Reviews in Brief

A touching reflection on the joys and memories of early fatherhood, 2 Day by Brian Nguyen is an easy-to-read children’s book written as a commemoration for the author’s children. Tenderly recounting some of the most memorable moments of parenting infants and toddlers, from sleepless nights and daycare car rides to moments of pride and lessons of unconditional love, this quick read is an endearing celebration of intimate family life. Though some of the number-themed wordplay may be a bit on the nose, the striking illustrations and strong messages of paternal appreciation can help create a stronger bond between parent and child.

Dystopian space-punk fiction with a steamy swirl of romance, A Symphony of Starlight by Amy Zed is an adrenalized fling into erotically charged sci-fi drama. A rebellious royal on the run, Gemma hustles as an underground DJ and moonlights as an assassin, but actual freedom from her family’s influence will require a serious score. A chance meeting with a hitman headhunter sends Gemma and her best friend careening off-world for a high-level job, but between a busted ship, a tangle of contradictory desires, and too many life-or-death secrets to count, their potential payday becomes a life-altering adventure. An irresistible mixture of space opera, cyberpunk, crime fiction, and romance, this novel is like nothing else in any of those genres, resulting in an endlessly fun mashup, fueled by fast-paced action and endearingly gritty characters.

A supernatural plunge into the realm between the waking world and the darkness of dreams, Helena Flinn and the Secrets of the Night by Michael Sokolar is a wholly original work of YA fantasy fiction. Helena, an outsider teen from Vienna whose sleep is plagued by vivid nightmares, stumbles into the subterranean realm of mythical creatures who engineer human dreams and hold the line between darkness and light. Finding her tribe and her own unique powers, Helena is an inspiring and relatable force, gradually learning to trust the dream-wielding companions by her side. The metaphorical conflicts of sleep and the timeless search for connection weave neatly in Sokolar’s liminal prose, blurring the edges of reality with evocative language, clever world-building, and a captivating plot that readers of all ages will find enchanting.

Star-crossed travelers discover an unexpected connection that catapults them into an entrancing cosmic quest in The Stellar Wanderer: Journey Beyond the Stars by John B. Dalomba. Stranded on the desert planet Xerathia, Nova the explorer encounters the titular adventurer in a surreal oasis, marking the start of their mental trials and epic travels as unlikely partners. Embarking on a philosophical and emotional journey into themselves and across the realms of existence, from kingdoms in the clouds to the swirling mists of time, this enigmatic duo may be the ideal saviors for a universe in peril. Mystical and metaphysical in its scope, this creative sci-fi novel tackles big questions about the universe and the self, for a uniquely thought-provoking work of visionary science fiction.

A collection of penetrating and open-form poetry designed to help readers reconnect with their intuitive energy and power, Inner Hero: The Missing State of You by Alina Kina is a refreshing salve of encouragement and support. In this reflective collection, direct and clear-spoken koans are mixed with long streams of introspective musing, probing into deep questions of identity, purpose, and one’s sense of belonging. Accompanied by striking visuals and tasks for interactive journaling, Kina’s poetry is filled with straightforward yet sage packets of wisdom and practical advice for spiritual centering and personal reinvention.

A single ant moving against the grain of his colony threatens the fabric of an entire dystopia in Mr. Average and the 12th Stone by Ben Run, a thought-provoking masterclass in allegorical fiction. Despite being named the most average ant in the entire Ant Nest, Ave has a secret buried in his mind, as well as a plan to finally reunite with the one he loves. However, a free-thinking ant is much harder to control, especially by a false god, and despite his destiny, Ave’s truth-telling and curiosity may end his new life before it ever begins. In the midst of the author’s whimsically gymnastic prose and overlapping themes of liberation, it’s easy to forget that this multilayered parable is, in fact, about ants, meaning the author was doubtlessly successful in his aim, creating a thoroughly imaginative mix of incisive social commentary and creative fantasy.