Reviewed by Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite

What the Tiger Said is a gem of literary fiction written by Roger Ladd Memmott. Stress is heavily on the word ‘literary’ in this precise description. Not for any false pretensions of affected literariness, but because this short novel, told with the impetus and in-the-moment vividness of a slightly extended short story, is a minor masterpiece of creative writing and uniquely gorgeous, individualistic prose. From the very first sentence, Memmott establishes an immense talent for creating intensely evocative, surrealistic, magical, formidably incredible while impeccably credible, deeply human scenes. The reader awakens to a little girl sitting all alone inside a darkened boxcar home, finishing her apple dinner, listening to the rain outside, knowing that her Paps is once again in jail. Within moments, the reader is immersed in an almost hallucinogenic world of circus-like unreality, homeless figures, errant drifters, a revenant child friend, and a tiger on the loose. “When she looked for her face in the window, it wasn’t her face… She knew it wasn’t her face because she wasn’t grinning, but the face in the window was.”

Thus begins the slightly apocalyptic tale of What the Tiger Said by Roger Ladd Memmott. With allusions both to Little Red Riding Hood and Wonder Woman, our little boxcar girl moves with the introspective power of a simple yet impervious metaphor, manifesting naïve innocence with the willfulness of fate, a determined speck of life amidst the forewarned End-Times. Target of the drifters, befriender of an orangutan escapee – like the tiger – and holder of several golden Tickets to Heaven lifted from the would-be kidnappers, our little girl heads deep into the night for her predestined encounter with a tiger and her own accountability for a death, two fates intertwined in a fiery gem of literary fiction.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

Fifteen-year-old Matt Mitchell lost his mother in an accident caused by a drunk driver. His devastated father moved him and his twin sister, Tina, from the Oregon coast to the small town of Hawthorne in rural Indiana. As he is the new kid in school, three bullies are determined to make Matt's life miserable from day one. He also learns that the old recluse who lives in the dilapidated Victorian mansion next door is Lady Vivianne Hawthorne, the town’s infamous witch and murderer. Things become more strange and interesting when Lady Hawthorne's niece, Gwendolyn Hawthorne, and her three children come to live with her. Matt forms an unlikely friendship with Gerallt, Gwendolyn's teenage son, and discovers their secret culture and belief, magic, and eventually gets involved in the search for the Hawthornes' lost treasure.

Rudy Parfaite’s cover art is the first attractive feature of Donald Firesmith’s The Secrets of Hawthorne House. It’s beautifully done and complements the story well. Engaging readers from the start, Firesmith doesn’t rush the story development, making the narrative flow deftly. It was easy for me to immerse myself in this coming-of-age urban fantasy combined with Celtic mythology. I was invested in the characters, their successes, and predicaments. The Hawthornes’ peculiarities are instantly intriguing, especially when Matt gets to know more about them through his friendship with Gerallt. The plot is well thought out, substantiated with imperative messages to the targeted readers on dealing with life’s hardships, the loss of a parent, bullying, and financial stress. There’s also the matter of dealing with discrimination and respecting others’ beliefs. As an adult, I found The Secrets of Hawthorne House truly enjoyable even though it’s for teen readers. A commendable work from Donald Firesmith and I look forward to the sequel.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

The Mark of Fallen Flame is the first book in the Weapon of Fire and Ash series by Brittany Matsen and it is an explosive opening for an urban fantasy novel with hints of coming of age. Emma Duvall is just two days away from senior year when she is attacked by creatures of the shadows. She is entangled with creatures that are venomous and have beautiful voices, and a wicked beast with red eyes. The strange thing is that the dark power from these creatures flows into her when she touches them and this power awakens a thirst in her that is uncontrollable. But a boy in school has caught her attention and she can’t understand why she hurts so much when she gets close to him. Emma must hide her powers but how can she when the Giborim who hunt the monsters think she is dangerous? Emma is drawn into an ancient conflict and may become the ultimate sacrifice. But can she save the world when a threat knocks at its doors?

Here is a novel that will appeal to fans of I Am Number Four; a narrative that is developed in two conflicting settings, a world with pure humans and one inhabited by monsters. The author does an impeccable job of handling the juxtaposition between the two worlds. Characters are well developed, including Blaze, an ancient man with a deep grudge. His role in the narrative is strong and I was keen to see how he could help Emma in her dilemma. Brittany Matsen's prose is elegant, flowing flawlessly, and the author does an impeccable job with the scenes, capturing the viewpoints of characters so readers enjoy the story. The Mark of Fallen Flame has a strong premise, a powerful conflict, and memorable, elaborately developed characters. A good read for fans of urban fantasy.

Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite

The Clan Calling: Chronicle Two – Sadie by Wendy Terrien is part of the Adventures of Jason Lex series. Sadie's life is just getting back to normal when her best friend, Jason, and his uncle suddenly take off for London and her grandmother becomes mysteriously ill. Her grandmother insists everything is fine, but how can everything be fine if she's sleeping all the time and having nightmares? When a stranger shows up, a devastating family secret is revealed and forces Sadie to deal with a new reality. When everyone seemingly starts to fall asleep around her, she begins to question if she's the cause. Turning to Jason's old friend, Brandon, for help, the two dig into her family's past and find help from a surprising source.

Sadie's story balances out Jason's journey in The League of Governors, revealing what happened while he's in London. Wendy Terrien works in the same beginning and end as Jason's story, tying the two together and allowing for a chance to see both sides of this one larger story. Sadie goes through an emotional journey that revolves around her family and secrets that change the way she views everything, even herself. She has to learn how to accept who her family is now that she knows their startling secret, which is something she never thought was possible. She has a moment where she spirals, feeling like everything is her fault and that she's a monster, but slowly she learns how these secrets really change her. She has a deeply personal journey of self discovery, as she searches for her voice and her role in this new family she's discovered. Sadie has a lot to navigate with everything seeming to be all on her shoulders, with this whole family she didn't know anything about suddenly expecting her to make this decision that will change their future. She's also dealing with being a teenager with a potential crush and wondering why her best friend hasn't responded to any of her messages.

Sadie's story has several moments where she's feeling alone and taking a majority of the responsibility on herself. When her grandmother is sick, she's terrified of being left alone and so makes a lot of decisions on her own on how to handle everything. She has a strong protective instinct and doesn't cower away from anything when her grandmother is threatened. Over time she realizes she has this deeper bond with Jason's family, which helps her with the decisions she'll need to make going forward after the end of this journey. The Clan Calling is an emotional journey of self-discovery, focusing on the power and bond of family.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Princess of Baker Street is a young adult coming of age novel written by Mia Kerick. Eric Sinclair and Joey Kinkaid had always been best friends, and they were the focal point of the Baker Street gang, five kids who ran and played and pursued a grand fantasy of the imagination. Joey was their Princess Ariel, and the gang had no issue with that, until they all got a little bit older. Now that they were in middle school, however, Travis and Lily made it their goal in life to torment Joey, and Eric’s own home situation made it imperative that he not get involved or in trouble at school. When their geography teacher assigned Eric and Joey to be study partners, Eric was conflicted. He feared the condemnation and scorn of his peers at school, but, even more so, he loved being part of Joey’s life again. He just couldn’t understand why Joey did the things that made his time in school so very difficult.

Mia Kerick’s young adult coming of age novel, The Princess of Baker Street, is a beautifully written and compelling story about a transgender teen and her childhood friends. I loved witnessing the story through Eric’s eyes and felt for him as he struggled to keep his awful home situation a secret. While Joey’s story is the dominant theme here, Eric’s tale is equally transfixing, and their interactions make this coming of age novel an unforgettable one. Kerick’s depiction of a transgender teen and the stresses and strains of life both at home and in school experienced by her is right on point. Kerick’s characters are remarkably real, and her storytelling is powerful. The Princess of Baker Street is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Amy Raines for Readers' Favorite

Pushing Through the Darkness: From Montserrat to Montserrat by Linette Arthurton Bruno tells the story of a young married couple, Clementine and Christophe, as they honeymoon in the Caribbean islands. The young couple revels in the history of events in both Montserrat and Martinique as they intertwine with the lives of their family. Can their discoveries uncover the change in Clementine’s father? Will the clarification of the family’s frightening past help Clementine discover herself and have a happier future with her new husband? Will the couple’s family see eye to eye upon their return home?

Pushing Through the Darkness is an interesting trip through the past and present with a well thought out plot that unfolds through the history of two islands tormented by volcanic activity that destroyed homes as well as lives. The characters are very interesting and easy to relate to as Clementine and Christophe discover and share historical events that left emotional damage on the people involved in the natural but tragic events. I love how Pushing Through the Darkness shows how the distant past can influence families and communities, causing them to change physically, emotionally and psychologically, as well as influencing the futures of the people who endure the trauma and the aftermath of events. I recommend Bruno’s Pushing Through the Darkness to anyone who enjoys history and its effects on the future of the people who survive and find a way to carry on after the tragedy has passed.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

Beneath the Lighthouse by Julieanne Lynch is a horror tale featuring death, ghosts, and coming of age. After the death of Emer, there has been an unsettling emptiness in the house and no matter how hard Jamie and his siblings pretended or prayed, that reality haunted everyone in the home. Jamie McGuiness can’t help frequenting the lighthouse where the body of his sister was found, but he isn’t the only one who lurks around the place. There are ominous ghosts whose presence can only mean evil. An encounter with a spirit will set Jamie on a dangerous path to uncover family secrets and old grudges as he fights to reconcile old feuds. Will he be drawn into the darkness of the dead or can he survive and make things right?

Julieanne Lynch is a master storyteller and I enjoyed the way she pulls the different elements of the story together. I was hooked by the beauty of the prose. The power of the prose — descriptive, and loaded with vivid imagery — is one of the strong appeals of this story. The author makes the reader feel the story by evoking emotions with clarity of expression and aptness of diction. Each sentence evokes a strong feeling and the author uses this style to allow readers to understand the dynamics in the McGuiness family, the emotions of the protagonist, and the pervading sense of horror that permeates the narrative.

The writing style, including the formatting, the unique phraseology, the paragraph breaks, creates an enjoyable reading experience. This is a beautiful story with a tricky plot, compelling characters, and awesome dialogues. I enjoyed the way the author allows the accent in some of the characters to come out in dialogues — a great example is Lenny, who reflects an uncouth personality. The story is also fast-paced and a great work of entertainment. Beneath the Lighthouse has great world building, relatable characters, and an exciting plot in a story that is deft and balanced.

Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

The Castle is the third book in the Bud Hutchins series by JB Michaels, a supernatural thriller with wonderful characters, a unique technology, and villains that move the narrative in unexpected directions. Bud is the inventor of the teleportation technology, a device that has been used to kill monks. Maeve, a monk who lost an uncle thanks to the technology, Ivy, and Bud’s robot friend are up against the most vicious and powerful vampire, the FBI and the police. Each move, every minute, is dire and fraught with danger. Can they beat the enemy this time or meet their worst yet?

The author has a great gift for making readers “see” the story. The author also has a unique way of introducing characters or unveiling new layers of their personalities. Talking about a vampire, the character is put in a situation and some of his traits are exhibited: “Vincentas didn’t need the light. His hands caressed her where they had touched many other women in his long life. He loved discovering the slight variations of the female physique. The curves, the hips, the muscles both hard and soft, the flesh. His particular favorite: the length of the neck.” The writing is filled with this kind of character development.

A unique technology, characters that metamorphose, artificial intelligence, and mysticism are just a few of the things that readers will encounter in this gripping narrative that blends fantasy, thriller, and science fiction to create a rollicking and enjoyable read. The writing is atmospheric and filled with powerful imagery. The intriguing and complex plot is exciting, the gorgeous prose is delightful, and the reader's satisfaction is complete. The Castle is a great literary achievement, original and unpredictable.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

A beautifully written fantasy with an international setting, King of the Nine Hells by Dean Klein is a riveting story that will find a comfortable home with readers who enjoy well-crafted stories of dark magic and fascinating characters. It begins in the Dark Ages, with a grave-digger who works on the moors late at night to assemble a grotesque book. His work done, he uses the cursed book to establish himself as head of one of the strongest families known in Scotland. Fifteen hundred years later, a merchant steals this book, without knowing what it really contains, and the book eventually finds itself in the hands of an Oxford University professor who has a deep knowledge of occult practices. It takes little time for Dr. Peter Ashford to realize that the book is deadly. Making a firm resolution to destroy it, he discovers, to his utter stupefaction, that the book is missing. Follow him in a dangerous adventure in search of a possessed book that has the power to destroy the whole of humankind, a book that is linked to Hell.

The story is deftly written and as well as the sophisticated characters, readers encounter a powerful character in the ancient book itself, a book from Hell with wonderful powers. It can hear those who speak in a room, knows who speaks, and has the power to grant the wishes of anyone. Ancient castles, elements of the Dark Ages, quirky characters, and unspeakable horrors are what readers will find in these pages. It is dark and gripping, yet you won’t be able to let go. King of the Nine Hells cast a spell on me and I found myself reading from page to page. Peter Ashford is a great character and the reader wants to know what happens to him from the moment the book gets into his hands. I kept on wondering if he will retrieve it, if he can stay alive long enough to destroy it, and what would he need to destroy the book. King of the Nine Hells by Dean Klein is a great achievement, pulsating and utterly engrossing.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Dhampir Dimension: Stigmata is a work of dark paranormal fiction by author Viktoria Alukard. Set in the erotic horror vampire genre, this tale takes place in Bucharest after central character Regina seeks a new start in her troubled life. Before she can even settle, strange prophecies come to her about the presence of a new man in her life, the police detective Enttu Tepes. But Enttu is more than just a handsome, blond stranger. He is one of the dhampir, a vampire who has lost a great deal in his long life, including a wife who resembles Regina. Enter Narciso on the scene, another vampire with a taste for vengeance, and what follows is a tense and thrilling adventure bursting with blood.

For fans of this particular genre, Viktoria Alukard has created a lavish and visceral world for her readers to delve into and enjoy. Though the graphic nature of the book won’t be for everyone, for those who appreciate accurate violence, terrifying demons and gruesome murders, The Dhampir Dimension: Stigmata offers a truly thrilling experience. Enttu begins as an enjoyably typical tortured soul, but when his relationship with Regina develops we get to see much more of a true characterization, which was really satisfying. I particularly enjoyed Narciso’s brand of pure evil violence, and the atmospheric settings that Alukard crafts are beautifully dark but also elegant. I also really appreciated the fact that the story unfolded in Bucharest rather than the shiny city streets of America. Overall, a highly enjoyable read.