The Nature Book by Tom Comitta Genre: Literary Fiction / Nature ISBN: 978-1566896634 Print Length: 272 pages Publisher: Coffee House Press Buy from Amazon Buy from Bookshop Reviewed by Nick Rees Gardner A bold exploratory work; a canonical collage of the natural world In The Nature Book, Tom Comitta compiles descriptions of the natural world from 300 canonical English texts into a vibrant literary collage. In the foreword, Comitta tells the reader that the following text is “closer to a YouTube supercut than a Burroughsian collage novel.” He categorizes the excerpted texts into four ..read more

The Violence of Reason by Pete Planisek Genre: Historical Fiction / Thriller ISBN: 978-0985098285 Print Length: 202 pages Publisher: Enceladus Literary Buy from Amazon Buy from Bookshop Reviewed by Tomi Alo Fate plays a cruel, twisted game in this  compelling historical thriller.  “Oh, I hate this war. It’s brutal, sick. It twists us all into people we’d rather not be.”   War can have a deep, lasting effect on a person, a community, a world. It can change people in any number of ways, for better for worse, and for in between. War takes something from everyone, in one ..read more

Death of the Antagonist by Ron Jensen Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy ISBN: 979-8987489314 Print Length: 292 pages Buy from Amazon Reviewed by Erin Britton | Content Warnings: child abuse; sexual abuse; suicide When an alien insurrection is launched at the metaphorical intersection between science and religion, one man’s troubled mind might just hold the key to humanity’s survival. Featuring high-concept technologies, strange alien lifeforms, and more than a few metaphysical conundrums, Ron Jensen’s Death of the Antagonist is part action-packed thriller and part thought-provoking s ..read more

The Miseducation of Obi Ifeanyi by Chinedu Achebe Genre: Literary Fiction / Political ISBN: 978-1975784140 Print Length: 226 pages Publisher: Atmosphere Press Buy from Amazon Reviewed by Toni Woodruff Personal and political relationships threaten to crack in this contemporary literary novel. The Miseducation of Obi Ifeanyi is set during the 2012 election, a pivotal moment for many of the characters who are rooting for Obama’s re-election. The characters include but are not limited to the titular Obi, his wife Nkechi, his son Ike, and more close to them. Amidst the presidential campaign ..read more

The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen by Cameron A. Straughan Genre: Fantasy / Urban Fantasy ISBN: 978-0968698112 Print Length: 167 pages Buy from Amazon Buy from Bookshop Reviewed by Joshua Ryan Bligh A one-man anthology of surreal antics scaled up until every installment is a supernova of absurdity  Cameron A. Straughan’s The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen is a collection of snapshot stories following the eponymous Anthony Zen as he navigates quagmire after quagmire of daily life, all too often after having forgotten to put on his trousers.  He attends his job, his pa ..read more

With Great Sorrow by Lisa Boyle Genre: Historical Fiction / Civil War ISBN: 978-1736607756 Print Length: 404 pages Buy from Amazon Reviewed by Erin Britton By turns horrifying and inspiring, With Great Sorrow explores the necessity and futility of the Civil War from a multitude of perspectives Casting an unflinching eye on the impacts of the American Civil War on both the battlefield and the home front, With Great Sorrow, the third book in Lisa Boyle’s The Paddy series, continues the enthralling story of Rosaleen and Emmett Doherty, two Irish immigrants who are carving a life of purpose ..read more

Sign of Nine Stripes by Carol Amorosi Genre: Historical Fiction ISBN: 978-1736837269 Print Length: 269 pages Buy from Amazon Reviewed by Jaylynn Korrell Mystery, romance, and history—Sign of Nine Stripes engages American history buffs with both story & truth. Angus is back, and this time, he plans to make a name for himself in the colonies. But it wouldn’t be a true MacKay Mystery if there weren’t a few dangerous obstacles in his way.  In this third installment of the MacKay Mysteries series, Sign of Nine Stripes, Angus makes his way back to America to start what he hopes will ..read more

Squid Season by Maithy Vu Genre: Literary Fiction / Magical Realism ISBN: 978-0996382205 Print Length: 264 pages Buy from Amazon Reviewed by pine breaks An enchanting, surreal, and whimsical tale of finding new friends amid personal discovery  Our story begins with four travelers aboard a strange magical ship “in the middle of the sea where the sky is painted yellow and orange, blue and pink.” They are in search of a mysterious squid that prowls the waters far out to sea and leaves those it encounters different in ways they cannot foresee.  As with all wonderful journeys, our ..read more

Not Your Mama’s Bible by Pasha Tay Genre: Nonfiction / Self-Help ISBN: 979-8987283523 Print Length: 312 pages Buy from Amazon Buy from Bookshop Reviewed by Jadidsa Perez Candid and humorous, NUMB is the self-help book for those looking for a shocking jumpstart to a better tomorrow.  NUMB, or Not Your Mama’s Bible, is a direct self development book with the goal of challenging readers to seek out a more productive, joyful life.  As Pasha Tay, the author, puts it, NUMB “is distinct from your typical self-help book because it doesn’t tell you what to do” and does not sugarcoa ..read more

☆ The Way of the Cicadas by Audrey Henley Genre: Science Fiction / Dystopia ISBN: 979-8986187907 Print Length: 358 pages Buy from Amazon Buy from Bookshop Reviewed by Andrea Marks-Joseph Shocking truths of a post-apocalyptic world are uncovered when a group of teens leave the shelter of their bunker for the first time in a decade.  The Way of the Cicadas is striking. While not set in our present day, its harsh post-apocalyptic reality feels so plausible that it’s remarkably easy to sink into. The strength of the novel’s worldbuilding lies in a combination of our society’s hyper ..read more