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The Atlas of Elsewhere
The Atlas of Elsewhere follows Elsie Vine, a quiet librarian whose life has grown too small for her spirit, even if she has not admitted that to herself yet. When a mysterious atlas appears in her library, filled with living maps and impossible worlds, it pulls her into a journey that is as much inward as outward. Each realm she enters reflects a part of her identity. Scale, emotion, memory, choice. All of it blends into a story that feels half fantasy and half self-examination. It is a tale about possibility, courage, and the stubborn tenderness of becoming someone new.
I loved how the story plays with imagination in a practical world. The magical pieces feel warm and handmade. Nothing grand in a showy way. More like pockets of wonder stitched into the edges. I kept getting caught on the gentle humor, too. The philosophical beetle made me grin, and the Cartographer made me feel oddly comforted. I kept thinking about all the places in my own life where I have chosen the chair instead of the door.
The emotional honesty kept pulling me back to this book again and again. The fragility in Elsie’s choices felt real. The regret, the soft longing, the almost childlike ache to believe that something impossible might still be waiting. I got swept up in it. I found myself rooting for her, not in a heroic way, but in a human way. I wanted her to remember her own size. I wanted her to walk through every door, even when it scared her. The writing made me feel that, and it has been a while since a book did that so simply and directly.
The Atlas of Elsewhere reminded me a bit of The Night Circus in the way quiet magic slips into ordinary life and stirs something deep and unexpected. I would recommend The Atlas of Elsewhere to anyone who loves quiet fantasy, reflective journeys, or soft magic that grows out of everyday life. It is perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven tales and for anyone who has ever felt stuck in their own routine and wondered what might happen if they finally picked the door instead of the chair.
Pages: 198 | ASIN : B0FRC44BRZ
The Dragon Moonstone
The Dragon Moonstone follows the chaotic, funny, and often heartfelt journey of Noah Farmer, a young man who discovers he’s inherited wizard blood and must learn to control his unstable magic before it consumes him. What starts as an odd encounter with a mysterious enforcer quickly spirals into a whirlwind adventure full of enchanted forests, eccentric mentors, and mischievous magic gone wrong. At its heart, it’s a story about self-discovery, friendship, and finding courage when the world turns upside down. It’s got the charm of a coming-of-age tale with the wild unpredictability of a modern fantasy romp.
Reading this book felt like riding shotgun on a road trip through chaos and wonder. Garske’s writing is lively, cinematic, and easy to slip into. The banter between characters kept me smiling, especially the snarky exchanges between Noah and the exasperated Erik Guyguyum. I liked how the humor softened the heavier themes about loss and growing up. The energy of the story carried me forward. It reminded me of the kind of fantasy I read as a kid, where everything feels possible and slightly dangerous.
What really struck me was the emotional thread running beneath all the spells and mayhem. Noah’s grief, his uncertainty, his stubborn will to find where he belongs, all of it felt real. The story doesn’t just play with wands and wizardry; it digs into what it means to grow into yourself when you don’t fit neatly anywhere. I found myself laughing one page and unexpectedly touched the next. Garske’s characters are flawed in the best way. They make bad choices, say dumb things, and still keep trying. That’s what made them feel human, even when surrounded by magic frogs and talking raccoons.
I’d recommend The Dragon Moonstone to anyone who loves lighthearted fantasy with a dose of heart. Teen readers, fans of quirky wizard tales, or anyone needing an escape into a fun, fast-moving adventure will enjoy it. It’s about friendship, family, and finding magic in the mess.
Pages: 301 | ASIN : B0CK6G9V11
Compassion and Vulnerability
Dark District Primer: Duology on the Lore and Lure of the Dark District combines two novellas, Sojourn and Take Me Now, weaving personal identity with fantasy, Filipino folklore with urban life, and spiritual questions with surreal encounters. What was the inspiration for these stories?
For Sojourn, I wrote it in a time of grief when my father passed away. And so most of the things that I wanted to say and wanted to do were all poured into that novella as well as the emotions involved in such a given circumstance. Writing it was both an affirmation for me in being the son that I am and the son that he wanted. He was the first one to acknowledge my writing growing up. Perhaps he already knew something even before I knew who I was.
For Take Me Now, I wanted to incorporate the world that I have established and expound on it and give it more spice and relationship-driven. While Sojourn was written first, it was Take Me Now that was first published and I had to go back and tweak Sojourn in order that it would mirror the world that I wanted to establish.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
I love it when we show our humanity both through compassion and vulnerability. Compassion when we are able to put ourselves in the shoes of others to either feel their weakness in order to give them a little bit of our strength so that we help sustain them and what they need to do and vulnerability when it is our time to be on the receiving end of the help and empathy we give to others.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
As my father’s passing was the catalyst for me to be more introspective and re-examine my writing, it was both my feelings of grief, honesty and self-identity that I wanted to explore more in Sojourn while framing it within a created universe that has touchpoints in Philippine Folklore. In any relationship, being true and comfortable with oneself is one of the pillars in making it work. Lose that or postpone that form of self-affirmation then the foundation to establishing a relationship with another falls apart.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
My next book is the next installment of the Tales from the Dark District series, entitled Take My Heart, and is being targeted for a FALL 2026 release. Along with that I shall also resume work on my New Adult series, which will also be set within the Dark District Universe.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Instagram | Facebook | Website
By C.J. Edmunds
Welcome to the Dark District. A place where magic hides in plain sight, and desire leads you deeper into the unknown.
In this atmospheric duology by C.J. Edmunds, two queer protagonists are drawn into the same hidden world—but under very different circumstances.
🌀 In Sojourn, David Lansing, a half-Filipino call center trainer, suddenly begins seeing visions and a mysterious spirit guide. Haunted by creatures from Philippine folklore—Tikbalang, Aswang, and the White Lady of Balete Drive—he embarks on a magical and existential journey that becomes one of purpose, ancestry, and an invitation to a place where people like him finally belong.
✅ Recommended for ages 16+ due to complex parental and identity themes and supernatural tension.
🔥 In Take Me Now, Alvin is tired of the wrong men, wrong choices, and wrong timing. Until the Dark District opens its doors and gives him more than he bargained for. Steamy encounters, eerie magic, and dark truths collide in this sensual tale of love and self-worth.
⚠️ Recommended for ages 17+ for sensual scenes and mature emotional content.
Whether you crave introspection or intensity, Dark District Primer invites you to step through the veil—and explore what’s waiting on the other side.
This lush and haunting collection explores:
Filipino urban legends reimagined
Queer identity and transformation
Steamy encounters and emotional awakenings
A universe where fantasy, myth, and reality blur
Welcome to the Dark District. You might not want to leave.
Perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman, Philippine mythology, and magical realism with queer narratives.
📘 Includes the complete novellas “Sojourn” and “Take Me Now.”
The Raven Moonstone
When I think back on The Raven Moonstone, the first thing that comes to mind is the mix of everyday teenage struggles colliding with sudden tragedy and then spiraling into strange, magical chaos. The story follows Noah Farmer, a lanky high schooler who loses his parents in a bizarre accident and stumbles into a world where ravens seem to watch his every move and dusty old books hold actual spells. Goats, clowns, bullies, and oddball townsfolk all swirl together as Noah tries to deal with grief, responsibility, and this creeping sense that his life is turning into something both terrifying and extraordinary. It’s a coming-of-age tale wrapped in fantasy, but grounded in small-town life and the pain of loss.
Some of the early chapters felt slow, almost like the story was meandering around Noah’s world. But then, the weirdness started seeping in, and I couldn’t look away. The librarian turning into a goat had me laughing, and the recurring image of ravens circling overhead gave me chills. What really hit me, though, was how raw Noah’s grief felt. The anger, the guilt, the numbness, they all rang true to me. I’ve read plenty of fantasy where characters lose people and move on in a page or two, but here the pain lingers. It weighs down the story, and that made me care about Noah in a way I didn’t expect.
Some passages soared, pulling me straight into Noah’s mind, and others dived into description or dialogue. Still, I kept turning pages. There’s a quirky charm in the way goats keep showing up as both comic relief and accidental victims of Noah’s magic. The book has that mix of dark and light that reminds me of small-town ghost stories told around a campfire. You know it’s a little ridiculous, but you’re hooked anyway. And the author isn’t afraid to let things get messy, whether it’s family tension, awkward friendships, or magic that never quite works the way Noah hopes.
The Raven Moonstone is entertaining. It’s full of heart, strangeness, and some genuine emotional punches. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy young fantasy that doesn’t shy away from grief or from being a little weird. If you like stories where magic collides with everyday life, where humor and sadness sit side by side, this book will be right up your alley.
Pages: 291 | ASIN : B0BMZD2S2M
The Mystery of Death
Final Notes follows a 107-year-old man on his deathbed who drinks a medically approved psilocybin tea that takes his mind on a mind-bending journey to explore what it means to exist. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Ever since I was quite young, I have been aware and interested in the absolute inevitability of my own death, of everyone’s, really. I have encountered it in my own life many times, puzzling at its often arbitrary takings and the metaphysical implications of oblivion. My own adventure with psilocybin, the proverbial “magic mushrooms,” caused me to explore this somewhat peculiar obsession. The title and premise for the book came to me during such a trip.
I thought this story had a unique setup and an interesting premise. What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
I chose the deathbed setting of a very elderly man, as such an individual would have had much to reflect upon and consider, and was consciously aware that his remaining time was limited to hours. As I have with other published works, I created the last line of the book and wrote towards that. On a more personal level, it presented me with the opportunity to delve deeper into the mystery of death and come to some conclusions of my own, like how I would like to leave existence if given the chance.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Obviously, death and the process of dying when one is fully aware that the end is imminent. But I also wanted to tease the reader with his or her own reflections on mortality and the prospect of non-existence, what it might mean when eventually no one remembers anything about you. Another motif is the incredible understanding of what it means to live on a “pale blue dot” in a minor galaxy where nearby nothingness is all we know.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it out?
Ha! Well, this book is certainly a “one-off” due to the subject matter. But before starting this book, I was halfway through writing what I thought was a sci-fi book with an interesting premise involving nano-bots and avian flu. I stopped after I realized that AI had outrun my plot and narrative. I may go back and do a rewrite, though I admit to being a bit “spooked” by the acceleration of AI and its implications for everything.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Everyman meets Alice in Wonderland is a thoughtful and adventurous journey of the mind that focuses on the recall, revelations and realizations that one experiences at the onset of death.
Meet an unnamed 107-year-old man at the end of his life. His ingestion of medically approved psilocybin carries him on a mind-bending journey as he contemplates his imminent future of eternal non-existence.
Mentally alert but physically depleted, the dying man accepts the offer-his doula and hospice team at his side. Soon, the psilocybin triggers recall, revelation, and realization in startlingly new ways that create an odyssey of the mind in the narrator’s last hours. His experience is accompanied by a proprietary selection of music fashioned by Johns Hopkins for such occasions.
Inspired by the actual practice of using psilocybin to process, understand, and come to terms with terminal illnesses and trauma, Final Notes is a beautiful narrative with prose as lyrical as the music played on its pages.
Readers will come to grips with their own comprehension of what it means to “exist,” as well as be encouraged to ponder universal truths of life and death. The incredible inward journey of a man at the end of his days is a powerful lesson for every human willing to contemplate the inevitable occasion of one’s deathday.
Ghost of Nostalgia
Joanne Hatfield’s Ghost of Nostalgia tells the story of Gavril, a young woman living in the fading village of Nostalgie, trapped within a fragile barrier that barely keeps out the monstrous Phases. The novel blends dystopian worldbuilding with intimate human struggles, weaving themes of survival, betrayal, family, and the heavy cost of hope. Hatfield pulls readers into a world where emotions themselves can draw death closer, yet it is precisely the suppression of feeling that makes life unbearable. The book balances action with introspection, carrying us through desperation, sacrifice, and the quiet hunger for freedom.
What gripped me most was the atmosphere. The writing drips with tension, each page humming with unease. I felt the exhaustion of the villagers, the claustrophobia of the barrier, and the weight of being treated as both burden and bargaining chip. Hatfield’s prose has a raw, urgent quality. Sometimes it’s jagged, sometimes lyrical, but always alive. The world she created feels both fantastical and painfully real. I’ll admit, there were moments when I grew frustrated with the characters, especially with how much they clung to false hopes or petty power. But that frustration also made the story stick. It mirrored how people really act when everything is falling apart.
I sometimes wished the pacing slowed down to let me sit longer with Gavril’s inner life because I found it fascinating. The book races forward, crisis after crisis, and though that kept me hooked, I craved a few quiet spaces to breathe. Still, the emotional stakes stayed high, and I found myself surprisingly moved at the raw depiction of what it means to be called “a burden” yet still stand up and fight.
Ghost of Nostalgia is a story about resilience and the cost of hope when hope itself is dangerous. I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy with a dystopian edge, especially those who like their worlds layered with both beauty and decay. If you want a story that makes you feel both despair and defiance, this one is for you.
Pages: 344 | ASIN : B0CW1DQJS2
They Tried Their Best
The book follows the inner life of a woman navigating modern loneliness, love, and survival. It begins with quiet domestic scenes that show the strange mix of comfort and despair in everyday routines, then tumbles into awkward dates, toxic men, obsessive scrolling, and a world tilting into chaos. Her dog, Honey, is her anchor, and later, a new puppy joins the mix. As personal heartbreak runs alongside collapsing politics and rising paranoia, she turns toward building a bunker—half symbol of safety, half desperate project. The story blends personal confessions with dark humor, showing both the numbness of screen-soaked nights and the ache of wanting to be loved.
I found the writing raw and often uncomfortable, but that felt intentional. It reads like opening a diary, one full of shame and yearning and sharp observations. The author captures the rhythms of loneliness so well, like the endless scrolling, the forced laughs, the hollow comfort of TV and apps that pretend to connect. At times, I felt impatient with the narrator, but then I realized that was the point. She is flawed, and the honesty of those flaws is what makes her compelling. The style is jagged, almost chaotic, but that messiness mirrors the world she lives in.
Emotionally, the book hit me in waves. Sometimes I laughed at the biting asides, other times I felt a knot in my chest from the self-doubt, the grasping at crumbs of affection. There’s a scene after a disastrous date that made me want to throw the book down in anger at men like that, but then the vulnerability after, the quiet moment of self-love, pulled me back in. The bunker storyline in particular moved me. It’s absurd and practical at the same time, a metaphor for needing safety when the world feels hostile. The writing is simple, sometimes stark, yet it holds these emotional punches that sneak up on you.
I think this book would be powerful for anyone who has felt let down by people and yet still holds onto hope. It’s not for readers who want neat plots or tidy resolutions. It’s messy, alive, and sometimes exhausting, but in a way that feels real. I’d recommend it to those who like character-driven stories, people who aren’t afraid to sit with discomfort, and anyone who has ever curled up with their pet while the world outside seemed to spin out of control.
Pages: 184 | ASIN : B0FC83DT39
Elements of Life
Dominion follows a leader of the Dragon Guild, who discovers her brother is a primary target, putting him and his dragon in grave danger, and tries to protect him while preparing for battle. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The character, Gabri, inspired the adventures of her little brother, Alex. As a baby in an earlier series, Gabri had used one of her powers to save Terra from destruction. It made sense to me that her baby brother would be born with the same gifts. Alex’s intellect is far advanced for his age. Like a child, he’s headstrong and emotional. Because of his powers, he feels invincible and doesn’t believe he’s in any danger. He knows he can defeat the evil entity that is capturing and hurting dragons.
Much wiser and having learned to live without her powers, Gabri rightly fears what the Shadow will do to Alex when he discovers the boy and his abilities. She’s torn between protecting him and fighting the enemy.
Their conflict developed organically. I had no idea the story would end the way it did until I got there.
The writing in your story is very artful and creative. Was it a conscious effort to create a story in this fashion, or is this style of writing reflective of your writing style in general?
That’s a tough question. I would say it’s a combination of the two. The words flowed as the story unfolded in my mind. I became immersed in the scenes, invested in the characters, and intrigued by the emerging story.
My writing style may have developed because of the many books I’ve read and enjoyed in this genre. In short, I wrote a book I would like to read.
Friendship, love, sacrifice, and finding one’s place are virtues that are highlighted throughout the story. Why are these important to telling the story?
They’re elements of life. Both friendship and love involve some sacrifice. There is no love or friendship that doesn’t require giving up a bit of oneself. The journey is different for everyone, but it makes for some great stories.
Finding one’s place, one’s anchor, one’s tribe, has immeasurable rewards, but the process of getting there can be daunting and can make interesting reading. As an Army Brat, it took me years to realize my place, my home, was with my core family, no matter where we lived. The pain of saying goodbye to my friends as they left, or as I left them behind, was a sacrifice born of my love for them. As a parent, loving our children requires giving them up to live their own lives. No character-driven story would be complete without some such life elements.
After surviving so much, where do you see your characters after the book ends?
I don’t want to give away the ending! I will say that some of the characters might show up in other stories. They can become quite insistent, and I feel a plot or two percolating.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
As tensions rise, and Gabri, Elio, and their dragons prepare for battle, Alex and Tito embark on a daring mission to rescue Phoenix, a dragon caught in the crossfire of a sinister plot.
Treacherous challenges await the Dragon Guild as they harness their unique abilities and forge alliances to secure the safety of their loved ones and the future of their planet. Will courage and determination be enough to overcome the darkness threatening to engulf them? Will Gabri lose her little brother in their fight to regain dominion over their world?
LITERARY TITAN 