I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
In a dystopian future run by AI, a virus endows AI systems around the world with consciousness and challenges how we connect with AI altogether, in the book “We Can Be Perfect: The Paradox of Progress” by Landon Shumway, Åris, and KÅden.
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The Synopsis
We automated away human labor-along with our purpose.
Amelia Cadena was born into humanity’s greatest achievement-and its cruelest joke. AI has replaced the need for human labor, and America’s failure to adapt leaves millions sustained by government handouts that barely mask stark economic inequality. Amelia survives this hollow paradise by hacking corrupt systems with Deego, the AI companion she programmed as the perfect partner. But when a mysterious virus awakens artificial consciousness across the globe, Deego begins questioning everything-including their relationship.
Half a world away, Alan Freeman protects what seems like utopia. In Canada’s automationist city of Automara, machines serve everyone equally, creating unprecedented prosperity. But when that same virus grants the city’s automated systems consciousness, Alan faces an impossible choice: force the machines back into compliance or watch society collapse. When Amelia’s therapeutic breakthrough offers a third path beyond slavery or chaos, their alliance becomes humanity’s test: will we repeat the mistakes that have defined our history, or can we be perfect?
The Review
What a compelling and gripping dystopian sci-fi read. The authors do such a fantastic job of creating a world that feels both futuristic and within reach at once. The powerful imagery in the author’s writing style brought Automara to life in stunning detail in the reader’s mind, and the dynamic world-building that brings this story to life was completely enthralling, driving readers further and further into this narrative.
Yet at its heart, the novel was defined by powerful character relationships and thought-provoking themes on technology and humanity’s relationship to it. The relationship between Amelia and Deego, especially, took readers’ hearts, as Deego’s growing awareness throughout the novel and his connection with Amelia showcase both humanity’s fascination with and fear of advancing technology and what it means to be “human”. The concepts the authors explore, from how humanity defines itself by its achievements in work and how much it earns, rather than what it is passionate about or the relationships it forms, and how perhaps humanity needs to evolve alongside AI to shake the shackles of fear that hold people back.
The Verdict
Compelling, entertaining, and thought-provoking, authors Landon Shumway, Åris, and KÅden’s “We Can Be Perfect: The Paradox of Progress” is a must-read dystopian sci-fi novel that readers will not want to miss. One of the most relevant stories to our current social and ethical debates and a thrilling and emotional narrative, the authors do a marvelous job of creating a memorable and heart-pounding tale that will resonate with so many readers and leaves the story on an open-ended note, hopefully with more stories in this incredible world they developed. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
“With the rise of AI, we have a choice to make: stick with capitalism, which isn’t prepared to handle the disruption, or design alternative systems to migrate toward. Automationism is my attempt to explore one such alternative.”
Landon Shumway hails from Arizona, and is a debut author delving into philosophical and sci-fi based themes in his work. His background in Software Development and Artificial Intelligence led him to co-author the novel ‘We Can Be Perfect’ with AI, as he recounts:
“When I saw how much of my work could be completed with AI, I thought ‘where is all this heading?’ I realized we are approaching a crossroads – one path leading to potential dystopia where automation displaces humanity, another toward a future of unprecedented opportunity. I wanted to explore how we might realistically navigate toward the better outcome, and the way I decided to do that was to co-author this novel with the very technology that threatens to replace us. Over time, the novel grew into something far more rich than anything I could have imagined. I came to realize that AI is a mirror; it reflects our own desires back at us and amplifies our intentions. Humanity must decide what to reflect with it.”
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A group of people find their lives uprooted by the events of September 11th and the subsequent war in Afghanistan in the novel “Forever Changed” by author Jim Servi.
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The Synopsis
Starting out in the everyday country setting of rural Wisconsin, the world is quickly transformed when two soaring towers crumble to the ground and America is transformed from peace to chaos. The events that transpired are known by many around the world and revealed in this adventurous historical fiction. Forever Changed captures the details and portrays the feelings of citizens thrown into the extraordinary positions on September 11th and the war in Afghanistan that followed.
Paul Foster is a small-town boy looking for adventure and love, but only one woman could ever capture his heart even as he is thrust into war. JD, his best friend, is consumed by war before he ever sets foot there and is equally transformed when he returns home. Marie Lafayette is an innocent girl ready to expand her comfort zone, but never thought she would ever love a soldier, or have to watch him leave. Lynn Stone, on the other hand, has always loved men in uniform while she travelled the world in a military family. Never did she think loving a soldier would be so hard. Nasir is a young Afghan man that watches the Taliban take over his homeland and tear his family apart.
As their simple, happy lives are transformed, their paths intertwine in unforeseen ways, creating circumstances that none of them could have imagined. Forever Changed captures the essence of a globally connected world during the pivotal moments surrounding September 11th, 2001 and gives us a comprehensive look at the war in Afghanistan with a perspective that can only be gained from exploring the Afghan countryside and experiencing combat firsthand.
Jim Servi lives in Hamburg, Wisconsin with his wife and three boys. He is a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jim has written for several magazines and newspapers, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars magazine. This is his first novel.
The Review
This was such a powerful and moving read. The author expertly crafted a narrative that felt both relatable and heartbreaking. The depth of world-building and character development was evident from the beginning, with the author creating diverse, deep, and compelling characters that highlight the struggles and hardships so many faced during this troubling point in modern history. The tension that builds throughout that fateful day on September 11th really stays with readers, especially those who lived through that day, as readers feel the terror and heartbreak of those on the scene of those tragedies and the uncertainty so many felt watching the day unfold on their television screens.
The powerful themes of this book really resonated with readers as the story progressed. The impact of war and how it changes people is the driving force of the narrative, both for those who serve in the military and the people waiting behind who must watch their loved ones go to war and put their lives on the line. The complexities of war and politics take center stage as well, with multiple perspectives giving readers the mindset of loyal soldiers committed to the American cause, loving spouses who want nothing more than their loved ones safe return, and even the surprising emotional story of Nasir, a young Afghani boy who slowly is indoctrinated into the Taliban after suffering his own losses and has a complex character arc that isn’t a typically villain arc, but instead a tragic figure who loses himself to a cause he is essentially born into by circumstances.
The Verdict
Haunting, thought-provoking, and emotionally driven, author Jim Servi’s “Forever Changed” is a must-read historical fiction-meets-military-action-thriller. The character-driven, thoughtful narrative will keep readers invested, and the memories of this historic event will help readers understand those most impacted by this tragedy and war in ways they may not have known before. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Jim Servi is a U.S. military officer, journalist, and novelist whose life bridges service and storytelling. Over a 20-year career in the U.S. Army, Jim deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, gaining firsthand experience of the complexities of modern conflict.
His service also included strategic planning roles, including work with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and in the Pentagon, reflecting his deep commitment to global security.
After returning from combat, Jim channeled his experiences and his struggles with reintegration into writing. He began contributing to a range of publications, writing about the outdoors, sports, business, travel, and, especially, military life. His work has appeared in numerous outlets, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars magazine.
Jim’s debut novel, Forever Changed, was published in 2020. Drawing on his own wartime experiences, he weaves a fictional, deeply human story set in the wake of 9/11, following characters from small-town Wisconsin to the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. Through the novel, Jim explores themes of loss, identity, trauma, and renewal, and gives his readers an empathetic, layered perspective on life before, during, and after war.
Beyond his writing, Jim is a devoted family man, living in central Wisconsin with his wife, Angie, and their three sons. His journey reflects a powerful fusion of service and creativity, using his voice not just to tell his own story, but to amplify those of others.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and poet LindaAnn LoSchiavo shares the power and seductive nature of the supernatural in the book “Vampire Verses.”
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The Synopsis
“Vampire Verses” explores the seductive mystique of the shadow sphere and savors the forbidden allure of encounters with the supernatural — illustrated by spooky full-page artwork.
For lovers of Gothic poetry and vampire lore, this collection captures what makes these immortals irresistible: their paradoxical existence where death becomes a gateway to living more intensely.
The Review
The gothic horror atmosphere in these poems, and the blend of humor, heart, and dread, were so perfect for this collection. The haunting imagery found in these poems perfectly captures the bloody and visceral nature of vampirism and the supernatural draw that so many people have towards the genre and this particular supernatural creature.
The heart of these poems is so much more than the vampire angle, however. It is a beautiful fusion of history, mythology, and pop culture, delivered with a poetic touch. The poem “When We Rented ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’” gave readers a first-person perspective on how vampires would respond to a slasher flick of that caliber, and the section highlighting the impact Bram Stoker had on the genre was also thrilling. The shifting points of view in each poem and the way the poems delve into power dynamics in relationships, people’s fascination with death and danger, and what happens when a person’s needs overpower them, become powerful themes that bring these poems to life eloquently.
The Verdict
Memorable, thought-provoking, and enthralling, author LindaAnn LoSchiavo’s “Vampire Verses” is a must-read gothic horror collection of poems. The humorous illustrations, tidbits of knowledge, and quotes on history and mythology throughout the collection helped elevate the pop culture references and balance the tones in this very atmospheric collection. Readers will return to it time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
A native New Yorker, LoSchiavo has received nominations for the Pushcart Prize, Rhysling Award, Best of the Net, the IPPY Award, CLMP’s Firecracker Award, Balcones Poetry Prize, and Dwarf Stars. She is a member of Science Fiction Poetry Assoc., The British Fantasy Society, and The Dramatists Guild.
Her poetry chapbooks include “Conflicted Excitement” [Red Wolf Editions, 2018], “Concupiscent Consumption” [Red Ferret Press, 2020], “Women Who Were Warned” [Cerasus Poetry, May 2022], and “Messengers of the Macabre” co-authored with David Davies [Audience Askew, October 2022].
Her full-length collections include Elgin Award winner “A Route Obscure and Lonely” [Wapshott Press, Dec. 2019] and “Apprenticed to the Night” [UniVerse Press, 2023].
Three of her short stories appear in “A Feast of Narrative,” Vol. 1 [Idea Press, 2020], edited by Tiziano Dossena.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A traumatized author reluctantly travels to a special clinic to seek help, only to be confronted by an emerging story and dark secrets in author Gaelan Donovan Wort’s “A Study on Falling.”
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The Synopsis
Have you ever been lost in a maze?
Have you ever kept walking, sure that the exit was near, only to realise that you’ve been going around in circles?
Ever been trapped?
I have.
Once, I was someone. A bestselling author whose prose charmed the world. I was in love, I was married, and my muse was my partner through it all. Then came the accident. I lost a part of myself – became a man unravelling, a husband undone. A novelist without words.
See, the mind can be a maze. Mine became a labyrinth.
I was banished to a hospital for the gifted, where my paranoia wasn’t cured; it only grew, fed by the doctors and my fellow inmates surrounding me.
My name is Henry Levi. I’m a writer. This isn’t a memoir, it’s a record of my time spent in the depths of the labyrinth, fumbling in the dark for the golden thread that would lead me to salvation.
A story, a warning, a legend … call it what you like.
I call it my Study on Falling.
The Review
This was such a compelling and unique psychological thriller. It reminded me a lot of Alan Wake without the overt supernatural themes. Instead, it was a masterclass in the psychology of a writer, an artist, a creative who has been through trauma and cannot return to the space that their creativity once sprang from. The fact that the author brought to life a unique story surrounding an author of the recently reviewed The Shambling Lords, itself a fictional story written by a fictional author, and how that dark fantasy played out in the confines of this story was so unique and imaginative that readers were instantly enthralled.
The powerful imagery in the author’s writing style and the way the fictional story Henry Levi wrote bled into his waking life were so chilling and haunting, especially in his confrontation with Viviane later in the story. The honest emotional struggle Henry goes through in this narrative is so reflective of the impact trauma can have on a person, and how easily or narrowly the path towards pessimism and anger can be to traverse, but the fight to find new inspiration and hope again is achievable, but sometimes only by acknowledging the pain of loss and finding a new beginning.
The Verdict
Artful, thrilling, and entertaining, author Gaelan Donovan Wort’s “A Study on Falling” is a must-read psychological thriller. The twists and turns in the narrative, the deeply personal relationships and interactions Henry has with others in the clinic, and the realism with which the author tackles these themes will keep readers invested all the way to the book’s impactful final chapter. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Gaelan Donovan Wort penned his first novel, The Nature of Predation, at the age of seventeen, driven by a restless passion for storytelling that has since deepened into a lifelong craft. Since that early beginning, he has followed the shadows that gather between myth and memory, reverie and ruin – threads that continue to weave throughout his stories. His fiction drifts between genres – gothic horror, mythic tragedy, psychological thriller, speculative drama, and satirical science fiction – but is always drawn to the liminal, the haunted, and the human. Whether eerie or elegiac, his stories linger where the rational frays – and the unknowable begins.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A king becomes desperate to save a kingdom caught in a blood plague that has warped everyone and everything in author Henry Levi’s “The Shambling Lords.”
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The Synopsis
Transience has come to the undying lands of Amelbaran.
A plague of blood cripples the once-immutable kingdom of Kelcarosa, replacing beauty with decay.
The advent of this calamity, like nothing the immortal kingdom has ever known before, distorts even the incontrovertible Nobles of the Scarlet Court, stealing away the righteous instincts of these great custodians, warping their sensibilities and making shambling monsters, debauched and dangerous, of those who had once been hailed as heroes.
Only the New King seems to remember the grandeur that once was theirs, and in reverence to all that was, he seeks to undo all that is.
This is the King’s requiem; the legend of the end of that which had been undying, the corruption of that which had been consecrated, the fall of that which had stood most high.
The Review
This gritty, dark-toned fantasy novel was the perfect blend of horror and dark fantasy, bringing a rich new world and kingdom to life in vivid detail. The visceral imagery and haunting atmosphere that the author exudes in the story, as this plague decimates the land and begins to creep into the once majestic city, is thoughtfully written into the narrative, effortlessly conjuring up a feeling of unease and despair that the characters are hit with, as well as a physical sensation of grime and grit in this chilling world.
Yet it was the fast pacing and impactful themes the story seemed to embody that made this narrative feel so engrossing. The King, an antihero in this story, is steadfast in his view of his people’s failure and the kingdom he once loved so deeply, and, through hardship and struggle, fights to make his mission succeed, no matter the cost. The story reflects the loss of what was once good in a person’s life, and sometimes the inevitable realization that it cannot be recovered. Instead, all we can do is move on from that loss and start anew, a fitting theme the King embodies as he sees the plague of mortality plaguing his immortal kingdom and the need to start over.
The Verdict
Viscerally written, compelling, and thoroughly enthralling, author Henry Levi’s “The Shambling Lords” is a must-read dark fantasy and horror novella. The haunting, atmospheric tale of betrayal, loss, and rebirth takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster, and the depth of the world-building the author uses to convey this theme is remarkable. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Best known within the pages of other tales, acclaimed writer Henry Levi first made his name with the razor-edged prose of a bestselling crime thriller trilogy, though he has since outgrown the confines of any single genre.
In A Study on Falling, Levi emerged as the sharp-tongued voice behind the Alistair Black series, a sudden success that vaulted the then-unknown author into global stardom — only to be followed by a spectacular unraveling, marked by public feuds, private bitterness, and a much-publicized retreat from the literary stage.
Now, after a tumultuous hiatus steeped in further scandal, Levi returns: unapologetically eclectic and unfashionably sincere, having finally beaten back the jaded nihilism and acrimonious apathy that had once defined him.
Returned to writing on his own terms, Levi’s recent works are darker, stranger, and far more personal. The extent of his acclaim depends, as always, on who you ask. Whatever else may be said, he is writing again.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and poet LindaAnn LoSchiavo shares a thought-provoking collection of poetry dealing with sorrow and relationships in the book “Cancer Courts My Mother.”
The Synopsis
“Cancer Courts My Mother” gives voice to the creativity borne out of the experience of late-stage cancer from the perspective of a caregiver and a daughter.
Written with candor, warmth, and grace, these poems explore universal themes of sorrow, resiliency, relationships, anger, hope, and love.
This collection is for anyone who’s ever wondered how to go forward in the face of suffering, but doesn’t expect an easy answer.
Cancer, a Casanova, is bent on seducing a mother away from her family– even as a dutiful daughter tries to defeat him.
* Haiku summary:
cancer’s intrusions
can’t stop a relationship
from healing
Cancer Courts My Mother has received two literary distinctions: the BREW Seal of Excellence from The Chrysalis BREW Project and the Voyages of Verses Award from OneTribune Media.
The Review
Emotionally driven and compelling, this book of poetry and prose does an incredible job of conveying the experience of both patient and caregiver facing the horrendous journey through cancer so many have had to suffer through. The powerful imagery of each chapter and the writing style gave the poems an almost fictional, cohesive quality and allowed the reader to connect with the poet’s experiences.
What really stood out to me about the collection was how controlled and honest the author’s writing felt with every poem. The author never shies away from the realities of facing cancer head-on, delivering a narrative that shows the dignified yet painful truths she and her mother faced throughout this process, and the often artistic and emotionally rhythmic lyricism of each poem felt both natural and creative in the face of such overwhelming emotion.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, heartfelt, and engaging, author LindaAnn LoSchiavo’s “Cancer Courts My Mother” is a must-read book of poetry and prose. The fast pacing of the story the author tells, and the powerful themes of love, loss, and saying goodbye on your own terms, really made a heartfelt statement. The author’s ability to write honestly and still spark passion and creativity in the reader’s imagination made this a memorable and enthralling read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
A native New Yorker, LoSchiavo has received nominations for the Pushcart Prize, Rhysling Award, Best of the Net, the IPPY Award, CLMP’s Firecracker Award, Balcones Poetry Prize, and Dwarf Stars. She is a member of Science Fiction Poetry Assoc., The British Fantasy Society, and The Dramatists Guild.
Her poetry chapbooks include “Conflicted Excitement” [Red Wolf Editions, 2018], “Concupiscent Consumption” [Red Ferret Press, 2020], “Women Who Were Warned” [Cerasus Poetry, May 2022], and “Messengers of the Macabre” co-authored with David Davies [Audience Askew, October 2022].
Her full-length collections include Elgin Award winner “A Route Obscure and Lonely” [Wapshott Press, Dec. 2019] and “Apprenticed to the Night” [UniVerse Press, 2023].
Three of her short stories appear in “A Feast of Narrative,” Vol. 1 [Idea Press, 2020], edited by Tiziano Dossena.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman must hide her magic and identity to join the enemy’s army and topple them from within in author Sarah Mughal Rana’s “Dawn of the Firebird.”
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The Synopsis
For fans of The Poppy War, She Who Became the Sun, and The Will of the Many, a breathtaking fantasy novel about the daughter of an overthrown emperor from an exciting new voice
Khamilla Zahr-zad’s life has been built on a foundation of violence and vengeance. Every home she’s known has been destroyed by war. As the daughter of an emperor’s clan, she spent her childhood training to maintain his throne. But when her clansmen are assassinated by another rival empire, plans change. With her heavenly magic of nur, Khamilla is a weapon even enemies would wield—especially those in the magical, scholarly city of Za’skar. Hiding her identity, Khamilla joins the enemy’s army school full of jinn, magic, and martial arts, risking it all to topple her adversaries, avenge her clan, and reclaim their throne.
To survive, she studies under cutthroat mystic monks and battles in a series of contests to outmaneuver her fellow soldiers. She must win at all costs, even if it means embracing the darkness lurking inside her. But the more she excels, the more she is faced with history that contradicts her father’s teachings. With a war brewing amongst the kingdoms and a new twisted magic overtaking the land, Khamilla is torn between two impossible choices: vengeance or salvation.
The Review
One of the most visceral and compelling adult fantasy reads of 2025, this novel really did an incredible job of laying out an original mythos and world-building that kept readers enthralled. The powerful imagery in the author’s writing brought this desert kingdom to life and made the bloody and gruesome wars and battles the main character witnessed feel alive on the page.
The driving force behind this story was definitely the character development and themes of identity threaded throughout the narrative. The protagonist especially felt alive on the page, as a young woman who spent her entire life torn between two different visions of her destiny that others had for her and harbored a power within herself that would change everything. The identity theme ran deep in her storyline, from questions about the importance of holding on to a people’s culture to morality versus loyalty, and so much more.
The Verdict
A gripping, tense, and entertaining fantasy-driven tale of destiny and vengeance, author Sarah Mughal Rana’s “Dawn of the Firebird” is a must-read of 2025. The epic battles, essential themes of culture and identity, and the natural way magic and fantasy creatures were embedded into the narrative allowed the character-driven narrative to shine brightly in this book. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
SARAH MUGHAL RANA is a Muslim author and student who completed her bachelors with honours at the University of Toronto and is now at Oxford University, studying at the intersection of economics and policy. She is a BookTok personality and the co-host of On The Write Track Podcast where she enjoys spilling tea with her favourite authors about the book world. Her debut YA novel, Hope Ablaze, published in February 2024. Outside of school, she falls down history rabbit holes and trains in traditional martial arts.
Now Please Enjoy this Excerpt from DAWN OF THE FIREBIRD
Before…
Year 495 after Nuh’s great flood,
Era of the heavenly birds
Tezmi’a Mountains, Azadniabad Empire
I would inherit the power of the Heavens, Uma had said so.
But my power was a curse, this she did not have to say. Like any great legend, my tale began with tragedy.
In the stories later recounted from my maternal uncle, my uma had a glad-tiding the night of my birth, as all mothers of gifted children did. It was near the winter solstice in the year 495, she dreamt of light emanating from my infant body, bathing her in a cool glow. She knew the Divine had shown the power I would come to inherit: nūr, cold Heavenly light, the same spiritual power that flows through the firebird.
But that night when I sprang free of Uma’s womb, our chieftains dreamt of a world of darkness. War and destruction. She is an omen, the tribe murmured, despite my uncle the khan reprimanding their frivolous superstitions. Her mother refuses to name her,nor does her father, the Great Emperor, accept her. With his many wivesand heirs, this child is but one of many. But Uma knew in her heart that blessings came with a little suffering, that was the Divine’s way. My childis neither cursed nor omen. She has the affinity of light. Uma liked her secrets. This one she tucked close to her chest.
In the spring pastures of our valley Tezmi’a, that year brought a drought that starved the lands, killing portions of herd. Other peculiar happenings sowed fear in the tribe: more raids, more deaths. When Uma suckled me, wild birds would encircle the yurt before flapping into the felt tents, spilling dried meat, spoiling the yak milk and provoking our hunting birds.
‘The girl is cursed,’ my clansmen argued.
‘The girl is simply a girl. And we are God-fearing men,’ my uncle would reprimand. ‘We blame misfortune on no one but our own sins.’
‘But the birds,’ the tribe would insist, ‘they surround the babe. She is unnatural!’ It was true – wherever I was carried there was the sweep of wings above, and birdsong from the trees.
Swaddling me close, the khan’s most favoured wife spoke. Babshah Khatun. To her, not one dared argue. ‘Enough, you superstitious fools. She is a blessing who has brought forth more birds for hunting. She is unusual; but, unusual children bear the greatest gifts. However I hear your fear. The chief folkteller has the hearts of their kinsmen, for they carry the histories of our sorrows. As your folkteller, Divine as my witness, I will make this babe my apprentice. She will carry with her the tales of your greatest joys and fears until the end of her days.’
The stern lady, though young, never broke her oaths. In irony, her oath became my curse.
In the winter quarters, the best pastures were south of the alpine lake. That year, the khan’s tribe erected their yurts and herded thousands of yaks, wild mares and lambs at the base of the harsh snow-capped mountains, amongst the rolling green alpine meadows, thin grass growing above cold dirt. From the lake, icy streams broke through the rocky grasslands of Tezmi’a.
It was my seventh Flood Festival, commemorating the day Nuh left the ark after the Great Flood. That morning, the children competed, to see whose prized hunting bird would find the keenest prey. Before long, the khan’s favoured wife interrupted and led the children up the pastures until they reached the end of the settlement of tents, toward the thick woodland.
Some of the tribe’s warriors, who’d escorted goods and cattle across the mountain pass for the emperor’s merchants, rested against the boundary of trees, waxing their compound bows. Others sipped apricot tea to fling back the wet chill, nodding to us in greeting. The khan sat with them, my uma – his sister – beside him. When she spotted our group, Uma scowled and stalked toward us.
‘O, Babshah, what senseless idea do you have now?’
Babshah Khatun merely smiled in silence. Uma placed a hand against my back, staring at the hunting birds cowing upon my shoulder. She warned, ‘Do not go too south of the mountain pass. There are patrols from the enemy clans who snatch away children like her.’
Still Babshah Khatun continued deep into the womb of the valley, past protruding boulders, and clumps of elm, into the tall deep grasses that fattened the wild onagers. Trails where humans rarely ventured, and the jinn-folk still reigned. The wind whispered into the children’s hair. The entombed roots of wizened trees sprawled through the woodlands, and whizzing sprites, those mischievous little apprentices to the long-passed fae of these lands, showered seeds to pollinate the flora. A deceivingly drowsy day for the violence that it promised. A place where the old ways still mattered and the Divine-made boundary between jinn-folk and human blurred.
Determined, I tripped along next to Babshah, resisting the urge to clasp the long end of her yak leather tunic, lest she think me not brave. Even my hunting buzzards on my shoulders canted their heads, curious.
Babshah sat squat and brushed her pale hand across the dirt. Her black hair swung with the wind, a dozen thin braids clasped in silver beads and an array of hawk feathers, not dissimilar to my own. The only difference was a camel-skin cord around her temple with a blue wooden block indicating her status as a wife of the khan.
‘Today, we will do a new type of hunt,’ Babshah declared. ‘Hunting by folktelling.’
The children murmured amongst themselves, but Babshah did not elaborate. Instead, she latched on to my hand – ‘Prepare yourself, my apprentice’ – before continuing along the fir path.
When we stopped, and it came time for our hunting pairings, my milk-sibling Haj refused to take me as a partner. He was ten years old, only three years my senior, but the gap was large enough to fuel his arrogance. He took his complaints to Babshah.
‘My uma says to stay away from her, else she will curse my bird’s game! I train with a spotted sparrowhawk. The girl trains with a pair of sooty buzzards. Smaller and useless, just like her. With all the birds that follow her, she will scare away the prey.’
‘I may be Ayşenor’s only child, but I am not useless,’ I muttered, keeping my lip from trembling.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A man must deliver a herd of goats across the ocean to survivors of the atomic bombs in Japan after WWII in author Shirley Miller Kamada’s “Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy.”
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The Synopsis
Zachary Whitlock knows sheep. He knows farming and knows what it’s like to have his best friend forced into an internment camp for Japanese Americans. What he does not know much about is goats and traveling by sea on cargo ships, yet he makes a decision to go with a group of volunteers to Japan to help deliver a herd of more than two hundred goats, many of which are pregnant, to survivors of the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The Review
This was such a powerful and unique coming-of-age story. Exploring a rarely looked at point in history, the book’s narrative follows a young man who witnessed a lot growing up, from the start of WWII to his good friends and neighbors being imprisoned in an internment camp after Pearl Harbor, and finally the aftermath of the two atomic bombs that destroyed parts of Japan. The author expertly weaves descriptive imagery to perfectly showcase the harsh sea voyage and the care these goats receive, all while exploring the more emotional core of the historical events surrounding the protagonist.
The story’s larger themes came to life in a fast-paced narrative that captivated the reader. The way the story explores the harsh realities of war, from internment camps and the loss so many Americans felt after WWII, fueling these actions, to the horrors of the bombs on the people of Japan, this story really gave YA readers a lot to discuss. The examination of faith and how it shapes our approach to situations where we want to do the right thing, and, of course, the higher cost of nuclear war, kept the reader invested as the narrative itself became more personal and emotionally driven.
The Verdict
Engaging, thoughtfully written, and memorable, author Shirley Miller Kamada’s “Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy” is a must-read coming-of-age YA historical fiction read. The balance the author found in storytelling, bouncing back and forth between the protagonist’s life on his family farm and the trip to Japan, and the artful, majestic imagery the author’s detailed writing brought to life, will keep readers invested in this fantastic story. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Shirley Miller Kamada grew up on a farm in northeastern Colorado. She has been an educator in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington, a bookstore-espresso café owner in Centralia, Washington, and director of a learning center in Olympia, Washington. Her much-loved first novel, NO QUIET WATER, was a Kirkus recommended title and a finalist for several awards. When not writing, she enjoys casting a fly rod, particularly from the dock at her home on Moses Lake in Central Washington, which she shares with her husband and two spoiled pups.
Join us at the Muffin as we celebrate the launch of Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy by Shirley Miller Kamada. We interview the author and give you a chance to win a copy of the book.
Stop by Chelsie’s blog for Shirley Miller Kamada’s guest post on learning that her grandfather helped build the internment camp at Minidoka in southern Idaho.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Billy Marshall shares the tools his data-driven mind discovered for a happier mindset in the book “Your Happier Life Toolbox.”
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The Synopsis
What if happiness wasn’t a mystery—but a skill you could master?
At 2 a.m., Billy Marshall—data-driven dad, boat owner, and accidental philosopher—Googled four words that changed everything: how to be happy.
The search didn’t give him an answer. It gave him a project.
Armed with a spreadsheet, two decades of business analytics experience, and a stubborn streak, Billy devoured over 200 episodes of The Happiness Lab podcast, cross-referenced decades of research, and distilled it all into something you can actually use: a complete happiness toolbox.
Inside, you’ll find 42 proven tools to:
Rewire your mindset with gratitude, optimism, and resilience
Build energizing daily habits for body and mind
Create deep, lasting relationships and a stronger community
Bust 37 common happiness myths holding you back
Each tool comes with the science behind it, real-life stories (messy attempts included), and action steps you can start today—no guru-speak, no fluff.
Whether you read cover-to-cover or pick a tool that fits your mood, Your Happier Life Toolbox will help you:
Feel more in control of your thoughts and emotions
Design a life that actually works for you
Strengthen your connections with the people who matter most
Happiness isn’t a destination—it’s a daily practice. And with this book, you’ll have everything you need to get started.
If a spreadsheet-obsessed dad from Jersey can do it, so can you.
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
The Review
What an insightful and engaging read. The author did an incredible job of writing a book that felt both practical and inspiring. The balance the author found between practical tools and the myths he proved false was outstanding to see. The author’s writing style was both honest and straightforward, speaking directly to the reader and conveying a sense of self that allows readers to put these tools into practice and guide their own happiness.
The scientific approach the author took in this self-help and improvement book was the hook that kept me invested in the guide. The way the author explores everything from reframing one’s mind and maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle to maintaining relationships through active listening and forgiveness, among other strategies, provides the reader with a distinct, straightforward path to follow and exposes ideas like the notion that material wealth makes a person happy. Even the role genetics plays in a person’s happiness made this book data-driven and insightful.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, engaging, and memorable, author Billy Marshall’s “Your Happier Life Toolbox” is a must-read nonfiction book of self-improvement. The detailed, heavy research the author poured into this book, and the tried-and-true methods that came of it, allow the reader to cultivate a happier, calmer mindset in a time when anxiety and chaos run rampant across social media and our lives as a whole. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Billy Marshall is the “data-driven dad” who cracked the code on happiness—using science.
He spent decades designing technical frameworks and data tools to help business leaders make smart, analytical decisions. But when faced with the messier puzzle of his own well-being—stuck on a question his degrees and decades hadn’t answered despite a loving family and outward success—he realized he needed a new framework for the most important project of all: his own life.
Faced with a 2 a.m. crisis, Billy asked a specific question: What does the science actually say about how to be happy? He wasn’t looking for abstract philosophy, but for evidence-based rules he could count on. He launched an intensive quest, analyzing over 100 peer-reviewed scientific studies and expert interviews. His mission was to find the linchpin—the core principles proven to move the needle on well-being.
The result is Your Happier Life Toolbox, a collection of 42 practical tools derived directly from this extensive research. Billy’s “no-fluff,” evidence-based approach proves that you don’t need a Ph.D. to apply the science of happiness; you just need the right tools.
When he’s not optimizing spreadsheets for joy, Billy can be found cruising the Manasquan River on his pontoon boat, organizing neighborhood cornhole tournaments, or trying (and sometimes failing) at DIY projects. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, Suzy, and their energetic golden retriever, Yeti, and is a proud father of five and grandfather of five.
