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!

Reviewed by Scott Cahan for Readers' Favorite

Outbreak by Joshua C. Chadd is a zombie apocalypse story told from the point of view of three men who were uniquely prepared for the event before it even started. In other words, they have all the weapons, equipment and vehicles needed to give them the best chance of survival in a world gone mad. The zombies are the slow walkers that The Walking Dead fans will be familiar with. The story follows two small groups of survivors. The first is a pair of brothers, trying to reach their parents amid all the chaos. The second is a middle-aged man along with his ex-wife and adult daughter. There is much violence along the way, as to be expected, mostly against mindless zombies, but some also against aggressive non-infected people. The story also focuses on the family bonds that help our characters cope with the carnage all around them.

I enjoyed Outbreak. At first, I was a little unsure because the main characters were so well armed and ready for the zombies. But, after I got past that and realized there really could be people out there who are as prepared as these guys, I was able to sit back and enjoy the story. Author Joshua C. Chadd did a great job of ratcheting up the tension as the plot unfolded. Our characters went from having fun shooting zombies, to getting stuck in out-of-control situations that pushed them well beyond their limits, physically and mentally. He also gave us some likable characters and a strong bond of love between family members that gives Outbreak a lot of heart, making the story work on a deeper level. Outbreak is a rare zombie apocalypse book that has equal doses of violence and family warmth. For those who like to read about the human experience as they fight for survival in a world overrun by zombies, there is much to enjoy in Outbreak.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

Wanted by Jo Ho is the first in the Chase Ryder series. Chase Ryder is fourteen and living on the streets when one night as she scrounges for food, she discovers a dog in the same situation. After he brings her food and saves her life, she realizes there's more to this dog, Bandit, than meets the eye. The two quickly bond, and learn to communicate as Chase learns a startling secret about this seemingly ordinary dog. After being attacked and with Bandit wounded, Chase finds the first vet she can, the grieving Jake Sullivan. Sully sees a girl and dog that need his help, but he doesn't expect to see a warning sign for the dog that says he's carrying a virus. When they're attacked and his home is set on fire, Sully knows that he must do all he can to protect Chase and Bandit. Together the three go on the run, and try to piece together where Bandit came from while trying to stay alive.

Jo Ho has an interesting format, using quick chapters, two first person narrators, and even a few third person perspectives. It's reminiscent of film, with the chapters stylized similar to scenes, but with in-depth character emotions. The writing is smart and creative, and somehow Ho depicts the villain in a sympathetic light. The ragtag team members are a perfect fit for each other: Chase has run away from home, Bandit has escaped an animal testing facility, and Sully recently lost his wife. Each of them is lost, and hindered by their pasts, but when they come together they form a bond that allows for them to build a makeshift family. Finding each other is what they needed, not just to save Bandit, but to give each of them a purpose and a second chance. Wanted is a gripping action adventure with friendship, danger, and second chances.

Reviewed by Kayti Nika Raet for Readers' Favorite

Girl of Fire by Norma Hinkens is the first book in The Expulsion Project, a light sci-fi action adventure trilogy. Trattora is the chief's daughter in a backwater frontier planet. Adopted at a young age, her red hair is distinctive, as is her curiosity. Then one day a ship comes to her home planet and she finds herself instantly connected to one of the crew, a serf by the name of Velkan. Their connection is strong, especially when they discover they both have matching bracelets, the only hint to their shared past. Unfortunately, space pirates invade the planet and they are forced to flee for their lives. It takes them on a journey of mystery, treachery and found families.

I enjoyed Girl of Fire by Norma Hinkens. It was a light, fast paced read that should be easily enjoyed by fans of Cinder. Girl of Fire grabs you by the first chapter and, once you're captured, refuses to let go. Trattora is a capable heroine and full of curiosity. She has a great support network of friends and while the romance between her and Velkan is a bit sudden, it's also cute and doesn't dominate the whole novel. There were a lot of double crosses throughout and Girl of Fire is filled with twists and revelations. Hinkens created such an engaging world that I'm curious to know what's going to happen in the next book. I would love to learn more about Preeminence and Trattora's true home planet of Mhakerta. A great read for any fan of light science fiction and fast paced intergalactic adventure.

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

The Fourth Piece (Order's Last Play, Book 1) by E. Ardell is a science fiction tale. Lyle, Lawrie, and Devon are three brothers who find another brother, Evan, dying. All four are the chosen ones, chosen by Order, an alien goddess. Devon, Lyle, and Lawrie are half-alien - Vulattos - but, because they can get away with looking human, they have been popular. That comes to an end one night at a party when the three brothers have a combined vision of their fourth brother dying off-world unless they intervene. They don’t remember Evan very much, but he is their brother and they can’t let him die. In trying to save him, the three brothers put themselves in danger. They also inherit a destiny, one that hasn’t been kind to their predecessors. In a story set in 2022, the four brothers have the power to determine what will be left when the gods tire of the game.

The Fourth Piece (Order's Last Play, Book 1) by E. Ardell was something different. Written in the first person, each chapter rotates with a different brother doing the narrating. I found this a little confusing to begin with, but soon got into the swing of it. The character development is good, allowing a reader to meet the brothers and learn about them and their backgrounds, laying the groundwork for the rest of the story. The plot was detailed and complex, which I found made it a little difficult to keep up with, but not so much that it spoiled my enjoyment of the book. It will be interesting to read book 2, to see where the author takes the story next.

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.