Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

A Gleam of Light by T.J. Wolf is the first book in The Survival Trilogy. No one could have predicted what they were going to see during what was supposed to be a simple plane ride. The time was 1995 and it was an experience that stays with Una Waters as she becomes an adult. Now in 2016, Una is drawn back to her childhood home on the Hopi Reservation after being away for a decade. Her trip back home quickly devolves into chaos after a cave discovery catches the army's attention and the cave is put under protection. As Una demands answers, she soon learns that the discovery could be linked to her experience on that plane so long ago. She turns to allies for help and stands her ground against a general who seems to have a different agenda.

T.J. Wolf brings life to this exciting science fiction adventure which is broken into various parts full of action and suspense. The first part takes place in 1995 and details the bizarre encounter the passengers have which is quickly swept under the rug as they're told their eyes simply played tricks on them. By opening in 1995, Wolf sets the stage for every event that follows once Una returns to the reservation. The whole encounter is ominous with a mysterious dark object and various other setups like a woman who dreamed of being on a plane during a storm. Every moment that follows can be tied back to the plane with each moment building up the suspense and discovery through each twist and turn. By seeing Una as a child, you see the basis of the person she ends up becoming through the fantastic description of her as a child that wants to read about the real world and one that isn't afraid of the truth. This directly ties into her development as an adult with opinions she's not afraid to share, as a person unafraid to stand her ground and someone that doesn't back down even against the U.S. Army. These qualities make her an astounding character and make her perfectly suited to lead a science fiction adventure.

Wolf weaves in several classic elements of science fiction with the signs of aliens, presence of the military, and a mysterious discovery which leaves one boy dead and another with a sudden awareness he didn't have before. Each moment builds and draws Una closer and closer to the truth until she uncovers a startling discovery. A Gleam of Light is an exciting adventure with mysterious encounters, strange discoveries, action, and secrets ready to be thrown open.

Reviewed by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite

March of the Gnomes by Erinn Price is a fantasy novel you cannot put down. Alexis Dumont finds herself alone in her sister’s house while Morgan cares for their parents after an accident. Alexis is the athletic one of the family, but a broken leg leaves her restless. Her sister is a developer of organic bio-nanotechnology and her testing equipment allows Alexis freedom to move around without damaging her leg further. So begins her adventure in ArcOn, an AI video game. The game fits the character with the personality of the player. She gets a gnome, and for some unknown reason other characters bully and troll them. But she has a plan and she will not back down on her promise to help the one person she thought she would never get along with. Her commitment drives her to motivate the other gnomes, but their activity will not go unnoticed.

I found March of the Gnomes compelling from the beginning. Erinn Price has developed a complete world within this steampunk fantasy that draws the reader into its realm. I enjoyed the teamwork between the players. Price included stats to give this a video game feel which gamers will appreciate. I learned much about the gaming world as I learned along with Alexis. There is also a mystery concerning the aggressive behavior towards the gnomes and what is causing it. I love how the overseers work to see that the game is fair for all the players, even cheering for the unpopular. I would recommend this well-edited novel to those who love fantasy or gaming.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Light Speed by F. Rob Dorsey is an interesting science fiction novel that covers multiple grounds while doing them justice. The novel begins on a USS Resolute spacecraft that is taking its first journey into the vast and mysterious space. Aboard the ship is a team of humans who may seem ordinary, but appearances can be deceptive. The captain of the ship, Colonel Richard “Rick” Corbett and his first officer have a curious relationship. The first officer, Alice, is a sentient Generation V Artificial Intelligence that becomes his friend, his companion, and then something a little more.

The already complicated life on the ship is further complicated when Dr. Traube, a NASA scientist, creates a human replica of Alice, one that Rick cannot resist. But things get serious when the ship and its occupants make a startling discovery. They discover a humanoid species living thousands of light years away. This is where things start to get a little suspicious. When a tragedy occurs, there is nothing that Rick can do to save the people he loves or find the culprit who caused him pain. How come they happened upon this species? Can they really trust some humanoid species that appear like humans?

Finding love and acceptance in the most unlikely places is among the common themes of the novel. Of course, Artificial Intelligence is another theme that the author, F. Rob Dorsey, explores very deeply. I loved the complexity of the story and how the author gave it time and page space for the characters and the story to flow. The characters are developed well. Rick is given time to grow, expand his horizons and enjoy life. Alice was a real enigma, but that only made the novel more interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed it. A truly exceptional story.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Einstein’s Compass is a work of science fiction written for young adults, penned by author duo Grace Blair and Laren Bright. Taking a figure from real history and fictionalizing around him, the story places the young Albert Einstein as the holder of a mysterious compass which allows him to travel in space and time. From dimension to dimension, to places mythical and real, Albert is able to develop his unique way of thinking about the universe, a skill he will come to use to change the modern world as we know it. But despite this fulfillment of his destiny, there are those who would use the compass for themselves, and for purposes that are far darker.

For a relatively quick read in a young adult context, this novel packs in a huge amount of detail and spans several different genres due to the time-traveling nature of Albert’s compass. The historical elements, in particular, were brought to life with fantastic descriptions and a lot of well-researched detail, even for the smallest of elements, and it’s this attention to detail that makes the story so rich as a whole reading experience. Author duo Grace Blair and Laren Bright weave an intriguing plot that is disparate to begin with but comes together with a fantastic swell of energy towards the end and builds to a startling and brilliant conclusion. Overall, Einstein’s Compass is a highly recommended story for those readers who enjoy an involved plot with plenty of amazing scenery, details and clever connections.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

The Lights of Time by Paul Ian Cross is the first book in The Chronicles of Engella Rhys. Engella must stay a step ahead of the Hunters so they won't catch her. All she wants is to find answers about what happened to her parents but instead she's wanted by a mysterious corporation. When she meets a stranger named Annys, she finds an ally to help her navigate throughout space-time. Her journey through time leads her to the discovery of a surprising truth about her past. Meanwhile, Eddie investigates an old military base, only to end up in the middle of something bigger. He meets two strangers and when he doesn't heed their cautionary advice, it results in the death of his mother. The next years of his life are spent determined to find the murderer, which puts him back in the path of the strangers who tried to help him before.

Paul Ian Cross weaves through time, dipping into the past as far as 1955 and going into the future of 2066, with journeys to various times in between. Engella's adventures strike a balance between the past and the future with moments bringing significant advancements to how her journey proceeds. The past gives her a surprising connection to her parents and brings her face to face with someone who knew her parents. The future contains various points with advancements made that are at the root of the story through the use of traveling through space-time, which is a form of time travel. The future pinpoints scientific advancements, including GenMod which does genetic modifications, and Clonepetz which has everything from mini elephants to tigers the size of house cats. She's constantly on the run from the Hunters, which gives a thriller element to the story, complete with action and suspense that leave you wondering if she's going to get caught.

Each new place unlocks new clues, slowly delving into certain truths about her past. The perspective of Eddie adds to the mystery through his search for his mother's murderer, which consumes him. He blames himself for not choosing to listen to the warning he was given, leading to his mother's death. This drive is like Engella's desire to also find the truth and the journey for justice pulls him into Engella's path in an interesting way. The Lights of Time weaves through time in an action-packed journey that finds two unlikely allies in a search for answers.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Wolf and the Rain is an exciting work of dystopian climate fiction by author Tanya Lee. With a fantastic mix of traditional gangster action and a modern, intelligent sci-fi disaster, the story centers on a southern soldier named Samarra. As the aftermath of global warming continues to ravage the dried-out south, Samarra races north for any hope of survival. In the Barrow, she soon realizes that water isn’t the only thing she needs to worry about. Here, Samarra uses her skill set to work for the Vanus, a powerful family amongst the gangs of criminals that roam the streets. Here too she encounters the legendary Raina, the woman in the job before her, and a whole new obsessive investigation begins.

I can’t praise this book enough for the inventive genre twisting, blending and superbly diverse themes it contains. Tanya Lee is part of a fantastic movement in fiction towards inclusivity and intelligent, modern themes, all whilst delivering us an exciting and fast-paced gangster novel for the post-modern age. Sam’s character is strong and wise but appropriately flawed for a hero, and her adventures dealing with the gross, wet, diseased city of the Barrow are vividly brought to life through descriptions and her inner feelings. The readership of the book is definitely young adults nearer to the adult stage, and the LGBT themes make a realistic and heartfelt addition to the tale overall, without making it the central issue of the story. Overall, The Wolf and the Rain is a superb read that holds much promise for the future of science fiction.

Reviewed by Francine Zane for Readers' Favorite

In The Chronocar, science fiction meets history in a dynamic tale of time travel. When Tony finds a science journal about time travel, he combines this new found knowledge with his own near genius talents to design a Chronocar. His first trip is to meet the gentleman who wrote the paper, a Dr. Semmie Johnson who was once a slave but escaped a harrowing ordeal in search of an education. Through trial and error, Tony learns the true dangers of time travel on both history and the future.

I enjoyed both the plot and the history and science that were introduced into the story to provide the validity to the time travel theories. Combined with interesting characters and believable scenes, I found The Chronocar an excellent read that I would recommend especially to teens and young adults.

Steve Bellinger’s story also fills a much-needed niche by featuring black main characters. While Bellinger used racial tensions to add drama to the story, he balanced the dangers of being a minority through history with the fact that not all whites were bigots any more than all blacks were ignorant. He is a master storyteller who takes the time to set the scene with both historical facts and memorable characters. I especially enjoyed how he chose times in history that were unexpected, such as starting Semmie Johnson’s story after the Civil War and choosing a quiet time in history for Tony to make his trip back to Chicago, just prior to the Chicago race riots of 1919. By choosing relatively quiet times in history, the reader gets a better feel for what the everyday man experienced.

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

Nature's Confession by JL Morin combines a variety of genres and sub-genres into an interesting story of two teenagers fighting to protect nature. It is not your run-of-the-mill sci-fi read, but a book that carries an empathic voice and strongly castigates the mindless practices and traditions that are slowly killing Mother Nature. Holovision News is filled with a lot of junk that pays highly, and while humans continue to desecrate Nature, no one gives a thought to her ultimate fate. Now, a teenager sets out on an adventure to find answers and to change the way we relate to nature. Watch as he and the love of his life set out to make the greatest inventions of their lifetime and to uncover mysteries that could help save Earth, with the help of a female droid.

JL Morin’s novel is bold and told in an unusual way. I enjoyed the fact that the author takes liberties with the laws of physics, inventing her own rules. The theme of climate change is beautifully developed and it is a very relevant one, considering the controversies surrounding the Paris deal on climate change. I also enjoyed the fact that the key characters are young and they are very symbolic of a new era. How often do we hear people preach that the youth are the future of the world while doing everything to destroy the world they promise the youth would inherit? That two youngsters should set out to fight for the world they will inherit is a brilliant idea. The plot isn’t too complex, but the characters are very interesting and well-developed. Here is a book that is purposeful, written with a vision, and one that every decision maker should read. Nature's Confession is well-written, entertaining, and character-driven; a book that speaks about the one thing everyone should worry about.

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite

The Battle for Darracia by Michael Phillip Cash combines three books in one and plunges the reader into a world where chaos is about to tear it apart. The setting is on a planet called Darracia, a place where class distinction is rank and rife. Once a peaceful world, it has slowly become a place where power struggles and skirmishes are the order of the day. It is in this context that the nineteen-year-old Prince V'sair must follow his path and master the power of the mysterious Fireblade, which holds the secrets to a warrior’s heart, for him to be able to defeat his uncle who makes claims to the throne. Staf Nuen is bent on conquering Darracia, and the only thing that could help defeat him is the power of the Elements. Can the young prince gain mastery of this art in time to protect his planet and his people?

The Battle for Darracia is an exciting tale that features strong elements of both sci-fi and epic fantasy. The story is well-crafted and the writing is poetic, filled with powerful imagery and descriptions that render an imaginary world so vivid that readers will think it is real. Michael Phillip Cash has done a great job in building conflict at a phenomenal scale in this novel and readers will be keen to follow the characters until the final battle. The story is well-plotted and beautifully paced, featuring surprises that readers won’t see coming, a style that compels readers to move swiftly to the next chapter every time they finish one. I loved the writing, the memorable characters — especially the young prince and his personal development in a journey symbolic of the path everyone must take toward self-discovery — the strong setting, and the satisfying denouement. It is an exciting and enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Becoming Animals by Olga and Christopher Werby explores an idea that probably few of us have ever thought about. What would it be like to inhabit and share an animal's brain? Would the humanity overtake the animal, would the animal display dominance or would it be possible to co-exist and to share their experiences, understanding and view of the world? When eight-year-old Toby Crowe is left alone in her father Will's lab to play with the lab rat, it soon becomes obvious to all those involved in the BRATS project that Toby has an affinity with not only the animals, but the idea of joining minds and "riding" the animals. Dr Will Crowe heads up the BRATS programme, which is funded by the Army. The plan, initially, was to use rats or other animals to assist the Army in searching for survivors in the rubble of buildings as part of their disaster relief programmes. Other member of the Armed Forces, though, have ulterior motives for trying to meld human minds with animal minds. For Toby, who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis and whose mother is terminally ill with the illness, the idea of becoming part of another animal seems one way of leaving something of herself behind when her illness eventually claims her young life.

As a concept for a novel I found the idea of melding with an animal's mind, in Becoming Animals, to be utterly fascinating and was excited to see how this would develop for young Toby. I became very invested in the characters created by Olga and Christopher Werby and consequently enjoyed this children's/young adult book even more than I thought I would. The amount of honest research that had clearly gone on before penning this novel lent real authenticity to the tale. I had heard much of what was discussed in broad details in various places, but had perhaps not realised the possible implications - this was especially true of the idea of neuroplasticity and our brain's ability to reset and remake neural connections, at will or as required. The book was an incredibly easy read and although the science might be above the understanding of some of the authors' intended audience, it in no way detracted from the understanding of the story. This story is unique, in my opinion, a rare quality in today's book market. I commend the two authors for their ingenuity and creativity and can highly recommend this read. A great job!