Reviewed by Demetria Head for Readers' Favorite

In The Future King: Return of the Once Monarch by Vishnul Jain, the story opens with a captivating scene set in the halls of Oxford University. Professor Limren, a seemingly ordinary history professor, navigates through his daily routine, only to be confronted by echoes of his ancient past. As the modern-day persona of Merlin, Limren’s mundane existence is shattered when he senses a resurgence of magical disturbances. These unsettling signs signal the return of the Order of Rhamnusia, a shadowy cult determined to unleash the dark sorcery of Morgana. This inciting incident plunges Merlin back into the treacherous world of magic he had left behind, setting the stage for an epic battle that spans centuries.

Vishnul Jain's storytelling is masterful, weaving a rich tapestry of plot and character development that captivates fans of epic fantasy. The plot is a thrilling rollercoaster, deftly balancing intense action with deep emotional undercurrents. Merlin, portrayed as both powerful and vulnerable, is a deeply nuanced character whose journey of redemption is compelling. The secondary characters, from the enigmatic members of the Order to Merlin's allies, are equally well-developed, adding layers of intrigue and depth. The world-building is exceptional, seamlessly integrating elements of modern society with ancient magic, creating a setting that feels both familiar and fantastical. The Future King will undoubtedly appeal to readers who relish intricate fantasy worlds and timeless battles between good and evil, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. Fantasy fans should definitely add this to their list of summer reading. It’s well worth it.

Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite

Harry awakens with no memory of his past other than losing a duel with Maiara, a princess of the Sanbi kingdom. As a consequence of that defeat, he must abide by the terms of the contract he agreed to, which stipulates he must carry out the duties of the Sanbi-Eye. King Itagiba is happy with Harry's new role within the kingdom, but his consort, Queen Neferteri, seems to have other plans in store for the young lad, in keeping with the fine print of his contract. She devises a scheme that will align his usefulness with her plans for the kingdom. Only time will tell how Harry fares in A Husband Out Of This World by Deovandski Skibinski Junior.

Drawing inspiration from the Japanese storytelling genre Isekai Anime, Deovandski Skibinski Junior's distinctive novel skillfully combines a captivating plot with elegant world-building to produce a one-of-a-kind work that will appeal to fans of mainstream fantasy. Magical characters with unique qualities, like the Darfaries, whose size belies their cheerful nature, are all part of the imaginative character development. The conversations between the characters are entertaining as the author fluidly transitions from serious to comedic. Whatever the topic of discussion, there is always a sensual undertone to every move and statement made by the main and supporting cast members. In a distinct storytelling style, Skibinski combines this with a gradual pace to create amazingly vivid borderline sexual episodes in an exciting adventure that pops off the pages, thanks to Mitsukiven's vibrant illustration. I enjoyed reading A Husband Out Of This World and look forward to the next installment in this entertaining series.

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Slipshot is a young adult apocalyptic sci-fi novel by Aibo, Ryan Sunada-Wong, and Gabriel Juarez. Frederick Munchen is a young college student in San Francisco whose life turns upside down after an unexpected encounter with a mysterious woman in an alley. The woman, Opal Fremmitty, is a Mechanic Class Slave from the realm of Griddish, sent to Earth alongside the monstrous machines called Verkatrae to deconstruct the planet in its entirety. However, Opal is conflicted and harbors a deep-seated anger against the oppressive Commission that rules Griddish. With the help of two rogue members of the Council of Engineer Class Citizens, Frederick and his friend Jillian Crenshaw must infiltrate Griddish and close down the Slipshot that binds the realm to its sub-planets. But things don't go according to plan, and soon, Frederick and Jillian find themselves amid an unpredictable Mechanic Slave rebellion.

To all the fans of futuristic sci-fi video games or stories like Blade Runner, Slipshot is just the book you have been looking for. Featuring imaginative futuristic sci-fi tech and pulsating thrills and mysteries, the book is an absolute pageturner and a blast to go through. But what Aibo, Ryan Sunada-Wong, and Gabriel Juarez excel most in is the worldbuilding department. The fictional futuristic world developed by the authors is uniquely creative and authentic, brought to life by some brilliant artwork that makes the story all the more immersive. The plot moves briskly with a clear and concise narrative that makes it easy for the reader to grasp the technical aspects of the story. Slipshot feels like the beginning of a potentially epic sci-fi series. I can't emphasize enough how much I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Trisha Dawn for Readers' Favorite

Jerry Schaefer's Cruising through the Teens, Easier Than It Seems is an educational book that offers brilliant ideas to help young adults experiencing struggles in their lives. Some young adults tend to think way more than necessary about situations that have happened already, such as troubling conversations they had in the past. Some also love to think about things that have not even happened yet. They have a habit of dwelling in the past or the future more than they should, which creates struggles that weren’t even there in the first place. However, beyond this struggle, there’s this hidden part inside you, and that is your true identity. Your true identity is something beyond suffering. You are unaware of this because of the constant thoughts that run in your head. Read this encouraging book and learn how to uncover that hidden part of you that could positively change your teen years!

Cruising through the Teens, Easier Than It Seems is inspiring and well-written. The situations mentioned were relatable, and this made me wish I had read this book when I was still in my teenage years. It would have truly helped with several of my struggles from those younger years. The ideas presented here were easy to understand and helped me to gain a different view of life. Jerry Schaefer has written something enlightening, and the meaningful but straightforward illustrations were delightful and helped get the message across. Such thoughtful pictures made reading more enjoyable for me. This was truly an insightful read. Great work!

Reviewed by Amy Louise Hill for Readers' Favorite

Forever My Always: For The Soon To Be World Explorer (Life's Biggest Moments) by Eevi Jones is a beautiful and inspirational poetry book based on the love of her children. This book guides and encourages the reader with thoughtful poetry. It makes it known that no matter who you turn out to be, or where life takes you, a parent will always be there to support and love you. Give this book to someone who is about to make a big change in their life, and let them know just how much they mean to you.

Eevi Jones has written a heart-warming poetry book that, if given to a child, will help them understand just how much you love them. Eevi has done an amazing job with the use of rhymes she has chosen, and it certainly makes you feel all cozy and safe. I can imagine reading this book to my future children and having them know that I will always be there for them. This book is universal in the way that it can be given to anyone you care deeply about. The illustrations have been professionally created and aid in the warm feeling you get when reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Forever My Always, and I recommend it to everyone. So if you have someone who could do with being reminded of your love for them, or you are simply looking for a meaningful gift, then get them a copy of this adorable poetry book, and enjoy the smile it will put on their face.

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

In today's society, learning the basic rules of etiquette can seem quite outdated. However, this doesn't mean that you should not reach the highest possible standards in every area of your life and become a Girl with Grace. Do you dare to believe in yourself and allow your unique qualities to shine through? How can you handle any social situation with confidence and courage? With easy to follow techniques and exercises that you can use every day, Girls With Grace by Gracemarie Serafina will enhance your skills in so many areas - from improving your self-image, nutrition, and diet to goal setting, communicating effectively and building healthy relationships. This is the perfect guide for any girl wishing to become self-reliant, independent and a brave warrior.

Girls With Grace by Gracemarie Serafina is an ideal book for any young girl wishing to appreciate themselves and make an impact on the modern culture of today. Everything in this handbook is laid out in an easy to follow manner. I loved the way the author encourages the reader to believe in themselves and make the most of their God-given qualities. There are so many chapters that I would have found very helpful as a young girl; how to portray a confident self-image, managing stress effectively and common courtesies are just a few. I loved the beauty tips from Audrey Hepburn and the section on nutrition was so simple to implement. My favorite chapters had to be the goal-setting methods and techniques to sharpen your brain; these were amazing. This should be in every girl's possession as it will act as a launchpad to increase the belief in themselves so they can fulfill any goal they aspire to achieve. An ultimate guidebook for life, peace and pure contentment. One quote from the book that I loved and will use: 'When you lose, don't lose the lesson.'

Reviewed by Kim Anisi for Readers' Favorite

Gentle Mentals by Veronica Padilla takes a look at a wide variety of mental illnesses. At first glance, the book appears to be aimed at children. It’s colorful and has many pictures but little text. Once you look closer though, you soon see that children are clearly not the intended target group (though teenagers might enjoy it, too). Readers are introduced to characters like Anxiety Alli (an anxious alligator who wants to murder sheep), OCD Otter, ADH’Deer and (my favorite) the Schizo Shi Tzu (it suits the breed perfectly). Each animal has a certain issue which is illustrated through pictures and a short rhyme.

I picked up Gentle Mentals by Veronica Padilla because I volunteer for a charity where we often have to deal with people who have mental problems, mainly autistic people. The book is not meant for people who take things too seriously, as it looks at the mental issues with dark humor. I found it funny, the naming of the animals is very creative, and some made me laugh (like the Schizo Shi Tzu). It’s a short, fun read for people who somehow have to deal with mental issues. It is not a mean-spirited book, but simply shows some aspect of mental illnesses that people will easily be able to recognize. I guess the book may also be used to educate people about different issues, e.g. the rhymes and illustrations could be used as starting points for discussions.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

From The Dust by Anastasia Bolinder is a story of bravery about a wingless fairy's fight to save two kingdoms. Called an imp her whole life, Alayna has always been different from the other fairies for her lack of wings. Though Alayna enjoys her life working in the stables and enjoying time with her friends, she daydreams about traveling outside of Dust. Everything changes when the queen summons her for a meeting. She learns about a vision foretelling of the kingdom withering with Alayna playing an unknown part. When a great evil invades her kingdom and steals the queen's life stone, Alayna is determined to prove her bravery and follows after the thieves into the snow. Her quest for allies leads her to the source of the evil, to the secrets of her past, and on a journey to her destiny.

Anastasia Bolinder has a spunky hero in Alayna who enjoys simple things like working in the stables and being around animals. She's constantly having to prove herself, because most people treat her as an imp or demon simply because she doesn't have wings. Alayna is a sweet character, at times naive, but always compassionate which is her largest strength. Her heart is what leads to her bravery, because it drives her to enter this fight to save her friends, two kingdoms, and the land. The characters are colorful with vibrant personalities, with everyone having a role to play in the story - from her mentor and friend, Eplices, to the grumpy Elder of the forest. Even Alayna's horse, Runner, and the dog, Zinxz, she meets on her journey have equally in-depth and bright personalities, proving to be much more than helpful companions.

The story mainly focuses on her journey to save these two kingdoms, but it's also an emotional journey of self-discovery and an important part of her becoming a hero. Her adventure is personal, more than saving two kingdoms, but uncovering the secrets of her past and who her parents were. She always believed there was nothing special about her and was treated as though not having wings made her just an imp, so seeing her become a hero with abilities that connect to everything around her and a true sense of bravery is deeply rewarding. The writing remains fairly light overall with an almost bubbly quality about it, but Bolinder weaves in serious danger without ever getting too dark. The fairies have a fun spin to them, with their personalities mainly bubbly or serene, moving away from the typical devious and trickster personalities of fairies. Bolinder mixes a symbiotic relationship with nature and a powerful connection to magic in this fun fairy adventure. From The Dust is a journey of discovery that uncovers the secrets of the past in a fight to save the future of two kingdoms.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Bedtime Horrors is a collection of dark flash-fiction horror stories written by Nic Kristofer Black and illustrated by Jorge Gonzalez. The creators of this collection designed their work with those who have short attention spans in mind. Each of the ten tales is exactly 1,000 words in length and is accompanied by a detailed illustration. Some tales explore the well-known territory of the zombie, albeit with new touches of horror, and often a blending of horror genres as found in The Life Raft. A Claw at the Closet Door is an intriguing take on that legendary monster in the closet who's captured the imagination and fear of so many children. The Greyhound Bus takes the UFO genre on a rustic detour. Glass Jars is the story of a town's sole and vindictive shopkeeper, and the terrifying way he controls his unruly customers.

Nic Kristofer Black's dark flash-fiction horror story collection, Bedtime Horrors, is designed for more contemporary readers, but many readers who grew up looking forward to that week's production of the Twilight Zone will find themselves enjoying the darkly humorous and edgy tales found within this glossy, well-written and attractive work. Jorge Gonzalez's illustrations are masterful and work to amplify each tale, polishing each one to an even darker sheen. While I particularly enjoyed those tales that were set at sea, I would still have to say that my favorite story is the opening tale: A Claw at the Closet Door. Abandoned by his mother on his eighth birthday, with her rather abrupt and unkind version of tough love, Kiki has a guardian still looking out for him. The best horror tales seem to conjure up traces of mocking eldritch horror filtering through the reader's imagination, barely heard but still undeniable nonetheless. Black and Gonzalez' Bedtime Horrors delivers that special effect -- and more. It's highly recommended.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Olga is a children’s and preteen adventure fantasy novel written by Ted Kelsey and illustrated by Dillon Samuelson. Nothing ever happened in Chilton. It was a pretty boring place for a kid to grow up in, so much so, as Sally liked to tell her cousin who lived in New York City, that Sally’s backyard actually borders a beet farm. Still, on late summer afternoons as twilight closes in, there are plenty of kids around to play Ghosts in the Graveyard, which is somewhat like hide-’n-seek only backwards. This time around Sally’s friend, Jack, is it, and it’s getting close to the last few minutes before parents start getting angry about missed dinners. Jack’s never been quite the same as the other kids, however; he likes to cut up and doesn’t seem to have to follow as many rules as Sally and the other kids do. No one can find Jack in this last game of the day, but Sally gets the feeling he’s hiding on the grounds of the Terror House, a wrecked and decaying house that might be haunted and is on the forbidden-to-enter list of every kid. When Sally enters the grounds to find Jack, she’s transfixed by an odd sight in the field that has obviously caught Jack’s eye. It’s a shambling, dancing thing with a big head and short stubby legs, and Jack is determined to figure out just what it is.

Ted Kelsey’s adventure fantasy for children and preteens, Olga, is a wildly imaginative and thought-provoking variant of the classic Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale. Jack and Sally are consummate adventurers who’ve even designed a code of light flash messaging to communicate to each other in case of emergencies. The two of them are marvelous characters, filled with pluck, determination and loyalty, and I’m hoping to see them again in future works by this author. Kelsey’s giants are a hoot! They are alternately horrible, humorous and just plain ridiculous, and Dillon Samuelson’s inspired illustrations bring every nasty feature they possess out in riotous detail. Olga is a fast-paced story that blends the preteen fantasy and coming of age genres as Jack, Sally and Olga confront life-changing challenges and discoveries. Olga is highly recommended.