Editorial Review For Dark Lullaby

  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F64BBB1Y/

Editorial Review For Dark Lullaby

Dark Lullaby by S. Lillys pulls you right into the mess of Elle’s life, which is loaded with drama, longing, and a whole lot of questionable choices. Elle, a former fashion model, is stuck in a love triangle so complicated it makes reality TV look tame. She’s trapped in a relationship with Jack, her controlling manager-boyfriend, while chasing after David, the one that got away—or maybe never was hers to begin with. This isn’t just a romance. It’s a breakdown in real time, with Elle battling addiction, regret, and the nagging feeling that she’s always on the outside looking in.

The strongest part of Dark Lullaby is how raw and honest it is. There’s no filter on Elle’s confusion, guilt, or even her vanity. The book refuses to clean up her mess. The writing gives you a front-row seat to her anxiety and her desperate grabs for freedom, love, and maybe just a little bit of dignity. The best scenes are the ones where Elle’s thoughts spiral out of control or when she can’t decide if she wants to run or stay put. These moments aren’t pretty, but they feel real.

This book fits right in with the trend of “unlikable” or flawed female leads. Fans of books about mental health, toxic relationships, and the mess beneath the surface of “glamorous” lives will probably see the appeal. There’s a bit of old-school noir in here, mixed with the bleak honesty of modern confessional writing. If you’re looking for something that sugarcoats addiction, betrayal, or just plain loneliness, this is not the one.

Readers who like unreliable narrators, chaotic love stories, or a story that sometimes feels like therapy (but without the bill) will find a lot here. On the other hand, anyone who needs a happy ending should run for the hills.

All in all, Dark Lullaby isn’t about finding the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s about standing in the dark and admitting you might have put yourself there. If that sounds a little too real, well, consider yourself warned.

Editorial Review For The Importance of Sleep

  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F84BD7S9/

Editorial Review For The Importance of Sleep

What starts as a quiet reflection on the so-called “importance of sleep” unravels into a dense, messy, and oddly compelling look inside one man’s thoughts, obsessions, grudges, and inability to forget a breakup.

The book doesn’t follow a tight plot. Instead, it drifts with Dan, a motel clerk in off-season Maine who avoids daylight and embraces solitude like it’s his job. He reflects on failed relationships, high school humiliations, imaginary romantic triumphs, and a deeply entrenched sleep schedule that’s either impressive or tragic. Memory, identity, masculinity, and rejection come up often. So does the temperature in his apartment. And don’t forget about his long-standing beef with someone named Ami. If you want closure or a character arc, this isn’t that kind of book. But if you want to watch someone mentally pace around regret and loneliness with surgical precision, welcome aboard.

What works is the voice. It’s bitter, sharp, and often hilarious in a low-key, annoyed-with-everyone kind of way. The narrator is self-deprecating without begging for pity and smart without trying to sound like he’s smarter than everyone. The writing thrives in its contradictions. Dan claims not to care, then obsesses over every perceived slight. He pushes people away, then dreams up entire relationships with them. The strongest parts are when the book stops pretending to be about sleep and just admits it’s about being haunted.

This isn’t your usual coming-of-age novel. It leans hard into introspection, skipping the typical life lessons. It shares DNA with outsider lit, the kind that doesn’t ask to be liked. The narrator probably wouldn’t like you either. But readers who enjoy stream-of-consciousness fiction and unreliable narrators who don’t believe in therapy will find this satisfying. If you’ve ever clung to a grudge like a weighted blanket or thought about writing a love letter you’d never send, The Importance of Sleep will feel uncomfortably familiar.

The plot’s loose. The mood swings. The narrator’s not always likable. But that’s the point. There’s a strange honesty in how stuck he is. Sometimes all a book has to do is tell the truth, even if it doesn’t get you anywhere. The Importance of Sleep tells the truth. Then it shuts off the light and tries to go back to sleep.

Editorial Review For The Wreckoning

  

https://www.talesofdepravityandtacos.com/

Editorial Review For The Wreckoning

This book kicks things off with a goat sock and a text message that would make your HR department clutch its pearls. From there, things only spiral deeper into chaos, absurdity, and more than one questionable bathroom encounter. The Wreckoning strings together a wild set of stories featuring two main threads: one about a guy named Mario dragged into an apocalyptic nightclub brawl with ex-KGB dominatrixes, and another about Max, a 500-year-old vegan werewolf who’s trying to keep his family safe from religious murder cults. Not kidding. Under all the splatter and screaming, you’ll find themes of friendship, identity, loyalty, grief, and the burden of living more lives than one guy should be allowed to.

The book’s strength lies in its full-throttle storytelling. It doesn’t hold back. The voice is sharp, dark, and soaked in sarcasm. The dialogue moves fast and is laced with insults, heavy metal references, and moments of strange tenderness. The action doesn’t just escalate—it careens. If you came for subtle, this ain’t your ride. But the writing is self-aware and surprisingly disciplined underneath all the carnage and filth. The chaos is calculated. Even the dick jokes are choreographed.

This kind of writing isn’t floating alone in space. Think Trainspotting meets Metalocalypse with a side of grindhouse. The book rides the line between horror, satire, sci-fi, and absurdism. It fits in with a growing trend of genre mashups that throw respectability out the window and replace it with fire, blood, and punchlines. There’s also an undercurrent of real loss and some philosophical pokes if you squint past the flying limbs.

People who will enjoy The Wreckoning? Anyone sick of the literary beige. If you’re into horror that doesn’t pretend to be polite, or you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if Slayer wrote a memoir, this might be for you. It’s especially good for readers who like their storytelling unfiltered, their humor sharp, and their werewolves pissed off.

This book is unhinged in all the ways it means to be. It doesn’t try to behave, and thank god for that. Read it if you’re ready for something that feels like a car crash soundtracked by Motörhead—awful, loud, unforgettable, and somehow exactly what you needed.

Editorial Review For NICK and the 996: A Porsche 911 Novel

  

https://a.co/d/ddHlXy2

Editorial Review For NICK and the 996: A Porsche 911 Novel

Also available as an audiobook

This book throws an alien into the middle of Earth’s car culture and somehow makes it work. NICK and the 996 follows Nick R. Bates, an ex-racer from another planet who’s trying to fix both his image and a Porsche 996. His plan? Turn the car into a racing machine worthy of a galaxy-wide competition. There are themes of identity, friendship, and purpose layered between car parts, turbo upgrades, and some surprisingly human moments.

The author knows Porsches. Every technical detail is handled with care. The scenes involving the restoration of the 996 are written with the kind of attention that shows real love for the subject. What’s more surprising is how the book manages to blend gearhead content with character growth. Nick isn’t just bolting on spoilers; he’s figuring himself out too. The friendships he builds are more than just plot devices—they add some weight to the story. The pacing moves fast, but not so fast that it skips over the emotional core.

As a genre piece, it fits somewhere between sci-fi parody and car enthusiast fiction. There’s a little bit of Top Gear, some Guardians of the Galaxy attitude, and a lot of automotive fandom. It's weird. And somehow that’s the point. You won’t find another spacefaring car club president wrenching on a 996 in most sci-fi books.

This one's for readers who like their fiction with fuel injection. If you’ve ever lost a weekend on a forum about headlight conversions or argued about air-cooled engines, this book gets you. If you also like sarcastic aliens, even better.

Is it a serious novel? Not really. Is it trying to be? Thankfully, no. But it does manage to say something about connection and reinvention without feeling like a lecture. If you're into cars and want something different, give NICK and the 996 a shot. Just don’t expect a Hallmark ending.

 

Failing Gravity

  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F3WJX87X/

Roman Koa knows that to survive, he must be ruthless.

The Slums beneath the floating city of Icaria were never meant to thrive—but they did. A gritty junkyard city of thieves and robot fighters, it’s everything Icaria isn't. Roman has grown greedy after clawing his way to the top of the robot fighting hierarchy with his powerful electromagnet robot, taking from anyone who crosses his path. When Icarians come to the Slums for a night of risky entertainment, Roman takes twice as much.

But when he’s offered the chance to steal advanced tech from Icaria, the job is too tempting to resist—even with Oliver Flint offering it, his former best friend who sold their robotics code for a new life in Icaria. Without Roman.

The job is simple: Roman helps Oliver save Icaria’s failing gravity beams, and Roman gains access to technology to build powerful robots to secure his position as King of Ring and King of the Slums. Roman’s hatred for Icaria is hard to ignore, though and he is tempted to let the city Oliver betrayed him for crash back to Earth, but dooming Icaria means dooming everyone.

As Icaria’s gravity—and Roman’s fragile bond with Oliver—fails, Roman must choose: will he let Icaria crash, or is there a chance for forgiveness, for both his friend and the city?

Failing Gravity is a high-octane, cyberpunk-inspired adventure about friendship, betrayal, and the fight for forgiveness.

Editorial Review For The Atlas Agenda

  

https://www.amazon.com/-/de/dp/B0F5T4J9QG

Editorial Review For The Atlas Agenda

There’s espionage. There’s memory control. There’s a spy whose job is to erase people but who keeps catching feelings and carrying dead men's skin samples in a copper case. The Atlas Agenda kicks off in Marrakesh with a lyrical prologue and a market full of fake teeth whiteners, rogue memory-tonics, and a spy who prefers the truth wrapped in trade lies. The book follows Al-Khafi, a field agent with the Bureau Mechanika, as he digs into a forbidden mark that’s part symbol, part conspiracy, and still burning through the remnants of Europe’s sanitized ruins. Lira Varga, another operative, possibly more dangerous, shadows him through it all. She watches but doesn't step in until someone starts shooting.

This book works best when it lets its scenes breathe. The souk in Marrakesh hums. Casablanca gleams but feels empty. A sniper almost takes out Al-Khafi right when things get interesting. The pacing holds steady without rushing. The dialogue cuts sharp but doesn't try too hard. Every setting has a physical presence. You can almost smell the steam, the metal, and the bad decisions. The author builds tension by letting it simmer instead of blowing things up every chapter.

It reads like dystopian spy fiction but sidesteps the usual cliches. You don’t get gadgets. You get broken memory tabs and outlawed lullabies sung by mechanical birds. The story is not about a big final showdown. It’s about what happens when people who are trained to forget start remembering the wrong things.

Readers who liked The Memory Police, The Peripheral, or any story about secret agencies burying the past will probably get into this. If you’ve ever wanted a spy novel with less flashy tech and more existential dread, this one’s for you.

Final word: The Atlas Agenda doesn’t hold your hand. It expects you to keep up, stay sharp, and maybe wonder who's curating your own memories. Read it if you like your espionage with truth as the real weapon.

A Nation Without

  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5HZPK49

What if the entire U.S. government vanished in seconds?

A single explosion. The President. The Vice President. The Speaker of the House—gone.
In a heartbeat, the leadership of the most powerful nation on Earth is erased.
Christopher Ames never asked for power. As a behind-the-scenes political advisor, he had no vote, no office, and no desire to lead. But when a catastrophic attack collapses the chain of command, he’s thrust into the Oval Office under emergency protocol.
Now, America teeters on the edge of chaos.
The media calls him unqualified. The public questions his legitimacy. A rising domestic militia wants him dead. And the enemies of the state? They smell blood in the water.
But Ames has a secret. He’s not here to play politics—he’s here to rebuild America from the ashes… or die trying.
Smart, cinematic, and chillingly realistic—A Nation Without delivers a high-stakes political thriller that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go.

Editorial Review For Gavril's Plan: Life and Death

  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CM6YW52Z/

Editorial Review For Gavril's Plan: Life and Death

Anastasia V. Fedkin’s Gavril's Plan: Life and Death introduces readers to a future scarred by World War III, where the boundaries between control, freedom, and survival blur. The narrative follows Rohan, a reluctant student with hidden powers, navigating life in a restrictive society governed by a ruthless regime. With themes ranging from human cybernetics to mutant persecution, this book isn’t exactly your relaxing weekend read—think less escapist fantasy, more depressing peek into humanity’s inevitable decline.

Fedkin crafts a setting that feels eerily real, effectively capturing a post-war environment where every conversation could be your last. The strengths of the story lie in its clear portrayal of government surveillance, power struggles, and the desperation of people caught in between. There’s also some sharp commentary here, especially regarding authority and resistance, giving readers plenty to chew on.

This book fits right into the dystopian sci-fi genre, echoing classic themes of oppression and rebellion. It doesn't exactly break new ground, but it taps effectively into current anxieties about technology, privacy, and state power—perfect for those who prefer their fiction with a side of existential dread.

If you enjoy questioning authority, or simply get satisfaction from watching fictional governments implode, you'll probably like this book. On the other hand, if you're looking for a cheerful, feel-good read, you might want to keep browsing.

Overall, Gavril’s Plan: Life and Death is recommended for readers who can stomach a gritty exploration of humanity’s darker tendencies. It’s thought-provoking, grim, and a bit unsettling—which may be exactly the point.

 

Editorial Review For Wild Life

  

https://books2read.com/u/mdR0Lw

Editorial Review For Wild Life

In Wild Life, Eric Leafton introduces readers to an alien planet where tigers talk, dinosaurs roam, and humans are the villains. At the heart of the story is Gem, a human child adopted by a tiger named Lumis. He grows up among wild creatures and constantly tries to befriend animals who would rather eat him than chat. Typical childhood, really.

Leafton's writing shines when he shows relationships forming between unlikely friends. Gem’s interactions with his adoptive family are believable and warm without becoming overly sentimental. The story cleverly mixes themes of acceptance, revenge, and the classic struggle between nature and technology. For a book with talking animals and laser guns, it manages to say something thoughtful about how creatures relate to each other.

The novel sits comfortably in the young adult adventure genre, echoing trends seen in fantasy survival stories. Think Tarzan but with dinosaurs, spaceships, and fewer vine swings. Younger readers who enjoy action-packed adventures with a dash of heart will find plenty here.

While Wild Life won't make you rethink life's big questions, it will hold your attention. It’s ideal for those who like their coming-of-age stories to involve triceratops fights and revenge-seeking tigers. Go ahead and read it—just don’t be surprised if you find yourself rooting for the talking animals over the people.

The Marvellous Adventures of Flashrat

 

https://jonbardi.com/

https://amzn.to/4coJRy0

The Marvellous Adventures of Flashrat is a Choose Your Own Downfall book—or , if you prefer, a Decide Your Own Death.

In this deeply questionable tale, you play as Scott Macarthur, council toilet cleaner (freelance). A man of simple pleasures and even simpler hygiene habits, Scott resides in an abandoned shopping trolley in his local park after being booted out by his wife—who, as it turns out, has been up to all sorts of shenanigans with Scott’s best friend. But hope is not lost! There’s a chance—a tiny, whisky-stained chance—that Scott might just be a superhero in the making. He’s got a costume (sort of), a purpose (ish), and a mentor: the mysterious, possibly imaginary vigilante known only as Flashrat. Is Flashrat a genuine English-speaking crimefighter? Or is Scott just incredibly dehydrated and off his rocker from drinking something blue he found behind the Co-op? Will you guide Scott toward redemption, heroism, and maybe even a home with an actual roof? Will Scott get his revenge on his wife, or will you lead him to a gooey, romantic, mills-and-boony reunion? …or will your decisions lead him to an inevitable, blood-soaked end involving evil mad scientists, the Yakuza, an evil genius living inside a volcano, a wolf-man (of sorts), a mysterious cobbler, the Brotherhood of the Bogbrush, secret microfilms, and, of course, the KGB? Be warned: ADULTS ONLY! Contains humour as black as your ex’s heart.