Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

When Ava is given the chance to escape her life in a juvenile detention centre and become a trained assassin for ISAN, the International Sensory Assassin Network, along with other troubled teenage girls, she accepts and looks forward to her new start in life. Ava embarks on a harsh training regime led by friend and training director Russ and tough, emotionless field operative Mitch. All the female assassins are injected with Helix serum which increases all of their senses, making them a deadly force to be reckoned with. Ava receives strange messages from a person called Sniper, who seems to know about her past. Whilst Ava is on a mission with her team, Sniper - aka Rhett - and his gang kidnap her and reveal the reality behind ISAN’s work. Ava is left devastated by the discovery and as ISAN recaptures her, she is left wondering if she can trust anyone.

ISAN - International Sensory Assassin Network by Mary Ting is a gripping novel that caught my attention from the first sentence when Ava leads her team in a training exercise. The plot is fast-moving and filled with three dimensional and realistic personalities. I especially found the relationship between Ava and Mitch interesting, as they fought a battle of wills throughout. As Mitch relentlessly tried to get into Ava’s mind, she had to constantly fight him psychologically. I loved the character of Ava; she was strong and had a gritty determination. It is refreshing to see a novel filled with so many great female characters. I found the creation of ISAN and the description of their work, and treatment of those who decided to leave, quite chilling. My favourite line has to be: ‘Memories can be erased, but you never forget emotions’. I feel this summed up the story perfectly. There is plenty of action and suspense throughout and the ending surely made way for another novel and the continuation of Ava’s adventures. I hope so.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Shattered Abacus: Orville Wellington Mouse, Book 2 is a young adult metaphysical adventure fantasy written by Tom Hoffman. Orville's dream seemed so real. He was deep in the Symocan jungle, trying to enjoy the warm sun and luxuriant foliage, but Sophia seemed obsessed with counting the minutes and even seconds until something or other would happen. He just didn't understand why she was unable to dissociate for a while and relax, but, finally, he gave in to her prodding and challenged her to a race to the top of the volcano. He felt awful gazing into that bubbling liquid heat, the hot air all distorted and wavy as he peered into the volcano. And Sophia was actually determined that they should leave their precarious, yet relatively safe, perch on the rim, and jump into that fiery maelstrom. Sophia reminded him that it was only a dream, and she assured him that it wouldn't hurt, but it took the staunchest adventurer's leap of faith to allow him to clutch Sophia's paw and jump. Waking, Orville was relieved to see that it was, indeed, a dream, but was puzzled by the thick coating of snow that covered his night table. The chilly mess seemed particularly odd considering the jungles and volcano he had just experienced. There had to be a reason, he figured, for these two disparate, yet obviously connected, events. He'd have to discuss it with Sophia.

Tom Hoffman's metaphysical adventure fantasy for young adults, Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Shattered Abacus, follows now veteran adventurers Orville and Sophie as they take on their newest assignment as a Metaphysical Adventuring team. Yes, it's the second book in Hoffman's series, and, yes, again, you can read this book on its own, but don't. Seriously. Each of Tom Hoffman's books is a gem, and they fit together to make an astonishingly good literary tapestry of metaphysical adventure, fantasy, science fiction and just a bit of quantum physics. Well, maybe a little more than just a bit, but don't let your lack of mastery of such matters keep you from diving head first, or jumping feet first as Sophie and Orville do, into Hoffman's quirky and most marvelous universe. Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Shattered Abacus lets the reader travel to distant planets, solve mysteries, and study the remnants of long-gone civilizations, and you'll be doing it in the finest of companies.

I love seeing how well Orville and Sophia's strengths complement each other. Their banter and laughingly begrudging appreciation of each other's growing gifts is a treat, as is the way each keeps the other from taking themselves too seriously. Watching as the daredevil in Sophia is constantly tugging along the not so sure Orville has to be one of my favorite humorous aspects of this series. Proto, the Rabbiton and the newest addition to Orville’s family, with his love of adventure and rather odd appetite for encountering strange and horrible beasties, is a hoot and a half, especially when one considers his other avocation for baking little frosted cakes while wearing Orville's mom's aprons.

Hoffman's fictional universe, which seemed so limitless in the Bartholomew the Adventurer Series, just keeps on expanding. Each new volume promises metaphysical delights, strange horizons, wormholes and hidden doors into far-off places, and ever more opportunities to learn, grow and experience alongside the adventurers. I'm so pleased with this book -- the characters are first-rate and the plot is marvelous. Orville Mouse and the Puzzle of the Shattered Abacus: Orville Wellington Mouse, Book 2 is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

I liked The Sorcerer’s Quest by Rain Oxford. As the title implies, it is a traditional quest adventure with magic and all the fantastic beasts and other elements you can expect in this kind of tale. I am a big fan of magical stories so I am always looking for a new writer with a fresh angle on this genre. Rain Oxford is such a writer. I am also on the lookout for new takes on Merlin and the Arthurian legends. Merlin as a wolf certainly qualifies as new. Though this story is not strictly speaking an Arthurian tale, Merlin looms large in a fresh and interesting representation. I liked the contrast between an older and wiser Merlin, and the young and very naive Ayden. They make a pretty good team.

The Sorcerer’s Quest is the first book in a series called The Sorcerer’s Saga. Rain Oxford lays out a very unique world with its own rules and labels concerning magic, and how magic works. I found the tone of The Sorcerer’s Quest refreshing. Though the situation and the plot are serious, there is a strong element of light hearted comedy and irony throughout the book. The characters were done well. The plot keeps the story moving along and the conclusion is not as predictable as you might at first think. Rain Oxford has a light, deft touch, and the writing flows along at a pace perfect for this kind of story. The Sorcerer’s Quest is fresh, and I look forward to following this exciting new series.

Reviewed by Kayti Nika Raet for Readers' Favorite

In The Benighted, the first book in The Benighted Saga by A.M. Dunnewin, twenty-three-year-old Skylar Mandolyn finds herself named heir after the tragic death of her brother. As the final heir, her existence is both an asset to the kingdom and a threat to those hoping to see its destruction. When her father is found murdered by assassins not long after her brother, instead of becoming queen, Skylar is imprisoned for helping her knight Harlin, who has been framed for the murder, escape. With her only hope being the knight who has gone missing, Skylar refuses to yield to the enemy, both foreign and those lurking in her own court, and must find the strength to oppose those determined to break her spirit through torture.

Jumping between Skylar's present day situation and the past events leading up to it, Dunnewin manages to find the perfect balance in telling a story through flashbacks. It doesn't feel gimmicky nor does it bog the story down. I did wish the romance between Skylar and Harlin was emphasized a little more, but it has a subtle sweetness to it and I thought seeing Skylar grow and mature from a reluctant queen to a determined ruler was a satisfying alternative. Dunnewin crafts a fast paced, thoroughly enjoyable tale that has a slight steam punk bent thrown into the fantasy. It makes the setting of knights and princesses somewhat unique and is sure to grab readers' attention. The Benighted, the first book in a new fantasy series by A.M. Dunnewin, is great for fantasy fans looking for a quick read.

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

Many people think that Madison Rosewood has it all – a free ride to college, a great best friend, and the chance to make something of herself. For Madison, though, that isn’t important because, now that she is turning 18, she can finally begin the search for her birth parents. In Everly: Volume 1 by Meg Bonney, Madison defies the aunt who has raised her and plans to find out why her parents left her. Unfortunately, that is not an easy question to answer because the reality lies in a different dimension. Already known for her exceptional speed, Madison discovers many other talents when she and Jason, her best friend, follow a stranger through the portal in an old oak tree in Aunt Ruth’s back yard after Ruth is abducted by hooded characters. Now in the land of Everly, the stakes are high as Madison learns the truth about her birth, her parents and why she was taken from this magical, mystical place by Ruth as a young child. Still intent on her quest to find her parents, Madison and her small group of friends become entangled in the very real challenges in Everly – the attempted destruction of all magical beings. It will take something extraordinary to resolve this problem!

Everly is an ideal YA book on many levels, even if you are only interested in a fast-paced, easy to read fantasy adventure. Beyond the brilliant descriptions of an alternate dimension and its inhabitants, and the depiction of a great relationship between two friends, Meg Bonney has loaded the story with many of the issues that confront most YA readers – the question of belonging, loyalty, family ties and purpose in life. The characters are highly developed, demonstrating deep emotional ties and concerns, and the lessons they learn come naturally, some with a high price. Another significant element this book contains is that not everything works out the way you want it to and that is also an important lesson for today’s readers. There is tremendous value placed on dedication and making personal choices that have lasting impact. Everly: Volume 1 is well worth reading and certainly a great start for the rest of the Everly Series. Well done with great characters, challenges to be overcome, and a clear look at the need to have determination and drive. I look forward to future volumes to see what happens!

Reviewed by Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite

Wow! Just, wow! How's that for a review? Well, it's definitely how I felt about the new book by author Jay J. Falconer, Shadow Games: Time Jumper Series Volume One. This story is a real roller coaster of a ride of action, adventure and excitement, all wrapped up in the paranormal environment, and was a book that I had a hard time putting down once I started it. The story of lead character Emily Heart begins, a fifteen-year-old girl who has realized that she has changed, and not just in the ways that any young person changes in adolescence. Someone or something has turned her into a time jumper, and she isn't sure how or why. What she does know is that her best bet is to keep herself and her ability hidden, and to find the entity that altered her so that she can demand to know why. Will Emily be able to control her unique abilities enough to do just that or will she be found first? That is the question!

I loved Shadow Games. Loved. It. How's that for a review. I was sucked into this story almost from the very first page and I could not put the book down until it was done. Author Jay J. Falconer has a true gift in writing in the paranormal genre and has provided his readers with a creative and unique story that is unlike any they have read before. His characterizations are vivid, his world creation skills are simply second to none, and his ability to write a suspenseful, edge of your seat kind of tale is fantastic! It's easy for me to give this book my highest recommendation, and I very much look forward to reading more in this incredibly promising series by author Jay J. Falconer in the near future.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

The Gender Experiment by L.J. Sellers is a thriller that left on me the kind of powerful impression I had when I first read Lee Child’s Jack Reacher. Taylor Lopez is doing her internship in the morgue and she couldn’t complain about the work until something unusual catches her attention. She discovers people with similar traits are dying and her curiosity is piqued. Could it be a coincidence? Taylor is the kind of character with a driving curiosity and a stubbornness that can border on recklessness, but she is also the kind of character that readers will root for. She begins to check out profiles of the dead persons sharing the same medical traits and what she discovers is shocking: all these people were born in the same hospital and around the same time, but her startling discovery is just a clue pointing to an evil that can have nefarious consequences for humanity. Taylor has come too far to withdraw, and now, with a bounty on her life and the help of FBI agent Andra Bailey, she has to get to the truth before the enemy gets to her.

You’ll curse; you’ll open your mouth in utter wonder, and will grip the edge of your chair as you read this riveting tale of a young woman’s fight to expose one of the military’s deadly schemes. The Gender Experiment is a rare find, a treasure that will delight thriller lovers. It’s fast-paced, with a cast of well-developed characters and a setting that is hard to forget. L.J. Sellers is a master entertainer and knows just how to get readers turning the pages. The masterful use of suspense will make your heart ache as you turn the pages, but you’ll have to turn them until you are done. It’s undoubtedly one of the best thrillers of the year.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Ritual of the Four is a young adult paranormal fantasy written by Carla Trueheart. Shaw Huntley is on the run -- literally. He and his mother have so far remained just a few steps ahead of the scarred man and Shaw’s cousin, Alexander; the men who killed Shaw’s father and who will stop at nothing to get Shaw’s dagger. Each time they catch up with Shaw, he and his mom are packed and ready to go, once again, to yet another town, a different school, and with a new set of names. Shaw, Alexander, and the scarred man have a peculiar set of skills that runs in Shaw’s family lineage; they can slash and cut their victims using the power of their minds. Shaw’s powers are unusually strong and hard for him to control; once he has visualized that dagger in his mind, the object of his anger is cut. When they move to Rockpoint, New York, a quiet little upstate New York town, Shaw is prepared for yet another short stay before they have to leave, but the welcoming committee at his new high school, in the form of a game-playing girl named Melody, gives him just a few reasons to want to somehow make this stay last a little longer.

Carla Trueheart’s young adult paranormal fantasy, The Ritual of the Four, is exciting and action-packed. The author has written a spellbinding and highly imaginative story based around an ancient ritual that had created binding powers passed down through the family lineages of its participants. Shaw and Melody are authentic and compelling characters who work together to decipher the clues and puzzles that are all that’s left to help them stop the relentless and deadly pursuit by Alexander and the scarred man. I enjoyed every minute I spent reading The Ritual of the Four and had a marvelous time teasing out the coded message and other clues along with the two protagonists. This is a fast-paced story that’s filled with adventure, suspense, and just a bit of romance. The Ritual of the Four is wickedly good, and it’s most highly recommended for contemporary fantasy fans of all ages.

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Brian Boru - Freedom Within The Heart by Mark Mahon is a compelling story of Brian Boru and his brother, who want to take revenge on those who murdered their parents. Set in 919 AD, the story captures the Ireland when clans are fighting amongst themselves, making them an easy target for invasions. As the story progresses, readers see Brian Boru retrieving the land back from the Vikings and learn about a few battles. It's a story of bravery and valor and Brian Boru remains in the hearts of the Irish people even now.

Though filled with revenge, death and destruction, the story is fascinating and compelling. The author's narration of the scenes is descriptive and keeps readers engaged with all the twists and turns in the plot. The book captures the picturesque beauty of the Irish countryside and takes readers on a journey of love, power, war and revenge. The intense battle scenes are raw and the author inspires and entertains readers with suspense and action mixed with Irish folklore and history.

The toil, sweat, and bloodshed that unfold as the story progresses will keep readers glued to the book till the very end. This historical fiction is a story that also portrays Brian Boru's emotional journey along with his adventures. The story will work well as a movie too with all its battle scenes, death, and destruction. The story ends powerfully and emotionally, touching the hearts of readers. Brian Boru is an exciting story of war, revenge, love, bravery and valor.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

Journey Into Darkness by J. Arthur Moore is a well-crafted tale of a young man’s adventure in the Civil War. While his father is away fighting with the Confederate army, Duane Kinkade is left with no choice but to search for him after his mother is killed by raiders, a search that will immerse him in an adventure he never considered initially. He joins one camp, gets wounded, and rescued, finding himself on the other side of the war front. It’s a painful story of love and loss, of courage in the face of death, and the numerous vicissitudes of war.

The story features a cast of rock-solid and fully-fledged characters and readers will want to follow the protagonist through every step of his struggle, turning the pages to know what happens to him. From the moment his mother dies, readers ache to know if the young boy will find his father, but things do not always turn out as readers would want them to, and J. Arthur Moore prepares yet more twists and surprises. This novel features a perfect blend of the playfulness and alacrity of youth, the grim reality of war, and the art of surviving in difficult and dangerous situations.

Journey Into Darkness offers a refreshing look at the Civil War, combining fiction with historical facts to entertain readers while making a powerful statement that condemns war. The language is charming, mimicking the different accents and backgrounds, and one immediately gets a picture of the cultural and educational backgrounds of the characters. Listen, for instance, to this dialogue:

“Hey, Pounder!” the boy called.
“He sure has growd since I last saw him,” Jamie observed.
“We'll git off here, Ma,” Duane stated.

But then at times, it is lyrical, and poetic, like the rush of hastened feet of soldiers on the charge, rhythmic and nerve-wracking. Although Journey Into Darkness is a powerful chronicle of war from a boy’s point of view, it is an altogether enjoyable story, exquisitely entertaining, and utterly satisfying in its denouement.