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Olympus or Oblivion
Reading Chrissy Dargue’s Olympus or Oblivion feels like being dropped into a wild, bawdy, self-aware pantheon where celebrity fantasy, personal philosophy, and unapologetic filth collide in the most chaotic way possible. The book introduces itself as an erotic satirical anthology, then immediately proves it can deliver on all three fronts. Each chapter follows a fictional sexual encounter with a different Hollywood icon, framed as both myth and judgment, and the voice that guides it is loud, human, furious, sentimental, and very funny. It moves fast, plays hard, and somehow manages to build a whole moral framework while describing sexually explicit escapades. The tone is intimate and irreverent and completely in control of its own madness.
As I read, I kept feeling a blend of admiration and “what the hell just happened” amazement. The writing is quick, chatty, and sharply observant. It has that feeling of sitting with a friend who tells a story so confidently that you follow, even when it plunges off a cliff into a disaster of sex toys, tree frog cigarettes, emotional vulnerability, or misplaced anatomy lessons. I loved the honesty here. The narrator is flawed and hilarious and often furious at the world, yet there is so much heart behind the jokes. The Henry Cavill chapter swings between worship, frustration, and affection with an almost musical rhythm. Depp’s chapter, on the other hand, crashes into surreal farce, tenderness, and genuine madness, and the contrast really shows off what the author can do. I laughed a lot. I winced a lot. More than once, I was slightly horrified, then impressed by how quickly the story made that horror feel warm. There is something bold about how the book refuses to hide the narrator’s desires or insecurities. It made the comedy sharper and the emotional punches landed harder.
What surprised me most was the philosophical streak running under the chaos. For all the sex and satire, the book is also a meditation on power, desire, loneliness, and the strange ways we try to judge the people we want. The Olympian framing is funny but also revealing. Every encounter becomes a test, not for the celebrity but for the narrator’s own values, boundaries, and hunger for connection. Even the absurd moments, like fainting from frog toxins or sketching a diagram of a vulva to keep a confused man on track, carry a sort of emotional grit. The narrator wants to understand people. She wants to be understood in return. I found myself weirdly moved between the jokes. Sometimes the writing gets messy on purpose. Sometimes it hits a poetic rhythm that blindsided me. The mix works because the voice stays genuine.
I’d recommend Olympus or Oblivion to readers who enjoy sharp humour, chaotic storytelling, sex-positive honesty, and big, unstoppable personality. If you like fearless writing, emotional whiplash, and stories that show both the ridiculous and the tender parts of being human, this book will hit the spot. It’s funny and vivid and unexpectedly sincere, and it left me feeling like I had just witnessed someone telling the truth in the most unhinged and heartfelt way possible.
Pages: 401 | ASIN : B0FLQL7VHN
Compelling Mystery
The Magician’s Wife follows a small-town journalist who gets pulled into the mysterious disappearance of a magician’s glamorous assistant who vanishes during a live TV performance, only to reappear a week later, dead. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
First and foremost, I wanted to write a novel with a compelling ‘impossible’ mystery at its heart, and give the book the kind of hook that would instantly make a reader want to know exactly how such an impossible event could have occurred. My starting point for this particular mystery was the teleportation illusion, a classic of stage magic. A magician’s assistant gets into Box A on a live TV talent show and is supposed to reappear in Box B, but vanishes for an entire week. She then does reappear in Box B on the show’s next round… but she’s dead. My journalist, Clare, is as shocked by this as everyone else. As the books are told from her perspective, she is echoing what a reader is perhaps thinking as the narrative unfolds. It also appealed to me to have a character drawing the reader in who cared deeply about a missing person case, which is the reason Clare became a journalist in the first place, something we learn more about as the story progresses. A broader inspiration for this book (and the upcoming books in the series!) has been my husband, who is a professional stage and TV magician and with whom I worked backstage for a time. It’s been very useful having a magic advisor on hand while writing this book, especially when devising some of the methods and effects!
When creating Clare, did you have a plan for her development and character traits, or did they grow organically as you were writing the story?
I think it was a bit of both! The two main characters in this story are Clare Deyes and Mara Knight. They’re unlikely allies as they’re such different people from different backgrounds. Originally, I conceived The Magician’s Wife in third-person, to centre more around Mara. But compared to Clare, Mara can be cynical and brittle, a little dismissive and subversive. Certainly in commercial fiction, I find that a character with these traits usually has to be offset by a foil, more of an ‘everyman’ that a greater percentage of readers are able to identify with straightaway. It was true of the Sherlock Holmes stories (a big inspiration for me), and I think it still holds today. In contrast to Mara, Clare sees the good in everyone, is optimistic, and friendly. So Clare and Mara have a real Watson/Holmes dynamic. Clare’s the heart and Mara the brain; you can’t have one without the other. And it’s the contrast between these characters’ personalities that drives much of the novel’s pathos and tension. Saying that, some of Clare’s background and core motivations did grow organically as I was writing the book. As much planning as you might do, as a writer you always tend to make some discoveries about your characters as you go along – and these can often be the most exciting parts of the story!
What was the most challenging part about writing a mystery story, where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
The Magician’s Wife is my first novel in the crime/mystery genre, and I’ve often heard other writers say that it’s possibly the most difficult genre to write in. Not only do you have to create a compelling mystery in the first instance, but you must ensure that you’re feeding clues to your reader in an ‘honest’ way, so that none of the ultimate reveals come out of nowhere. However, one of the most challenging things I found when writing this book – particularly as the story is told from the first-person perspective of Clare – was keeping in my head what a reader/Clare was thinking about the mystery at any given time (the story’s ‘logical progression’), versus what I knew was actually happening. It certainly kept me on my toes throughout the various drafts! I found having a detailed chapter-by-chapter breakdown written out before I started work on the book was invaluable, and I’ll definitely tackle future novels in the series in the same way.
When will Book Two be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
I’m currently working on the next book in The Magician’s Wife series, and it should be widely available to readers in early 2026! It’s called Second Sight and tells the story of a young boy who claims to be having unsettling visions of the future, visions that appear to be coming true. Even stranger, these visions only started happening after a cornea transplant the boy had to save his sight. When the child makes his most disturbing prediction – that his own life is in danger – it’s up to Clare and Mara to get to the bottom of what lies behind it all in order to save the boy’s life. The setting is a bit of a contrast to the world of TV studios and stage magic in the first book, as Second Sight is largely set in an inner-city London housing estate. I’m hugely enjoying writing this series so far and have lots more impossible mysteries up my sleeve for future books. My biggest hope is that readers will enjoy them as much as I do, as entertaining someone who has parted with their money to read my work is – and has always been – extremely important to me.
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When Angel, the wife of magician Dex Devereaux, mysteriously vanishes on a live TV talent show, journalist and wannabe investigator Clare Deyes cannot resist trying to work out what happened. But a week later, when Angel reappears dead during the show’s next round, Clare is certain she is out of her depth.
Clare soon realises only one person can help: the brilliant, brittle Mara Knight – magic consultant, psychologist and wife of the world famous illusionist Travers – whose husband’s disappearance is still unexplained.
Can Clare and Mara together solve the puzzle of Angel’s death before the talent show’s live final, when they are sure someone close to Angel has something even more extreme planned?
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The Sherlock Holmes stories meet Jonathan Creek in this fast-paced, twisty mystery with a generous peppering of pathos and humour. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Elly Griffiths, The Magician’s Wife is the first in a brand new series from internationally published author (and real-life magician’s wife) Lora Jones.
The World of Extremism
So You Want to Be an Extremist is a satirical guide that traces the origins and evolution of conspiracy theories from ancient Rome to modern-day social media. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I think people know bits and pieces, but there wasn’t a full picture of extremism in one place. I wanted to create a single piece of content that anyone could pick up and easily learn about the world of extremism, from its humble origins to a major part of society today. And also laugh a bit at the horrors they learn along the way because it is a dark, scary place. Whether we like it or not, these people, these products, these movements are affecting all of us in some fashion.
Did you learn anything during your research that surprised you?
How truly ubiquitous this level of extremism and conspiracy thinking has become, particularly among the younger generation. Twenty years ago it was your crazy uncle sending emails. A decade ago it was older people falling for Facebook memes, believing anything that was written online. Now, it is a younger, seemingly displaced generation, who are very tech-savvy, failing at even baseline critical thinking on many topics.
Why was it important for you to take the satirical approach with this book?
For me, satire has always been a way to convey certain ideas and vices as laughable, but also reprehensible. I have a penchant for poking fun at the horrible people that take advantage of others: dictators, oligarchs, and now, extremists. I like to strike a balance between comedy and learning, and I do think they can complement each other. So, I wanted to give the audience that same balance. Plus, they don’t have to read a 400-page academic paper to learn about this stuff. I suffer for them.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from So You Want to Be an Extremist?
Extremism isn’t fringe anymore! It has been normalized to the point that it is a part of everyday media, politics, religion, business, and society. This isn’t going away anytime soon. These ideas and movements are only becoming more prevalent and worse, more accepted.
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With Extremism, explanations can be simple – and exciting. You’re not a “loser.” Nope, It’s just an international cabal of lizard people holding you back from greatness.
In this satirical leadership guide for oven-ready radicals and greedy grifters, uncover a mind-blowing myriad of crazy conspiracies, insane ideologies, and meet the fabulous fanatics who promote them.
Join former government lackey turned humorist, C.T. Jackson as he takes you from the quiet corners of sanity to the far fringes of social implosion, as you learn to reach your full radical potential.
So You Want To Be An Extremist? Well, This Book Is For You! (And The Voices In Your Head.)
Flawed but Loveable
Seen follows a morally grey antihero in jail for a crime he didn’t commit, who obsesses over clearing his name and getting revenge, till he spots a young woman and she becomes his obsession. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was walking to work one morning and a prison van drove passed me on its way to the courthouse in the centre of Belfast City. I noticed that it had blacked out windows and I wondered if the prisoners inside could see out. My brain immediately made the jump to ‘what would happen if someone inside saw a person on the outside and that obsession became everything’. That small notion continued to grow in my mind until I had the makings of a whole organised crime family, perhaps a sign that I had ventured too far down the dark romance/mafia rabbit hole.
While doing research for the book I visited some of the main locations and even managed to get a tour of the inside of a prison van as well as the cells within the courthouse. I wanted to show an authentic story when it came to the characters, locations, and storylines. Therefore, each book in the series contains certain societal issues prevalent within Northern Ireland e.g. Drugs and criminality in book 1, human trafficking in book 2, and book 3 will be slightly different in that it will be a sports romance, specifically boxing, and features 2 men as the main characters. Northern Ireland is still far behind other countries in relation to the acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community so I am aiming to highlight the internal struggles of this for one of the characters in particular.
Aodhán and Nora are interesting characters who have their character flaws but are still likable. How do you go about creating characters for your story?
I always knew I wanted Aodhán to be a flawed but loveable character, someone who could be morally grey but would be a cuddly teddy bear for the right person. Nora is the epitome of every dark romance reader who loves a bad boy on paper. A woman who is both terrified and intrigued by a man with such clear red flags. When developing them and the surrounding characters I built individual profiles of their personalities, likes, and dislikes, and some of them are even loosely based on people within my life.
Are you a fan of the dark romantic comedy genre? What books do you think most influenced your work?
I was first introduced to the dark romance genre in October 2023 and became a firm fan, reading as many stories-mostly by indie authors as I could. Books to me are an escape from reality and the indie author community offered a much-needed space for raw and unadulterated stories. The romance comedy element came naturally when writing Seen as I wanted it to be authentically Belfast and we Irish are known for our dark humorous nature.
I would say I am probably most influenced by Brynne Weaver’s Ruinous Love Trilogy, CJ Riggs’ No, For An Answer, Luna Mason’s Beneath the Mask series, and Nikki J Summers’ Soldiers of Anarchy series. These stories all contained elements that resonated with me while I was building my characters and storylines.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Yes, this is the first of a 3-book series. Each book focuses on one of the O’Neill brothers. I don’t have a publication date for either of the follow-up books and I am currently writing book 2. It focuses on the eldest brother Cormac and the female character is Eireann Collins. Book 2 centres around the aftermath of Eireann, who was captured and tortured at the hands of a human trafficking ring. It focuses on her healing journey and ultimately her revenge on those who hurt her. Cormac is also working to take down the same perpetrators. Their journeys will intersect but it is made more complicated by their shared history. Book 2 is already shaping up to be darker than Seen, however, it does still retain some of the Belfast humour.
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Nora Kavanagh was just a girl who loved nothing more than chilling with her friends and fantasising about the men she read about in her books. That was until she unwittingly became snared in the sights of a man who both terrified and intrigued her.
Try as she may, to fight what the future holds, now he has seen her, nothing will stop him from capturing his shining light in the darkness and making her his.
Murder Italian Style
If you’ve ever wished your cozy mysteries came with a side of handmade shoes and a sprinkle of Italian charm, Murder Italian Style, by Diane Vallere, might be your next binge. In this 16th installment of the Killer Fashion Mystery series, amateur sleuth Samantha Kidd trades her Pennsylvania digs for a dreamy villa in Monza, Italy, a trip that was supposed to be a holiday break but, of course, turns into a classic whodunnit. Between artisanal pizza, buried family drama, and a decades-old murder conviction that doesn’t quite sit right, Samantha finds herself pulled into a mystery that’s as tangled as a pile of vintage silk scarves.
Right out of the gate, what I loved most was Samantha’s voice: sharp, warm, and packed with dry humor. Her banter with her husband Nick in the opening chapter had me actually laughing out loud. “What’s potato in Italian?” “Po-tah-to.” Vallere writes like she’s sitting across from you at brunch with bottomless mimosas, light on her feet but with a real eye for detail. There’s a moment when Samantha describes the villa with such affection and awe that I could feel the chevron wood floors under my toes. That scene also sets the tone for the book’s secret weapon: atmosphere. Italy isn’t just a setting, it’s part of the mood board for the whole story.
The premise is compelling: a former lover imprisoned for murder, a cache of unsent letters, and a parole hearing fast approaching. The stakes extend far beyond legal implications; they’re deeply emotional. A particularly memorable moment unfolds during a dinner beneath the stars when Monica and Isabella appeal to Samantha for help in proving Pasquale’s innocence. The vulnerability in this exchange is palpable and deeply affecting. What stands out even more, though, is Samantha’s response. She doesn’t overreact or grandstand; she listens, reflects, and ultimately agrees to help. Not out of obligation or heroism, but because she genuinely cares. It’s this quiet mix of empathy and discernment that keeps the story anchored, even as the mystery grows more complex.
While the pacing in the middle section slows somewhat, this deliberate tempo allows for a richer immersion in the setting and character dynamics. Scenes featuring Samantha’s keen eye for footwear, reminiscent of a detective inspecting clues, are particularly engaging. Vallere’s expertise in fashion shines through, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative. A standout example is the visit to the shoe store near the prison, a moment that subtly intertwines setting, character insight, and thematic resonance. It’s a thoughtful approach that enhances the story’s texture without overwhelming it.
Murder Italian Style was a breezy, stylish, and unexpectedly emotional ride. If you’re into cozy mysteries with a quirky heroine, a pinch of fashion, and a setting you’ll want to move into immediately, you’ll be in good hands. Fans of Nancy Drew for grown-ups, Hallmark mysteries, or anyone who gets misty over old love stories should absolutely pick this up. Just be warned: you’ll crave pizza, espresso, and maybe a pair of Italian loafers by the last page.
Pages: 234 | ASIN : B0DTJGZX4G
70 Things You Can Do While Being Hospitalized
This book by Lasse Toft is a quirky, humorous take on coping with long-term hospitalization. Through a mix of satire, personal anecdotes, and dark humor, Toft transforms what could have been a grim manual into a creative guide for enduring hospital stays. The book is structured around absurd yet oddly endearing suggestions, ranging from “Medicine Roulette” to “Fake Your Own Death,” all aimed at lightening the emotional load of being stuck in a medical setting. Beneath the wit lies a touching testament to resilience, humor, and human connection.
What struck me first was how unapologetically funny this book is. Take “Dress as the Grim Reaper,” for example. Toft gleefully outlines how donning a black robe and scaring staff and patients could liven up a dull day. It’s an audacious idea, but it captures the defiance of boredom that defines the book. His story about mistakenly taking another patient’s laxative pills and spending the weekend in the bathroom is another standout his ability to laugh at himself made me laugh along too. The writing is conversational and loaded with Toft’s personality, which I loved. He doesn’t shy away from being irreverent. These antics are ridiculous, but they cleverly highlight the small joys and distractions that can make a hospital stay bearable. Toft’s voice is warm, yet his humor has an edge that keeps the book from becoming too sentimental. The book also has moments of unexpected depth. The preface, where Toft reflects on fear, hope, and humor as his tools for survival, sets a poignant tone. Even his sillier ideas, like starting a betting company for who might “go next,” reflect a dark but relatable sense of grappling with mortality. This balance between humor and vulnerability is one of the book’s biggest strengths.
70 Things You Can Do While Being Hospitalized is for anyone who appreciates humor with a hint of darkness, especially those navigating difficult times. It’s perfect for patients, caregivers, or anyone who’s spent too long in an unfamiliar place and needed a laugh. I’d recommend it to those looking for a lighthearted way to find meaning and a bit of fun in challenging circumstances.
Pages: 182 | ASIN : B0CYTKTCFP
Archie Bunker, Fred Flinstone, and Mr. Magoo
Alone at Home follows an elderly man’s solo escapades and everyday misadventures while his wife is away, leaving him with just her cat for company. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I wanted to write another story outside of my mystery/adventure series. Being a fan of Home Alone, I thought a senior citizen version would be interesting, especially if I could craft a character who was a blend of Archie Bunker, Fred Flinstone and bumbling Mr. Magoo. I love cats and decided to center a relationship around conflict with the cat, the nerighboe’s 8-year-old grandson and a couple of well-meaning, but intrusive neighbors. It’s a hilarious romp in the beginning of the book, leading up to Christmas Eve when it turns serious.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Relationships and a haunting memory that contributed to the main character’s grumpiness. The actual twist takes place on Christmas Eve when it changes to a story of redemption.
This is a fun and entertaining novel. Did you have fun writing it?
This was an enjoyable book to write as I drew on real life, humorous experiences from friends and relatives as well as my own clumsiness. My own interactions with my grandsons made their way into the book.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Breakwater Bay will be out this spring. It’s a mystery/adventure primarily set in The Congo. Filled with peril, our protagonist, an investigative reporter, finds himself teamed up with an ex-Navy SEAL and a slippery-tongued British reporter as they fight disaster at every turn while trying to investigate a dark secret.
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His days are filled with hilarious mishaps, from a battle of wits with a cheeky seagull to the relentless interruptions by neighbors. George’s quest for peace is perpetually sabotaged by the precocious grandson of the lady next door among other uproarious incidents.
“Alone At Home” is a heartwarming story of redemption. As George grapples with a haunting memory, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery. It’s a Christmas classic in the making, peppered with wit, the resilience of the human spirit, and the transformative power of forgiveness.
There’s Humor Within the Pain
Buffer Zone follows a hapless food service worker enduring the daily grind in a demeaming position. Where did the idea for this book come from?
This book is largely autobiographical. I’ve spent 20 years working in the food service industry, mostly as a waiter. I wanted to incorporate those experiences into this book because as difficult as customer service can be, there’s humor within the pain. In many ways humor is the way I process pain. I believe humor helps us cope with the hardships of life.
Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your main character’s life?
The concept for this book really started in 2008 when I had an experience in a cafe that I describe in chapter 1. A woman was sitting next to me and getting a little too invasive of my personal space. I had a flashback memory of when I was a kid and I used to build a wall of cereal boxes around me when I ate breakfast. This prompted the first 12 page black & white comic, which later became chapter 1. A couple of years later I created issue 2 about people on the bus, which became chapter 2. A year or so later I released issue 3 about how I wanted to be a ninja as a kid, which became chapter 3. The original title for this comic series was, “White Male Neurosis”, poking fun at the stereotype of the neurotic white guy. Around 2015 I had the idea to combine the stories into a larger book and transform the issues into chapters. I changed the title to “Buffer Zone” because I feel it represents more of the overall theme and tone of the book.
What draws you to the graphic novel genre and makes it ripe for you to write such a great dark comedy in it?
I’ve always enjoyed comic books and graphic novels. I was drawn to the idea that I could tell a story visually any way I choose. There are standards and norms, but really you can frame, compose and pace a story any way you want. The first version of “Buffer Zone” was more like a picture book, but I wanted it to have more movement and action, so I kept revising. I also do stand up comedy occasionally and I used this book as a vehicle for illustrating my stand up material instead of performing it.
Can we look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
I’ve been creating a series of surreal digital paintings for an art exhibition, and I’m currently working on a prequel story to “A Nightmare On Elm St” which I’ve titled “Springwood 1972” about Freddy Krueger living a double life as a serial killer and mild mannered member of the community. This story is a thriller about a town in disarray, a cop in pursuit, and a killer with an insatiable lust. You can view the cover and pages 1-6 on my patreon. This is fan fiction. I have not been commissioned and I don’t have any legal permission to use the characters from these movies, so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to publish it. However, I’d love to. I’ve always been a horror fan, and after spending so much time on a project so personal it is refreshing to create something totally fictional and separate from my life story.
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Told through colorful pen & ink illustrations and narrated through the protagonist’s thoughts and memories, “Buffer Zone” is a hilarious journey inside the mind of a waiter on the verge of a breakthrough or a breakdown. This 130 page graphic memoir is a character study of social anxiety, a darkly comical look at food service and an examination of growing up in Midwest America in the 80’s and 90’s.
LITERARY TITAN 