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Always Bet on Death: The Griffin Knight Rises
Always Bet on Death: The Griffin Knight Rises kicks off with a bloody murder in a half-renovated casino and doesn’t slow down from there. The book follows Griffin Knight, a sharp new detective transferred from Chicago to Long Island, as he’s thrown into a tangled web of casino politics, shady business deals, and buried secrets. With his grizzled partner, Trenton Barnes, by his side, Griffin unravels a death that’s anything but accidental. The deeper they dig, the more corruption bubbles to the surface, and nobody, not even the casino’s power players, nor Griffin himself, is safe from suspicion.
What immediately stood out to me was the tone of the writing. It is sharp, cinematic, and highly effective, particularly in the prologue. The opening scene, depicting a woman fleeing barefoot through an unfinished construction floor, wounded and pursued by a masked assailant, is gripping and visceral. It evokes the urgency and tension of a Bond film, though with a darker, more grounded edge. The atmosphere is palpable; the blood on the concrete and the fear driving the woman’s flight are rendered with striking clarity. Miguel Angel Hernandez Jr. wastes no time establishing momentum, and his ability to craft intense, visually charged moments speaks to a strong command of narrative pacing and mood.
Where the book shines brightest is in the banter between Griffin and Trenton. Their chemistry is hilarious and tense in equal parts. Take the early scene at the crime scene, where Trenton disarms the smug casino head of security with sarcastic wit and a fake Pop-Tart emergency. It’s ridiculous and perfect. These moments give the book heart, making it more than just a gritty mystery. It’s not all laughs, though. Trenton shares a heartbreaking story about a former partner ruined by a corrupt elite. It gave weight to the whole investigation. The book’s got teeth, and it bites when you least expect it.
That said, the plot is rich with twists and turns, offering a complex web of intrigue that rewards close attention. Particularly in the middle chapters, the narrative demands an engaged reader, as layers of deception unfold and motivations shift. While some of the secondary characters serve more as moving parts within the broader mystery, they contribute to the sense of a larger, bustling world surrounding the central investigation. Jennifer Grimwald, the shady executive, is a standout, though cold, clever, and clearly hiding something from the moment she dumps a suspicious trash bag into the Long Island Sound. Her scenes added a delicious layer of villainy that kept me turning pages, but I wish a few of the others were drawn with the same flair.
If you appreciate crime fiction that blends the sharp wit of Knives Out, the gritty energy of Lethal Weapon, and the atmospheric depth of L.A. Confidential, Always Bet on Death: The Griffin Knight Rises will likely resonate with you. It offers a compelling mix of suspense, moral ambiguity, dark humor, and emotional weight. This novel is particularly well-suited for readers who enjoy noir-inflected detective stories with brisk pacing and vividly drawn characters. The setting, an opulent casino shadowed by violence, adds an irresistible layer of intrigue. Be advised, however: once you begin, it becomes remarkably difficult to put down.
Pages: 105 | ASIN : B0DMJQB746
Inescapable (The Immortal Blood Gift Series)
Marina Rehm’s Inescapable is the eerie, emotional slow-burn opener to the Immortal Blood Gift series, blending small-town angst with something far more ancient and chilling. Set in the snowy, forgotten corners of Berlin, New Hampshire, in 1985, it follows Dylan Harper, a high school senior who’s just trying to survive his bullies, get into Harvard, and take care of his single mom. But when a mysterious woman named Marie and her icy-eyed husband Alec arrive, the sleepy town suddenly becomes the backdrop to a series of violent, unexplainable deaths, and Dylan is pulled into something bigger than himself. It’s part coming-of-age, part supernatural thriller, all wrapped in a rich layer of dread.
What stood out to me immediately about this book was how convincingly Rehm captures Dylan’s character. He is awkward, uncertain, often overwhelmed, and acutely aware of his low standing in the social hierarchy. Rehm presents him with unflinching honesty, avoiding sentimentality and allowing the narrative to unfold at a deliberate, effective pace. The early chapters, especially those set in the gas station, drip with the bleakness of small-town inertia. When Dylan encounters Marie, a woman whose beauty and poise seem almost unreal, it briefly disrupts his sense of monotony. Her presence is described with such vivid detail, particularly the image of her leather-gloved hands and effortless self-possession, that she feels both mesmerizing and dangerous. A moment in which she assists Dylan in cleaning up a spilled slushie feels disarmingly intimate, yet beneath that quiet interaction lies a deeper threat. It’s this layered ambiguity that immediately drew me in.
The writing itself surprised me. It’s sharp but accessible, with enough emotion to pull you in without ever getting overly dramatic. I appreciated how Rehm balanced horror with heartbreak. Take the murder of Stacy Yelander, for example. That discovery scene was utterly haunting. Dylan stumbling across her mangled body in the snow, those glowing eyes in the woods gave me goosebumps. And yet, the real gut punch wasn’t just the horror, it was Dylan’s numb reaction. His fear. His powerlessness. It’s not just about monsters in the dark; it’s about being trapped in a life you didn’t choose, where the world doesn’t care if you survive it.
What kept me turning the pages was the strange push-pull between Marie’s charm and Alec’s terrifying silence. Something about them is clearly not human, but Rehm never lays it all out. She lets the dread grow like frost on a window. Alec says maybe three words, but you feel him in every room. The slow pace gave me time to settle into the tension, to care about Dylan, and to dread whatever was coming. And there’s something refreshing about a supernatural story where the creatures don’t sparkle or monologue, they just stalk, manipulate, and kill.
Inescapable is a cold, quiet scream of a book. If you’ve ever been the outsider, the weird kid, the one who just wanted to get out of your dead-end town, this will hit home. It’s for readers who like their horror with heart, who don’t mind a slow build, and who enjoy being unnerved by people who are just a little too perfect. This is not a book for those needing instant gratification, but if you like stories that simmer before they burn, this one’s worth it.
Pages : 361 | ASIN : B0DPJ6F7TF
The Tribune
The Tribune by Paul E. Roberts is an ambitious and vividly detailed historical adventure that straddles the line between modern mystery and ancient warfare. The novel begins in the present day, following David Thompson, a struggling American PhD candidate in Roman history, who is whisked away to Romania by a mysterious phone call from an old friend. This call triggers a journey into the Carpathian wilderness in search of a long-lost Roman eagle standard—an artifact tied to one of history’s forgotten battles. The narrative then plunges into the past, weaving in the gripping tale of Septimus Flavius Patrionus, a young Roman tribune caught in the chaos of a doomed military campaign. What unfolds is a tense and haunting exploration of war, identity, ambition, and historical truth.
I admired the realism and the research, and how Roberts doesn’t pull punches when it comes to the grit and grime of soldiering, ancient or modern. The Roman scenes are brutal, rich, and immersive. I found myself far more emotionally invested than I expected, especially in Septimus’s transformation from uncertain young officer to man grappling with the brutal reality of leadership. The writing walks a fine line between clarity and rawness—straightforward and punchy one moment, introspective the next. The pacing isn’t perfect, it meanders at times, but I didn’t mind. It gave me space to breathe and soak in the mood.
Where the book really gripped me was in the blend of timelines and the emotional weight that ties the characters together across centuries. David’s desperation, his doubts, and his academic hunger mirror Septimus’s fears and hopes in a surprisingly touching way. The discovery of the eagle becomes more than just a plot device, it’s a symbol of lost causes, pride, and the weight of legacy. I love that the book isn’t afraid to be dark, mysterious, or even a little weird. The dialogue is modern and clean, and the humor feels lived-in, not forced, but rising naturally from the characters’ bond and exhaustion.
The Tribune hit me harder than I expected. It’s not just about history, it’s about how history lives in us, haunts us, and sometimes gives us purpose. This is a book for anyone who loves historical fiction with grit, academic thrillers with heart, or stories that make you question where fact ends and myth begins. If you’re drawn to the dark corners of the past or have ever stood in front of an ancient ruin and felt the weight of time press on your chest, then this one’s for you.
Pages: 233 | ASIN : B0F5GM6QQJ
Rise of the Hunter
Rise of the Hunter is the latest installment in the Dark Prophecy series by Barb Jones. It’s a supernatural fantasy brimming with ancient prophecy, gods, witches, vampires, and a whole lot of vengeance. The story kicks off with a chilling prophecy from the Sisters of Fate and unfolds into a sweeping battle between good and evil, led by a mysterious figure known as the Tall Dark Man. His rise sets off a domino effect of chaos, rebellion, and an impending war that hinges on a cursed child, a queen, and an angel.
What hooked me from the start was the unapologetically dark tone. The prologue alone pulled me into a mythological rabbit hole I didn’t want to climb out of. Barb Jones doesn’t hold back with the gothic energy either. The Tall Dark Man is straight-up nightmare fuel, whispering dark spells, controlling witches like puppets, and literally building an army from volcanic stones. That scene where he breathes life into his stone demon Arioch was chilling. The writing here is bold, vivid, sometimes a little graphic, but always deliberate.
The witches’ interactions with the Tall Dark Man occasionally veered into melodrama. The sensual scenes between him and Tituba tried to walk the line between dark romance and power play. The power dynamics were meant to feel disturbing, but I wished the narrative dug deeper into her arc emotionally. Raven Hexham, on the other hand, was a total standout. She’s calculating, loyal, and possibly questioning her role. There’s a quiet rebellion brewing in her, especially in her private talks with Tituba, and I found myself rooting for her despite her serving the wrong side.
One of the things I appreciated most was how Jones weaves Hawaiian mythology into the mix. The scenes with Pele and Kū weren’t just cool filler, they added real texture. The volcanic fire becoming a magical forge for an evil army was genius. And then she goes and tosses in historical tidbits like Philip II of Macedon and even Nostradamus, giving the book this wild, time-hopping energy. At times, it felt like reading a supernatural version of Game of Thrones meets American Gods with a big splash of soap opera.
If you’re into supernatural fantasy with a darker twist, where queens ride emotional rollercoasters and gods mess with mortals for sport, Rise of the Hunter is a wild ride worth taking. It’s a little over the top, but that’s part of its charm. Fans of series like The Mortal Instruments or A Discovery of Witches will feel right at home.
Pages: 343 | ASIN : B0C5T8QNK9
The Haunting of Wellsley Manor
Len Handeland’s The Haunting of Wellsley Manor is a gothic horror novel that follows William Martens, a young man seeking to escape the dead-end monotony of his hometown by attending Cornell University. But his aspirations are soon entangled in a series of ghostly encounters at his grandfather’s decaying estate in Ithaca. As he settles into his new life, William is haunted—literally and emotionally—by family secrets, unresolved trauma, and spectral figures that begin to cross the veil between the living and the dead. The deeper he digs into the house’s eerie history, the more he realizes that some legacies come with strings attached and blood on their hands.
I was drawn in from the very beginning. The dialogue felt natural and raw—sometimes even painfully real, especially during the tense moments between William and his bitter, emotionally distant father. There’s something incredibly satisfying about a story that doesn’t rush. The buildup is slow and deliberate, and that pacing works here. It lets you soak in the atmosphere—the creaking floors, the dusty corridors, the strained silences. The house itself becomes a character, and not just a spooky backdrop. What Handeland nails is the eerie tension between generational pride and inherited guilt. His prose has this honest, almost nostalgic warmth when depicting William’s relationship with his grandfather, Isaiah. Those moments hit me hard.
Sometimes the writing dipped into the overly descriptive, and while the story’s emotional arcs were compelling, the scares occasionally felt more atmospheric than truly chilling. I didn’t mind that too much—this is more The Sixth Sense than The Conjuring—but readers expecting non-stop frights may be left wanting. Still, the dream sequences and ghostly children were deeply unsettling in a quiet and lingering way. The mirror scenes especially gave me the kind of slow-building dread I love in horror fiction.
I’d recommend The Haunting of Wellsley Manor to anyone who enjoys a slower burn and emotionally rich storytelling. It’s a ghost story wrapped in a coming-of-age tale, laced with regret and second chances. If you liked The Others or even older Stephen King novels like Bag of Bones, you’ll probably enjoy this. It’s not just about ghosts. It’s about how the past clings to us, follows us, and sometimes, if we’re not careful, swallows us whole.
Pages: 236 | ASIN : B0DTBZNRV9
Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction
The Literary Titan Book Award honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.
Award Recipients
Survive an Ancient Sorrow by Michael Greenwald
Native Arcana by C.J. Caughman
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
THE MYTHOLOGIES OF THE AMERICAS – A BOOK TRILOGY by Roberto Jimenez
Fleeting Moments, Eternal Memories by Manmohan Sadana
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Sorcerer Seed
From the very first dusty, confused breath in a strange crater, Sorcerer of Almora Sorcerer Seed dives headfirst into a fantasy tale rooted in mystery, survival, and identity. We follow Maylore, Jendrin, and Airalee—three strangers who wake up in an alien world with no memory of who they are or how they got there. Their journey begins with danger, then spirals into deeper questions about who erased their pasts, why, and what purpose they now serve in the vivid world of Almora. As they traverse lava tubes, confront creepy glowing-eyed creatures, and navigate tense social structures in a mysterious village, they must rely on each other to survive and find their place.
This book hooked me hard from Chapter 1. Maylore blinking away dust while trying to figure out if he’d murdered someone is compelling character work. The tension is real and tight from the beginning. Then it just layers mystery on top of amnesia on top of survival horror. I appreciated how author Curt Sylvester didn’t throw everything at us all at once but slowly unwrapped the world through dialogue and small, believable discoveries. I mean, who doesn’t love a cave escape, shadowy politics, and wolves the size of a small car?
Sylvester keeps the writing tight and conversational. It feels natural, especially in the banter between Maylore and Jendrin. They’ve got this reluctant buddy energy—one’s calm and analytical, the other all “I-don’t-trust-nobody”—that just works. Airalee brings a refreshing edge. Her mistrust, her inner monologue, her rock-clutching paranoia—it made her relatable. And she’s fierce. But the real gem was the pacing. From wolves chasing them to navigating dark tunnels with burning fur and finding human bones in an abandoned camp, the story moves in waves. It builds, breathes, and then slams the door shut with tension again.
Some of the dialogue veers into on-the-nose territory, especially when characters recap things for each other that we just saw. And while the amnesia trope is cool at first, by the middle of the book, I was itching for more forward movement. But the mystery of why these people were wiped clean and dumped in this world is fascinating, and Sylvester doesn’t drag it out without payoff.
Sorcerer of Almora is a solid and immersive fantasy read with a great blend of mystery, survival drama, and slow-burn worldbuilding. If you’re into books that drop you in the middle of nowhere with no map and make you claw your way toward meaning—this is your book. It’s perfect for fans of classic fantasy with a modern vibe, especially if you enjoy character-driven stories with a hint of danger and a lot of heart.
Pages: 787 | ASIN : B0DR67TS4P
LITERARY TITAN 