The Hematophages – Splatterings by Stephen Kozeniewski

February 27, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Hematophages – Splatterings by Stephen Kozeniewski
Publisher: French Press Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Historical, LGBTQ
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In a galaxy riven by paranoid greed, profane forces marshal to consume humanity…

– On an abandoned ice moon, broadcasts from a long-dead civilization warp both body and soul.

– On a bizarre medical asteroid, a deranged physician discovers a gruesome “cure” for parasitic infection.

– On a deep space derelict, time becomes utterly meaningless and suffering transcends infinity.

– And on Earth itself, a lake transforms into pure blood and becomes infested with the hate-filled, eel-like aberrations known as…

The Hematophages.

With this quartet of short stories, Splatterpunk Award winner Stephen Kozeniewski is delighted to welcome newcomers to the brutal universe Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviewer calls “the gold standard for the Space Horror subgenre.”

Meanwhile, veteran ink surfers will find a treasure trove of new material to broaden their event horizons, including extensive background information from the author and a never-before-published tale of alien terror.

So, strap on your boom suit, ready your eye spoon, and try to prepare yourself for…

Splatterings.

They’re the same universes but with bigger problems this time.

The protagonist in “The Blood-Red Lake” was awoken from a nap by his daughter, Marina, after she noticed the lake near their home had changed in some alarming ways. I liked the nightmare-like qualities of this short story and thought it was spooky, but I also found myself wishing that there had been a stronger explanation for the strange things that were happening in and near the water.

“Derelictus” showed what happened in the distant future when some scavengers found an ancient spacecraft that was launched by the country formerly known as the United States but that didn’t appear in any of the formal records of previous space missions. The mystery elements of the plot were well done, and I would have happily dove even more deeply into them. I also liked the main character’s stubborn streak and how it influenced his decision to explore this vessel and report back on what he found there.

Anneka was desperate to get out of quarantine to see her wife and newborn twins in “Blackfish.” The reason why she was stuck in quarantine is best left for other readers to discover for themselves due to how important it was to the storyline later on, but as I slowly pieced together the clues I was intrigued by how my opinions of all of the characters had shifted. There is definitely something to be said for playing around with the reader’s expectations only to trust us to land on the best answer in the end. I would have happily read a full-length novel about Anneka if one were written.

Imagine building an old-fashioned castle in outer space. “Gerstein” explored a partially-completed version of this blueprint long after the original investors had run into problems. This was the goriest story in this collection, and I thought each plot twist that revealed another layer of horror only made the entire thing more frightening. Just like in “Blood-Red Lake,” I once again found myself wishing for a deeper explanation of what the antagonists were hoping to accomplish, although there was enough here for me to make some pretty educated guesses about their motives. These are minor criticisms of a collection I thought was otherwise well done and memorable, and I look forward to hopefully reading more of Mr. Kozeniewski’s work in the future.

The Hematophages – Splatterings was deliciously scary.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves by Author: Anonymous and Albert Seligman (Editor)

February 25, 2026 By 2 Comments


Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves by Author: Anonymous and Albert Seligman (Editor)
Publisher: Dulacebooks
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The story is about two brothers whose father died and left them little. Ali Baba married a poor woman and lived frugally, but Cassim married a woman who soon inherited a fortune and lived in luxury. One day while Ali Baba was in the forest cutting wood to sell he saw a great cloud of dust approaching and the sound of many riders. He feared for his life, so he hid his three donkeys and hid himself in a tree. The band of forty riders and their leader stopped in front of a cave. When the leader said “ Open Sesame” the door of the cave magically opened. The whole troop went inside while Ali Baba stayed hidden. When he was sure they had gone, he approached the cave door and said “ Open Sesame” himself as the cave door magically opened to his command. Inside the cave he saw vast riches and golden coins, which he liberally took for himself and returned home with his donkeys, remembering to properly close the cave door with the “Shut Sesame “ command.

His wife was astonished at all the gold coins he brought home and wanted to count them before Ali buried them in his yard. As there were too many to count, she borrowed a measuring cup from her sister-in-law. She was curious as to what they might have to measure something, so she cleverly put some suet on the bottom to see what would stick. After the cup was returned with a gold coin stuck to the bottom, she called her husband Cassim to tell him what happened.

Cassim went to Ali’s house and demanded to know how he got a gold coin, and Ali told him everything, including the magic password. Cassim was very greedy, so the next day he set out with many donkeys to find the cave and removed as much treasure for himself as possible. In his haste, he forgot the magic words to open the cave and was trapped inside when the robbers returned. They killed him and cut his body in pieces.

When Cassim didn’t return, Ali feared the worst and returned to the cave to find him. He found his brother’s body and returned to town. He knew the robbers would find out if anyone had been murdered in such a fashion, so they sewed Cassim’s body back together and pretended he died a natural death.

The robbers sent scouts to town to determine if anyone had died and discovered Ali Baba’s house. The captain of the robbers disguised himself as an oil merchant and hid his band in leather jars planning to murder all the household. When Morgiana, Ali Baba’s clever slave girl discovers the ruse, she murders all the robbers. The captain flees, but soon returns in another disguise to take his revenge. Again she discovers him, plunges a dagger into his heart and saves her master.

Moderation is the key to survival.

I once again loved the way this tale transported me to a time and place in the past that I would otherwise know very little about. This is part of the reason why I continue to give new instalments in this series such high ratings. It’s not always easy to make a reader feel immersed in what they’re reading, much less give them a taste of what life was like for some people in the far east over eleven hundred years ago, but Mr. Seligman had all sorts of intriguing ways to close that gap for his modern audience that new fans should discover for themselves.

Many old legends are sanitized for modern audiences, so I appreciated the fact that not every character remained safe from harm and that there were choices made here that are less common in modern adaptations. That is to say, this is something I’d particularly recommend to readers who enjoyed the older versions of fairy tales before The Brothers Grimm began collecting and softening up their sharp edges for younger audiences.

It’s not necessary to know anything about the plot in advance, but readers who do might notice some interesting twists that often seem to be left out of more recent translations of Ali Baba’s life. I thought I knew exactly what to expect going in, but I was still pleasantly surprised by a few things I didn’t realize were part of this universe in at least some retellings. The editor excels at this sort of thing which is yet another reason why I try to read as much of his work as I possibly can. There’s nothing like learning new facets of old favorites thanks to fairly recently uncovered versions of them.

This is part of a series that does not have to be read in any particular order.

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves was a fantastic and beautifully illustrated adventure.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Ghost Town by Dr. James R. Gregory

February 23, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Ghost Town by Dr. James R. Gregory
Publisher: Morgan James Fiction
Genre: Mystery/Suspense/Thriller, Romance, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In the isolated coal mining town of Sulphur Creek in the late 1800s, young Sammy Murphy’s world is a blend of shadowy tunnels and unspoken secrets. Born into solitude and pushed into reclusion, Sammy’s quiet life starkly contrasts with the booming industry that surrounds him. But as he searches for connection in an era of ruthless expansion, he finds himself at odds with forces far greater than he imagined.

Enter Barry Bacon, an ambitious industrialist who fancies himself a peer to magnates like Andrew Carnegie. Driven by unbridled ambition, Bacon’s dreams stretch far beyond the soot-covered rooftops of Sulphur Creek. But as the weight of his empire bears down, his unchecked arrogance threatens to unravel everything he’s built.

As Sammy faces an unexpected awakening brought forth by a fleeting love, and Bacon’s empire teeters on the brink of collapse, both men must face truths that transcend time—true love extends beyond mere attraction and real power is more than forceful arrogance.

A little intrigue goes a long way.

The strong, steady pacing kept my interest levels high from beginning to end, and this was accomplished while including characters who tended to have quiet, reflective personalities and a preference for avoiding conflict when possible. These are the sorts of folks I love to read about and don’t get to meet in fiction nearly as often as I’d prefer to. I appreciated the fact that the plot, while sometimes rightfully given precedence over character development in the most dramatic moments, never overshadowed the gentle souls who inhabited this world. Having such a natural ebb and flow to what or who was being described worked alongside the pacing even if some scenes did temporarily veer a little further into one direction or the other. As someone who has been writing book reviews for many years, this doesn’t happen as often as I’d like to see, and it’s made me incredibly curious to see what the author writes next.

There were a few memorable plot twists that kept me wondering what might happen next. I especially appreciated the fact that not every aspect of the storyline was tied up neatly by the final scene. There was enough of a resolution to make me feel comfortable saying goodbye to these characters while still having a few things left to mull over that could make for a reasonable starting point for a sequel if the author ever chooses to write one. I have no way of knowing if that will occur, of course, but I enjoy having that possibility, however faint, dangled in front of me all the same.

Dr. Gregory did an excellent job of balancing the thriller, romance, and historical fiction themes here. It isn’t necessarily easy to write something that includes multiple genres, especially with a plot that already filled with so many different types of conflict, from quiet internal struggles for some characters to life-threatening events such as natural disasters in other scenes. They were all blended together so seamlessly that I’d need to pause for a moment before deciding which genre to mention first while describing this tale to someone else. It truly was a little of everything in the best sense of that term.

Ghost Town made me feel as if I’d stepped into a time machine to visit the past. What a ride!

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Charlie-Man by Thomas Cullen

February 20, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Charlie-Man by Thomas Cullen
Publisher: Brandylane Publishing
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

It’s August 1994, and Charlie Stewart begins his final year at St. Mark’s Episcopal School, a prestigious all-boys school in Richmond, Virginia. Charlie, an undistinguished student by St. Mark’s standards, faces tough odds as he seeks to rekindle his relationship with Katy Hendricks, a beautiful tennis star, and gain admission to a highly selective state university.

Through it all, Charlie relies on Beau Miller, his best friend and the top student athlete in their class. Despite Beau’s movie-star looks and infectious charm, he has a darker side, which becomes more apparent as the year progresses.

Charlie endures his trials with wry determination and ultimately emerges with a renewed sense of purpose. This is a heartrending but hopeful story of one boy’s journey toward manhood in the American South.

Innocence never lasts forever.

Mr. Cullen had a smooth writing style that I deeply enjoyed reading. He seemed to intuitively know precisely how many details to share about a scene to make it come alive in my imagination without ever slowing down the pacing of the plot in the process. I especially enjoyed his descriptions of the various locations in Richmond, Virginia where Charlie and his friends experienced their final year of high school. They were as vivid as they were achingly honest.

One of the things that puzzled me about Charlie for the first half or so of this novel involved his muted reactions to things like his father’s death or his traumatic experiences at summer camp that I would have expected him to have much strong feelings about. Figuring out why these scenes were written this was what propelled this to a five-star read for me. The author knew exactly what he was doing here, and a few twists later on in the storyline not only explained why Charlie behaved the way he did but gave me an opportunity to get to know this character on a much deeper level than I previously had.

I also loved the complex friendship between Charlie and Beau, especially as it related to Beau’s character flaws impacted both of these teenagers. One of the most challenging parts of growing up can be seeing how childhood friendships permanently change as everyone involved in them transitions into adulthood and begins making choices that cannot always be undone. These were the moments that made me wonder if this was a memoir in disguise due to how skillfully Charlie’s mixed emotions about his oldest and closest friend were woven into the storyline. They genuinely felt real to me.

Charlie-Man made me yearn for more.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

The Killing Place by Kate Ellis

February 5, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Killing Place by Kate Ellis
Publisher: Piatkus
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

November. With the tourist season over in South Devon, Detective Inspector Wesley Peterson is looking forward to a quieter month in the CID. But when a man is shot dead on Bonfire Night, he finds he has a complex murder case on his hands.

The body of Patrick North was found in woodland connected to Nesbaraton Hall, a grand estate dating back to the eighteenth century. The Smithson family, who own the estate, are away on holiday. However, when an anonymous letter threatening to abduct the Smithson son is uncovered, Wesley fears North’s death might have been collateral damage in a sinister kidnap plot.

Meanwhile, archaeologist Dr Neil Watson discovers a hidden grotto in a developer’s field – land that was once part of the Nesbaraton estate. Evidence of past rituals and the discovery of a skeleton buried next to the grotto raise questions about strange occurrences, past and present, on the estate.

Then, just when Wesley’s team seem to be making progress in their investigation, a resident of the nearby village is killed in a near identical shooting. A race is on to find a ruthless killer, before they strike again . . .

DI Wesley Peterson and his team are called in to investigate when the body of a local boy’s tutor is found in woodland connected to the estate he was living at. With conflicting tales from the locals and the family away and incommunicado on a holiday it takes Wesley some time to begin to piece everything together. But when another body is found soon afterwards it quickly becomes apparent that there’s a lot more to this than they first suspected.

I have enjoyed this series and in particular the way in which so often the past is merged into the present-day murder mystery. With Wesley and his old college friend both interested in Archaeology the old and new is often sewn together. I found this story was a little lighter with the past and with more sub-plots related to the present day, yet I really didn’t feel the story lacked too much for this. Neil was still present – albeit far more in the background than usual – and with a small grotto playing a fairly pivotal role I personally wasn’t upset by the heavier hand this book gives the present day.

I thought the author did a good job keeping a few different plot threads ticking along nicely – and I was even surprised by a few of the twists towards the end. While I do think readers might find that some of the storyline is a little easy to guess, there were definitely a few aspects that slipped my notice, so I enjoyed the fact there were still some surprises for me.

This is a solidly written British police procedural style of mystery, and a series as a whole I have really enjoyed from the beginning. While much of the secondary cast – the police team and Wesley’s family in particular – might resonate stronger with readers who have enjoyed at least some of the previous books in this series, I absolutely feel the mystery is very well encapsulated in this story and can easily be read just by picking this book up alone. Readers shouldn’t be shy about picking this up and if you do enjoy the prose and style then there’s a huge backlog that you can read and enjoy as well.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Symbol of Time by John Westley Turnbull

January 28, 2026 By Leave a Comment


A Symbol of Time by John Westley Turnbull
Publisher: Self Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Survival requires sacrifice. But what if the price is an entire world?

Their home is cold and dying, choked by the toxins of their own progress. Now, an advanced alien species looks toward the Third Planet—Earth—with hope and fear. They see a fertile paradise, but one that is hostile, hot, and dominated by massive, predatory reptiles.

The choice is stark: die in the heat, or remake this new world in their own image.

As they descend to alter the climate and purge the planet of its prehistoric masters, they set in motion a chain of events that will echo through geological time. A Symbol of Time weaves palaeontology and astronomy into a chilling tale of survival. As the new masters of Earth terraform the planet, the question remains: does high intelligence inevitably carry the seeds of its own destruction?

Nothing is more important than survival.

The world building was thorough and kept my interest levels high. I especially enjoyed gradually discovering the many physiological and psychological differences between this species and our own. Their expectations about everything from relationships to how to organize a society created challenges for them on the Third Planet that were as unique as they were critical to understanding later plot twists. Exploring a familiar subject through the perspective of a species so unlike my own is one of the reasons why I love science fiction so much, and there were certainly many opportunities to do so here.

It would have been helpful to have stronger character development, especially for Elthyris and the other protagonists. Sometimes I struggled to keep track of all of the secondary characters due to how many of them were introduced and how little I knew about them as individuals. Had this not happened, I would have happily chosen a much higher rating as there were so many other things I loved about this book.

There were multiple times when plot twists caught me by surprise. It was a great deal of fun to be surprised so often, especially given how many different types of twists and turns were shared with the audience. Various types of threats were included, none of which I can go into detail about here other than to say that they ranged from interpersonal conflicts to accidents to environmental issues that these characters couldn’t have predicted would happen in advance.

A Symbol of Time was an adventurous and imaginative read that made me want to hear more from Mr. Westley Turnbull.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

The Stars Must Wait by Carmelo Rafalà

January 12, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Stars Must Wait by Carmelo Rafalà
Publisher: Guardbridge Books, Scotland
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Carmelo Rafalà writes stories that are profound, surprising, and beautifully realised. He imagines fantastic worlds and protagonists of immense complexity, subtlety and depth. His stories do not give easy answers, but stimulate and absorb the reader.
In this collection of science fiction and fantasy stories you will find:

A zealous convert, a woman of rumour and myth, and a dangerous pilgrimage across pirate filled seas.
A warrior travels to a far land to mourn and put his violent past behind him, but strange gods of an even stranger people intrude.
Abandoned in the Ozarks, sisters face a malevolent presence reaching out from the darkness.
Two friends struggle with their strained relationship, but reconciliation may literally require other realities. These are stories of identity and belonging, and our deep-seated desire to control our own narratives.

Everyone deserves to tell their own tales.

Lord Banning had spent nearly his entire adulthood in battle, and now that he was growing older it was time for him to reflect on his choices in “Heart of the City, Heart of the Sea.” The character development in this piece was what drew me so deeply into it. Some of Lord Banning’s decisions were difficult to understand until I got to know him better and discovered a few of the secrets surrounding his life. I only wish I could know what happened to him next.

I did struggle to connect to with some of the short stories in this collection due to some confusion I had about their world and character building. “The Clarity of Ice” was one such example of this. Performing what were essentially farming and terraforming duties while in outer space was a unique way to introduce Karlyn to the audience, but I struggled to understand what motivated her to choose this career and what she hoped to gain from it. I also had some trouble understanding the project she was working on, especially when she made references to possibly bio-engineering humans to better suit certain environments. Had this scene and similar ones in other tales been given more detailed explanations, I would have happily chosen a higher rating as I thought Mr. Rafalà had a vivid imagination and a fresh take on some common tropes in this genre.

My favorite instalment was “Slipping Sideways” which explored Džemo and Leo’s grief after the death of their friend Rachel. The science fiction spin to such a common but heartbreaking part of life made me smile. I’ve often wished for the same solution that these characters talked about as they mourned her passing, and I thought the ending fit the themes beautifully. This was a short piece which only made it all that more powerful.

The Stars Must Wait was memorable.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Enchanted Horse (A Tale from the Arabian Nights) by Albert Seligman

January 9, 2026 By 2 Comments


The Enchanted Horse (A Tale from the Arabian Nights) by Albert Seligman
Publisher: Dulacebooks
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The Enchanted Horse, also known as ‘The Magic Horse’ or ‘The Ebony Horse’, is one of the most loved of all the Arabian Nights tales. It is also an early example of stories about flying machines, which have been contemplated since stories were first recorded.

The Tale begins with a Persian king who has a son and three beautiful daughters. During a New Years’ festival, three sages bearing gifts present them to his majesty. One is a golden peacock which kept the time of day by fluttering his wings. Another was a trumpet which would blast if an enemy approached. The third, and best of all, was an ebony horse, whose rider could ascend into the clouds and ride anywhere on the earth in an instant.

The King greatly desired to own the magic horse, but wanted to verify that not only the sage could command it, so his son, Prince Firouz, took to the saddle and took off. He didn’t know how to control the horse, so he rose into the sky and was not seen afterward. The sage was thrown into the dungeon.

He finally gained control and descended into a strange land, where, naturally, he meets the beautiful Princess of Bengal. Her father was not too keen on a sudden relationship, but the Prince said he would prove his worth by fighting the king’s entire army at once.

The army was unprepared for an aerial assault, and the Prince and Princess escaped together and returned to his own kingdom triumphant. Prince Firouz hides her in the summer palace while he visits his father and prepares for her entrance. But here the story takes a bad turn. The sage is released from jail, but demanded the king’s daughter in marriage in return for the magic horse. He manages to escape, but with the Princess of Bengal as his prisoner instead . The sage forces her to mount on the magic horse and they fly to a far away land.

He immediately begins mistreating her, but is seen by a hunting party of the Sultan of the land where they landed. He imprisons the sage and decides to marry the beautiful Princess of Bengal himself. She doesn’t like the idea, preferring her young Prince Firouz, and feigns madness to delay the wedding.

Meanwhile, Prince Firouz is roaming the land looking for his Princess, and hears rumors of a flying horse and a mad Princess. He disguises himself as a doctor, and offers to cure the Princess. She recognizes him immediately and they devise a plan of escape. He tells the Sultan that he can cure her and destroy the spell she is under by lighting a great fire. In the confusion, he escapes with the Princess and the magic horse and returns to his own land.

And they live happily ever after, and he eventually ascends to the throne.

This Tale is illustrated with the finest artwork of the 19th and 20th century. Illustrators include Edmund Dulac, William H Robinson, Thomas H Robinson, Eric Pape, William Harvey, HJ Ford, Frances Brundage, John Hassall, George Sopor, AB Houghton, AD McCormick, Helen Stratton, Anne & Janet Johnstone, Walter Paget, René Bull, Monroe S Orr, JD Batten and JC Clark.

Adventures can be found anywhere.

This tale was originally told at a time when women had few rights, so some scenes were completely at odds with how I’d expect female characters to be treated in a contemporary times. While some of those moments were hard to read due to those individuals having virtually no say in the course of their own lives even when it came down to something as simple as where to live or whom to marry, I’m glad they were left in because of how important it is not to sugarcoat the past. The historical genre is at its best when it acknowledges such things in my opinion.

The plot twists were imaginative and kept me guessing. I especially appreciated seeing how certain personality flaws of some characters were used to push the storyline forward while also giving those individuals a chance to reconsider their ways. This is exactly what legends and fairy tales are supposed to do, and it was a great deal of fun to see how that trope played out this time as the characters were faced with one surprise after another.

There’s something to be said for an ending that fits the tone of a piece perfectly. I chuckled as I read it and thought it couldn’t have been done better. Not only were all of the most important plot threads tied up neatly, the fates of the main characters matched both their personalities as well as their stations in life. Given how important social rank was in this society, it made total sense for it to also affect that final scene the way that it did. I know I’m being a little vague here, but this truly is one of those times when readers should have a few hints as possible about what is to come so hopefully they can be just as entertained as I was.

The Enchanted Horse – A Tale From the Arabian Nights made me yearn for a sequel.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Scheherazade (A Tale from the Arabian Nights) by Albert Seligman

January 5, 2026 By 2 Comments


Scheherazade (A Tale from the Arabian Nights) by Albert Seligman
Publisher: Dulacebooks
Genre: Young Adult (14-18 y.o.), Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Dulacebooks’ new Arabian Nights series presents these tales decorated with the illustrations from the original editions of the Victorian and Golden Age. Over fifty different illustrators’ versions of these stories are reproduced here, fully restored and many in full color. These are the finest examples of the artists and illustrators of the Arabian Nights, including-

Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac, Kay Nielsen, René Bull , Maxfield Parrish, William H Robinson, Thomas H Robinson, Charles Robinson, Thomas Mackenzie, Walter Crane, Louis Rhead, Helen Stratton, Virginia Frances Sterrett, Elizabeth Mackinstry, John Gilbert, HJ Ford, Edward J Detmold, Eric Pape, AE Jackson, Willy Pogany, Milo Winter, Monroe S Orr, Charles Folkard, Walter Paget, William Stang, JD Batten, Frances Brundage, Gustav Dore, FOC Darley, William Harvey, the Brothers Dalziel, and many others.

The first book in the series is how the 1001 nights begin, with Scheherazade and her sister weaving the tales to her new husband Schahriar, the Sultan. The Tales in this edition are:

The Sultan and his Vow

The Fable of the Ass, the Ox, and the Laborer

The Story of the Merchant and the Genie

The History of the First Old Man and the Hind

The History of the Second Old Man and the two Black Dog

Words are one of the most powerful weapons that exist.

One of the many reasons why I’m always excited to read Mr. Seligman’s latest work is that it gives me the opportunity to explore older or ancient cultures and other pieces of the past that are rarely if ever covered in the average history class. I loved reading these legends and stories and poring over the beautiful artworks that were created to illustrate important scenes in them. One can learn so much about a culture by pay attention to the values shared in their literature and how their characters respond to the usual, and in some cases not so usual, challenges in life.

The relationships between the various characters were nuanced and fascinating. As the social conventions of this culture were rarely if ever spelled out clearly, I had to read between the lines to understand why certain characters behaved the way they did or what they hoped to accomplish by telling stories that often ended with cliffhangers until it was time to share the next instalment in that series.

I also adored the story within a story format of this piece. The beginning and end described a character who decided to tell these tales in an attempt to convince his daughter to change their mind about a potentially deadly life decision. Other readers should find out for themselves exactly what that choice was, but I thought it was a clever way to explain why someone would suddenly want to tell so many old legends in a row.

Scheherazade – A Tale From the Arabian Nights was truly magical.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Go See America – 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All) by Matt Tory

December 31, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Go See America – 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All) by Matt Tory
Publisher: good.clean.fun.
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Want to explore America’s most wonderful, wild, and delightfully weird places — without nodding off halfway through a guidebook?
This is not your average travel book.

In Go See America, Matt Tory takes you on a humorous, heartfelt tour of 118 unforgettable places across the USA — according to a guy who went to them all. It’s part guidebook, part road trip diary, and entirely a celebration of what makes America… well, America.

Whether you love adventure, history, scenic views, or just a good laugh, Go See America isn’t just another bucket list: it’s an invitation to rediscover and fall in love with the country you thought you already knew – one memorable stop at a time.

Inside, you’ll find:
National parks, quirky attractions, scenic drives, and small-town surprises
A mix of must-see wonders and overlooked gems across the country
A not-too-serious guide that feels more like exploring alongside a good friend
Photos of every location
Insider tips and personal stories that both celebrate and lovingly roast America’s greatest hits
It’s the perfect blend of inspiration and levity – whether you’re planning your next trip or just dreaming from the couch. Go See America isn’t about checking off boxes; it’s about embracing the wonder, charm, and occasional absurdity of this big, bizarre, beautiful country.

Get inspired. Get going. Go See America.

Everyone deserves a memorable vacation.

Mr. Tory had a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor that I thought paired well with his experiences visiting so many different portions of the United States. It was especially interesting to hear his thoughts on the destinations he included that tend to be more well-known among tourists and, in a few cases, might even be described as tourist traps. As someone whose travel tastes seem to overlap his quite a bit, it was amusing to read between the lines there about both the benefits and drawbacks of visiting those places.

I must admit to wishing that this had included more museums and notable historical places. There were some examples of this, especially later on as the author moved closer to the east coast, but I thought there was room here to talk about even more fantastic places that fit these descriptions as I know there many of them in the United States. Maybe we’ll be lucky enough to get a sequel to this guide someday that dives even deeper into the history of and various cultures that make up this country.

Other than that, I appreciated the fact that these 118 recommendations spanned such a wide range of options. Everything from restaurants to glaciers to hiking trails were included which meant that this book can be used by people from all age groups and levels of fitness. Obviously, more research would be needed in some cases to figure out accessibility for readers who, for example, use a wheelchair, have a guide dog, or have other special needs, but this seemed like it was a great starting space to compiling a list of exciting spots to visit that would fit all sorts of different types of folks.

Go See America – 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All) was delightful and made me want to plan a road trip.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
Next Page »