Small Press Book Reviews | Abyss & Apex

Review: The Sparrow in Hiding

The Sparrow in Hiding

by J. Kathleen Cheney

This is a great little book. It says something about Cheney’s skill as a writer that I chose to something new of hers when I was very upset about something in real life, so I was looking for a […]

Review: Southern Bound

Southern Bound (Max Porter Mysteries 1)

by Stuart Jaffe

You just know it’s going to be a paranormal mystery by the fedora-wearing gumshoe/detective with the glowing eyes on the cover.

Max Porter and his wife Sandra have left a dismal economy and unemployment in Michigan for a […]

Review: Divinity & the Python

Divinity & the Python

by Bonnie Randall

Understand, Tarot is not my thing; in fact, it’s against my religion. It’s therefore astounding that I simply could not put Divinity & the Python down.

I will admit that the Tarot is a wonderful device for foreshadowing, misdirection, theme, […]

Review: Camelot 13

Camelot 13: Celebrating the Spirit of Arthur and His Knights

edited by John L. French and Patrick Thomas

(Padwolf Publishing)

The anthology starts with “The Night’s Tale” by Michael A. Black and Dave Case, which is an untold adventure of Lancelot and the Knights […]

Review: Lady Changeling by Ken Altabef

Lady Changeling (Changelings, Book 1)

Ken Altabef

Cat’s Cradle Press

Lady Changeling is a solid, enjoyable book that kept my interest. Set in the 1700s, in England, the lady of a manor has a secret. Theodora loves the lord of the Manor, her husband Lord […]

Walking Through Fire

Walking Through Fire by Sherri Cook Woosley (Talos Press)

Rachel, a newly separated mother with her son—a ten-year-old, barely-recovered leukemia patient—are thrust into a new world when a series of insanely strong storms not only bring back ancient gods, but also wipe out most of humanity. Rachel is a typical […]

Calamity

by Jo Jordan (Heliosphere Books)

Calamity is a Wild, Weird West version of the story of Calamity Jane, “Being an account of Calamity Jane and her gunslinging green man.” Her “green man” is an alien, one of two species visiting earth, and he has antennae and huge […]

Scylla and Charybdis

by Lindsey Duncan (Kristell Ink)

Four generations ago a genetically-engineered disease that is only transmitted by human males, Y-poisoning, caused widespread death and anarchy, and destroyed Earth. To escape that, a group of women set up a hidden, self-sufficient space station. They chose to name […]

Review: The Amiestrin Gambit

The Amiestrin Gambit (The King’s Daughter, Book 1)

by J. Kathleen Cheney (Dream Palace Press)

The book opens with a ranking officer who is also a seer playing chess with the young man Llelas, who came to find out why he was being sent to the newly-reopened […]

Walls and Wonders

by S. R. Algernon (ReAnimus Press)

ReAnimus Press is a small press publisher that brings back great books whose rights have reverted to authors. S.R. Algernon’s short story collection is divided into four parts: Calling Out, Breaking Through, Tearing Down, and To Build Anew. I’ll […]