Tag: book-reviews

Getting to a Better Place: A Way for Men (and Women) to Chart A New Path by Carine Fabius Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Carine Fabius shares the path for both men and women to dismantle the Patriarchal system that has plagued our society for so long in the book “Getting to a Better Place.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis 

Getting to a Better Place: An Empowering Appeal for Change

Is the current state of things getting you down? This book is your call-to-action!

Written with love and humor, Getting to a Better Place is in the zeitgeist. More than a book—it’s a movement, inspiring young men seeking a brighter future for themselves and future generations to flip the script and make a difference—one simple step at a time.

Giving voice to women who feel unheard, empowering men to move forward in new ways.

It’s not about blame, it’s about better.

Reader quote:

“Not your average book; very insightful and thought-provoking. If you’re a dude, give it a try: a much different perspective on things that make a lot of sense.” Wilfrid N., Civil Servant

The Review

This book immediately spoke to me. Growing up spending so much time with my mom and sister, I’ve always been dumbfounded by the attitude and behavior of men in relation to women in our society, and have always thought that no matter if a person has any role in the way things happen or not, men should always be part of the solution, and not just the problem. The author does a remarkable job of conveying this throughout the book, delving into the harmful indoctrination this system has in place for men growing up without hating or hurling insults at men in general, but instead speaking to men in an effort to educate and help reinforce ideas of partnership between men and women in general.

The balance of statistics and research, with the author’s passion for the material and the humor with which the author writes, made this a compelling book to delve into. The need to get rid of these hard-hitting ideas that gender norms are set in stone was perfectly summarized when the author studied the difference between male, man, and macho, while also delving into serious movements like the Me Too movement and why it was so vital and important to our society, and how men reconsidered how they approached and treated women. These topics were handled with honest, upfront, and thought-provoking writing.

The Verdict

Insightful, compelling, and engaging, author Carine Fabius’s “Getting to a Better Place” is a must-read nonfiction book and guide to gender, relationships, and societal movements. The depth of research and relatability of the scenarios in each chapter, along with the author’s writing style in general, will keep readers invested in the book, and the value of the lessons and the overall movement this book inspires will have readers returning to it time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

If you’ve landed on my site, it means you’ve found someone whose life and business revolves around the arts—the literary arts, visual arts and body art. People exposed to the arts at an early age develop the crucial life skills of engaged and discerning citizens. The so-called Bohemian Factor has also demonstrated that the presence of artists in an area impacts housing values and regional incomes in a crazy positive way! Here’s to living the magical and creative life, and embracing the often-challenging destiny that comes with it. I love to write. I am the author of six fiction and non-fiction books. I also blogged for Huffpost for 10 years on the arts, culture, lifestyle, politics, and business until they shut down their blogger platform. 

 I am also  an art dealer, owner of Galerie Lakaye, a contemporary ethnic art gallery specializing in Haitian art. Visit us at http://www.galerielakaye.com. I love curating art exhibitions and do so for museums, municipal art galleries, and other public spaces. Finally, I am the owner of Lakaye Studio, which introduced henna tattoos to the West Coast in 1997. We manufacture temporary tattoo kits that we sell to stores and direct to customers at www.earthhenna.com.

http://www.carinefabius.com

http://www.huffpost.com

https://cfabius.medium.com/

https://tinyurl.com/fjefywj4

Murder Will Out by Jennifer K. Breedlove Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A woman returns to the small island she spent childhood summers at with her late godmother and must discover if her godmother died naturally or by nefarious means in author Jennifer K. Breedlove’s “Murder Will Out.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award winner Jennifer K. Breedlove brings coastal Maine to life in Murder Will Out, a lighter, modern gothic mystery that’s as atmospheric as it is heart-warming.

Come for the memories. Stay for the murder…

Little North Island, off the coast of Maine, is so beautiful it could be a postcard. Organist Willow Stone cherishes her memories of childhood summers spent on the island with her godmother Sue… even though her visits ended abruptly, and she hasn’t seen or heard from her godmother in over fifteen years. Until a letter from Sue—and word of Sue’s death—brings Willow back to the picturesque island.

The islanders rarely mention Sue without also bringing up Cameron House, and the controversy around Sue’s unexpected inheritance of the sprawling mansion. When Willow overhears someone threatening the next heir to the property, she starts to question whether Sue’s death was really an accident, and can’t help but wonder whether someone on this sleepy island is willing to stop at nothing—even murder—to claim Cameron House for their own.

Through Willow’s eyes, as well as those of others on the island, a mystery unfolds that keeps drawing Willow back to Cameron House and the very real ghosts that walk its corridors.

The Review

Atmospheric is immediately what comes to mind with this book. The author does a remarkable job of balancing mystery with a haunting, almost gothic atmosphere that draws the reader in instantly. The powerful imagery brings this New England island to life in vivid detail, and readers are left breathlessly gasping with each shocking loss that turns the list of suspects in the case into a killer’s playpen of victims, and the protagonist caught in the maelstrom the killer leaves behind.

The character development was top notch in this narrative. The alternating perspectives gave the mystery more depth and nuance, while the protagonist WIllow had a well-rounded journey. To see the shy, quiet young woman step up and find not only her voice but a community as she delved deeper into the secrets of this island was fantastic, and the ghostly presences that made their way into her life not only gave these island secrets life but dove into the sordid history of her own past as well.

The Verdict

Chilling, heartfelt, and enthralling, author Jennifer K. Breedlove’s “Murder Will Out” is a must-read gothic mystery novel that perfectly brings to mind classics like Stephen King’s Bag of Bones and any great Agatha Christie novel. The emotional depth of Willow’s journey and the shocking revelations the closing chapters bring to life, as well as the tension underlining the inciting incident of this novel will keep readers on the edge of their seats as this story progresses. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

JENNIFER K. BREEDLOVE is a Chicago area composer, conductor, author, editor, and educator. A frequent visitor to Downeast Maine since childhood, she has an enduring affection for the wild beauty of the coastal islands and the warmth of the people who make their homes there. Her debut novel, Murder Will Out, won the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award.

Learn more about her work and contact Jennifer at: https://www.jkbreedlove.com/

https://amzn.to/408Qu29

Fugitive Rifts by A-M Mawhiney Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Four teens have their lives changed forever by one debate in author A-M Mawhiney’s “Fugitive Rifts.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Does everyone have secrets?

When four teens are invited to meet after school with a teacher, the butterfly effect of this one small event soon changes their dreams about their futures. Thrown together to form, of all things, a debate team, the four—Grace, a popular star basketball player, Drew, a privileged hotshot, Ollie, an artistic new student, and Dottie a shy, brilliant loner—seem to have nothing in common. And not one of them believes they have what it takes to be successful debaters.

Over time, the four teens start helping each other through tough times and begin to realize they are more alike than they thought.

Taking part in a public debate turns out to have unintended consequences that affect the four teens, each in different ways. Then the disappearance of one upends not only the lives of the four teens, but it also creates a ripple effect that shapes, over time, what happens to other people from their communities, their country—and even the world.

Fugitive Rifts is a compelling and empowering story of coming of age, resilience, and friendship, with emotional passages that are authentic, visceral, and bring the characters to life.

The Review

This is such a powerful, heartfelt read. The balance the author finds in giving these characters the time to bring their own unique perspectives and viewpoints to the narrative while also highlighting their own personal struggles was rich and powerful to read, and the engaging debates the characters have with one another really pushes the reader’s knowledge and brings to life real-world struggles and hardship that needs to be highlighted more.

The heart of this narrative is in the strong themes and character arcs this coming of age narrative puts on the page. The struggles of the characters reflect these themes, such as domestic violence, homelessness, and parental hardship, and the subtle tension that runs through this narrative helps keep readers on the edge of their seat and engaged in the lives these characters lead.

The Verdict

Insightful, emotionally-driven, and compelling, author A-M Mawhiney’s “Fugitive Rifts” is a must-read coming of age novel. The twists and turns the story takes, the heartfelt connection readers make to these characters, and the memorable events that drive them closer together will stay with readers long after the narrative ends. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

A-M Mawhiney was deeply moved by the events of 2020 and the cries from advocates fighting for equity and justice for people living precarious lives because of structural barriers and discrimination. As a former social worker and academic she has spent her career seeking ways to improve lives of marginalized learners through inclusive education for all students. Mawhiney has hope for a better future for us all. Her vision of what this might look like inspired her to write Spindrifts.

Anne-Marie lives in Sudbury, Ontario, in the territory of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek in the Robinson-Huron Treaty Area, with Dave McGill and their canine companion, Charlie.

For more information, please visit www.ammawhiney.ca

Follow @ammawhiney on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

https://amzn.to/4qNmMdO

North of Broken & Furever Home by Holly B. Gutwillinger Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A woman must help rescue a pack of stray dogs while finding herself in author Holly B. Gutwillinger’s “North of Broken & Furever Home.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Renley Nelsen’s life is unravelling. She’s caught between midlife melancholy, her sons have drifted away, and her mother’s mind is slipping beyond reach.

Sully, the youngest in a pack of abandoned dogs in Ontario’s northern woods, knows only survival. Neglected and scarred, his distrust runs deep.

When Renley’s closest friend begs her to join a dog rescue mission, she sees an escape. However, the broken animals—especially Sully—force her to confront more than she bargained for. As she works to save the pack, Renley discovers hidden strength and faces an impossible choice: keep running or find the courage to claim the life she deserves.

Told from alternating perspectives between Renley and Sully, this is a story of mutual acceptance, where woman and dog must learn that healing demands the bravery to stay—when everything inside you wants to run.

The Review

What a powerful, heartfelt and compelling story. The balance of emotional depth and world building was astonishing, and the connection readers formed between the characters and the world itself was strong. The alternating POVs of both Renley and Sully was able to give readers a fresh perspective of the relationship between a pet and their pet parent, or in more broad terms animal and man. 

The heart of this narrative was in the powerful themes and messaging behind these characters. From the close perspective on mental health and the special bond between people and their pets, to the struggles to find your own identity and find your footing in the world, these themes helped flesh out these characters greatly and keep readers both emotionally invested and engaged in their journey.

The Verdict

Heartfelt, entertaining, and memorable, author Holly B. Gutwillinger’s “North of Broken & Furever Home” is a must-read contemporary drama following family dynamics, a journey of identity, and heartfelt connection. The depth of heart and the rich, dynamic character development will keep readers glued to the page until the book’s final pages. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Holly B. Gutwillinger is an author and podcaster from a small northern Ontario town. Her debut novel, North of Broken & Furever Home, launches February 14, 2026, exploring a woman’s complex relationship with her rescue dogs.

Holly’s writing is shaped by her deep love of family—she is the proud mother of two adult sons—and her commitment to the animals who enrich our lives.

She holds a certificate in creative writing from the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies and is currently completing her MFA in fiction at the University of King’s College. Holly serves on the board of her local writers’ guild and volunteers with the Women’s Fiction Writers Association.

https://amzn.to/3ZMcLCP

Judgement Day (The Intern Diaries Book 5) by D.C. Gomez Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Death’s Intern must avert the apocalypse and all-out war without sacrificing the life of a friend in author D.C. Gomez’s “Judgement Day”, the fifth book in the Intern Diaries series.

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Kidnapping, attacks, and the Horsemen want pay-back. Beware world…people will die.

What would you do for your family?

For Bartholomew, I would give up my soul.

If they harm him, I will doom the world.

We are in the middle of war. We have been betrayed. The enemy is coming at us from everywhere, and our fearless leaders’ solution is to start the apocalypse and destroy humanity. Too bad that would probably kill Bart as well.

Why is it up to me to come up with a solution to this mess? I’m not even the oldest of Death’s Interns. Bartholomew, hang in there, we are coming!

* Judgement Day is the final book in the Intern Dairies Series. This action-packed urban fantasy series will take you on a journey that will leave you holding onto your seats. Life and death decisions should never be made when you are mad at the world. Somebody should tell the Horsemen that.

The Review

This is the most visceral and gripping narrative of the Intern Diaries series to date. The world building and mythos are well developed as always in this book, and the balance of action and fun and quirky dialogue kept the reader invested as the story progressed.

The characters and their connection to one another remains the heart of this series. The protagonist’s evolution as a character has been the most prominent, seeing her come into this leadership role and her unique relationship with Death itself as those boundaries between intern and boss are pushed to the limits was something to read, and the lengths she was willing to go to in order to save the life of Bartholomew was the emotional crux of this narrative. The depths of the supernatural world and the wider impact on the small town they call home was grown and evolved to all new heights this time around, and kept the reader on the edge of their seats.

The Verdict

Memorable, enthralling, and compelling, author D.C. Gomez’s “Judgement Day” is a masterpiece urban fantasy read and a great chapter in the Intern Diaries universe. The shocking twists and turns the story takes, the evolution of the characters and open-ended way their journeys leave off, and the dynamics of this paranormal world will keep readers eager to return to the series once that final page flips. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

D. C. Gomez, is a fast-talking extra-quirky Dominican with a dark sense of humor.

She used to enjoy long walks at the park and all that fun outdoors activities; unfortunately, due to a mysterious condition she is now allergic to the sun.

Rumor has it, that her true nature is coming out and her vampirism is now showing. While hiding from the sun, she is busy writing action packed adventures full of quirky characters and zany plots. As well as hosting her podcast, Inside the Minds of Authors.

If you would like to learn more about her, or join her at an event, check out her website. We promise she doesn’t bite (much…).

Happy reading.

Home

https://amzn.to/4tybhtk

The Men of the Mountain by Drew Harrison Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A man must defy the rules of his world to uncover the lies that have kept the people of the world locked in a prison in author Drew Harrison’s “The Men of the Mountain.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Inscrutable and Ever-Watchful Masters

The Renn of Fort Hope place their faith in simple laws. They must trust the Dicta, those wise rules left by their forebearers; they must fear the savage Krieger, whose raids keep Renn walls perpetually splintered; and they must revere the Men of the Mountain, the magnanimous mystics who are stewards of their world.

For Cade, a clanless trapper, survival is a matter of following the rules. But when the Men of the Mountain took his sister—the only Renn ever chosen to return to their sacred peaks—Cade’s faith withers over five years of agonizing silence.

Now, a star has fallen from the sky, and its arrival threatens to spark an inferno. The Dicta are clear: all things from the sky belong to the Mountain. To hide its discovery is a death sentence… but its crater also houses a secret the Men of the Mountain would kill to protect. Forced to defy his gods alongside unlikely allies, Cade is drawn into a conflict where every secret he uncovers reveals a more terrifying lie at the heart of his world… everything is a cage, and the price of freedom is paid in blood and ash.

The Review

Immediately what stands out to the reader is how immense and powerful this world the author has created seems to be. The detail and depth the author goes into really highlights the world building the author managed to capture, making the long narrative that was developed feel both necessary and inviting. The detail also helps elevate the setting and the imagery in the author’s writing really brings the visuals of the action and the characters to life on the page.

Aside from the world building, the character growth and dynamics was astonishing, delving into themes of friendship and found family as the story develops and revelations about the world around them come to life. The protagonist is complex, giving readers not a straight and narrow hero who becomes one-dimensional, but instead a multi-dimensional hero whose mistakes and faults blend with his tendencies to do what’s right and defy the laws that hinder the rights of his people. The connection between him and Robin was especially interesting, showcasing the ability to bridge the gap between two worlds as they come from very different places. 

Advertisements

The Verdict

Thought-provoking, entertaining, and compelling, author Drew Harrison’s “The Men of the Mountain” is a powerful blend of epic fantasy and sci-fi greatness, and is a must-read novel of 2026. The twists and turns as the truth behind the origins of the Men of the Mountain and the origins of the Renn come to life, and the dark and gritty tone the book takes on as the world grows and the characters are forced to come together under extreme circumstances make the story a powerful entry and start to a brand new dark fantasy/sci-fi series and a memorable narrative. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

https://drewharrisonbooks.wixsite.com/home

The Post-Managerial Era of Capitalism: Organizational Design as the Next Innovation Frontier (Elements in Reinventing Capitalism) by Hunter Hastings Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Hunter Hastings shows readers how old school business structures are being replaced by more innovative and constructive ideas in the book “The Post-Managerial Era of Capitalism.”

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Traditional business management was the machinery of control for industrial organizations that had sprawled beyond the oversight of their founders, an organizational innovation that became a profession and a science. The aim was the stability and predictability the financial sector demanded. But control brought increasing costs: (1) slow response to market changes, leaving established firms behind innovative newcomers; (2) bureaucratic inertia that strangled flexibility; (3) disengaged employees who felt their creativity and agility stifled. These failures weakened firms and lowered economic productivity. In the Kuhnian framework of scientific revolutions, the management paradigm entered crisis mode. Consistent with the Kuhnian framing, businesses are moving beyond management. Self-organization and enterprise flow are revolutionizing business models. Interconnected ecosystems replace bounded industries. Experimentation and feedback replace traditional strategic planning. Dynamic, autonomous teams replace hierarchies of authority. Liberated companies embrace dynamic cohesion rather than the rigidities of business administration. They operate in a post-managerial era.

The Review

This was a powerful, straightforward and insightful read. The author does a remarkable job of covering both the history of management from the nineteenth century factories to the modern day, as well as the new integrations of various technologies into the field. The level of detail and education the author is able to incorporate into the book was astounding considering the fast pacing of the book overall. The author’s writing style took on a commanding and informed tone throughout the book, allowing readers to feel engaged in honest discussion with the author rather than talked “at”. 

The heart of this book was in the direct way of approach the author took to the subject matter and the emphasis on self management. The ability to move with the changing needs of a customer based and do so without constant overhead decisions slowing down the process is a valuable bit of knowledge for companies moving forward, as is the integration of technology like digital networks. The way emphasis is placed on elements such as empathy in a company’s hierarchy was inspiring as well, putting focus on the workers making a company successful instead of the 1% at the head of it all.

GRAB XL PUPPY PADS HERE ON AMAZON!

The Verdict

Memorable, thought-provoking, and enlightening, author Hunter Hasting’s “The Post Managerial Era of Capitalism” is a must-read nonfiction business book. The fast pace of the book’s core material, the use of diagrams and charts for educational purposes, and the ability to reference this book time and time again are just a few reasons why the author’s book works so well, and why the need to change perspectives on how to grow a business and manage it need to happen now. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Hunter Hastings is founder of The Value Creators, a business education brand that aims to bring a new perspective on value creation to the young professionals and young entrepreneurs operating the new breed of digitally enabled companies.

Bright Midnights (The Limerent Series Book 2) by LS Delorme Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A young woman meets a young man in her dreams that changes everything in the waking world in author LS Delorme’s “Bright Midnights,” the second book in the Limerent series.

Advertisements

The Synopsis

Most high school students find life challenging, but 17-year old Amelie has a lot more to contend with than typical teenage angst. Ever since she turned 11, others have been irresistibly drawn to her—with tragic consequences. Her only escape is at night when she flies to different times and places through her “dreams”. Her life begins to change when, on one of her flights, she meets Clovis, an alluring and mysterious young man who hides a secret.

As Amelie finds herself increasingly drawn to him, she learns his story, how it intertwines with her own and finally discovers how to live her life in the real world. Until her own secrets are revealed to the wrong people and that world turns upside down.

Bright Midnights is the second in the Limerent Series and continues in the thought-provoking and beautiful style of the first as it considers different dimensions, different ways of looking at the world, and the transcendental power of love.

The Review

This was such a powerful and compelling read. As a newcomer to the series, the author did an amazing job of creating a story and world that felt self-contained and yet connected to the series through the powerful metaphysical nature of the plot points. The grounded nature of the protagonists life is greatly balanced with the supernatural elements of her life walking through other worlds in her mind and the powerful imagery the author uses in their writing style makes this come alive on the page.

The heart of this narrative was in the character development of the narrative, especially the protagonist. The complex and even heartbreaking dynamics within her own family and the people in her life are explored in great detail, and the connection she forms to this mystery boy in the other world takes some truly unexpected turns. Yet it was Amelie’s unique ability to sense things in others around her that was so fascinating. As someone who has family who can get vibes and feelings off of others in similar ways, the exploration of this phenomenon in such a dynamic way was truly compelling.

The Verdict

Thought-provoking, emotionally-driven, and memorable, author LS Delorme’s “Bright Midnights” is a must-read metaphysical fantasy romance novel. The dark tones of the world Amelie finds herself in in her waking life and the dynamic worlds she immerses herself into and the rich mythos behind it all will keep readers invested until the book’s final chapters. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

Lexy Delorme was born in San Diego, California. After graduating from the University of North Carolina School of law, various internships and years working in risk, tax, family, and international law, she now classifies herself as a recovering attorney.

With a father who served in the US Military, Lexy had a wandering lifestyle from her earliest days and in her time has been a pop musician, a science geek and a writer for magazines like Bonjour Paris and Playtimes. Throughout all of her different careers, her love of fiction has been a mainstay.

Within this eclectic life, she was also one of the first employees at 23andMe, a genomics and biotechnology company based in Mountain View, California and that experience influenced the genetic aspects of her Limerent Series, of which Caio is the first book.

For as long as she can remember she’s had characters in her head. As a child, these were the friends she wished to have. As a young woman, the lovers she wanted to find or the people she wanted to become. Writing fiction novels allows her the chance to give these characters a background, a story and a voice.

Having lived in in 3 continents, 9 US states, and 21 cities around the world, including London and Hong Kong, Lexy now lives in Paris with her French husband and two very cool sons. She is currently working on the next books in the Limerent Series.

https://www.lsdelorme.com/

The Breaking of TIme: Chronicles of the Arvynth by J.J. Hebert Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A father’s desperate attempt to save his son awakens a powerful order he betrayed long ago in author J.J. Hebert’s “The Breaking of TIme,” the first book in the Chronicles of Arvynth series. 

Advertisements

The Synopsis

USA Today bestselling author J. J. Hebert’s brand-new urban fantasy series Chronicles of the Arvynth begins with The Breaking of Time, a novel about a devoted father whose desperate act to save his son fractures reality itself, awakening ancient magic and drawing him back into the path of an immortal order he once betrayed, where love, time, and silence collide in a race against eternity.


🏆 Mariel Hemingway’s Book Club Selection (Best Urban Fantasy):

“This novel is heartfelt, gripping, and memorable in all the best ways.” —Mariel Hemingway, Bestselling Author & Oscar-Nominated Actress ★★★★★


ONE FATHER’S DESPERATE CHOICE FRACTURES TIME AND REALITY ITSELF.

To everyone around him, Daniel Ward is a mild-mannered accountant, devoted husband and father in a quiet New England suburb. But when his ten-year-old son chases a runaway soccer ball into the street, straight into the path of a speeding truck, Daniel does the impossible. He freezes time.

That single act of defiance exposes the secret he’s buried for decades. His magic awakens the ancient order he once betrayed, the Arvynth, a brotherhood of immortal sorcerers devoted to stillness and death, determined to silence the world.

As his carefully constructed life unravels, Daniel must protect his family while evading the brotherhood that hunts him. Every second he steals from time feeds the void that seeks to consume it, threatening not only the people he loves but reality itself.

Forced to choose between sacrifice and survival, Daniel discovers the truth: sometimes the loudest act of love is defiance.

The Breaking of Time is a race against eternity, a supernatural thriller that fuses urban fantasy and family drama in a story about the noise of life, the cost of power, and one father’s desperate fight to keep the world from falling silent.

The Review

This was such a compelling, thrilling read. The author does a remarkable job of world-building early on in the narrative, introducing the cast of characters and the mythos of the Arvynth quickly as to allow the readers to feel immersed in the shock and awe the protagonist’s family feels when they discover his hidden world. The author’s writing style is so powerfully imaginative and uses imagery perfectly to capture the raw emotions and magic of the world with perfect clarity. 

Yet it was the world-building and character dynamics that really became the backbone of this story. The shock Daniel’s wife feels when she discovers her husband’s past and the fear that comes when their family is targeted can be felt in every chapter, and yet it is Daniel’s growing desperation and the raw emotional reaction that jumpstarted the events of the book that really made the narrative feel fresh and compelling, and gave readers a rich and unique new take on the fantasy genre to delve into.

The Verdict

Memorable, thought-provoking, and entertaining, author J.J. Hebert’s “The Breaking of TIme” is a must-read paranormal fantasy thriller and a great entry into the author’s Chronicles of Arvynth series. The emotional core of Daniel’s love for his family and the haunting realities his past has on his future will resonate with so many readers out there, and keep them enthralled as the Arvynth and their god, The Silence, become the specter that haunts him throughout the narrative. Filled with twists and turns that readers won’t expect, this is one new paranormal fantasy thriller readers won’t want to miss. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Advertisements

About the Author

J. J. Hebert is the #1 Amazon, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of eight books, including his acclaimed debut Unconventional and The Backwards K, which, according to Newsweek, is currently in development for film adaptation. His latest #1 bestsellers, both published in 2025, are The Breaking of Time: Chronicles of the Arvynth and The Hands-On Author: Taking Control of Your Book Marketing Journey. A lifelong New England resident, Hebert frequently weaves the region’s landscapes and atmosphere into his storytelling. He is also the award-winning CEO and Founder of MindStir Media, a leading hybrid book publisher. Join his community of over 2 million followers across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) @authorjjhebert.

Bestselling books from J.J. Hebert