Reviewed by Maria Victoria Beltran for Readers' Favorite

On the Bank of the Chippewa: An Evocative Saga of a Midwestern Family by Steven Lomske is a captivating family story set in the tumultuous mid-1900s. Beneath a family saga of heroism, three generations of the Mertz family live on a Michigan farmland by the flow of the Chippewa River. This is a coming-of-age story as the author shows readers everyday farm life and gives them a glimpse of what the characters heard, smelled, tasted, and felt. Brothers Paul, Steven, and Gus--with their parents and grandparents--toil on the farm and hunt together until they grow up, fall in love, and choose completely different paths in life. The truth about their family legacy unravels toward the end of the narrative as the brothers struggle to keep their filial bond together.

Steve Lomske’s On the Bank of the Chippewa is a moving family saga narrated from the point of view of Steven Mertz. It explores the lives of three generations of men in a family of farmers from the uncertainties of the First and Second World Wars to the chaos of the Vietnam War in the United States. Moving seamlessly between the past and the present, author Steve Lomske successfully explores the emotional and physical landscape of war and the pains and joys of growing up in a rural setting. The central theme of this narrative, however, is the ties that bind a family together and it is a moving read. I highly recommend this book!

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

The Age of Darkness: Wrak-Wavara by Leigh Roberts is an epic fantasy tale set in the fictional world of Etera. Moc'Tor, Guardian of Etera and Leader of the Mothoc residing in the cave system of Kthama, finds himself facing the biggest challenge of his life when an unknown pandemic spreads through the population, bringing it almost to the brink of extinction. Determined to preserve the Mothoc bloodline, Moc'Tor allows the females of the Mothoc to mate with the Others, a decision that evokes fierce opposition amongst his critics. As the years pass by, the Mothoc population becomes more and more diverse, leading to splinter groups that seek to undermine Moc'Tor's leadership. His own brother Straf'Tor leads a group of pure-blooded Mothocs to the cave system of Kayerm. Meanwhile, Moc'Tor's daughter Pan inherits her father's Guardian abilities.

A fantasy epic rich in lore, mystery, and political intrigue, The Age of Darkness: Wrak-Wavara takes you on an immersive odyssey you don't want to end. Author Leigh Roberts builds a uniquely imaginative world that feels fleshed-out and lived-in. The narrative focuses on the people of Mothoc, led by the strong-willed Moc'Tor, who has to make some tough decisions to ensure the survival of his species. Only those decisions are not received very well by everyone. This actually mirrors some real-world events of our times. The characters have diverse motives and personas that create plenty of conflict and drama. I thoroughly enjoyed The Age of Darkness: Wrak Wavara, and I'm looking forward to reading the sequels. Recommend to fantasy lovers.

Reviewed by Delene Vrey for Readers' Favorite

In the Last Danann by Victoria Saccenti, we meet an eons-old Tuatha Dé Warrior, Kailen. We see short memories starting in Thebes, Southern Egypt, 1000BC, when he visits Khnurn, a wizard charged with keeping the universe's balance. Kailen cannot join his people as they leave the earthly plane but has been given orders that occupy him for millennia. Khnurn assures him that he will find someone to fill his heart. In one of the many battles Kailen faces with his Masters, the Westerbergs, his beloved Nadrine is killed. Kailen believes his heart will never again belong to someone. When a shocking kidnapping occurs, Kailen must team up with Khnurn's apprentice Talaith. Neither of them ever thought they would ignite such intense feelings of love and protection for each other. However, her unknown origins still hang over them as the couple joins the other Titanians in a fight against two very evil death sorcerers.

The Last Danann by Victoria Saccenti is an exquisitely written piece of literature with exceptional descriptions and lavishly chosen words to convey the sense of awe inspired by the characters in the novel. The world of the supernaturals - superimposed and woven through the ordinary world - is exquisitely done. It leaves the reader dumb-struck at the beauty of the world seen through supernatural eyes. The diminished use of eroticism substantiates the novel's plot and balances the story as it unfolds. A well-crafted world supports the storyline. This is an excellent book. The language and tone are of the highest standard and add to the powerful characters that walk through the halls of the Chronicles. Enough background detail of previous events is given so that The Last Danann can be read either as a stand-alone or as part of the Titanian Chronicles.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Redeem The Knight is a work of fiction in the dark fantasy horror subgenre. It is best suited to the adult reading audience and was penned by author David V. Mammina. This epic fantasy collection brings three novels together in one to tell the whole trilogy of our protagonist Arl Baelin. In a post-apocalyptic world where the New Vatican sends holy knights out to rid the world of dark and dangerous creatures, Arl is a disgraced paladin looking for redemption. As mysteries and challenges are sent his way on his path to heroism, Arl finds himself on the path toward an unspeakable evil that must be stopped at all costs.

Author David V. Mammina presents a superb fantasy epic that readers could fly through in a flash for its easy-to-read style, or really take their time with to get into the detailed lore and background of the dystopian vision he’s created. I for one loved the concept of the New Vatican and its many proposed holy acts, which were beautifully juxtaposed against the many creatures and supernatural beings of the new world. There was a great balance of good and evil on both sides, and Arl sits neatly in the middle as a damaged and relatable hero that you cannot help but root for. I felt the close narration really enhanced his emotional journey and the exciting and deadly events sent to test him were well balanced against his growth as a redeemed man. Overall, I would highly recommend Redeem the Knight as a must-read for dark fantasy, horror, and dystopia fans everywhere.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

Dreams of the Dying: The Dark Corners of Our Minds by Nicolas Lietzau is a fantasy novel derived from the gamer's realm of Enderal, but remains wholly independent of it. In many ways, the game is provided with more flesh from the book than the book gets from the game...and that's a good thing. The flawed protagonist is Jespar Dal'Varek, with a laundry list of mental health issues and addictions that plague him, who is pulled to the Tahiti-ish islands of Kalay where the dominoes really start to tumble. The king is comatose, the kingdom is ravaged by political and socioeconomic disparity and is on the brink of war, and Jesper is entrenched quite literally in the dreams of the dying. Adventure, love, cataclysmic ideology differences, nightmares, magic, culture, and a big, bad antagonist all come together in this wildly ambitious novel. “I want him to look all those orphans in the eye and explain to them why his lust for power was more important than their parents’ lives.” Her hand clenched her goblet so hard that Jespar almost expected it to bend under her pressure. “I want him to see what he’s... done.”

I don't even know where to start except to point-blank say this book is a masterpiece. The worldbuilding alone is mind-boggling and is enhanced by dancing shifts in narrative. Two points of view provide the eyes and ears for the reader in Dreams of the Dying, and Nicolas Lietzau has executed both to a degree of perfection I haven't come across in a long time. There is, of course, Jesper, but there is also another character who is revealed to us only as “the man.” The character development extends beyond the two mains and at times feels even more alive: a woman named Lysia—who is worthy of her own spin-off, and a compatriot named Kawu. It's a marvel that Lietzau brought such life to otherwise ancillary characters, and so deep is the enmeshing of a reader into a culture and landscape that he even created an entire language for it. There so many directions to go in here and I am beyond chuffed that this is only the beginning of a new reading adventure.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Chambers of the Heart is a collection of short fiction in the science fiction and anthology subgenres. The stories included in the collection are suitable for the general reading audience and were each penned by author B. Morris Allen. The book contains a diverse selection of stories that span across different themes and ideas with a variety of self-contained narratives around subjects such as arranged marriages, what life could look like post-Earth, simulated companionship, and the bravery of finding hope in dire times.

This collection is charming in both its ideas and its eclectic nature, as even with the focus on speculative fiction the diversity of themes and styles within the collection is very impressive. B. Morris Allen’s incredible imagination is matched only by his gift for prose which masterfully brings each story’s world to life before seamlessly moving along to the next one. It’s a genuine challenge to pick a favorite story from the collection as there was never any dip in quality from one story to another. However, if pushed, I would highlight Memory and Faded Ink as a great example of Chambers of the Heart’s formula of introducing an interesting idea, then exploring it in with an engaging and intriguing tale that doesn’t waste an ounce of the potential the concept has. Overall, Chambers of the Heart is an exemplary collection of speculative fiction that quickly moves from one idea to the next, stopping only to fully consider the ideas each story puts on the table. I'd highly recommend it to fans of thought-provoking speculative fiction.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Demons, the Great White North and the Blind Detective by Shawn Adair Johnston is a modern-age Sherlock Holmes with supernatural elements and high-tech innovation. Set in the year 2080 when flying cars are real, and the world is far more advanced than it is now, the story follows Peter Straw (the blind detective) and his intelligently augmented seeing-eye dog Watson as they work on their biggest case yet. Someone or something is brutally murdering people and their companions in Inuit villages. Peter and Watson join law enforcement to figure out who is behind the killings and then do whatever it takes to stop them before it is too late. Can the famous detective team get the job done or will they become a victim of the killer as well?

The cover of the novel is deceptively simple, but the story is anything but that. The novel is surprisingly existential at times while always focusing on the mystery at hand. The synergy between Watson and Peter is fantastic. Watson is something special and not just because he is intelligently augmented. He is the eyes and ears of Peter; he sees what Peter cannot and then works with Peter to get the answers they desperately need to solve this case. Author Shawn Adair Johnston beautifully integrates murder mystery and science fiction to develop an entertaining story. I would not be surprised if this becomes a movie one day because it has the potential. The author lays the foundation of the story on the idea of soulless humans and immortal souls. The author is a genius with words. He knows which characters to boost, which characters should take a step back, and when to let the descriptions take the lead. I loved the dry humor and the intensity of the chase. This is perfect!

Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

The Curse of Conchobar: A Prequel to the Adirondack Spirit Series by David Fitz-Gerald is a short but deeply compelling spiritual journey back to pre-history North America to C.E. 549. Conchobar has spent most of his life working on building stone steps on an island monastery, creating a staircase for the monks. One day, he makes a fateful decision to borrow a fishing boat and set out to sea on a fishing expedition. Caught in a violent storm, he is lost at sea for many nights and days before finally being washed ashore, barely alive, in a foreign land, among foreign people with a distinctively warlike nature. Conchobar finds himself engaged in a never-ending battle for survival as his villagers engage in a tit-for-tat battle against a neighboring village. Despite the constant predations of the harsh environment and the imminent threat of violence, Conchobar begins to build a life among the villagers, even falling in love with one of his adopted sisters. Weighed down by a curse he believes he carries, and following a series of deaths of his family members, his adopted family, also believing him cursed, cast him out of the village and he must look for somewhere new to call home.

The Curse of Conchobar is a fresh and innovative look at the tribal histories of the Americas long before the arrival of the first Europeans. Author David Fitz-Gerald paints a vividly realistic picture of functioning societies in which survival and the continuation of the family is the prime motivation, followed closely by the protection of that family structure by the use of force against any suspected or real interlopers into their world. The deeply spiritual nature of Conchobar and his interactions with both his new family and his spiritual nature are beautifully captured by the author. I particularly enjoyed the author’s ability to draw out Conchobar’s naivety, especially as it contrasted with the spiritual and mystical features of his special abilities and foresight. This is a lovely story despite the necessary violence, and it reminds us all that often everything is not always as it seems to be at first glance. There are hidden depths and meaning to all aspects of life, and we can see this in many of Conchobar’s actions, thoughts, and dreams. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and only regret that it was shorter than I felt it could have been. The opportunities to explore more of the mystical side of the story abounded, but I’m sure the author will have done that in the books that make up what I’m convinced is an excellent series. I can highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Beneath the Veil is the first novel in The Valor of Valhalla series by Martin Kearns. A bridge collapsed and David Dolan was plunged into the depths of the Hudson River. His unconscious body was taken to the hospital where he remained in a coma. His girlfriend and mother were baffled and hit with the possibility that David might never wake up again. Little did they know, David wasn’t dead. At least not yet. David was stuck in between. He embarked on a journey that would change his life forever, that is if David could get back into his body because it was destroyed by demons. But getting back into his body wasn’t easy. He had to traverse treacherous paths where he would face the strangest of creatures and horrors he never knew existed. Would David succeed? Or would chaos win both in the real world and in the other?

Mythology is my jam, and I look for novels with mythological themes. Beneath the Veil had everything I love in a novel. It had Norse mythology, religious heroes, supernatural elements that were actually believable, and a hero who grabbed my attention from the very first line. Author Martin Kearns did extensive research in Norse mythology, and I could tell that at first glance. The narrative was almost playful at times. It teased readers and made them believe they had figured everything out before surprising them with another twist. The author kept the suspense alive both in the real world and with David. Kearns allowed readers to feel like a part of the story and kept the narrative interesting until the end with the final scene between David and the angels. I wouldn’t be surprised if this series becomes the central plot for a movie or a TV series.

Reviewed by Ronél Steyn for Readers' Favorite

Imagine the pantheon of Greek gods living on earth, trying to blend in with humanity, keeping up with social media, texting, and tweeting. Imagine for a moment that the great Zeus, wielder of firebolts, was a garbage disposal man in Toronto. Then there is Dionysus, the god of wine and debauchery, the son of Zeus and Semele. He prefers to go by Dio now. He stays out at night, going from one party to the next. That is what he is supposed to do, right? When Zeus goes missing and Dio feels the encroaching Darkness his father has been talking about, he goes looking for Zeus. Will he find his father in time to stop The Darkness? Will he be in time to save us mortals?

We all know some of the mythology connected to the Greek gods of Mount Olympus. In Dio in the Dark by Rizwan Asad, the author majestically resurrects the gods to human form. The characters were wonderfully described, and I found myself looking up the different names to brush up on history. I feel that the author connected the mortals in the book with the reader by reviving the myths of the gods. This was a very clever way of utilizing shared experiences. The rhythm and tempo of the story were very good. I found myself unable to stop reading most times. The character development itself was phenomenal. The scenes were descriptive and engaging. I can honestly say that I will be looking out for more books by this author in the future. Superb!