Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Time Trials is a work of fiction in the science fiction and time travel adventure subgenres. It is intended for the young adult reading audience and was penned by the team of Jon McConnell and Dayna McConnell. In this thrilling high-concept work which features family drama and exciting schooltime intrigue, we meet our protagonist Finn Mallory who is plagued by guilt following the deaths of his parents. A new club at school holds the answers he seeks when he discovers that they take part in competitive time travel, but little does Finn realize that the corruption and danger within these games are second to none.

Jon and Dayna McConnell are bang on the money with this work of YA science fiction that will certainly please readers looking for a unique approach in their next adventure. Beyond this, there are so many other excellent developmental elements that make the work fully formed. These range from the intricate emotional journey that Finn undergoes as he works through grief and blame to the conspiracy-riddled mystery of the timekeepers and their cutthroat approach to such a volatile and world-altering technology. Add to this the slick dialogue and ensemble cast of other club members and competitors stopping at nothing to succeed, and you have a novel that stays engrossing from its opening chapter right through to the satisfying temporary conclusion, which once more leaves the way open for future books. Science fiction fans and YA readers will surely rank The Time Trials as one of the best books they read this year.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

The Bush Clinic by Stella Atrium is a speculative fiction novel and the first book in Atrium's new Tribal Wars series. The Bush Clinic is unique in that it harnesses the powerful evocation of futuristic human off-planet space colonization against a social structure that has gone backward to resemble a time before man had ever even landed on the moon in our real-life timeline. Women are relevant only in so far as they are useful and necessary, but not for more, in a rural tundra valued outside the bush for one reason: they are ripe for exploitation. This is science fiction in the context of space, time, the introduction of hybrids and interesting new 'animals', and the human post-pioneering of the planet Dolvia. Really, this is literary fiction that follows two women in the age-old battle of fighting gendered violence and subjugation in a world made hostile against them by men, corporations, and choice.

The Bush Clinic is a difficult read, particularly as a man of color raising daughters of color, having spent my own entire childhood in a third-world country. The parallels Stella Atrium draws between the commodification of tribal people and ethnographic feudalism for and against human/human-hybrid/alien-hybrid is a stomach-churning piece of 21st-century realism. I know what living under martial law looks like. I know what the refugee experience feels like. I know what it means to be viewed in a foreign land as 'other' and 'less than'...and Stella Atrium nails it. The pacing of the novel proceeds as a slow and steady burn. We meet a female physician named Dr. Greensboro who has more agency than the youthful Dolviet protagonist Brianna Miller, but Greensboro is still ruled under the warring clouds of greed and patriarchy. As readers are given time to witness the horrors of all manner of violence, we are also provided a near photographic depiction of the planet it occurs on. The Tribal Wars series is an ambitious undertaking but, based on its introductory novel, it's likely to be a brilliant one.

Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite

Everything just stopped working. Cell phones, computers, cars, and anything that needed a computer chip to operate just shut down and died. That wasn't the scary part; it was the total absence of information. Nobody knew what had happened to all the people but some say you'll find answers in the city and that is exactly where Ulysses is going. He has not heard from his mother since the world went silent and he will not rest until he finds her and brings her home. Despite the appeals from his neighbors to stay in the safety of his home, he heads for the city. On this quest, he will make new allies and discover a deadly conspiracy of global proportions. If not stopped, this will change the world as we know it in Drew Samuelsen's Restart: Book 1.

Restart takes an unusual approach to an apocalyptic event in this science fiction story. Unlike similar works where your senses are overloaded by extreme violence, this storyline follows the path of intellectual decline. It is refreshing to note that the primary character in the novel is barely a youth. Drew Samuelsen uses some enterprising storytelling to integrate the reader into the gradual coming-of-age process that Ulysses undergoes as the story progresses. The suspense is palpable from the first chapter of the novel, subtly ramping up to a rather impressive climax. An aspect of the novel that caught my attention was the variety of gadgets on offer. What I would give to have a fuel-less vehicle that propels itself. The potential romantic subplot between Ulysses and Maxine shows promise. Samuelsen combines spine-tingling mystery with breathtaking action to create the spellbinding novel that is Restart. This is a science fiction gem in every sense of the word.

Reviewed by Melanie Kennedy for Readers' Favorite

The Eros Machine by R. Prior is a science fiction novel exploring the age-old question: are we alone in the universe? Doctor Stuart Graham has spotted something extraordinary in a photo taken of the asteroid Eros. It seems there’s something alien on the asteroid, and it’s moving steadily closer to Earth. Before long the object is making contact with humans and is graciously offering technology beyond their wildest imaginations. As many would surmise, an alien presence brings out the true nature of humans, and before long tensions escalate toward World War III erupting. With all that on humanity’s plate, they need to contend with another alien species invading the solar system – ready to start a fight with humans and benevolent aliens alike. The real question arises: is it better to be alone in the universe?

R. Prior has created a thrilling scenario of earthlings meeting aliens. The Eros Machine explores what would happen and how we’d act if humans and aliens ever made contact. Prior was spot on in describing what humans would do with unimaginable power, and how quickly it would go wrong. Prior creates an emotional connection with the reader by writing in the first person which keeps you engaged and invested. The book contains technical terms and concepts, but Prior does an effective job of not making them confusing or turning them into complex jargon that a non-rocket scientist like me would not understand. This is an exciting novel about space and aliens and can be enjoyed by young adults and grown-ups alike.

Reviewed by Nicholus Schroeder for Readers' Favorite

Antuna’s Story: The Antunite Chronicles Book One is a sci-fi novel by Terry Birdgenaw. Set millions of years ago, when dinosaurs walked the Earth and giant sea creatures swam the oceans’ depths this story is about the displacement of a few animals to a distant planet and their new life there. But this isn't about the largest or strongest from the animal kingdom trying to survive on a foreign planet; the animals that were teleported are primarily from the insect kingdom. Antuna, an ant, makes new friends moments after the teleportation incident. The unlikely pairing of a spider, termite, ant, and more proves that all manner of insects and arachnids can co-exist on their strange planet. Tensions between groups of the tight-knit community begin to rise, however, as old grudges and instincts resurface. The line between friend and foe blurs and those at the top of the food chain are in for a rude awakening as some species are evolving at alarming rates in both intelligence and cunning. This is Antuna’s story, a tale of how these different species came together to build a civilization and how they tore it down.

What a read. At first glance, I thought this would be a mildly entertaining book as it’s about insects and I believed that having bugs as the characters would lose its uniqueness and get boring. I was wrong as the characters were written, dare I say, better than characters of the human variety. There's just much more at stake for them and Terry Birdgenaw demonstrated that in their development and his writing. The character Spifry may have proven himself to be trustworthy, but other characters still have their innate fear of the arachnid despite their newfound friendship. The plot also cleverly weaves in the typical behavior of these insects and that made the whole book more immersive and grounded for me. The pacing was just right and I loved how their civilization steadily grew as I read, as opposed to major changes between chapters. The steady pacing really drove home the impact of the book’s final acts. Overall, a great read. It’s fresh and interesting. I wholeheartedly recommend Antuna’s Story: The Antunite Chronicles Book One to fans of the sci-fi genre.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Facing Off by Tanya Ross is the second book in the dystopian science fiction young adult Tranquillity series, preceded by the remarkably well-received first book in the series, Rising Up. The series is named for the land its troubles are centered on, a place called Tranquillity where all negative emotions are suppressed and happiness is the order of the day. Literally. Those who resist and rebel, known as REMs for 'resisting emotional management,' are cast out to The Outside by emotional guardians and enforcers for the ruling Magistrate called Plauditors. Told through the points of view of multiple characters, Will, Ember, Serpio, Xander, and Ava, Ross takes us from a material awakening and uprising in book one to a full-blown revolution in book two. “Nothing is worth the sacrifice here. You’re at the Magistrate’s mercy.”

It is a rare thing indeed when a dystopian science fiction novel offers a fresh new plot point in a genre that has recycled more themes than asphalt. Tranquility does exactly that, and Tanya Ross takes the work leaps and bounds further in Facing Off by executing the idea perfectly. I had not actually read book one prior to picking up book two but made quick work of getting the first in, and my goodness, what a difference it makes. The social structure is complex and Ross shows its hierarchy by way of insiders, such as Ava, a trusted Elite, and Will, a Plauditor. As much as I love a good revolution—and a rebel group called Phoenix gives us that—it is the machinations of the Magistrate and the top-down swings that tie it all together. There is a love triangle that allows for a complicated romance and conflict that, let's all be honest here, a young adult book does need to have. I loved the low-key alliance changes that take place and, of course, the primary protagonist Ember is my favorite. This is a gritty read but one that requires no effort at all, and a Molotov cocktail of an ending. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Advent of Dreamtech: A Post-Apocalyptic First Contact Epic is a work of fiction in the science fiction subgenre, and was penned by author Isaac Petrov. Written as the opening novel to the Dreamworms series, the work is best suited to the adult reading audience but is moderate in its content and contains only a few explicit words. In a novel that deals with many different concepts, we see the titular Dreamtech being used for the central characters (and indeed the reader) to glimpse a world on the point of total collapse. In a time when the hyper-religious rule in a supposed utopia that is, in fact, only a step away from extinction, the stakes are high for the future of humanity: one woman and the alien she meets may hold the key to life – or death.

Isaac Petrov promises no-bull science fiction, which is exactly what we see delivered in The Advent of Dreamtech. Petrov has crafted a straight-talking story with a fast-paced plot that introduces readers to a bevy of interesting concepts and new storytelling devices that turn the idea of seeing dreams into a post-apocalyptic nightmare. I particularly enjoyed the dark psychology and emotional exploration of the Alien Master section of the story, which was totally fascinating and wove itself back into the main ideas of the plot in such interesting ways. Overall, I would recommend The Advent of Dreamtech to science fiction readers seeking exciting new concepts, fast-paced writing, and epic settings with plenty of danger and intrigue in every chapter.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

On the Winds of Quasars is a work of science fiction with plenty of action and adventure, and was penned by author T. A. Bruno. Suitable for the adult reading audience due to explicit violence, this work focuses on Denton and Eliana Castus after their harrowing trials in Orbit of Sirens. The world of Kamaria is vastly changed and more dangerous than ever, so when children Cade and Nella Castus are taken from home and find themselves in the wilderness, there seems little hope of survival. We follow these young, terrified souls as a deadly winged beast tracks their every move. Meanwhile, their parents uncover something as they search for their children, which may change the wider fate of the world itself.

I am always impressed with T. A. Bruno’s ability to create science fiction that also feels literary for its depth, poignancy, and attention to detail in character. One of the features I admired most about On the Winds of Quasars was its ability to present real drama and terror without over-sensationalizing anything or relying on gimmicks to make the next twist come to life. Because we are so rooted in the Castus family’s personalities, their bonds with one another, and their life so far, it becomes easy to build tension with every decision they make in case it turns out badly for them. Without wishing to spoil anything for readers, the conceptual work for the children’s captor was spectacular and thought-provoking, and the journey they attempt to get home was fraught with danger. Overall, I would highly recommend On the Winds of Quasars and The Song of Kamaria series in general for science fiction fans everywhere.

Reviewed by Francis Mont for Readers' Favorite

The Knowledge Seeker: A YA Dystopian Novel by Rae Knightly is an epic adventure tale in a dystopian setting, 600 years in the future. Past civilizations of the ‘Enlightened People’ have disappeared in a total collapse caused by climate change and all-out wars. What remains are two feudalistic city-states engaged in a deadly struggle over the remnants of knowledge collected by one of them in their library of ancient printed books squirreled away from the ruins of past cities. All this knowledge, condensed in an ancient memory device, is entrusted to 16-year-old Eodain (nickname ‘Termite’) by the Grand Protector, so he can spread this knowledge to the whole world where it belongs. The story follows young Termite and a few of his helpers through hair-raising adventures, trials, and tribulations that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The narrative is from the first-person point of view, in the present tense, by the young Knowledge-Seeker and the language is expertly tailored to the target audience.

In our current age of almost anti-science, denial, and misinformation, this is an extremely important book for young readers to learn and appreciate knowledge in all its forms. What I found delightfully unexpected was the use of leftover electronic technology, powered by still functioning solar panels from the Enlightened Era. This provides an intriguing contrast with the sword-wielding, horseback riding characters of the medieval setting. The characters are the usual antagonists representing good and evil in a classic struggle for all-out victory. The hair-raising adventures of young Termite are coupled with convincing inner monologues of the protagonist, projecting the conflicting emotions of the young crusader as he follows his sacred quest. I found the ending shockingly unexpected; it would leave any young reader gasping with a realization that they didn’t see it coming. I recommend The Knowledge Seeker by Rae Knightly to young adults who need all the encouragement to seek knowledge and humanistic values.

Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

Dillon Mackey is the protagonist of Escaping Gravity by J.D. Sullivan. While his parents want him to study law and have a great career, the boy has other dreams. Behind his parents' backs, he applied for an apprenticeship with the non-human scientist and inventor Sherisza Rousilarru, who owns and pilots the only starship powered by a Daevol drive. Sherisza is the last of her kind, and someone seems to be keen on her joining all her dead friends and family as soon as possible. She chooses Dillon as her apprentice from thousands of applications. Only the rather special circumstances under which she picks him up enable Dillon to convince his parents that this is the right thing to do (hard not to go into spoilers here). Once Dillon realizes what he's gotten himself into, he becomes even more determined, and the strange onboard computer named Winston might have something to do with that as well.

Escaping Gravity is the first book in the Infinite Horizons series by J.D. Sullivan and you can already buy more books in the series. While this novel is not high science fiction, and not as complex as some of the books you can find in the genre, it's an entertaining read with quite a bit of romance thrown in (I mean, who can't guess where it goes when a male and a female spend all their time together on a small starship?). It's a really cute story, but there's also plenty of action, fights in space, and a big mystery to solve. It's a nice novel for a relaxing read as the science part is not overwhelming and it does not have to be. You'll find yourself wanting answers to the questions (i.e. who wants Sherisza dead? Who wants a whole species erased?), and this keeps you turning one page after the other until you arrive at the end. I'd recommend the book for teenagers and young adults who want to have some fun and don't mind if there's more fiction than science in a science fiction novel.