had a great time connecting the dots and then flipped when Patroz threw a curve ball out of nowhere. I enjoyed King Thio’s dilemma and Prince Anglid’s quest, but characters like Liara and Dugar had my attention. A few simple yet powerful characters became my eyes and ears for what was happening on the ground level. I hope author Opëshum Patroz carries many of these characters forward into the next novel in the series because I will be waiting to meet them again.

Reviewed by Matt Lebois for Readers' Favorite

Adventure takes to the ‘Skies of the Empire’. In this adult fantasy novel from Vincent E.M. Thorn, humans live a life aloft to remain safe from the omnipresent threat of the Fae. Humans thrive in airborne cities anchored to mountaintops by protective iron, and some people live and work on airships, completely untethered. The first mate on the Dreamscape Voyager, Cassidy Durant is one day forced to commit a capital offense against her empire: making an agreement with a Fae. This act exposes her to new threats, but with the support of her captain and crewmates, it will lead to unexpected outcomes. Meanwhile, Zayne, mercenary and captain of the Scorpion, has his own mission, one that will have far-ranging effects for the entire empire, if not the whole world. When Cassidy and Zayne cross paths, more than just sparks will fly.

The opening chapter, featuring an airship battle with a dragon, left me breathless and full of questions about this new high fantasy setting. I loved the worldbuilding, with new details presented naturally through the characters’ experiences: the 26-hour days; food sources in a sky-bound world, where farming is the most dangerous profession; iron being literally more valuable than gold; the many uses for parts of dragons; songs, history, and technology all well thought-out. While the main conflict and stakes were slow to emerge, I found the setting continually intriguing, and the camaraderie of Cassidy and her “found family” crew was consistently a joy to read and held my interest while darker events were slowly unfolding. Younger readers should be aware that this book contains swearing and acknowledges the existence of sex, but otherwise I think all ages will thrill at this adventure. Sequel, please!

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Still, the Sky by Tom Pearson is his latest collection of poetry that delves into popular mythological classics, notably the tales of Icarus and the Minotaur. In the poet’s own words, he has endeavored to complicate the otherwise rigid and often minimal representations of the Minotaur and Icarus, which are often simply rendered either as a monster or a child of hubris. This results in compelling figurative representations, an explosion of social, artistic, emotional, and intellectual expressions that carve their meaning in a fusion of written and visual art. It gives clearer meaning to age-old characters. In Fragments of Icarus, for example, Icarus’s tragedy is deemed not as a remembrance of failure, but rather as an autobiography of imprisonment.

This collection is highly accessible in terms of readability when compared to other poetry inspired by the classics. The anthology may not exactly be easy reading for some, but Tom Pearson conveys through his creations the impression that he is a poet with a strong, intelligent, and lyrical voice. From a critical standpoint, this is not the type of poetry that you can easily read and digest its metaphorical undertones in one sitting. Pearson creates a world that bridges age-old classics and his contemporary ideas. His striking imagery aside, Pearson’s poetry is best brought to life when deconstructed one poem at a time. The fluidity of his verses makes each of his poems a joy to read. Still, the Sky is highly recommended for lovers of both classical and contemporary verse.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

The Heart of War by Lisa Beth Darling is the first book in the mythological dark erotica Of War series. Accused of a dreadful crime, Ares, the formidable War God of Greek lore, lives in solitary confinement on an isolated island, guarded by humans and attended by female servants. His life is disrupted when a mystical fey woman, Magdalena MacLeod, appears mysteriously on his island. With no recollection of how she arrived, she captivates Ares who renames her Alena. Her presence intrigues him further when he discovers her chastity belt engraved with the insignia of Cernunnos, the Celtic God of Forest and Death. An unexpected deal takes shape: Alena's maidenhead for Ares' protection. As this bond grows, Ares confronts the choice between his estranged divine family, his self-worth, and his newfound attachment to Alena, all while the Olympians and Cernunnos are closing in.

In The Heart of War, Lisa Beth Darling delivers no-holds-barred erotica laden with extreme violence, attributed to a horrific curse, that carries out with the hope of an eventual romance. Ares is an absolute brute with a private harem full of women who are obsessed with him, and the resilient Alena, and they are the ultimate unlikely pair. Their chemistry unfolds and through alternating points of view, Darling develops a diverse cast that includes Ares' Olympian family. The trigger warnings for sexual violence against women and children, and incest, are the standard fare for books of the genre. Darling isn't writing to please everyone, just genre lovers who will find this story ticks all the boxes. I genuinely appreciated the detailed backstory provided, given that this is not intended to be a one-hit-wonder. We have time for real evolution of character and Darling very effectively sets the stage for a promising series.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven by Jennifer Ivy Walker is the first installment of a planned paranormal romance trilogy set in the times of King Arthur, the fabled High King of England. Issylte is the only heir to the throne of Ireland and at fourteen is just realizing her future role as the Emerald Queen when her father, the king, chooses to remarry in an attempt to ally with the King of Scotland. His new bride, the evil Morag, is determined to rid herself of her problematic stepdaughter, kill the king, and claim the Irish throne as her own. Issylte narrowly escapes the queen’s plot and discovers her latent magical powers, living deep in the Irish forests with a fairy witch who teaches her how to develop her newfound prowess as a healer and a seer. Tristan of Lyoness was the heir to his family’s throne in the Scilly Isles when he witnesses his entire family’s murder by marauding Vikings. Placed with his Uncle Marke, the King of Cornwall, Tristan grows up to be one of the most feared knights of the realm and is proclaimed Marke’s champion and heir. Sent to train with and ultimately join King Arthur as one of the fabled Knights of the Round Table, Tristan meets and befriends Sir Lancelot, Arthur’s premiere knight and champion. Tristan and Issylte embark on separate adventures, little knowing that fate and the Goddess will one day bring them together to rescue their respective kingdoms from the evil Queen Morag, her Viking cohorts, and dark, magical dwarves.

The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven is everything I would expect a novel of Arthurian times to be and more. Author Jennifer Ivy Walker has skillfully taken the world that we generally know through stories of King Arthur and concocted an exciting and wonderfully twisting world of chivalry, romance, battles, and magic. The two distinct and separate strands of the story wind their way beautifully to their obvious conclusion on the island of Avalon where the stage is perfectly set for the next iteration of this fascinating and compelling story. I particularly appreciated the author’s skill in blending the magic and the paranormal with the everyday existence of mere mortals. The battle scenes are realistic and bloody as one would expect in any knight’s tale but the romance and the passion of the characters are developed superbly and will have readers turning pages relentlessly to discover the next thrilling chapter of this story. The story is beautifully set up for the next stage of the journey and one is also left with the feeling that we have not heard the last of some of the characters that are left behind. Camelot, this period of history in Britain, tales of druidic magic, and the “little people” of the forest are shrouded in mysticism and fable, yet this author manages to combine all of these aspects in a thoroughly readable novel that seems plausible and believable. This is a real credit to her and I salute her for this first installment. I will be waiting greedily for the next iteration of this adventure and the further exploits of the characters I have grown to admire and love. I can highly recommend this book as one of the best stories I have read this year.

Reviewed by Anelynde Smit for Readers' Favorite

Itchiwan by J.J. Cunis is an extraordinary book. We follow the adventures and misadventures of four young boys, Amos, Vernon, Brett, and Timmy. The four discover a hole in the ground that leads to a translucent orb. Amos is the first to enter and sees the many connecting holes inside that lead to other points in time. This appears to be a time machine and the boys use it to explore. Amos and Timmy go into the hole alone and come back over twenty years later, but to them, it was merely a couple of hours. The Pukwadgees are also loose. They are four miniature braves looking to destroy the two boys and kill everything in sight as they wreak havoc in the town of New Seabury. In planning to go back, can they change the past by changing the future? Will the boys be able to stop the Pukwadgees before they kill any more innocent people?

Reading Itchiwan by J.J. Cunis was one wild ride. I could not put the book down and, in all honesty, could see this as a movie. The chaos caused by the Pukwadgees was immeasurable and so very final, but it is up to our four boys to stop them. Seeing how they change the future by manipulating the past was a twist I didn’t expect but loved. I would have done the same in that regard, so the characters are very relatable. I loved how Timmy changed from a timid little boy into the man he would become and how each member of the team turned their lives around with the knowledge they brought back. This was a non-stop thrill journey with an assault on all your senses. The characters were well-conceived and the story entertaining. Highly recommended for a more mature audience.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

"Yes, I understood the natural world despite their horrific dispositions. I respected that they had only instincts to guide them. A simple purpose to fulfill: survive. But wasn’t knowing that fact what kept us from living in such a way? The fact that we knew the difference? The fact that we could be better? People were content acting like wild beasts, it seemed. That saddened me. They could have been so much more. Perhaps they still could." In Red Sand (The Creations Series, Book 1) by Anne MacReynold, the immortal Lilith constantly finds that existing on Earth has its wonders but also terrors; love and hate, trust and betrayal, life and death. Can she find her true purpose and guide humanity to its highest potential?

The combination of Jewish folklore, The Alphabet of Ben Sira, and the Greek mythology of Troy as the foundation of the plot is deftly done. I’m more familiar with the fictionalized versions of Lilith where she’s often envisioned as an unsympathetic, dangerous being. MacReynold's Lilith in Red Sand is undoubtedly fascinating and much more complex. This is a different and interesting take on Lilith’s tale including how Eve and Adam came to be. The different views of Lucifer and Lilith regarding life are intriguing, and how she handles and feels about immortality are at times poignant to read. Her genuine hope to lead humans to the right path is admirable. Simply put, this is a great start for The Creations Series and I look forward to the continuation of Lilith’s journey.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

God of Nothing by Shane Scott is a captivating epic fantasy with a timeless setting, featuring a world inhabited by all kinds of creatures. Aja Ashe Jensen is a descendant of a god and a devil. Murdered at seventeen by the God of Death, Silver, she eventually resurrects with her dragon. As she navigates a treacherous world where nothing is what it seems, she must unravel her identity and choose which side to take in her dual nature of good and evil. While struggling to stay safe from the grip of the God of Death, she must choose which path to follow: will she save the ALL or annihilate everything in her path? The first of all things born and not created, she has more power than she can ever imagine, and the war is more within her than in the world she is awakened into.

God of Nothing introduces the epic fantasy series, The All, and readers who enjoy tales with supernatural, phenomenal characters and a strong conflict will adore this story. Aja Ashe looks all too normal when readers meet her, but she knows something is wrong with her. The signs are telling. Matthew, her father, doesn’t help whenever she asks about her mother, only saying that he loves her. There are intriguing moments as the young Aja struggles to figure out who she really is. Learning that her mother died in childbirth but that it was something else that caused her death doesn’t make anything easier for her, plus there is the disturbing experience with the strange snake and the lightning.

The story moves on quickly to introduce powerful characters. It is a world in which gods hide disguised as humans. Even Memnoth, God of Love, hides as a mortal. The plot is cunningly written and the conflict is strong. The multidimensional nature of the characters pulled me in and kept me racing through the pages. The storytelling craft is stellar, the prose impeccable, and the conversations as real as any can be. This is a rollicking ride for fans of epic fantasy. The intersection between the physical and the supernatural elements is superbly woven into this entrancing story. A page-turning story that will be loved by fans of epic fantasy tales.

Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite

The Jarl of Oakharrow, Bor Kjellson, was of feeble mind, and his heir, Annar, ruled instead. Annar had two other brothers and one sister named Aelthena. She wanted to be more, but their culture forbade it. Aelthena lived with people who believed the woman’s place was by the hearth, to be seen and not heard. She was stubborn, challenged the status quo, and dreamed of leading Oakharrow one day. When an enemy razed her home, taking everything but her brother Bjorn the coward, the mantle rested on him. But does Bjorn have the strength to take charge of his Jarlheim? With no one to trust, brother and sister will show their mettle as politics and webs of deceit spin in The Throne of Ice and Ash by J. D. L. Rosell.

The Throne of Ice and Ash by J. D. L. Rosell was an enthralling novel that would appeal to lovers of epic fantasy tales with a realistic touch. This saga took root in the fabled nation of Baegard, governed by betrayal, agendas, hypocrisy, manipulation, politics, evil schemes, and more. The author fleshed out this realistic story around a brilliant plot and excellent character development. Rosell captured all the relevant emotions, and I connected with the characters. This story made me reason with the protagonists, even though they annoyed me to no end, especially Bjorn. However, Frey and Bastor grew on me as the novel progressed, and I can’t wait to read about their exploits in subsequent installments. I must commend the flawless editing and writing style as these made the book enjoyable. Keep writing, J. D. L. Rosell!

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Curse of Beauty is a work of historical fiction and interpersonal drama which is part of the Ancient Legends novel series. It is intended for the general adult reading audience owing to non-graphic reference to abuse, violence, and assault, and was penned by author Lauren Lee Merewether. In this thrilling standalone novel that explores the story which inspired the myth of the infamous figure Medusa, we find ourselves in Greece circa 1650 BC. Our central protagonist, Thais, is the daughter of a chieftain who wants to settle with oncoming invaders without the need for bloodshed. Although she believes in his peaceful vision, the personal cost Thais will suffer sees her undergo a trial of legendary proportions.

I always enjoy diving into historical works by Lauren Lee Merewether, particularly because this is an author who knows how to balance all the most interesting and well-researched elements of ancient history with emotional parallels to modern life and drama so that every character resonates with contemporary readers. Thais is no exception to this, and when Merewether’s up-close and empathetic narrative style is combined with the many sensations, family conflicts, and political struggles of this exciting plotline, it makes for an unstoppable read that I couldn’t put down without wondering what was yet to happen and aching to pick it back up again. From its slow-burning politically charged aggression to its poignant observations about the role of women and attitudes toward them during ancient times, The Curse of Beauty delivers everything you could possibly hope for in a historical drama. Unmissable.