The first installment in Finn’s debut series plunges readers into a vivid world where the boundaries of reality and illusion blur. Seventeen-year-old Tyler Yaxley has his fair share of problems: his stepfather is abusive, his mother emotionally absent, and his brother, Jordan, disappeared years ago. When he meets the unconventional Martin, and starts noticing odd phenomena shimmering in the world around him, Tyler questions whether he’s losing it—or if something bigger than himself is taking shape. After bullies viciously attack him, Tyler wakes up in a mysterious place called Res—a haunting realm where he’s immediately plunged into the Iudicium, a series of trials that test his strength, morality, and resolve.

Tyler's trials are a brutal gauntlet of psychological and physical torment, where he confronts grotesque creatures, treacherous landscapes, and impossible choices, but they’re just the start of his tortuous journey. As he faces fallout in Res and in the real world, Tyler also learns of his connection to an ancient inner energy—Vinculum—that feeds off a human host. While Tyler’s Vi, called Kiijh, grants him supernatural abilities, those come with a cost, serving as a source of power and a symbol of his fractured sense of self. Throughout Tyler’s awakenings, Martin functions as his mentor, keying him into the different dimensions of reality and his role as a chosen one.

Though occasionally dense with lore, Dissonance balances introspective moments with action, especially in the climactic confrontation with Milo, whose elemental powers push Tyler and his team to their limits. Finn further complicates Tyler’s journey with Jordan’s reappearance, reopening old wounds of abandonment and betrayal, but, despite his harrowing struggles, Tyler emerges stronger and more determined than ever. That transformation sets the stage for an exciting sequel, where Tyler must face the looming threats of Res and beyond. Anyone who has ever fought to find their place in the world will be riveted.

Takeaway: Young adult faces tortuous trials to find his place in a fractured world.

Comparable Titles: Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series; Maggie Stiefavter’s The Scorpio Races.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B-
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about Dissonance

Two octopi find their way to freedom in this adorable picture book debut by Lacy. Harry, a “very sweet” octopus who nevertheless “tries to be scary,” lives at a zoo where he’s famous for his nighttime escape attempts, much to the chagrin of the keepers. Harry may be well-loved and celebrated, but he has too much energy to be contained. Even as he desperately tries to keep himself busy by redecorating his tank and sneaking out for extra snacks, he still longs for the deep blue ocean. When a new octopus—the pretty Suzette—joins his tank, his dreams of freedom finally seem within reach.

Lacy’s eight-tentacled star is a winning combination of mischievous and sweet, as eager to help Suzette adjust to her new surroundings as he is to wreak havoc when the zoo staff isn’t watching him closely. When he finally builds up the nerve to get close to Suzette, Harry is stunned to find out he now has a partner in crime—and the pair quickly go about planning their getaway, with the help of Harry’s entertaining “Octo Map” that details their possible escape routes. Dana Cooper accompanies those master plans with dainty watercolor illustrations that undulate with the colors and shapes of the briny deep, culminating in a final kaleidoscopic portrait that swirls the shades of Harry and Suzette’s happily ever after across the page.

Young readers will revel in Harry’s horseplay and be amused by his roguish facial expressions and poses, as well as Suzette’s more demure but equally entertaining body language. Lacy’s lessons on animal conservation also hit home, though the rhyming structure used to deliver those lessons feels forced at times. Still, kids able to read between the lines will feel the strong pull of two caged octopi that “really just want to roam.”

Takeaway: Two octopi with a taste of freedom charm in this bubbly tale.

Comparable Titles: DJ Burk’s Gamba, Tohby Riddle’s The Great Escape.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: B+
Illustrations: A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A

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The fourth installment in Bélanger’s Your Words poetry series offers a rousing, heartfelt interplay of nature photography and poems that explore the poet’s Christian faith, particularly the threshold between heaven and earth, the spiritual plight of selfishness, and the practice of faith and theological contemplation. In “There’s Room,” when Bélanger writes, “the sign on the door // In big bold gold letters // Reads Vacancy // There’s room // Inside // Ample // Always,” the door is an opening to heaven, but it’s also an invitation to enter a life of spiritual abundance based on a practice of faith.

For Bélanger, poetry is part of that practice; through her poems, she allows readers access to her world of faith: “I’m showing you part of mine // I write,” and in turn, she is able to reach God through her art. “Come close,” she writes in “The Traveling Bag”: “Do you see? Look how Louise is beautifully written on God’s palm.” But in Bélanger’s conceptualization of faith, it is not just her name written on God’s palm—it is everyone’s. As she writes in “I Matter to God,” “I matter to God // I matter to Jesus // Realize today // The same can be said // About you!”

Between each poem, Bélanger also includes stunning original photographs depicting floral portraits, idyllic landscapes, and other picturesque flora from all seasons, plus surprises like rain streaking on a window. There is a quiet, simple brilliance in each of them, and they show how Bélanger’s faith shapes the way she sees the world and the beauty she finds in it; each flower, and each petal in each flower, is a perfect creation of Bélanger’s God, and all of them deserve attention and appreciation. Readers seeking a multifaceted, thought-provoking, and visually engaging poetry experience based in faith will find abundance in Bélanger’s collection, which reminds the faithful that “We can choose // To be instrumental // To magnificent goodness.”

Takeaway: Gorgeous collection of nature photography and inspiring Christian poetry.

Comparable Titles: David Lyle Jeffrey’s “A Testament of Witness,” and Dana Gioia’s “Pity the Beautiful"

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: C+

Click here for more about Your Words Your Love (Your Words Collection)

Biddle (author of They Believed They Were Safe) gives voice to women of the Bible in this unique reimagining, where God is described as the “nonbinary creator of the world” and well-knowns like Eve, Ruth, and Delilah set their records straight. Fittingly, the story begins with Eve, “supposedly the Earth’s first woman,” as she explores the blame levelled at her over centuries, reflects on Adam’s finer qualities (he “admired brawn more than brains” she muses), and recounts the painful outcomes for her children, Cain and Abel. That sets the stage for a high-spirited, often tongue-in-cheek revision of biblical stories that layers historical Christian events with contemporary travesties.

Biddle's reinvention of silenced, abused, and oppressed women provides a humorous—and at times cynical—take on biblical stories that have historically unfolded from a male perspective. Ruth reflects on her journey as an "alien" in a foreign land; Bathsheba shares her side of the love affair she was forced into when a David took a liking to her; and Delilah defends her actions against Samson, yet defers judgment, writing “I was a serial floozy. Or a heroine. Your choice.” Biddle also incorporates a contemporary woman by the name of Moira—a 21st century descendant of Eve, who sees a correlation between herself and these biblical women and the treatment they faced at the hands of the men in their lives.

Though entertaining, Biddle’s writing also offers serious food for thought, advocating for women whose perspectives have been largely overlooked, as well as unapologetically calling out the lack of women’s autonomy over their own lives and bodies within biblical stories. The narrative also invites some input from men in the Bible and touches on several of-the-moment issues like gun control and discrimination, while offering brief asides from God, who ruminates on the deteriorating state of the world and tells readers “I cannot rescue you from your current lunacies.”

Takeaway: Creative reimagining that gives voices to women of the Bible.

Comparable Titles: Michal Lemberger's After Abel and Other Stories, Anna Solomon's The Book of V.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Listen To Me: The Women of the Bible Speak Out

Newman’s latest historical fiction, after Will O’ the Wisp, follows the intertwined lives of Pete and Alex, two brothers bound not by blood but by circumstance, amid the harsh realities of mid-20th-century America. When the Barnes family discovers Alex—a young Black orphan—hiding in their North Carolina dairy barn, they take him in—not from kindness, but because they need an extra hand on the farm. As Alex grows, he’s treated like an outsider by most of the family and society at large, though Pete—the second to youngest Barnes and Alex’s same age—considers him a brother. As the boys grow, their separate narratives unfold, powered by themes of racism, identity, and resilience.

Newman’s tale of brotherhood captures the deep bond between Pete and Alex—a bond that is tested as their journey expands. They attend segregated schools, each learning vastly different histories, with Pete steeped in white narratives while Alex soaks in the knowledge of his Cherokee teacher. Alex’s journey to discover his self-worth and place in the world is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, and Pete’s love for him offers a glimpse of hope in a story otherwise rife with challenges. Their odyssey spans pivotal moments in history, from the Great Depression and Second World War to the Vietnam War, highlighting the impact of these events on their relationship, as the boys dream of escape by enlisting in the army, only to confront the harsh inequalities of race even while serving their country.

Vivid descriptions of rural life, military service, and racial tension add rich layers to Newman’s narrative, immersing readers in the characters’ struggles and triumphs while exploring war trauma, systemic discrimination, and gentle self-discovery amid the harsh cruelty of their world. Boys is a complex dive into human connection, an ode to finding strength in adversity, the enduring scars of racism, and the power of love and loyalty.

Takeaway: Two men raised as brothers confront racism in mid-20th-century America.

Comparable Titles: Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half, Kiley Reid’s Such a Fun Age.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B+

Click here for more about Boys

Urging readers to sing more, embrace their inner fools, and be open about loneliness, psychologist McKenzie’s spirited debut offers a fun, inviting guide to enhancing personal well-being and improving mental health. McKenzie notes the troubling decline in happiness levels in nations like the United States, Canada, and Australia, as highlighted in the 2024 World Happiness Report, before making the case that happiness is not a fixed state but a fleeting emotion—one that demands continuous effort and intentional action to sustain. With the conversational tone of a dear friend who happens to be a psychologist, McKenzie presents non-medication-based strategies (among many: getting hands dirty with plants, embracing the “warm glow” of giving) that can lead to lowered levels of stress and anxiety. While McKenzie argues that there is no such thing as a “happy pill,” she recognizes the crucial role of medication for some people but notes that “75% of patients prefer the idea of therapy over medication.”

The vibe is encouraging, as McKenzie shares a wealth of compelling science, relatable personal anecdotes, hard-won wisdom, and smart advice (like “The fear of appearing foolish crushes opportunities for spontaneity, mastery, and joy”). Each chapter focuses on a specific activity proven to boost happiness, ranging from cooking to seeking awe to rearranging furniture. McKenzie bolsters her recommendations with up-to-date research that underscores the power of everyday activities: singing, for example, triggers the release of endorphins and oxytocin, chemicals linked to joy and stress reduction, while gardening boosts serotonin and lowers cortisol, alleviating symptoms of depression.

McKenzie’s writing is engaging and approachable, breaking down complex psychological concepts into digestible insights. Her practical tips help readers integrate these strategies into daily life, emphasizing small, incremental changes that build lasting mental health benefits. This engaging, practical resource issues an inspiring and achievable call to action, demonstrating proven methods for taking charge of one’s happiness.

Takeaway: A psychologist’s compelling, practical guide to improving happiness and mental health.

Comparable Titles: Sonja Lyubomirsky’s The Myth of Happiness, Richard Beck’s The Shape of Joy.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about "I Just Want to Be Happy"

Pappas shares her inspirational journey toward recognizing and embracing the wise woman within to safeguard mental and physical well-being. The Magic of Yes blends encouragement for healing with stories of women overcoming challenges and often wrenching circumstances. Pappas describes a traumatic childhood, including psychological abuse and her mother’s attempt to exorcize Satan from her, and her father committing her to an asylum at age 16. She escaped and embarked on a lifelong personal journey of taking responsibility for herself. She determined the trajectory of her life by taking risks, embracing gratitude, engaging in continuous learning, and more. She taught herself to say “yes” to curiosity and “no” when necessary to establish boundaries and ensure self-respect.

In the confident tone of someone who has overcome significant hurdles and challenges, Pappas shares her mission of developing a sense of self-awareness and integrity, distinguishing between one’s personal and professional self, and making oneself a top priority with the power of WIIFM (what’s in it for me?). After each chapter, Pappas offers DREAM (desire, reflect, explore, acknowledge, mantra) activities to help readers experience greater happiness and delight. Pappas also presents encouraging stories from a sisterhood of wise women, such as *In Your Own Skin* well-being facilitator Katheryn Trenshaw, and Compost Happens author and psychologist Diana Dean.

After becoming a successful businesswoman, Pappas worked in Ethiopia distributing medicine. Some of her stories about the inexcusable abuse that African women faced are difficult to read, but their courage to better their lives is captivating. The numerous stories of women overcoming abuse and adversity offer compassionate advice, reminding readers that they are not alone in their individual experiences—and serving as heartening reminders that cycles of abuse can be broken. Pappas provides contemplative wisdom, grounded advice, and practical lessons for women of all backgrounds who desire self-determination.

Takeaway: Advice and encouragement for women in healing and saying “yes” to wisdom and growth.

Comparable Titles: Karena Kilcoyne’s Rise Above the Story, Stephanie Foo’s What My Bones Know.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Magic of Yes

In this upbeat debut blending memoir, advice, and heartfelt expressions of faith, Millet recounts the steps—both personal and business-related—it takes to break into the multifamily real estate industry. A YouTube video inspired the Louisianan Air National Guardsman to seek greater financial independence, and then, through a series of courses, conferences, and reflective time spent in prayer, he gradually learned the steps, skills, and acronyms—HELOC, DTI, LTV, and even a literal ABC—that helped him finally close on his first deal in 2024.

Millet documents the relatable highs and lows of this endeavor, frankly admitting to feeling “wet behind the ears” while doing his best to sound professional. Getting his wife on board, raising capital, walking away from an early prospective deal during the due diligence period, and experiencing interest rate hikes during another purchase were all hurdles. Persistence, even after hitting what marathon runners call the “Wall,” proved essential, as did Millet’s faith and conviction that he is “worthy of success.” Millet goes into detail about the personal changes he made to get into the right mindset for this career change, while sharing advice about finding deals, pitching (“it’s important to understand what your counterpart is feeling”), and addressing the fears of loved ones and stakeholders.

Rather than a step-by-step guide to starting up in real estate, Millet offers readers a quick-paced, well-edited memoir of a young businessman navigating the hard work and everyday challenges of striking out in a new field. “You need to know what you don’t know and then strive to learn it,” Millet writes, his tone taking on the inspiring tenor of a coach who still finds the lessons fresh. The result is an inspirational tale about trusting a higher power and daring to work for one’s dreams, a motivational example of how working on yourself leads to rewards in other parts of life, a call not to be stymied by setbacks, and a reminder to fear “regret much more than failure.”

Takeaway: An entrepreneur's frank account of growing a real estate business.

Comparable Titles: Alan Corey’s A Million Bucks by 30, Jonathan Clements’s My Money Journey.

Production grades
Cover: B-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B+

Click here for more about For Such a Time as This

Medlin’s action-packed first in their Spirit Tamer series pairs a desperate agent with a plucky alien soldier and deadly automaton on a war-wracked world where there are no right sides. Overman Agent Black Dog has three weeks to pay off her debts to the company, otherwise they’ll repo the implants keeping her alive. To do so, she contracts the aid of War Devil, a sentient battle suit, and its carrier, Zecona Giovanni, an Abot. Their mission: destroy the Rebellion defenses so the Federation can take the city of Korsecstan. But everything has a price, and nothing is as simple as it first appears.

SF fans will love the cool technologies Medlin displays, like weapons that generate their own ammo, the shape-shifting War Devil, and the nigh-invulnerable Black Dog, whose self-healing augmentations steal the spotlight after a slew of rousing action sequences. Medlin’s straightforward plot is accentuated by character-centered detours, like Zecona looking for meds to treat his gravity sickness, or a promising early segment involving Black Dog and a girl named Nadia, who threatens to complicate Black Dog’s life. However, loosely jointed prose and a lack of focus across the board keep The War Devil’s intriguing constituent parts from wholly forming into a truly lethal read.

The War Devil is at its best when playing fast, loose, and cool, skimming over the more complex ideas and themes—like the racism faced by Zecona’s displaced people or a late-game reveal for Black Dog concerning identity and self—while staying firmly entrenched in Medlin’s dangerous world, where every day is a gamble and freedom is more of a slippery slope than an earnest vision. Conceptually gleaming but mechanically underdeveloped, this quick-fire debut still has the basic weapons needed to wage an exhilarating war on future-minded fans, and the main trio is endearing enough to keep attention buzzing for the next in the series.

Takeaway: Conceptually vibrant SF brimming with action-packed sequences.

Comparable Titles: Drew Avera’s Damaged, Incorporated, Richard K. Morgan’s Broken Angels.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: C
Marketing copy: B-

Click here for more about The War Devil

In Mutter’s sword-slinging science-fantasy debut, the Alliance of Man must return to the place of its birth in the hopes of breaking free from a terrible servitude. Ill tidings have befallen Axel Starborn: Brond, of the Covenant of Nine and leader of the dark seraph, has revealed to the Five Races that he possesses the Avalon Codex—an ancient tome exposing the dark secret of Mankind’s ancient blood oath to the Beast. Compelled to serve the Nine, Axel must assemble a cohort, including trusted allies: the compassionate Toth Valar, the roguish Redgar Silverheels, and the snake-skinned magic-man, Lorn Zeen. Together, they will risk Eden’s trials in a desperate bid for freedom—or burn it to the ground.

Fans of pop-goth sword-and-sorcery thrillers with mythic themes, bloody demon battles, and jolting revelations about the secret histories of our planet and civilization will find much to enjoy in Avalon Codex. Crafted for big drama, larger-than-life adventure, and epic confrontations, the novel brims with energy. “Baleful hatred was written all over his features as the wind and lightning rebounded around his home,” Mutter writes, as the heroes face one haunting entity in its lair. The pace is brisk, the world intriguing, and the violence inventive, though characterization can feel flat, and the cosmic stakes don’t always resonate on a personal level.

Still, Mutter takes a big swing with his compelling central premise and fascinating figures like Lorn or the enigmatic, age-afflicted Children of September. As the inspired proper nouns suggest (there’s a City of Wailing Doom and a “giant fallen seraph called Mangol Mammoth”), a passion for pulpy, Warhammer-esque fantasy powers the storytelling. The novel features dark rituals, “Soulburn” powers rooted in an ancient bloodline, and horror-tinged set pieces, such as a scene involving a “living black wall of obsidian flesh.” Building to a promising cliffhanger, Mutter offers fresh takes on familiar ideas, including Amazonians and an angelic Silver Host.

Takeaway: Sword-and-sorcery epic in a pulpy, gothic vein.

Comparable Titles: Stavros Saristavros’s The Tome of Syyx, C.J. Pyrah’s Legacy.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B

Click here for more about Avalon Codex

This beautifully designed book captures, through text and inspired photographs, the journey of Flaco, a Eurasian eagle-owl who spent 13 years in captivity at the Central Park Zoo before unexpectedly finding freedom. When an unknown person tampered with his enclosure, Flaco—a bird who had never known life in the wild—ventured into the sprawling urban wilderness of New York City. His escape sparked a whirlwind of emotions: Who set him free? Could he survive without human care? Could he fly, hunt, and fend for himself in the wild? Emery and Lei delve into these questions, chronicling Flaco’s incredible story and demonstrating throughout how “smart, courageous, and resilient” he has proven to be in the face of challenges.

Initially, Flaco was seen walking on Fifth Avenue, seemingly unable to fly but still managing to evade attempts to recapture him. Despite the best efforts of the zoo, the Wildlife Conservation Society, other rescuers using baited traps, Flaco showed remarkable savvy and independence. He ultimately found a perch in Central Park itself, defying expectations of what a zoo-born owl could achieve. The authors were among the first to track Flaco nightly, watching anxiously to see if he would adapt to his new life. Their excitement proves infectious as they recount how, against all odds, Flaco’s instincts took over: he flew across the park, hunting and exploring areas from the Lower East Side to the Upper West Side. His story captivated countless New Yorkers, uniting them in awe and admiration for this determined owl.

Flaco’s courage—choosing freedom over the safety of captivity—became a symbol of hope and resilience in the heart of the city. Stunning photography captures the thrill of spotting Flaco in the city (witness him perched on balconies, park benches, and construction equipment) while also vividly conveying the owl’s emotions, from curiosity to triumph. Emery and Lei’s narrative invites us to walk alongside them on the chase, sharing in their awe and wonder at this remarkable owl’s transformation.

Takeaway: A zoo owl’s once-in-a-lifetime adventure in New York City.

Comparable Titles: Jennifer Ackerman’s What An Owl Knows, Leigh Calvez’s The Hidden Lives of Owls.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Finding Flaco

Grossman delivers an engaging tale of love and war, coming-of-age, and adult regrets and redemption, set against the turbulent backdrop of 1960s America and Vietnam, plus the aftermath over the next decades. The novel expertly captures an era marked by social upheaval, personal freedom, changing cultural norms, and wrenching controversies, including burgeoning distrust of institutions. The story follows Will Stanford, a young Chicagoan whose carefree existence changes when he meets Glory Walters on a tennis court. Grossman crafts this pair’s brisk courtship with delightful authenticity, creating a romance that perfectly embodies the spirit of the times. Their initial encounter sparkles with chemistry, and their relationship feels natural and unforced, making their eventual union—and new role as parents—all the more believable.

Adult life, however, will test them both. Will's journey from a directionless youth to unemployed father and eventual army enlistee unfolds with much feeling, as Will’s naïveté gets tested—once “in country” in Vietnam, he asks, after being shot at by the Viet Cong, “It’s gonna sound stupid, but why would they want to do that?” The war shakes and disgusts Will, tearing apart both his body and spirit, but as he takes actions that will shock readers, Grossman stirs sympathy. Grossman skillfully portrays Will’s internal struggles, painful disillusionment, hard choices, and surprising swerves as he endures wrenching loss and builds a new life far different than the one he expected.

Despite their electric start and mutual love for Rachel, their daughter, Will and Glory end up on separate paths. Late chapters center on the possibility of reconciliation. While the pacing occasionally slows during transitional periods, this heartfelt, persuasive portrayal of lives and families veering apart—but also of growth and transformation—will keep readers of heartfelt fiction about the American experience invested. Grossman’s attention to period details and drifts of mind creates an immersive experience that transports readers back to a fractious era while demonstrating how its reverberations have shaken lives across decades.

Takeaway: Heartfelt Vietnam War-era story of love, tragedy, and life’s surprising paths.

Comparable Titles: Viet Thanh Nguyen’s The Sympathizer, Robert Dugoni’s The World Played Chess.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about Because of Rachel

Heard (author of God of Vengeance) delivers a pitch-perfect portal fantasy in the first of her Vaalbara series. When Jane mysteriously appears at age 13 beside a waterfall in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, she has no idea that she is actually Alchera, a princess from Vaalbara, “a planet clothed in its original splendor, just as when Earth took its first breath.” Now, at 17, she is living as an ordinary human named Jane, with no memories of Vaalbara, until her guardian, Raighne, comes to Earth to retrieve her, appearing as a new student at her high school, teenage heartthrob Ryan Jackson. (“Dear God, have mercy on my hormones,” muses Jane.) As the two grow close, Ryan/Raighne tells her of her true destiny and whisks her away to a new world—where Alchera is charged with saving ten chosen souls from Earth as the apocalypse begins.

Lovers of romantic fantasy will quickly fall hard for Alchera and Raighne. As skillfully written by Heard, Alchera is by turns incredibly brave, sarcastic, and ultimately concerned chiefly with the ones she loves, including her guardian—to whom she is passionately attracted, though she doesn’t think he feels the same way. Gutsy, protective, and idealistic, Raighne is deeply in love with his charge and determined to save her from any pain, even at the cost of his own life. Once Alchera and Raighne realize that their passion is shared, Heard delivers a number of spicy love scenes designed for readers who like to leave the door to the bedroom open.

Heard has a distinct talent for world-building, and her fast-paced, surprise-filled, emotionally charged narrative is irresistible, rich in visions, fantastic detail, gushes of feeling, and the magic of waterfalls—all told in Alchera’s pleasingly direct voice and Raighne’s lightly loftier one. She bolsters her world with an engaging group of supporting characters. Readers may balk at the cliffhanger ending, but they’ll want to know what’s coming next in this author’s world.

Takeaway: Readers will eagerly devour this stellar romantic portal fantasy.

Comparable Titles: Hannah Levin’s The Treasured One, Roshani Choksho’s The Star-Touched Queen.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Visions & Shadows

Writing from a position of thoughtful faith, Baweja (author of A Philosophical Treatise of Reality) delves deeply into the theological underpinnings of John Milton’s “incandescent” epic poems, Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained, offering a perspective that is reverential, impassioned, and didactic. Baweja positions Milton’s poems as timeless affirmations of Christian doctrine, focusing on themes of divine justice, human disobedience, the redemptive power of Christ, and the obligation of “humanity to effectuate into practice the eternal principles and timeless lessons that God has established.”

Baweja’s exploration of Paradise Lost centers on Milton’s framing of the fall of Adam and Eve, presenting their disobedience as a cautionary example of the consequences of misusing free will. Baweja finds Milton’s treatment of divine foreknowledge and human agency to be a reaffirmation of the necessity of submission to God’s will. “The litmus test of our faith is to believe when we do not witness any results,” he notes. Similarly, Baweja’s analysis of Milton’s Satan emphasizes the destructive power of pride and ambition, positioning the archfiend as a tragic figure whose rebellion serves as a warning against hubris. In detailed commentary on Satan’s infernal council, Baweja posits that moral and intellectual decay is inherent in defiance against divine authority.

Considering Paradise Regained, Baweja highlights Christ’s triumph over Satan’s temptations as the pinnacle of moral strength and obedience, lauding Milton’s depiction of the crucifixion as the ultimate act of reconciliation between God and humanity—a testament to divine mercy and justice. Baweja presents Milton’s narrative as an affirmation of the transformative power of faith and humility. The critique also commends Milton’s use of blank verse and thematic unity as tools to convey the poems’ theological profundity. While the book offers a thorough theological reading, its focus on Christian orthodoxy may feel limiting for readers seeking a broader exploration of the literary or historical dimensions. However, Baweja’s expertise in theological analysis is evident, and he offers an enriching perspective that underscores the spiritual significance of Milton’s work.

Takeaway: Impassioned exploration of Milton’s masterpieces, emphasizing matters of faith.

Comparable Titles: David V. Urban’s Milton and the Parables of Jesus, Hugh M. Richmond’s The Christian Revolutionary: John Milton.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B

Click here for more about A Critique of Milton's Paradise Lost and Regained

This delightful, imaginative story by Ness centers on the intergalactic adventures of 13-year-old Rolo, a “juvenile male hooman” headed for Earth from his home planet of Blorx, where he’s been raised as a pet. Accompanied by his quagling, Quiggles, Rolo is desperate to see if hoomans can really live “off-leash” on Earth, as the stories say. However, the pair immediately runs into trouble when they meet catlings—horse-sized cats that make up Blorx’s police force—who arrest Rolo for illegal spacecraft parking and harboring an unlicensed pet. That spells disaster, as Rolo is sent to the pound and Quiggles is scheduled to be euthanized. But a daring escape and a chance encounter with earthling Ailey change their fortunes.

Middle-grade readers will embrace Ness’s entertaining world, brought to vivid life by Sofia Komarenko’s lively illustrations, where cats are in charge and humans are subjugated. Rolo and Quiggles meet a slew of colorful characters in their escapades as they find refuge on a flying circus ship, run into magical artifacts that promise them entrance to an underground world called Zorx (where Rolo’s ancestors may be living), and dodge the dangers of bounty hunter Wicks and her gang of apes. Rolo, who expected Earth to welcome him with open arms and point him to his ancestors, quickly learns the universe is a much larger—and more dangerous—place than he ever imagined. He sums up his frustration in pitch-perfect teenage lingo: “Quiggles, Earth sucks.”

Though action-packed and loads of fun, Ness’s follow-up to Rolo the Pet Earthling offers shrewd insights as well, drawn from the inhumane treatment earthlings receive at the hands of the ruling cats. The book’s awareness of pet population practices hits home, but equally important is its message about found families and appreciating what you have, marking this series as one to watch.

Takeaway: Cats rule the universe in this lively intergalactic tale.

Comparable Titles: Nathan Hale’s Apocalypse Taco, Carlie Sorosiak’s Leonard.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

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Retired pastor Karriker explores both the literal and metaphorical boundaries of the Christian Church in this spiritual debut, writing that "The Church was and is the living witness that the Kingdom of God exists now, here on earth.” His work seeks to answer two main questions for Christians: Is church involvement necessary? And, if so, what type of church should Christians attend? Delving into the “essence, function, [and] form” of the Church, Karriker draws from personal anecdotes and biblical teachings to explore how the Church’s duties, meanings, and believers have changed throughout the years.

Karriker writes with a fond devotion to his subject, declaring, “I have a confession. I love the Church. I love the Church in all her various forms and permutations,” while urging readers to seek God’s direction in their church lives, particularly in light of the “worldwide upheaval” occurring today. He covers the Church’s history, biblical teachings on what it is meant to be and represent, and how modern events (including the COVID-19 pandemic) have affected the way believers and non-believers view church. In those discussions, Karriker notes a pattern of people engaging in on-again, off-again relationships with God. He advises Christians to doggedly pursue being worldly examples of Jesus’s teachings, writing that "our ability to make an impact on the world and those around us is dependent on our being positively different.”

Karriker’s main purpose for the Christian Church is clearly and candidly stated throughout as "Jesus’ plan to take His message of love and salvation by grace to all people everywhere in this hurting and dying world.” For that reason, he explores the Church not only as a place for Christians to gather and worship but also as the driving force behind Christians carrying out Jesus’s mission. This is an informative resource for readers seeking a deeper understanding of a well-known pillar in Christian worship.

Takeaway: Spiritual examination of the Christian Church’s function and meaning.

Comparable Titles: Edward W. Klink III's The Local Church, Joseph H. Hellerman's When the Church Was a Family.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

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