Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Orah and Nathaniel are on a journey in The Stuff of Stars. It is a journey that began in the first Seekers book, The Children of Darkness. A journey that began with a desire to recover the wonders of an intelligence that existed before their days until temple rule, this journey takes the couple across an ocean to find the descendants of the original keepers, those whose knowledge and intelligence will help, or so they believe, their own world as it struggles to recover from a life marred by multiple restrictions. Orah and Nathaniel do find the descendants of the keepers, but those they seek are now known as dreamers and they are neither alive nor dead. Those they meet represent opposing views of the age of intelligence that led the dreamers to an existence far above and beyond the realms of basic human comprehension. So how will Orah and Nathaniel communicate with these dreamers? How will they convince the opposing communities that there really is no right or wrong and it is better to work together?

This is another powerful story from popular author David Litwack. The Stuff of Stars, although part of a series, is expertly told as if it were a stand-alone novel. Background information from the first book in the series is presented and unraveled as needed. The centuries-old search for a utopian existence is challenged in this second novel as the two protagonists, Orah and Nathaniel, find themselves pitted against two points of view: that intelligence and living with intelligent machines is the only way to survive, and that returning to nature and living off the land is the right way to go. The utopia that the protagonists seek is mired in questions with no answers, and the truth they hope will help their own people across the ocean is difficult to ascertain. Is there a right or a wrong answer? Can a real utopia truly exist? The reader is left with these troubling questions as the novel ends with a bridge to the third book.

Excellent plot development, description, characterization - the reader truly feels like he/she is part of this story. This is a fantastic story that continues the plot initiated in the first Seekers book: a tale about a futuristic utopian world that is anything but perfect. There is only one word to truly define this novel: WOW!

Reviewed By K.J. Simmill for Readers' Favorite

Breeder by K.B. Hoyle is a brilliant example of dystopian fiction. Humanity has been forced to the brink of extinction, taking with it a large population of wildlife. Fortunately the Unified World Order has introduced a Controlled Repopulation Program and, in the interests of survival, only the most perfect genes will do. Flaws will not be tolerated so, in order to ensure a perfect child, Breeders are carefully selected. Seventeen is one such Breeder, one designated as genetically ideal. She is happy, her life is perfect. Or is it? An enforcer named Pax stirred such doubts while reminding her of a name she once possessed long ago, Pria. Doubts and curiosity are not tolerated. She is forced to flee, and Pax aids her escape. She has never seen the world outside, a world of survival. Threats lurk around every corner and soon she discovers the existence of something Pax calls nests, a community of those with recessive genes, and his need to find one is the reason he sought to rescue her. They need her, a Breeder, in order to stand against the UWO, but can they convince her of the truth, of a reality conveniently hidden from all those within the UWO?

Breeder is one of the best examples of first person narrative I have ever read. It is engaging, descriptive, and immersive. K.B. Hoyle introduces an array of diverse and interesting characters, conflict, and a gripping plot. To say I enjoyed this is an understatement; I was absolutely captivated. This book was simply perfect in every way. It is well-written, well-balanced, thought provoking, and thrilling. Breeder is filled with imaginative ideas underlined with a subtle horror as the reader is forced to consider how easily the world created could come to pass, especially when we already place so much focus on appearance and physical traits. Breeder will certainly appeal to a wide audience. I can’t wait to read more, and will be eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

Reviewed By Maria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

D'mok Revival: New Eden is the first book of the New Eden story, a part of the D’mok Revival literary universe created by science fiction author Michael Joseph Zummo. In this continuing saga, the superhuman D’mok Warriors are pushing back the Nukari beasts to what remains of the world they once lorded over. The D’Mok Warriors have just scored an important victory, but the threat is still alive and real with the Nukari leader, Kajlit’ga, on the loose, and her beasts and their allies continuing with their attacks. Rhysus Mencari, whose family is believed to have been killed during the invasion, commands the D’Mok Warriors from the war room of New Eden, hoping to crush the Nukaris so that his people will find lasting peace and freedom. The discovery of a prison planet, however, will deepen Mencari’s resolve, as he is faced with the possibility that his family may still be alive.

Released in 2013, Michael Zummo's D'mok Revival series is listed among the "Top 20" in the Amazon Science Fiction list. And in D'mok Revival: New Eden, the author launches another impressive chapter in the colossal fight between the Nukari beasts and the D’Mok Warriors. The war is not over and it is simply mesmerizing to follow one action scene after another taking place in strange planets and fought with highly imaginative advanced technologies. If you’re already a fan of Zummo’s writing style, you’ll be glad to know that his narrative style still has that sense of urgency that makes his story jump under your very eyes. And as we are caught in the exciting head rush of his narrative, we get to know each of his complex characters and understand the reason why they behave the way they do, whether we spend many chapters with them or only a few pages.

Reviewed By Kayti Nika Raet for Readers' Favorite

In The Cloud Seeders by James Zerndt, Thomas and his young brother Dustin haven't seen a drop of rain in over a year. With the water drying up, the government had gone from Eco-conscious to Eco-hysterical making sure that every drop of water is accounted for, turning things like home gardening and car washing into serious infractions. Thomas is more intent on keeping his brother safe and making it through the day while his rebel rousing friend, Jerusha, feels that there's more to the drought than what the government's spilling. She's determined to find out even if it means going with Thomas and Dustin on a cross-country road trip. A novel that defies easy explanation, The Cloud Seeders is great for anyone interested in the HAARP project or post-apocalyptic, road tripping adventure.

In his acknowledgment, Zerndt said that The Cloud Seeders was turned down by several publishing houses, which is usually my cue to avoid the book like a vampire shuns sunlight. However, The Cloud Seeders was a fantastic read, one that I would love to see on the shelves (mine especially). The characters were very realistically written, nothing struck me as manipulative or sentimental, the way Thomas, Dustin, and Jerusha reacted to various situations I couldn't imagine happening any other way. I found myself thinking of them long after the book was done. I even enjoyed the poems. Usually after reading one or two I wind up skipping over the rest, but in The Cloud Seeders the poems were funny and interesting and gave us little hints about the characters. A thoroughly enjoyable book and I’d be interested in seeing more what Zerndt has to offer.

Reviewed By Paul Johnson for Readers' Favorite

She’s the product of the Underground and in all her sixteen years has never seen the outside. All that changes quickly when the soldiers stage a raid on her home. She manages to escape, leaving her family behind, but in so doing goes above ground for the very first time. There she is soon to learn she has only one option for survival; join a government organization named The Legion, available for teenagers with no other place to turn. Learning that the soldiers are still looking for a female escapee, she decides to pose as Raja, a boy-soldier. The Legion is like nothing she’s ever seen or even imagined when she meets Senior Commander Briggs, whose savage authority reigns over the teenage soldiers.

The training is brutal and she quickly decides her best option is to join a band of nonconformists known as the South Tower Rejects. There she meets Stirling, a tall young man with copper colored hair and a strange accent. Intrigued, she is determined to find out more about this man. She is soon to discover there’s more to the Rejects than she first thought and she must quickly adapt if she is to endure and find a way to locate and save her lost family.

This story is targeted at the young adult audience, but any sci-fi fan will find it quite enjoyable. The story is told by Raja and the reader is soon caught up in the story of her life and the dangers she faces. The author has created a tale with interesting characters, first-rate dialogue, and a well developed plot. The story moves at a rapid pace and is filled with action, adventure and intrigue. Well done.

Reviewed By Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite

Poison, Book 1 of the Wind Dancer series by Lan Chan takes place in a well-constructed future world full of wonderful beasts, advanced science, and the same old human problems of treachery, greed, and murder. Wind Dancers, Furies, Reapers, Wanderers, and Seeders are just some of the imaginative creations Lan Chan brings to this novel. The story starts with a murder in the middle of the night and things go downhill from there. The Seeders are the bad guys, the people in power, and the hero, Aurora Gray has sworn that they all must die. Poison is a tale of revenge, revolution, and betrayal. Aurora doesn't know who she can really trust and this will cost her as she tries to figure out who is a friend and who is a foe.

I like the way Lan Chan unveils her novel and her world step by step through the eyes of Aurora and her young friends. This is the heart of this first book of the series. We have to learn who these people are and what they are fighting for. This happens in a slow progression, with a kind of coming of age for our heroine. The characters are richly drawn and appropriately complicated. Many of them are not who they seem and we learn this as Aurora does. Poison moves steadily towards a satisfying conclusion, but the battle is far from over and the stage is set for Book 2. I think young people will enjoy these books, but older readers will like them too. Aurora grows in strength with each challenge and makes a pretty good role model for teenage girls.

Reviewed By Michelle Randall for Readers' Favorite

In Infected: The Shiners by Tara Ellis, Alex and her younger brother Jake are lying on the hillside in the park, watching the stars along with their mother and most of the rest of the town, waiting for the greatest meteor display in 5000 years. Her dad loved this stuff and had been talking about this display for years; in fact he talked of them watching it in Egypt, but that had been before he died. The shower is spectacular, although one seems to pass by pretty close, and then Alex's mom comes down with a terrible cold. Not only Alex's mom, but most of the town. As people get over of their colds they are not the same, and Alex starts finding clues left behind by her father. She turns to Chris, a 75% Cherokee by blood boy in her school, as he didn't get sick either. Alex is 50% Egyptian by blood. Infected: The Shiners follows Alex and Chris as they try to figure out her father's clues and what is going on with their friends and family. Author Tara Ellis gives us a wonderful story that fits many genres.

Infected builds on purity of a family blood history, so Chris and Alex, having a extremely pure family history, have highly concentrated bloodlines and therefore they do not get sick when the virus takes over. This is a unique concept and at the same time slightly disturbing because the odds of anyone having such a pure bloodline nowadays is remote. Tara Ellis gives us a story that easily falls into the science fiction, or fantasy, or even paranormal genres, but no matter how you classify it, it is worth a read for young adults and adults alike. This book is to be the first in a three-part trilogy.

Reviewed By Bil Howard for Readers' Favorite

What our minds can achieve is certainly beyond what we truly understand at this point in time. John Darryl Winston explores that concept in IA: Initiate. Doctor Cory Andersen has tapped into other parts of the mind and has begun to experiment along the edges of what the mind can truly become. That brings us to Naz, a young teen growing up in an inner city environment, the Exclave, which is extremely rough. With Meri, his little sister, as the only family that he has left, he is constantly concerned with making sure that she is well taken care of and protected, and even holds onto the hope of getting her out of the Exclave entirely. As Naz faces the struggles of starting at a new Middle School, he is also faced with the problem of a gang that have made it their mission to either add him to their numbers or kill him. If these problems weren't enough for a thirteen-year-old, the voice in his head and the disconnection with his past that continues to haunt him leave him to face a struggle that is advancing toward him as an unseen enemy. Naz has to sort it all out or drive himself crazy.

IA: Initiate is an excellent beginning to a sci-fi series that is certain to thrill sci-fi enthusiasts. John Darryl Winston has created a believable premise with just a touch of the concept of mind and thought control mixed in. The reader will be engaged from start to finish, feeling the emotions and thoughts, as well as playing out the actions as each scene unfolds. This is not only sci-fi, but also a coming of age story as our hero is forced to discover who he is and where his true gifts lie. Excellent intrigue throughout, joined with plenty of underlying mystery to keep the reader stirring, IA: Initiate has the potential of becoming a new literary phenomenon.

Reviewed By Lex Allen for Readers' Favorite

Fractured Glass: A Novel Anthology by authors Tia Bach, Casey L. Bond, Kelly Risser and N.L. Greene is an imaginative and exciting journey through some of the strangest dimensional worlds, with a cast that exceeds anyone’s wildest imagination. Though a stretch to title this novel an anthology, it is certainly a collaborative effort in keeping with the finest tradition of melding science fiction and fantasy. Twins Sloan and Harley have birthmarks that…well let’s say they’re remarkable and critical to the story. Starting with identical nightmares, the twins soon find themselves ensnared in a series of dimensional worlds that, at first, have no rhyme or reason. They are joined by their mother and friend Diego, as well as a number of new characters that arrive throughout to enhance the plot. Initially unsure of their purpose in these worlds, they remain occupied with escaping deadly creatures and traps. Added to their burden and stress, they often become separated and spend a good deal of their time searching for each other.

Having written collaborative fiction with an online writers group for several years, I am well aware of the complexities involved. Maintaining a consistent narrator ‘voice’, harmony in character actions and dialog make words and rhythm essential. I enjoyed the novel and was particularly intrigued by the description and role that fractals played in the story. A quantum physicist would likely throw the book through the wall, but I thought the artistic license taken with these mathematical elements of quantum mechanics unique and fun. The various dimensional worlds were well imagined and described as were some of the weirdest characters I’ve seen in a long time.

Character wise, I have to admit a bit of a struggle accepting the names Sloan and Harley for the twin girls. A school friend of mine was a hulking bear of a guy, named Harley, and each time I read Sloan, I thought of a sleazy pawn shop broker! Well, never the mind, I came to accept both names, and thoroughly enjoying these characters, forgot my hang-ups. The entire cast of characters was very well done but, other than the twins, I especially liked Calix and Diego.

I thought the pacing, the twists and introductions of new characters well into the half-way point of the story very well done. An exciting YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy tale, well worth my heartiest recommendation.

Reviewed By Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite

Red Angel by C.R. Daems follows the story of Anna, a young prodigy rising through the ranks of a naval space fleet. Anna has a secret. A survivor of the deadly Coaca virus that killed her family when she was only four years old, Anna needs her snake, Red, to survive. Red’s venom is the only thing that prevents Anna from succumbing to the virus, and her blood keeps him alive. Anna struggles through the foster system, and as kraits like Red become known throughout the three star empires, she has to use her wits to fight off those who would harm her to get to Red. Eventually recruited by the Naval Intelligence Agency for her ability to break codes, Anna begins to wonder if she and Red are a help or a liability to her elite team as they work to track down interstellar smugglers.

Wow! This book is a fast-paced page turner, and kept my interest from the very first page. C.R. Daems’ story-telling ability is evident in his extremely readable and enjoyable work. I think this book would most appeal to the young adult reader, but any lover of science fiction would enjoy it as well. The symbiotic relationship between Anna and her snake was a creative and unique element that added a whole new level of complication to this space adventure. Red Angel was a fun read, and I am happy to highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting and unique story.