Reviewed by Marta Tandori for Readers' Favorite

She Lights Up the Dark is an exciting paranormal read by writer A.M. Manay, and the second book in the November Snow Series. November is now a vampire, thanks to the last-minute ministrations of her maker, Ilyn, the recently-deposed vampire king. There’s one problem, however. November is invisible to all she cares for. They can neither hear her nor see her. In fact, there’s not a single vampire, fairy or werewolf who can receive any communication from her – except with Luka’s permission. Luka is powerful and offers November the world; a world they can rule together, but November wants nothing to do with him. Instead, she sticks close to Ilyn, Gregory, and the others, but things are tricky because they can’t see her. As Luka’s army wreaks havoc on everything they hold dear, the group decides that they’re better off separated. November wants to stick close to Ilyn and, much as Ilyn loves November, he can’t afford to have her close by because it puts her at risk. Instead, he tells her to stay with Gregory so that he can teach her the basics of being a vampire. However, Luka’s presence is everywhere, threatening the lives of those November loves, and she’s determined to stop Luka at all costs…

She Lights Up the Dark has plenty of kick-ass action, lots of twists and turns, and a few “never saw that coming” surprises that keep the reader engaged from beginning to end. What also makes this story so interesting is the fact that there’s such a diverse group of characters, from vampires to werewolves and fairies that aren’t your basic two-dimensional characters hell-bent on destruction and mayhem. Yes, there’s certainly action and violence, to be sure. However, vampires and werewolves don’t exactly have a reputation for emotional and moral values and yet Manay’s characters have them in spades. They also have special abilities such as the ability to heal, to hide and to find. Although the cast of colorful supporting characters provides three-dimensionality and interest to the story, the same cannot always be said about Manay’s main protagonist, November. Although her heart appears to be in the right place, she nevertheless doesn’t always have the emotional maturity, which makes her less effective and, sadly, not always compelling. This notwithstanding, there’s plenty to love about She Lights Up the Dark and with the climactic end, more of the same is sure to follow in the next installment.

Reviewed by Alyssa Elmore for Readers' Favorite

What would you do if you suddenly found a key to the mystery surrounding your famous grandmother's death? Fallen Star by Allison Morse is a breathtaking murder mystery set in the 1970s. Kate Bloom has been living in the stunning Gloria Reardon's shadow her whole life. As a young teen, Kate found herself in danger because she looked nearly identical to the beautiful 1940s starlet. For Kate, looking like her grandmother is more of a curse than a blessing. Especially since Kate only knows her from the Silver Screen; Gloria was murdered in 1941. Although Gloria's murder happened over thirty years ago, it has tainted Kate's entire life, leaving Kate abandoned and neglected. When her mother dies, Kate's life takes an unexpectedly new and terrifying direction. As answers to a case buried decades ago start to come to light, Kate is determined to find peace for Gloria finally. But at what price? As Kate uncovers the circumstances surrounding Gloria's horrific death, she feels like she is losing a little more of her identity. Will Kate be able to remove the dark cloud that has haunted her family for so long? Or will the past repeat itself? Will she be the next victim?

Fallen Star by Allison Morse is a brilliantly spun murder mystery with intense psychological thriller undertones and a hint of the paranormal. This book is masterfully written from page one to the exciting conclusion. The characters are well-defined and the red herrings cleverly executed. Having grown up reading Phyllis A. Whitney's novels, I am no stranger to stories with psychological twists. This book had me on the edge of my seat! I love how the characters grow as the story progresses, and the ending was a surprise! Written in form with Phyllis Whitney and Emilie Loring, this book was so enthralling. I was completely immersed in the story's world of extremes: the Silver Screen and beatniks. The main character's ability to move past traumatic event years later was inspiring, and the author did a fantastic job portraying the characteristics of such a victim. I would highly recommend this book to those over eighteen as there were a few adult elements (drug usage and a near-rape) that may not be suitable for younger readers.

Reviewed by Michelle Randall for Readers' Favorite

Princess Dracula takes the classic tale of the origins of the first vampire, Dracula, and turns it upside down. Vlad Dracula is the father in this story, and a ruthless man, bent on winning a decades-long war against the Turks, no matter what the cost, even if it means sacrificing his eighteen-year-old daughter Ruxandra. Too bad for Vlad he has no idea what he is doing or who he is dealing with; he is way too confident in himself and thinks he is invincible, which leads to his downfall. Poor Ruxandra has to deal with what her father has done, and what it does to her, which is ultimately to turn her into a vampire of the night. For a young girl raised for the past ten years in a convent, this is unthinkable; how can she live like this? Author John Patrick Kennedy gives the reader a first hand look into the innocence of Ruxandra's mind and her moral and ethical conflicts at having been turned into what she feels is truly a beast.

From the very beginning, Princess Dracula twists in ways I never expected and kept me guessing from the first page! I was hooked, wanting to find out how Ruxandra dealt with this change, and what she finally did. There were some parts I liked less than others, but it all seemed to work together to tell a very convincing story set in 1476. Author John Patrick Kennedy re-imagined the birth of the vampire and gave it a new life and a new beginning that is completely different and unexpected. This was a great read, but it is definitely an adult book. As a note to sensitive readers, there are some mature themes throughout the book, which come with the territory when you are talking vampires.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

When their lives collide, an unlikely friendship blooms between Magnus Blackwell and Jacob O’Connor, architecture students at Harvard in the late 19th century. The wealthy womanizer, Magnus, is the complete opposite of the righteous and diligent Jacob, whose poor background is often despised by others. It seems Magnus finds his dream woman when he met the sharp-witted Frances McGee. However, his philandering habit becomes the catalyst of romance and eventually marriage between Frances and Jacob instead. Blackwell (A Magnus Blackwell Novel) by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor is a story about one man’s unbound desire. Frances wants a faithful partner, and Magnus has a twisted view of being faithful. His heart is set on revenge against Jacob. Magnus’ desire to get Frances back to his side leads him to dark paths, and his journey to New Orleans has made this possible.

Despite the Victorian settings, the narrative is crisp and has a contemporary ease to it for a flawless reading. The vivid characters are one of the main strengths of this story, other than the fascinating premise and well-paced plot. As for its supernatural element, New Orleans is always a good choice and I’m glad that it’s one of the settings in Blackwell. It is a provoking yet absorbing read about the dark, twisted and dangerous part of the human psyche. Blackwell is definitely for mature readers only. Overall, this is a solid debut for the series from Weis and Astor. I’m curious to see how the story continues.

Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite

Oubliette: A Forgotten Little Place, an offering by debut author Vanta M. Black, is a dark and twisty story that kept me up way past the time I should have been asleep! What is an "oubliette," you might ask? It's a hidden dungeon, one that only has access through its ceiling. In this tale, there is one particular oubliette that appears to have power, especially over lead character Veronica. As a child, she is tormented by monsters, so much so that she is hospitalized for psychiatric problems. As a young woman, she receives a job decorating a castle in France, one that is darkly related to the "dreams" she had as a child, although she is unaware of that until she is pulled to the hidden oubliette and all that occurred there. Will Veronica find the answers she has sought since her childhood? Read the book to find out.

I loved Oubliette: A Forgotten Little Place. Loved. It. How's that for a review? Well, it's definitely how I felt about this book. Author Vanta M. Black has a true gift in writing fiction that is mysterious, dark, funny and thrilling all at the same time. It's easy for me to highly recommend her book, and the best piece of advice I can give to readers, besides being sure to read this book as soon as they can, is to have enough time set aside to read it from start to finish. Once they start it, they simply won't want to put it down!

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

The Invasion of Heaven is Part One of the Newirth Mythology by Michael B. Koep, a mystery with elements of thriller and the supernatural, a story that features great adventure, betrayal, and insanity. A thirty-seven-year-old psychologist is enduring the toughest time of his life: his mentor is suffering from madness, his client has just committed suicide, and his wife is leaving him. Now, as if all these things were not enough to drive a man over the edge, he has a vision of an Eye that won’t leave his mental gaze, an unfathomable eye that seems to be present in the very center of his life, in everything he sees. And the worst part is that there is a secret, ancient group that will do just about anything to get access to what he knows. There is only one way to unravel the mystery: write down everything and allow his mentor, Doctor Marcus Rearden, to fathom what it all means.

Here is a compelling story that features extraordinary characters, a weird and gifted painter, a six-hundred-year-old swordsman and more. In this riveting work, the author explores the depths of one man’s psyche to unveil a conflict that has existed for ages. As the reader reads about love, the perils of the mind, art, and life beyond the grave, the reader comes into contact with the nagging, eternal, and waking thirst for immortality that permeates the work. Who will master the psychologist’s secret?

The writing is powerful, filled with descriptions that immerse the reader in the action, offer clear and sweeping visuals, and allow the reader to easily get into the beautiful setting. Michael B. Koep is a good storyteller, bringing many elements into his work without losing the interest of the reader. He introduces readers to the conflict right off the first page when the psychologist thinks, amidst sobs: “When a client of yours takes their own life, you’ll want to take yours. You’ll believe that it was your fault. And I assure you, after that, there’s no going back.” This is the kind of book that one finishes and has to take a walk afterward, trying to feel the air, to touch things, to talk to the neighbor, just to ensure one isn’t still in a dream. The Invasion of Heaven is the fruit of genius, of rich imagination, and sheer madness. Readers will love every page of this engaging story.

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

Set in Jamaica in the late 17th century, Nights Arose follows an amazing heroine, Arose du Mouchelle, as she constantly combats the efforts of a strong Voodoo priestess to take a coveted jewel, the Gem of the Red Spirit, that has been in her family for generations. Andrea Roche gives Arose strength and intelligence, characteristics unusual in women of that time, so that she can protect not only her family, but also the island and the world at large. Confronting the evil incarnations Morel sends to hurt Arose and steal the Gem, the beautiful young woman is forced to use all the guile she possesses, even to dressing as a man and fitting in on the docks. With an almost Cinderella-like feel, Arose is passed over as the step-daughter when Harold Ambrielle, brother of the Priestess, marries into the family to force Arose to do his bidding. With swashbuckling action, astral travel, and plenty of exotic locales, Arose and the mysterious Captain St. James have their work cut out for them to save their beautiful island home.

Entirely action-packed and with plenty of magic, Nights Arose by Andrea Roche is an exciting and deeply intriguing story. The beauty of the settings and the historical tidbits describing life in a different era add to the dynamic plot that plays out smoothly, although with plenty of twists and turns. Roche uses Arose’s astral travel to fill in the past so that the present makes sense and keeps the action crisp and purposeful. There is so much to this book that it is hard to encapsulate it, but if you are looking for paranormal adventure, romance, action and a strong, beautiful heroine who can take care of herself, this is the perfect book.

Reviewed by Tracy A. Fischer for Readers' Favorite

In a great new work of supernatural fiction by author Linda Poitevin, Sins of the Lost, one of the books in the fantastic Grigori Legacy series, readers will be treated to the continuing story of homicide detective Alexandra "Alex" Jarvis. In a literal fight between good and evil, Alex finds herself pitted against the powers of Lucifer and his Nephilim army. Alex is desperate in her battle to save humanity, but when Lucifer kidnaps her niece as vengeance for the recent deaths of some of his Nephilim children, her desperation rises to a level she's not sure she can overcome. Heaven is demanding that Seth be returned to them, also something Alex isn't sure she has the ability to deliver on. Will Alex and humanity prevail this time, or will Lucifer have the final destruction he aims for? You'll need to read this great book to find out!

I so enjoyed Sins of the Lost. Author Linda Poitevin has done a fantastic job in continuing the story of characters that readers have connected with and care about, and her writing is so exciting that it leaves one breathless at times. Readers will find themselves up much later than they ever anticipated, when reading 'just one more chapter' will lead to finishing this whole book in one night. It's just so good you won't want to put it down! I highly recommend Sins of the Lost to any reader who enjoys supernatural fiction, or to anyone who is looking for a great read of fiction in general, and I will certainly look forward to reading more from the very talented author, Linda Poitevin, as soon as I possibly can!

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Tim on Broadway is a new adult fiction novel written by Rick Bettencourt. Tim’s been in a sort of limbo lately. He was fired from his job at the Good Barn and is coasting on unemployment, and he’s not gotten over feeling bereft and guilty after the death of his beloved mother. His best friends are Dixie, his rescue cat, and Julia, his best friend since they were growing up in Salem, Mass. He lives in Manhattan now, and while she’s still living in New England, the two of them talk constantly together over the phone. When she asked him to guess who was having a comeback concert, Tim never dreamed that it would be Carolyn Sohier. He and his mom loved Carolyn, particularly her singing, and he still vividly remembered the two of them trying to get to see her during the filming of the ill-starred Witches of Salem. And while the concert would be held miles away on an island off of Bar Harbor in down east Maine, Tim would still go in a heartbeat. That is, if Javier pays him back the money he owes him which he needs to buy tickets. Julia’s not too impressed with Javier, whose sexual encounter with Tim in the walk-in beer fridge at the Good Barn resulted in Tim losing his job. She doesn’t believe that Javier ever intends to pay that money back either, but despite Julia and Tim’s misgivings, the forces that be might conspire to get Tim to the concert.

Rick Bettencourt’s new adult fiction novel, Tim on Broadway, is a heartwarming and entertaining novel about a young gay man’s coming of age at the ripe old age of twenty-eight. Along the way, the overweight and relatively reclusive former momma’s boy falls in love with a straight hunk named Javier, who oddly enough seems not to notice the hefty stomach that figures so large in Tim’s psyche, and who may just be gay himself. I loved watching Tim and Jav as they navigate the city and then head up to down east Maine, one of my favorite places on earth. Tim and Jav’s budding romance is classy and sweet, and an utter joy to read about. Bettencourt’s plot is sumptuous and heady, and, at times, the stuff that dreams are made of. His characters zing and literally pop out from the page, from the mysterious truck-stop Bill and Father Al at St. Charles, a gay-welcoming neighborhood Catholic church, to the marvelous Downeasters living on Summerwind Island who soon become family to the young couple. I loved every minute I spent reading this book and was thrilled to read that a prequel is in the works. Tim on Broadway is a book to sing about, and to most definitely put at the top of your reading list. It’s most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

“Our gifts are our curses,” is a statement that can aptly be used to describe the predicament of November Snow, a young woman with extraordinary psychic gifts, whose tragic story is narrated in the first book of the November Snow series, She Dies at the End. In a world where people easily go from the small skirmishes of life to wars of staggering proportions, who wouldn’t love to ally with someone who can see beyond the present? It is in such a world that November evolves, and while she’s not of any interesting background — the daughter of a woman who sleeps in a trailer — she has the one thing that everyone covets. Will she give in to their wishes, or will she fight to impose her own terms? A.M. Manay has created an exciting and beautiful world with all sorts of creatures that readers will love to read and talk about.

I was first drawn to this book because of the title and the synopsis that offered a powerful dilemma. It’s intriguing to read about a character with psychic powers, one who can see the future, and of course, her own death. The question is: Does she know she will die, and what will she do about it? From the very beginning, readers are hooked because the author carefully introduces them to the extraordinary psychic gift of the protagonist with a vision in which “she sees them bury her.” Indeed, from that moment on, and that is from the very first page, the reader already has many questions he or she wants answered and A.M. Manay answers them with skill and great imagination.

I loved the well-grounded and highly convincing characters — even the creatures of myth that seem to walk side by side with humans, like vampires. She Dies at the End features a character that readers will easily sympathize with, but they will love the multilayered conflict and the neat and beautiful prose even more. If you’re a fan of fantasy, then this book is a great adventure.