Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite

A set of twins were born to a 'painted lady' (harlot) and lived within the confines of the 'pillow house' (brothel) all their lives. Their names were Marilia and Annuweth, bastards of noble military birth. After the death of their mother and a rape attempt on Marilia, they ran off to the lands of their father, where they lived out their destinies. Annuweth climbed the military ranks while Marilia safely married. Suddenly, the country faced a war that could wipe them out. Weighed down by the grief of losing a husband and in the early stages of pregnancy, Marilia must save her country. With a keen mind and a prophecy unfulfilled, she marched to battle. But how mighty a force can a mere woman be? You’re about to find out in Marilia, the Warlord by Morgan Cole!

In all honesty, the movie “300” has got nothing on this book. Marilia, the Warlord by Morgan Cole is a brilliant epic historical novel. Morgan told a compelling story that sounded more like war chronicles of old than mere fiction. The plot had soul, depth, and originality that held me spellbound. I moved with every horse hoove, sword thrust, hand combat, you name it. I felt transported to the battlefield, watching everything live. The book was alive with anger, betrayal, integrity, stealth, grit, courage, perseverance, and tough love. I loved the creative, yet simple era-appropriate language usage. Marilia was a strong character, and I loved to see her evolve. However, Annuweth’s character was developed so beautifully that it gained my respect. Morgan has written a masterpiece, one that is movie worthy. I’d love to read more from Morgan Cole.

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse: The Forerunner Series Book 1 takes the reader deep into the heart of Viking-occupied Britain at the beginning of the ninth century. Author Jay Veloso Batista shows us a fragmented land that is dominated and ruled by a mixture of Angles, Saxons, Danes, Celts, and Scots, where the languages and dialects are as varied as the many different ethnicities that inhabit these isles. Thorfinn (Finn) is a timid, ten-year-old boy growing up in a typical Viking family in Britain at the time. Some of the family, his Uncle Karl for instance, are away on raiding expeditions (known as going Viking) but the bulk of the family is intent on creating a life and earning a living from the hard work of farming, trapping, hunting, or artisanship. Finn is only the third boy in the family and his father has set him on the path of life with a forestry apprenticeship. Finn’s life takes an unexpected turn when he, his brothers, and a friend seek out adventure and discovering an old place of legend. Their encounter with an evil witch will change Finn’s simple existence forever when he discovers he has been turned into a vardoger – a living ghost. Finn now has the ability, whilst his body sleeps, to transfer between Midgard (everyday life) and another similar realm where he is a ghost, while his physical body rests. His ability to move unknown amongst his family, friends, and enemies allows him to become privy to many things including dangerous plots against his family and specifically his uncle. Will Finn find the courage and the ability to stop these evil men intent on destroying his family and the upcoming nuptials of his older sister?

As a lover of fiction based on historical periods, surprisingly, I have read little of this dark period in Britain’s history and after reading Thorfinn and the Witch’s Curse, I find myself asking why have I not read this genre before? Author Jay Veloso Batista beautifully draws you into this tale of familial love, loyalty, and sacrifice that gives a different view of the Norsemen that we have always been told were intent on rape, pillage, and destruction. To be sure, there is plenty of action and fighting in this tale but the central themes are those of family, love, devotion, and cultural pride. Although this was a time of constant conflict the author shows how through careful matrimonial alliances peace was often maintained and families were built across cultures. One of the joys of historical novels is that they expose the reader to new and exciting legends and beliefs. This book does a fantastic job of introducing and elucidating on Norse lore, magical, beliefs, and cultural norms. The characters ring true and, as a reader, it was easy to be drawn to the young Finn, who, as a third boy in the family, was destined to live an ordinary and unexciting life. The unexpected adventures he stumbled over gave a depth of character to the young man that bodes well for future iterations of this series. As an author I have not come across before, Batista strikes me as one well worth following and I am certainly invested enough in this story to want to read Book 2. I await it with bated breath and can highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

In The Witching Vault (Accessory to Magic, Book 1) by Kathrin Hutson, witch Jessica Northwood just got out of the magical prison and is determined to turn her life around. She applies for a job as an apprentice at Winthrop & Dirledge Security Banking, owned by an eccentric scryer Tabitha Belmont. The place is dusty and moldy, and there is a huge lizard named Confucius that seems to be more intelligent than it looks. When a shocking murder happens, Jessica finds herself as the new owner of the magical bank with its witching vault, troublesome customers, and a ‘Gateway’ on the second floor. Can Jessica handle the responsibility or will she try to break a contract that she unknowingly signed up for?

Engaging, fast-paced, and full of mysteries, The Witching Vault does not provide answers easily. Protagonist Jessica Northwood has to deal with her days at the Winthrop & Dirledge Security Banking as best she can if she does not want to end up dead. Readers will find out that in order for Jessica to discover the truth about the Gateway and why almost all magical beings want a piece of it, she needs to stay alive. The witch herself has a tantalizing past that will only increase readers' curiosity. It is easy to root for her in her quest to fulfill her role as the new owner of a magical bank that has a personality of its own. Fae, necromancer, dwarf, a half-giant, and other magical beings add another layer of peculiarity to the story, as the bank is a living entity that is powerful but vulnerable at the same time. With its dark humor and excellent fighting scenes, Book 1 of Kathrin Hutson’s Accessory to Magic series intends to keep most of its secrets and let everyone be intrigued. What will Book 2 reveal I wonder? A fascinating and fun read for fans of the genre.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Waking the Dead is a work of fiction in the fantasy, action, and interpersonal drama subgenres, and was penned by author Kerry Blaisdell. The work is intended for the general adult reading audience and contains some use of explicit language, non-graphic fantasy violence, and moderate sexual scenes and references. Following on from the first book in the Dead Series, Debriefing The Dead, we find our protagonist Hyacinth Finch back in the throes of danger and drama as her first official mission begins. Archangel Michael charges her with a quest to retrieve a powerful rock, but Satan wants it too. What results is a very engrossing romantic and fantasy blockbuster of a tale that is sure to keep readers turning the pages from cover to cover.

Author Kerry Blaisdell has crafted an addictive work of fiction with plenty of romantic twists, wit, and warfare to offer its readers. One of the features I found particularly impressive about this piece was the interplay between its central characters, which drives the action and adds wit, sass, and all-out humor that juxtaposes some of the more serious, dangerous, and dark plot elements nicely. I think one of my favorites in this regard was Eric, cast in such a unique role but filled to the brim with excellent character development, imaginative description, and some wonderfully dry French dialogue. Add to this the well-paced adventure plot and the atmospheric mood of race-against-time fantasy and all-out quests for power, and what you have is a novel I’d read again and again. Overall, I would highly recommend Waking the Dead to fans of high drama and high stakes action-romances, atmospheric fantasy adventure writing, and for enthusiasts of quirky darkly edged fiction everywhere.

Reviewed by Barbara Oliverio for Readers' Favorite

The lives of three intergenerational women entwine in the seaside village of Cape May in The Sound of Wings by Suzanne Simonetti. Superficially, these three seem to lack any association, but as the story unfolds, we uncover their relationships. Quirky Goldie has spent her seven decades as a talented potter whose works are in demand by tourists and locals alike. Buried in her past, however, is a marriage, and the one joy remaining from that time is her love for beautiful Monarch butterflies. Writer Jocelyn is in a custody battle with the father of her son, which contributes to a crippling writer's block. Yet, she is buoyed up by her steadfast new husband. She is sustained by reading a journal she discovers belonging to her husband's mother. Stunningly beautiful yet insecure, twenty-something Krystal has qualms about whether her mega-millionaire husband truly loves her for herself, and others wrongly judge her as a stereotypical trophy wife.

The premise of The Sound of Wings is intriguing, and the narrative that ties the three together evolves agreeably. I was genuinely interested in the characters and felt their emotions as the story unfolded. As the background to every character was revealed, and as their interconnection became apparent, the story advanced toward a satisfying conclusion. Suzanne Simonetti effectively captures each woman's voice, and I found myself rooting for them in their growth and self-acceptance. The metaphor of the sound and shimmer of butterflies, both abstract and concrete, is apt in each of their journeys.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Marriage, loss, and separation are well-defined in Peter A. Friedrichs’ And the Stars Kept Watch. Something precious has been building in the life of an ordinary family, but it all deteriorates after an unexpected tragedy. It becomes the moving personal story of grieving, anger, blame, and denial. Everything seems to be going well for financial adviser Nathan Osgood. His wife Catherine has a thriving practice as a bankruptcy attorney, and they are blessed with two wonderful little sons, Jacob and Joe. The story opens with Nathan taking his boys on a make-believe treasure hunt adventure on an ATV that Catherine gave him as a birthday present. Despite strapping the kids in with elaborate harnesses for their safety, tragedy still strikes when they cross a frozen pond that collapses. Nathan survives but not the children. Jacob's and Joe’s deaths become the trigger that will shatter Nathan’s life, as Catherine blames him for the deaths of their sons and they separate. Nathan tries to cope by attending therapy. But the worst is yet to come as deputies arrest him and he is indicted on two counts of manslaughter.

And the Stars Kept Watch captures the vicious specter of grief, how a happy couple’s marriage starts to decay with the loss of people they love. Peter A. Friedrichs has written a powerful domestic drama, and it is easy to visualize an adaptation of this work exploring the truth about family, death, and relationship. It would be challenging to see if Nathan and Catherine could emerge from this ordeal in the end, if Nathan could find inner peace, and if Catherine could find a different purpose. You will either feel sympathy for Nathan or not, but it is better if you try to see it from both his and Catherine’s perspectives to better weigh the message. And the Stars Kept Watch contains notable anger, but there is also compassion and the prospect of moving on. If you enjoy stories like Ordinary People and Marriage Story, this book is highly recommended.

Reviewed by Risah Salazar for Readers' Favorite

Michael Guillebeau's Don of the Q is an adaptation of Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote. The classic Spanish satire is made contemporary, reflecting the world's most important issues for modern-day readers. Don, a twenty-two-year-old American guy, finds himself manning Quick Stop's counter, Q for short, without knowing what happened to him before that moment of "awakening". He first befriends Sancha, another Q staff who is half-Black, half-Mexican, and then a few more people outside of the Q. Together, they plan to take on America, one comical mission at a time.

With a bunch of misfits helping each other and becoming heroes in their own way, Don of the Q is a much-needed book in these times. It's relevant, diverse, feminist, and LGBTQ-friendly. Reimagining Sancho Panza as a female person of color in this adaptation makes all the difference. Don's illusions and shallow personality are now balanced with Sancha's more realistic views and background as a minority. The book is a good combination of inspiring humor and mystery. The chapter headings, like the chapter themselves, are short and catchy. The characters and the story are realistic, relatable, and angsty. The group's adventures are entertaining and beneath all the social commentary the message is compelling. Don of the Q by Michael Guillebeau teaches about kindness and how simple yet significant it can be. A person doesn't need much to be kind; one can start small, whenever and wherever. In this quick and unputdownable read, the American Quixote and his friends touch hearts while being witty.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Saga of Evil Monkey Man: Season One is an action and adventure graphic novel written by N. Blake Seals, with art by Butch Mapa. The bucolic nature of the little hamlet nestled on the North Shore of Long Island, Cold Spring Harbor, was disrupted one day by an explosion at the most notorious element of the area, the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Those who were closer to the scene were also privy to a most unusual sight. A gigantic monkey-man dressed in clothes that seemed shredded as a result of a transformation had appeared outside the Lab. He was even now trying to evade the authorities. Would he have time to figure it out? Was there a way to reverse the experiment that had created this man-monkey fusion?

This story is apt to be an irresistible draw to any Long Islander; I know it was for me. Seeing the opening frames showing downtown Cold Spring Harbor brought to mind the night I was first introduced to that marvelous, historic hamlet. Likewise, the flight of the Monkey Man and the motley crew that assembles to assist him out to Montauk and onwards had me revisiting the far eastern reaches of the island in my mind and wondering if it wasn’t time to go back for a visit. If you’re not from Long Island, try the story anyway. You’ll probably end up becoming an honorary Long Islander and planning your own visit in the near future. N. Blake Seals and Butch Mapa do a grand job of making the island real, no small feat considering the constraints of the format and the fantastic elements of the story.

The Saga of Evil Monkey Man: Season One is marvelous, spectacular and so much fun to read. It’s beautifully put together: the art, coloring, storyline, and the result is a professionally designed and created story that’s wacky, entertaining, and filled with fast-paced action. Seals’ characters are well-crafted, and his plot is ingenious and clever. This is one of those reads that makes one experience a pang of regret when it’s over -- but it’s not! There appear to be three more seasons based on the artwork shown at the end of the book. The Saga of Evil Monkey Man is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Charles Remington for Readers' Favorite

The Hero’s Tale by R.M. Wilburn takes us back to the near-future dystopian world ruled by the Great Orange Beast, Herr Bigly Rump, a thinly-disguised parody of the current incumbent of the White House. These are the last extracts from Mary Morgan’s diary as she faces her final battle to rid the world of the evil dictator who has enslaved most of the population in his heavily guarded city, Rumptopia. Due to the dire shortages of food and materials, Mary uses scraps of paper to chronicle her adventures which are beautifully presented in this stunning graphic novel by author and illustrator R.M. Wilburn. The narrative moves along at a fast pace and we are thrown straight into the action when Mary joins a team of child rebels to advance the planned overthrow. There are many twists and turns, amazing characters, and astounding scenarios like the Fud Faktoria where older members of the community are encouraged to work and where they are apt to disappear without a trace. But Rump is not satisfied with simply enslaving the population of Earth - he wants to be King of Space too. To realize his ambitions, he has built a fleet of rockets with which he plans to conquer Space. But Mary sees the rockets in a different light. She hatches an audacious plan of action which rapidly drives the narrative towards a fantastic conclusion. Will Rump be defeated or will he become King of Space? The race is on.

R.M. Wilburn has created another stunning graphic novel that resounds with the concerns of the average liberal thinker in a time of increasing political polarisation. Cleverly woven into the plot are issues of fake news and the difficulty of finding truth in amongst the ubiquitous propaganda of vested interests and the absence of reliable history. Issues of honor and integrity, of freedom and fairness all feature in the visually striking pages of this book. I have been fortunate to follow Mary Morgan’s diary from the first adventure and am happy to recommend this last volume which concludes the series. Ms. Wilburn is a talented author and illustrator; her humanity and concern for people and the planet shine out of the pages of her work; sumptuously illustrated volumes that deserve a broad readership.

Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

The Ones We Leave Behind by Deanna Lynn Sletten is a historical event/era novel that would appeal most to a mixed audience of mature young adults and adults who enjoy cross-generational stories. Two women from the same family in different time periods both had their lives changed forever. In 1955, a crime of passion leads to Anna spending decades in prison and leaving her two young children without a mother for most of their lives. In 2020, Diane’s life changes when she answers her mother’s phone, only to find out that the grandmother whom she did not know was alive was being released from prison. That one phone call brings about a meeting of grandmother and granddaughter as the two learn how similar they are and the difference that circumstance can make in the path one’s life takes.

The Ones We Leave Behind by Deanna Lynn Sletten was a very well-written historical fiction novel with a thought-provoking cover image. The author did an amazing job of staying true to the different time periods during which the lives of the two women took place; the historical accuracy of the story really had me forgetting the fictional nature of the narrative at times. I did find the spousal abuse displayed in the book to be emotionally strong, and I found myself putting the book down for a break here and there, but the spousal abuse was needed for the story and the author did a good job of not making it emotionally scarring. Of the two women, I found myself connecting more with Diane as I just felt myself becoming emotionally attached to her and wanting to see where she would end up.