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Son of Osivirius
Son of Osivirius is a science fantasy novel set on the lush, dangerous planet of Osivirius, where electromagnetic “dead-zones” and rebellion complicate humanity’s survival. The story follows Jayden, a young pilot who crashes into a rebel stronghold, and Nettle, a fierce and distrustful woman who sees him as a threat. As Jayden struggles to heal and find a way back to his family, he becomes entangled in the rebels’ world of harmony with nature, flying cats called Masu, and a philosophy centered around balance. The narrative alternates between Jayden and Nettle, pulling readers into both perspectives and building a tale of survival, mistrust, slow-burning connection, and the search for peace in a world fractured by exploitation and greed.
I was hooked almost from the first page. The opening crash sequence was tense and immersive, and from there, the story barely let up. What stood out most to me was the vivid world-building. The descriptions of the valley, the rebels’ way of life, and especially the Masu, those awe-inspiring winged felines, gave me that rare feeling of stepping into a completely new world that still felt alive and believable. I loved the contrast between the sterile, suffocating colony and the lush, self-sustaining rebel enclave. It made me think hard about our own world and how we treat the natural environment, but it never felt preachy. Instead, the themes came through naturally in the characters’ choices and conflicts.
My feelings about the characters were complicated, and that made the experience all the richer. Nettle frustrated me at times with her hostility and refusal to soften, yet I understood why she was like that, and I respected her strength. Jayden, on the other hand, walked a tricky line between being sympathetic and being manipulative, and I often found myself both rooting for him and distrusting him. That tension gave the story its bite. There were also moments where I felt the romance threads were a bit predictable, but the emotional undercurrents of family loyalty, grief, and the fear of betrayal kept me engaged.
Son of Osivirius surprised me with its heart. Beneath the adventure and the danger, this is a story about belonging and trust, and how hard it is to let go of fear in order to live freely. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy science fiction that balances action with deeper themes, especially fans of Avatar or The Left Hand of Darkness. It’s also a great pick for anyone who wants an adventure with strong characters, a lush setting, and deep ideas.
Pages: 188 | ASIN : B0FMXQ3C85
The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa: Book 4: The Baboons
Casper the Cat embarks on a heartwarming and eye-opening journey through the African jungle in Jennifer Ussi’s The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa. Surrounded by her jungle friends, Casper learns how animals coexist, communicate, and care for one another. When Evelyn, a brave young baboon with only one arm, attempts to comfort a crying leopard cub without its family’s consent, chaos ensues—sparking an unexpected conflict between the baboons and leopards. Amid the tension, Casper is puzzled. Why should compassion lead to such turmoil? Can understanding bridge the divide between two angry tribes, or will the jungle descend into battle?
What makes this story shine is its message of empathy and perspective. Through Casper’s calm reasoning and Evelyn’s pure-hearted actions, children see that kindness can change how others view a situation. Even when danger looms, Casper puts aside fear to help others see that Evelyn’s gesture came from love, not defiance. The story beautifully reminds readers, young and old, that seeing the world through another’s eyes often leads to peace and understanding.
Adding charm to the narrative is a playful dose of humor. Henry, the mischievous elder baboon, and his spirited twin sons fill the pages with laughter and light moments. Their antics offer children a joyful reminder that humor can strengthen bonds and lift spirits, even in tense times. The vibrant personalities of the jungle’s inhabitants make this tale not only educational but utterly delightful to read.
Illustrator Lekshmi Bose brings Ussi’s vision to life with artistry and care. Her detailed, neutral-toned illustrations enhance the natural beauty of the African wilderness. Every page feels alive, each animal expressive, each scene immersive.
The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa is far more than a children’s tale; it’s a celebration of empathy, curiosity, and unity. Readers of all ages will not only enjoy its adventure and humor but also gain insights into African wildlife and conservation, meeting creatures such as leopards, baboons, helmeted guineafowl, and even playful squirrels.
Pages: 82 | ASIN : B0FNR626PT
Israel – God’s Divine Decoy for Your Salvation
Israel – God’s Divine Decoy for Your Salvation, by Harlan Perry, takes a bold swing at a familiar story and tells it in a way that feels fresh. Perry argues that Israel’s long history of law, temple, and ritual was not the main stage but a setup. A divine headfake, as he calls it, meant to trick Satan into focusing on the wrong thing while God’s real plan, grace through Christ, stayed hidden until the right moment. The story unfolds in two acts, one calm and one stormy, covering everything from Lucifer’s fall to the cross, from Paul’s gospel to modern church struggles. The central idea is that grace was never an afterthought. It was always the plan, and everything else was a decoy.
The writing has a preacher’s fire, full of metaphors and jolts of energy that make the pages feel alive. I liked that it didn’t hide behind polite theology. It said things out loud that many only whisper. The sentences pile up like waves, crashing one after another. That rhythm kept me hooked, but at points I wanted a little space to process. The ideas shine through, even if the intensity of the delivery occasionally takes the spotlight.
What really stuck with me was the way Perry unmasks religion as a trap. He paints it as Satan’s favorite trick, the perfect counterfeit, and he insists that true freedom is only in grace. That hit me hard. It’s unsettling and liberating all at once. I felt my own habits and assumptions being poked at. I can’t say I agreed with every leap he made, but I couldn’t ignore the pull of his message. There’s something raw in his insistence that God never scrambles, never reacts, that everything is already written and finished.
I think Israel is best for people who feel worn out by church rules and hollow traditions, the ones who suspect there’s more to the gospel than guilt and performance. It’s a wake-up call. If you’re ready to be challenged, maybe even rattled, and if you don’t mind a bit of fire in the tone, then this book will hit you right where you need it.
Pages: 194 | ASIN : B0FNS1796Q
Wrath and Reckoning
When I picked up Wrath and Reckoning, I expected a tight political thriller, and that’s exactly what I got. The story follows Max Kenworth and his team as they chase after the elusive mercenary Bart Madison and a missing nuclear weapon. Layered into that chase are power-hungry politicians, corrupt deals, shadowy agencies, and a relentless undertone of betrayal. From Arlington Cemetery to Central America to secret meetings in hotel rooms, the book moves quickly. Every chapter pushes the stakes higher. It’s less about quiet deduction and more about the terrifying weight of what-ifs: a nuclear device in the wrong hands, politicians who gamble lives for power, and operatives caught between duty and survival.
I really enjoyed the book’s pace. Parker doesn’t give you room to breathe. Scenes cut fast, and dialogue snaps like a whip. Sometimes it felt like a military briefing, other times like eavesdropping on a whispered conspiracy. That intensity pulled me in. The writing style is direct, sharp, and often blunt. I liked that honesty. You don’t get purple prose here. You get grit, strategy, and straight talk. The moments between Max and Danya, or Gail’s uneasy alliances, offered glimpses of vulnerability that I craved more of. Those human flashes made the gunfire and secret deals hit harder.
Madison is a ruthless figure, and Parker paints him as cunning, resourceful, and frighteningly pragmatic. He’s the kind of character who makes your skin crawl because he feels believable. Meanwhile, the politicians strutted like clowns, reeking of smugness and deceit. Part of me enjoyed that exaggeration. It made the story’s critique of corruption unmistakable. The line between good and bad sometimes felt too sharp. Still, the moral weight of the book, how power twists people, how ambition corrodes, landed with me.
Wrath and Reckoning is the kind of book I’d recommend to readers who like high-stakes thrillers with a military and political edge. If you want a story that keeps the throttle down and doesn’t let go, this will scratch that itch. It’s not for someone looking for subtle literary flourishes or deep psychological portraits. But if you want a fast, tense, and conspiratorial ride, Parker delivers. I closed the book feeling unsettled, a little wired, and already wondering what Max Kenworth will be up against next.
Pages: 249 | ASIN : B0FKRYGQD9
Christianity and Global Civilization
Conflict & Peace explores the struggles of twelve Biblical figures and their contributions to Christianity as it is known today. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Growing up as the son of a pastor, my Christian faith came to me as a young child. Growing into early adulthood, like many I came to question my faith. Seeing obvious (and less obvious) seeming inconsistencies in the Bible, I focused in on the often accepted but unspoken assumption that there is a complete harmony of the various gospel and other biblical accounts. For me, the breakthrough came when I realized that “harmonization” is nowhere mentioned in the Biblical text. Rather, I could take the approach of taking in whatever each biblical author has to say in that individual’s own voice. Accept and explain the conflict where possible. And where not, just let it be.
How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?
I have been at the research off and on for about 30 years – reading a wide range of authors, interacting as a teacher in a variety of one-on-one and group settings.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Once I got past the issue of forced harmonization, my next question and key theme for the book was the divine and earthly roles that Jesus of Nazareth played in observing, creating and/or resolving conflict. And then tracking how these conflicts of personality, theology and mission were experienced by the diverse characters that helped shape Christianity and global civilization.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from Conflict & Peace?
I hope that readers can draw from the experience of inevitable conflicts driving Christian pioneers to search out pathways for renewed peace. Day by day and at home with Jesus.
Author Links: X | Facebook | Website
In this book, author Eric Hovee traces a seemingly never-ending Christian dialogue and practice that may espouse peace but often engages in conflict. The author explores this interplay through the lives, beliefs, and practices of 12 pioneers who helped shape Christianity as it has been handed down to us today. We begin with the contrasting perspectives of the four gospel writers – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – and continue with pivotal, yet sometimes conflicted, early church leaders such as Paul, James, Peter, Thomas, and Mary Magdalene. The journey then skips forward three centuries to the Roman Emperor Constantine, who sought to marry church and state, before moving another millennium ahead to Martin Luther, who sought to radically reform it all, and finally circles back to our starting point: Jesus, as the one who intended it all.
How best to experience conflict, and yet find peace? Every day and through every phase of human existence, there is an opportunity for resolution and partnership, in step and at home with Jesus. We seek a Jesus who consistently demonstrates that, just when we think we have the answers, new questions arise. When we feel we’ve run the race, we find we’ve only just begun.
Guilt and Solitude
Where Despair Comes To Play follows a man consumed by the voices in his head who is convicted of murder and sentenced to prison, where the isolation drives him deep into paranoia, delusion, and dissociation. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for Where Despair Comes to Play came from a fascination with the fragile boundary between the mind and reality—how isolation, guilt, and fear can twist perception until the world itself becomes an echo of one’s thoughts. I wanted to explore what happens when a person is left alone with their own darkness, with no distractions, no noise—only the voices that feed on doubt and memory.
The prison setting became a metaphor for internal confinement. I wasn’t as interested in the crime itself as in what happens afterward—how a mind begins to fracture when trapped in silence and shame. Each of Malcolm’s voices—Paranoia, Delusion, and Dissociation—represents a piece of his psyche trying to survive the unbearable weight of guilt and solitude.
I always start my books with a well-refined thesis statement, similar to what I did for my doctoral dissertation. In many ways, the story was inspired by the question: If you can’t trust your own mind, where can you hide?
Malcolm is a fascinating character who draws readers into his mind and the horrors that reside within it. What scene was the most interesting to write for that character?
The most intriguing scene to write for Malcolm was the one where he finally stops resisting the voices—when Paranoia, Delusion, and Dissociation stop feeling like intruders and start feeling like his only companions. It’s the moment where his isolation becomes complete, and instead of fighting for sanity, he begins to negotiate with his madness.
Writing that scene felt like walking a tightrope between horror and heartbreak. I wanted readers to feel both fear and empathy—to see that Malcolm isn’t a monster but a man slowly breaking under the weight of his own thoughts. Capturing the moment when his inner voices start making more sense to him than reality itself.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
My key theme was the personification of mental illness—turning Paranoia, Delusion, and Dissociation into living entities. It allowed me to explore how mental struggles can feel external and invasive, like something whispering just behind your thoughts. My ultimate goal for the book was to explore what happens when the mind becomes the battleground—and whether redemption is possible when your worst enemy is yourself.
What is the next book that you are writing, and when will that be published?
My next book is actually a love story, Framed in Love, that is steeped in fantasy and explores the psychological condition of “How far will you go, and what are you willing to do to keep that love alive?” In a world where love can be bound by spell and sacrifice, a devoted lover discovers that devotion has no bottom, and is preserving love worth losing everything that makes a person human?
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
As Malcolm struggles to separate reality from nightmare, every letter etched on the wall draws him closer to a final word he may not survive. The line between guilt and madness blurs, and the only question left is chilling: is he haunted by his own mind—or by something far worse that feeds on silence itself?
A Beautiful Ending
Jake and Zena’s family is stitched together by hope and haunted by ghosts. Ronnie and Amina chase the sparks between them, Carolyn and Jesse launch Southern Comfort, Charlotte’s newest soul food haven, Jordan dazzles the fashion world in D.C. alongside Miles, and Jessica juggles college life and motherhood in Atlanta with Bryce. Yet, even as they embrace the present, shadows from their past are, waiting to unravel their future. In this gripping trilogy conclusion, the Alexanders face their final reckoning: will the gathering clouds tear them apart —or will they find the beautiful ending they truly deserve?
Dreaming Big
Dance Masters: Interviews with New York’s Dance Teachers is a collection of interviews conducted over four years with legendary dance teachers from New York, spanning ballet, jazz, tap, and modern dance. Why was this an important book for you to write?
As I stated in my introduction, I was obsessed with capturing the thoughts and experiences of master dance teachers who were giving away what they worked so hard to get. It was a four-year project, and I was completely immersed in it on so many different levels, from reading dance-related books to taking numerous dance classes and seeing all kinds of dance performances. At the time, I had just been through a major illness, and dance was my road back to wholeness. Although the book is about dance, it’s about much more than dance. It’s about overcoming obstacles, learning to live, having hope, dreaming big, and the history of many different artistic mediums like Broadway, live television, etc. The stories are very diverse and inspirational.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
To keep striving, that it is possible to achieve things against the odds, that dance and movement are not just physical but connected to the entire self. It’s about learning to live fully.
What was the most challenging part of writing this book, and what was the most rewarding?
Every single interview in this book was taped and transcribed by hand. All had to be edited for clarity. I did a tremendous amount of research to explore the topic from all possible angles, so I asked challenging questions and/or a great variety of questions, tailoring each interview to the individual. Writing a book is time-consuming, and this was a four-year project. But I came away from every interview filled with excitement and on a high. It’s rewarding to see the fruits of my labor in a book that is exactly as I visualized it to be and what I wanted it to be. I feel oral history will be lost if not put in book form, and each individual had such a rich experience. I’m really proud of the result of my labor and the information contained in the book, which is timeless.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Dance Masters?
I want readers to be inspired, to understand what made each of these individuals great, and to know so much more about dance history and the resilience of the human spirit.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
LITERARY TITAN 