Review: News From The Fallout #1

News From The Fallout #1 by Chris Condon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

News From The Fallout #1 opens with a gripping Cold War horror premise and immediately pulls you into a bleak, irradiated world where silence and shadow do most of the storytelling. Jeffrey Alan Love’s stark black-and-white artwork is stunning and unsettling, creating a heavy atmosphere that feels both timeless and deeply eerie. The creative restraint in dialogue and exposition gives the issue a haunting, dreamlike quality, where every panel feels deliberate and loaded with tension. It is visually bold, atmospheric, and completely committed to its tone, making for a memorable and striking opening chapter.

Where this debut shows its limitations is in how spare the narrative feels. The story is so minimal that some moments land more as impressions than fully grounded beats, and readers looking for stronger character context or a clearer foundation may find themselves wishing for more substance beneath the excellent style. That said, the sparse approach does serve the mood, and the intrigue it builds sets the stage for something bigger. If future issues expand the world and deepen the emotional stakes to match the aesthetic strength, this series could become something truly special.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

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Review: Stalin's Army of Apes: The Mechanized Puppeteers

Stalin's Army of Apes: The Mechanized Puppeteers by Itamar Friedman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A bold Cold War sci-fi concept with strong pacing, but the execution feels trimmed and underdeveloped, leaving narrative gaps where context should be.

Thank you to the publisher for the early review copy.


What Worked

The premise is extremely engaging. A Soviet-era genetic engineering project tied to real historical experimentation provides an immediate hook, and the story loops back to the protagonist’s past in a way that gives the plot a satisfying arc.

It is fast paced, imaginative, and easy to move through. The speculative elements land well, and the overall concept feels fresh. When the book leans into its scientific-thriller angle and Cold War tension, it is energetic and entertaining.

What Didn’t Work

Where the book falters is not in the idea, but in the execution and structure. The story is linear and clear in intent, yet it often reads as though significant passages were cut without updating the surrounding context to support those edits. Characters react to things that were never established, emotional moments arrive without setup, and motivations appear suddenly instead of developing naturally.

Instead of unanswered mysteries, it feels like missing connective tissue. Narrative beats that should bridge scenes, relationships, or decisions seem absent, and the text does not compensate by adjusting dialogue or narration to fill those gaps. It gives the impression of a draft that was shortened for pacing but never structurally reinforced afterward.

Character development suffers as a result. Emotional and interpersonal moments come across shallow not because the ideas lack depth, but because the supporting detail that would make them resonate seems removed.

Terminology and phrasing around intelligence work and military structure also frequently feel inaccurate or simplified, breaking immersion in a story grounded in real geopolitical history.

The effect is a reading experience where you find yourself repeatedly acknowledging something happened, mentally noting the missing context, and pushing forward. Over time, that cumulative "accept it and continue" effort makes it hard to fully believe in the reality the story gestures toward.

Overall Thoughts

This is a creative and engaging speculative premise handled with speed and momentum. If you approach it as pulpy Cold War entertainment and do not expect deep character grounding or fully fleshed-out espionage realism, it can be a fun ride.

However, the narrative feels trimmed rather than crafted at times, and the missing connective context keeps the story from achieving the weight the subject matter invites. A concept this compelling could support more depth, and the lack of development limits the impact this narrative deserves.

For readers who enjoy high-concept alternate history and fast reads, this is worth picking up. For those looking for fully-realized character arcs and tightly constructed realism within speculative fiction, it may fall short of its potential.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

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Review: George Orwell's Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel

George Orwell's Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel by Christina Dumalasova
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel is a stunning adaptation of George Orwell’s classic story about revolution, power, and corruption. I thought it did an excellent job of translating the novel’s core message into a visual format that feels natural and immersive. The artwork is striking and perfectly captures the bleak tone of the story, using sharp contrasts and moments of red to emphasize violence, propaganda, and loss of innocence. It felt faithful to the original while still standing strong on its own, making Orwell’s warnings about power and equality even more immediate.

I also liked that the story didn’t feel over modernized or watered down. It kept the pacing tight and the themes clear, and while some moments of nuance were lost compared to the full novel, it never felt shallow. The visuals add new emotional weight to scenes I remembered from reading the original, especially as the animals’ revolution slowly turns against them. Overall, it’s a beautifully crafted and powerful rendition that honors Orwell’s work while making it feel new again.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Review: "Solarflare and the Sapphire Ring"

Solarflare and the Sapphire Ring by Matt Hensell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mark and Chuck make for a likable and funny duo. Both are around seventeen, and while their friendship is entertaining, Mark’s impulsive dialogue and decisions sometimes border on irritating. The book blends high school life, superhero antics, and pirate/Atlantis lore in a way that feels light and fun. It never takes itself too seriously, making it an easy and enjoyable read. The twists and reveals are fairly predictable, but that does not take away from the overall entertainment.

The pacing can feel uneven, with a large portion of the story set in school that slows the momentum compared to the more adventurous sections. Some character motives remain unclear, and while the ending ties up the main story threads, one expected reveal between major characters never happens on the page. Despite these issues, Solarflare and the Sapphire Ring is consistently entertaining and delivers a fun superhero adventure that is worth the read. 

Rating:
★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)

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Review: "The Mirror's Truth"

The Mirror’s Truth by Michael R. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Manifested delusions from every angle clash and contort reality, as characters twist fate to match their fractured beliefs.

World & Lore:
Fletcher returns to his gritty, broken world with the same vivid grime and chaotic beauty that made Beyond Redemption so immersive. The depth of world-building here continues to shine. Everything feels lived-in, scarred, and dangerously teetering on the edge of belief and madness.

What keeps it fresh is how he layers new forms of delusion onto each new character. Every introduction brings a warped curiosity: What do they believe, and how will that belief reshape the world around them? This isn’t just a narrative mechanic, it’s the beating heart of the world, and it gets more disturbing and addictive with each page.

There’s also one chapter that stands out as the most grotesque, visceral thing I’ve ever read. No spoilers, but it was so creatively revolting that I had to reread it five times. Fletcher makes discomfort an art form and I couldn’t look away.

Characters & Arcs:
Stehlen, Wichtig, and Bedeckt return, but their paths diverge—and in that space, their delusions and egos have room to spiral. Their bond is frayed, tugged between lingering loyalty and unchecked selfishness. Do they owe each other anything anymore? Or have they outgrown even that?

New characters expand the mental battlefield, often exposing the original trio’s deeper flaws. These aren’t just side stories; they act as a lens into the distorted psyche of every major player.

Morgen, now a god, wrestles with what it means to lead. What does justice look like when belief defines truth? What kind of morality can a delusional god uphold?

Plot & Pacing:
The Mirror's Truth is steady, deliberate, and deeply psychological. The weight comes from internal fractures, from the way characters chase their delusions and deal with the wreckage they leave behind.

There are great fights, but most of the tension comes from watching characters spiral, lie to themselves, and double down when the truth threatens to surface. It’s about cause and effect, belief and consequence, and how no one ever really has all the information they need to make the right call.

If Beyond Redemption asked what belief could create, The Mirror’s Truth asks what it costs.

Themes & Tone:
Identity, madness, ambition: these aren’t just abstract ideas, they’re the fuel. Fletcher dives into the terrifying idea that belief is more than personal—it’s infectious, manipulable, and dangerous. The world doesn’t just bend to belief. It breaks.

This book explores:

• The seductive nature of delusion

• How power distorts perception

• The fine line between ambition and godhood

• How past loyalty competes with present selfishness

The tone is bleak, violent, and philosophical but laced with brutal humor that keeps it grounded. The characters are deeply flawed, sometimes hilarious, often despicable, and always interesting.

Fantasy Flavor:
Instead of traditional tropes, The Mirror’s Truth leans on:

• Godhood born from belief, not birthright

• Morally ambiguous choices with far-reaching consequences

• Characters that are selfish, scorned, and sometimes suicidal

• Gritty philosophical questions

If you like your fantasy dark, unhinged, and more concerned with why someone acts than what they do, this is for you.

Quotes That Hit Hard:
“The facts don’t matter. Facts are a hindrance. Unless they support whatever it is you’re saying, in which case they are the most important thing in the world and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot.”

"We live meaningless lives and then die. Why should the Afterdeath be any different?"

"This is a dirty world. Rules and cleanliness are temporary. Chaos and filth are forever. You will try and build perfection, and then you will watch it crumble at your feet."

Personal Takeaway:
The Mirror’s Truth delivered on every front. The layers of belief, raw character development, and deeply flawed perspectives kept me turning pages late into the night. Fletcher doesn’t just write characters—he builds unstable minds, gives them power, and lets you watch the world burn in their wake.

I’m fully locked into this series. The world of Manifest Delusions is an absolute descent into the best kind of madness.

Rating:
★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)

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Review: "The Tenant"

The Tenant by Freida McFadden
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Tenant was an underwhelming read that lacked character depth and offered minimal suspense for a book marketed as a thriller. The stakes felt weightless, and the twists—far from surprising—came off as rushed and unearned.

Pacing:
Hard to pin down. I finished this in a day not because it was gripping, but because the content was light and undemanding. Unfortunately, that also meant a lack of suspense to keep me hooked. Some chapters—like those dedicated to a fish funeral—felt like pure filler.

Suspense and Atmosphere:
Any tension that built up dissolved quickly with overly convenient explanations. Moments that could’ve simmered were instead wrapped up immediately, leaving little to hold onto.

Characters:
Krista came across as more annoying than compelling, and her role in the story felt too minimal to matter. Blake’s constant hand-wringing and helplessness wore thin fast. Whitney had potential, but like the rest of the cast, lacked the depth to feel truly developed.

Twists and Reveals:
The reveals felt like afterthoughts—stacked at the end and rushed through with little buildup. Without tension or meaningful setup, the payoff just wasn’t there. Nothing felt earned, and the conclusion wrapped up without the satisfying complexity a good thriller needs.

Underlying Issues:
Themes like self-worth, trust, and relationship strain are touched on but never explored with any real depth.

Psychological Focus:
The premise—being forced to take in a tenant due to financial hardship—sets up some psychological tension, but it’s played too safely. The unease of opening one’s home to a stranger had potential, but it barely scratched the surface.

Darkness and Disturbance:
This is a “safe” read—nothing too graphic, intense, or emotionally raw. Everything is kept at a surface level, which undercuts any sense of real dread or unease.

- Final Thoughts
The Tenant feels like a book written quickly, checking the right boxes without digging any deeper. It might work for someone looking for a breezy one-day read with minimal emotional or narrative investment, but if you’re looking for a thriller with tension, complexity, or weight, this likely won’t do it. Every conflict is presented with an immediate explanation, which makes for a passive reading experience.

Rating:
★★☆☆☆ (2/5 Stars)

I was excited to read this given its popularity, but it ended up falling flat and never really went deeper than the page itself.

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Review: "Beyond Redemption"

Beyond Redemption by Michael R. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An epic construct of a tangled world where gods, desires, inner selves, and selfish intentions all grapple for control.

World & Lore:
Fletcher builds a world that’s grimy, dark, and completely believable in the worst (and best) ways. From dirt crusted inns to forest-flanked roads, everything feels used, lived-in, and dangerous. What really stood out to me was how belief literally shapes reality, and how power comes not just from strength but from perception.

The dopples, physical manifestations of a person’s worst flaws, were one of my favorite elements. It’s such a creative and unsettling way to explore identity. The idea that your self-doubt or greed could crawl out of your head and fight you for control? Absolute stuff of nightmares.

Characters & Arcs:
The trio of Stehlen, Wichtig, and Bedeckt are the backbone of this story. They’re all selfish, damaged, and wildly entertaining to follow.

• Bedeckt is the tired veteran who pretends he's done with the game but keeps getting pulled back in.

• Stehlen is an unrepentant thief who trusts no one and would probably steal your last breath if it got her ahead.

• Wichtig might be one of the most annoying and fascinating characters I’ve read in a while—completely obsessed with fame and utterly delusional, but somehow still fun to watch.

Morgen’s arc is one of the most drastic—starting as a quiet mystery and evolving into something much more powerful and dangerous.

Konig’s struggle with identity and control fuels much of the story’s conflict. His obsession with gods and legacy leads to some of the book’s most intense moments. It’s a great example of Fletcher’s talent for making character flaws drive the plot.

And I’ve got to talk about Gehirn Schlechtes: she’s chaos in the best way. The Hasserbrand angle was such a cool twist, and I loved every scene she was in.

Plot & Pacing:
This isn’t a typical action-heavy fantasy. The pacing is still great but leans more into the psychological, and I was totally into it. There’s plenty of blood and chaos, but the real tension comes from watching these broken people chase power, make half-informed choices, and unravel under the weight of their own delusions.

It’s less about big battles and more about belief twisting reality, plans made in the dark and consequences no one truly understands the gravity of. No one really knows what they’re unleashing when they fabricate a god; who controls a god, what it becomes, or how it will alter the world that created it.

Themes & Tone:
Identity, power, delusion—this book goes deep. Fletcher plays with the idea that we are what we believe we are… but that belief can be corrupted, manipulated, or straight-up weaponized for another's gain. It’s bleak, but not hopeless.

There’s also humor, which I appreciated. It’s dry, sometimes brutal, but it makes the characters feel real and tangible, especially in the middle of all the madness. The tone is heavy and dark, but the banter and absurdity keep it from sinking completely into misery.

Fantasy Flavor:
Tropes include: birth of gods through belief, sacrifice of self (and others) for power, and unreliable characters with dark pasts.

Perfect for fans of grimdark with psychological and philosophical edges. If you like Abercrombie or Mark Lawrence, this will be your jam.

Quotes That Hit Hard:

“Belief defines reality. Forget this and die.”

“A lie repeated often enough becomes truth. The louder, the better.”

“Gods were born not of virtue, but of madness and desperation.”

These lines don’t just sound awesome, they hit at the core of the book’s entire premise.

Takeaway:
I tore through this book and was hooked from the start. Beyond Redemption is the kind of book that keeps you up way too late wanting to devour another chapter, and makes you try to piece together all the angles when you aren't reading. It’s exactly the kind of dark, chaotic, character-driven fantasy I love.

If you’ve got even a passing interest in grimdark or dark fantasy, this should absolutely be on your list. I’m already moving on to the next book in the Manifest Delusions series.

Rating:
★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)

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Review: "An End to Sorrow"

An End to Sorrow by Michael R. Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An End to Sorrow is the kind of book that grabs you by the throat and drags you through a world full of necromancers, demons, gods, dragons, sorcerers, shamans, and wizards. Somehow it makes you love every brutal second of it. Fletcher doesn’t just write dark fantasy. He makes you live in it.

The story never lets up. It feels like getting strapped into a roller coaster with no brakes, and you’re weirdly okay with that. The pacing is relentless, the conflict has weight, and the stakes keep getting higher and more complex.

What really sets this book apart though is the mental side of the journey. Khraen isn’t just fighting monsters—he’s battling himself. Every step forward comes with a question of who he really is and whether he can live with the person he’s becoming. His internal conflict is just as intense as the blood-soaked battles, and watching him struggle to piece together his soul and confront the truth of what he really is hit me the hardest.

On top of that, Fletcher does a brilliant job showing how unclear loyalty can be. You start to really question who’s on Khraen’s side and why. Just like him, you’re left trying to figure out who’s a friend, who’s a threat, and who’s playing a much deeper game. That shifting tension of these entangled relationships kept me hooked.

Amidst all of this, Bren continues to steal scenes with his perfectly timed sarcasm. His running line—“is my one flaw”—is expertly placed and always hits the mark. It’s the kind of humor that sticks with you. I’ve caught myself using it lately, which might be my one flaw.

Two quotes that really stood out to me:

“Can a man who dies thousands of deaths ever truly be dead?”
“One should always strive for freedom from oppression.”

They sum up the soul of this series—fighting for freedom, identity, and survival when everything, even your own mind, seems against you.

I finished this book feeling wrecked but satisfied, and craving more. The story is unforgettable. Fletcher nailed it.

Rating:
★★★★★ (5/5 stars)

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