Blog Archives
The Magic Circle
The Magic Circle follows the life of Mary Armstrong, the daughter of a powerful senator whose secret history of incest, trauma, and metaphysical obsession comes to light through her diary. The narrator, Mary’s childhood friend, takes that diary and retells the story as a blend of memory, confession, myth, linguistics, erotic mysticism, and psychological unraveling. The book moves through Mary’s childhood abuse, her attempts to understand it through religion and philosophy, her fixation on the Magi, and her belief that orgasm and God are the same force. As the narrative unfolds, it spirals into ideas about guilt, family collapse, incest as cosmic metaphor, cultural history, race, violence, and the long shadow of forbidden desire.
Reading this book felt wild, stirring, and at times emotionally overwhelming. The writing swings between sharp humor, painful honesty, and surreal insight. Sometimes I felt pulled along by the narrator’s voice, which is chatty and almost confessional. Other times, I felt pinned down by the weight of Mary’s thoughts as she tries to decode her past through religion, linguistics, anthropology, and mythology. I caught myself reacting with both shock and strange admiration. The author does not flinch. She leans into discomfort, and the effect is gripping. There are scenes that left me uneasy, others that made me strangely moved. The mix of intellectual curiosity and emotional rawness kept me on edge in a way that felt honest. The book refuses to tidy anything, and I actually liked that. It mirrors the chaos Mary lived in.
What struck me most was how the story keeps circling back to the idea that forbidden intimacy shapes a life, long after the act itself. The narrator shows us how Mary interprets that childhood violation as something magical, terrifying, and foundational. Her thinking is messy and bold. It is full of leaps that made me raise my eyebrows and then reread the lines just to sit with them. I kept feeling that the book wanted me to see how trauma bends a person’s sense of God, morality, memory, and even language itself. The voice is emotional, angry, tender, and sometimes darkly funny. I felt pulled between sympathy and disbelief. It is rare to read something that so openly stirs up confusion and still feels intentional.
The Magic Circle left me feeling unsettled in a way I appreciated. It is not a light read. It is intense, clever, sometimes messy, and often surprising. I would recommend this book to readers who like psychological depth, taboo subjects, and stories that blend intellect with raw emotion.
Pages: 288 | ASIN : B0G45N7LFH
Navigating Life’s Challenges: Mindful Resilience for Zodiacs
Navigating Life’s Challenges, by Luminescence Goh, delves into the concept of Tai Sui, a symbol of challenges that arise when one’s zodiac sign clashes with the Grand Duke Jupiter. Combining historical depth with modern interpretations, it seamlessly blends Eastern astrology and contemporary psychological strategies to foster personal growth. The book provides readers with tools to cultivate emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and critical thinking. By connecting astrological influences to life’s trajectories, the author transforms abstract concepts into accessible, practical insights. Readers are guided step-by-step, starting with inner mindfulness and progressing toward actionable strategies for managing relationships, navigating career transitions, and achieving financial stability. Goh thoughtfully builds a framework that equips readers with resilience and the capacity for growth.
Goh’s writing is clear, structured, and deeply engaging. Her tone strikes a balance between scholarly depth and accessibility, making intricate astrological and psychological ideas understandable for all. Beginners will appreciate the simplicity, while seasoned readers will find value in the depth of analysis. The writing flows effortlessly, moving from research-based theories to practical advice without ever feeling oversimplified. Goh’s authoritative yet supportive voice encourages introspection while keeping readers grounded in actionable steps. Each section transitions smoothly, ensuring that complex topics are unpacked with clarity and purpose.
Goh expertly weaves together ancient astrological wisdom, modern management theories, emotional intelligence frameworks, and wellness practices. Each chapter builds logically upon the last, progressing from foundational concepts like self-awareness and mindfulness to advanced techniques for decision-making and long-term planning. The depth of research is evident, with citations from astrological authorities, psychological scholars, and management experts that bolster the book’s credibility. By incorporating both Eastern and Western astrological traditions, Goh creates a culturally rich reading experience that appeals to a broad audience. The neutrality in perspective allows readers to form their own conclusions while showcasing the benefits of drawing from diverse disciplines. This multidisciplinary approach enhances the book’s value and depth.
Navigating Life’s Challenges emerges as a distinctive and essential guide for overcoming personal and professional hurdles. Its unique blend of ancient wisdom and modern science offers readers both enlightenment and practicality. Whether you’re drawn to astrology, personal development, or psychological resilience, this book serves as a comprehensive roadmap to transformation and growth. Goh’s focus on resilience-building strategies ensures the book’s lasting relevance as a timeless resource for navigating life’s unpredictability. By bridging mystical traditions with actionable psychological insights, Goh empowers readers to embark on a journey of self-discovery and enduring growth. This fusion of wisdom and practical guidance solidifies the book as an invaluable companion for those seeking to thrive in all areas of life.
Pages: 90 | ASIN : B0DKCFSKRJ
Catatonia
Catatonia, by C.S. Crane, is a captivating exploration of the human quest for meaning, artfully presented through a diverse cast of characters. These characters, including a Catholic priest, a troubled young man, a conniving uncle, a young woman, her devout elderly mother, and her teenage brother, offer a rich tapestry of perspectives and beliefs that ultimately converge in a tragic yet thought-provoking narrative.
The author skillfully delves into the intricate lives of these characters, providing readers with an intimate look at the world through their unique eyes. In doing so, Crane masterfully illustrates how conflicting beliefs can both clash and merge, weaving a complex web of reality for each character to navigate. At the heart of it all lies the manifesto of the mentally ill young man, a belief system that disrupts the lives of everyone it touches, even though he initially appears catatonic. While the story takes unexpected twists, it’s precisely this unpredictability that keeps readers engaged. The author’s ability to create a web of interwoven plotlines adds depth to the narrative, leading the characters down an unsettling yet riveting path. The resulting tragic events, though deeply disturbing, serve a purpose in highlighting the immense impact of the young man’s manifesto.
In the end, Crane’s storytelling prowess shines through, achieving his intended effect of leaving readers both puzzled and disturbed. It’s a testament to his ability to challenge conventional narratives and evoke a wide range of emotions. While the story may not be without its unsettling moments, Catatonia ultimately offers a unique and thought-provoking reading experience that makes it a standout within its genre.
Pages: 288 | ASIN : B0C1J6Q1ZF
The Monsters We Create
Pythia in the Basement is a biting satire about our fears, existence, morality, philosophy, and lacking common sense. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Life, as cliché as it may sound. Just the nuanced complexities we face as we encounter obstacles on our journey. And how we deal with said obstacles. As well as the monsters we create to justify our lack of growth, movement, fears, etc. For most of us, it is easier to create an excuse than face our truth. Not all of us are brave and that is not easy to accept. I tried to sprinkle some of those complexities into the characters.
Roger and Colin are intriguing and well-developed characters. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Thank you for that. I think it was the search for meaning and truth. Self-validation. I know that is broad in scope, but ultimately that is the driving ideal. Colin, like all of us, is full of contradictions; he is trying to be a better version of who he was in the past, but he still succumbs to his proclivities and societal expectations. Almost like a musician struggling to accept his duality: he doesn’t want to sell out, but at the same time he longs for stardom. And you could say that in a way, Colin has not accepted his fate. Roger, on the other hand, seems to be comfortable in his skin, and you get the sense that if he was to perish he would have no regrets. He is at peace and I believe he in turn becomes the moral compass of the story.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Self-deception, the lack of common sense, and the demise of religion and the resulting repercussions on society as a whole. Again, I am falling into redundancies, but I think that was a major theme of the book. I am not a ‘religious’ person myself but I do see the importance that religion once played in our societies and how we have created new religions to fill that void. This story does border on the absurd, but I think listlessness and lack of meaning make a fool of us all. The search for validation is a powerful force that I find quite intriguing. I think ultimately, we are all looking for self-validation in one form or another, and more often than not that search leads us to extremes, regret, and frustration.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have a few ideas but none that I would call good at the moment. Maybe I will delve deeper into satire and social commentary.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
It’s A Shared Experience
Behind Blue Eyes follows Joe as he struggles against the odds to turn his life around after falling into addiction. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The inspiration came after a working involvement within the field of addiction and treatment, seeing and being a part of delivering different models of therapeutic community, which in Australia is quite varied across the sectors. I had a six month period living in the midlands of Ireland so I took the idea and the story just seemed to develop. There is often trauma behind addiction and a host of others issues so I in part wanted to try and show that in a spiritual sense it’s an individual journey that crosses boundaries of class and personality. It’s a shared experience.
Joe Marley is an interesting and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Well I have also worked in schools and had my own formative experiences of institutions and education in a time when abuses seemed to run freely so for Joe the links are there. He’s a smart fellow but some events in life ultimately are beyond us to think our way through. Again it came back to Joe’s relationships and the power to draw from a different mythology, if you like.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The themes I most wanted to explore were of course the whole recovery from tragic loss, betrayal and the power of emotions to set Joe on a destructive but ultimately redemptive course. Community and connection were another with I guess, the power of love and kindness to ultimately restore the balance with some kind of renewed vision for life. I also was quite struck by a comment from James Hilman, the rather famous psychologist who would often say that the ‘gods of Greece and Rome are alive and well and living on 42nd street BUT, the Mythologies of old are now the psychopathologies of today’.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently working on a novels – a part of this series, titled Mary’s Boys – The Immaculate Misconception. It’s a story about Joe’s childhood experiences as an Irish catholic immigrant growing up in Australia in the 1970’s. I expect it to be available for publishing in August 2022.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Behind Blue Eyes
![Behind Blue Eyes : A Tale of Joe's Addiction by [Seamus Corcoran]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41ErbR03U4S.jpg)
Behind Blue Eyes by Seamus Paul Corcoran is a psychological fiction novel that takes readers through an authentic life journey filled with stories of healing and recovery. Joe Marley has a successful and prominent career, but the death of a son and the end of a marriage leave him feeling numb and empty. As many in his position do, he eventually falls into the arms of addiction, abusing alcohol and drugs. Due to the wrongs committed under the influence of addiction and rage, Joe ends up in court, accepting to go into rehabilitation to avoid jail. Hopeless, he arrives at the Janus Clinic where he struggle to turn his life around against all odds.
The description of the Janus Clinic is simply splendid: a health center with the true mission of helping and curing people, giving them love and tenderness. Through Joe’s eyes, we get to see the power and importance of meaningful human connections, which Joe gets to fully live, experience and appreciate after a few days at the clinic. Dr. Janus has a big heart and uses all his ability to provide a safe haven for those unfortunate souls that have forgotten how to live and have given up on life. This is a story of a man’s path through recovery, where the soul awakens and the heart starts to feel alive again. The story is centered around the Janus Clinic. The outsiders don’t seem to understand how it is possible that only one place seems to have the ability to cure the minds and hearts of so many people. The mystery though, is no secret, there are no magic words nor strange drugs involved. The Janus Clinic’s success is due to its wholehearted dedication to its patients, where love, attention, understanding and companionship are given priority, portraying a natural and healthy mindset for the medical approach to mental health.
The story is beautiful and meaningful, with characters that excellently present the intense emotions that come with life, making the reader feel a variety of sensations throughout the book. The intrigue also increases when unknown forces try to sabotage the fame and success of the clinic, introducing a mystery into the plot and letting the excitement grow. The story is highly entertaining and the reader almost gets to heal alongside Joe. The reading experience is a absorbing one that awakens the human spirit, and reminds us to reconcile with ourselves and with life itself. It’s very calming to read about Joe’s recovery path and readers will be able to relate to him.
A plus is Corcoran’s writing which is very beautiful and poetic, making the story even more enthralling and captivating. There’s pain and hurt in the story, but there’s also love, hope and healing, mixing all the human emotions into a wonderful experience. Behind Blue Eyes is an impassioned novel that brilliantly portrays the real path to recovery and the path to life, with a beautiful narration style that’s soothing and reminds us of what truly matters.
Pages: 295 | ASIN: B098KBHVXS
The Spark of Wrath
![THE SPARK OF WRATH (The Mason Jar Series Book 2) by [Eli Pope]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/515Kzo9FKjS.jpg)
Eli Pope is back with the second installment in The Mason Jar series, The Spark of Wrath. In the second book, we continue to follow the Cader family saga. The youngest son of Billy Jay Cader, Darrell, is grappling with his abusive upbringing and becoming a young adult. The fact that Jay is back in town doesn’t make Darrell’s struggles any easier. As we watch Darrell try to come into his own and his father make more questionable decisions, we can only hope for the best outcome. Will things improve for the Caders’? Find out in The Spark of Wrath.
Once again, Pope did not disappoint in the slightest. He is a master when it comes to writing about human emotions and childhood trauma. He possesses a deep understanding of the human condition and consistently displays that in his work. First, let me start by saying how much I appreciated the well-developed side characters. Something many authors struggle to do is implement side characters that add value to their story. The interactions our main characters had with side characters like Chubbs, Kyle, Violet, and Joyce added a richness to the overall story.
I feel that Pope’s ability to write realistic neuro-divergent characters offers an educational lesson to his readers about some of the plights people in this world experience. In the story, we acknowledge Jay has a past that could make him behave the way he does – but his behavior is not excused. He is the perfect illustration of a narcissistic parent who cannot recognize his own wrongdoings, but everyone else around him does. He has an “I receive pain; I give pain” narrative. The execution of this part of the story was superb.
I enjoyed the role Mitzi B played within the story and felt that with some fine-tuning she could have been perfect. My problem with her character stems from the way she talks about boys and herself. The way she spoke sounded like what middle school boys think girls talk about when they have a slumber party. Other than the narrative voice of Mitzi B, this novel is perfect.
If you’re looking for a fantastic family saga series or a stirring psychological thriller, I can wholeheartedly recommend The Spark of Wrath and The Mason Jar series.
Pages: 250 | ASIN: B08YXF74WF
Thief of Reason
![Thief of Reason by [Judy J. Johnson]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31f1qJ0hYAL.jpg)
Thief of Reason by Judy J. Johnson is the story of Ricky Wright, a 28-year-old college student who understands how it feels to be denied reasoning all too well. Ricky’s father is a raging alcoholic with strong views on any subject under the sun – but so is Ricky. Amongst the family dysfunction, Ricky decides to seek counseling. We have all felt that immense need to make someone understand where we are coming from. But some people in this world completely refuse to reason with you. Author Judy Johnson brilliantly brings this relatable narrative to life in a very engaging story.
Thief of Reason is a thoughtfully crafted coming of age story realistically portraying family dysfunction and how dogmatic thinking can affect interpersonal relationships. The story explores the subject through an artistic lens, and adds an analytical element in a refreshing way.
Through the “Shrink” character of Dr. Grey and others, the author demonstrates a multi-faceted view of toxic situations and the people who cause them showing that there is more than one side to every story and that peoples’ habitual actions can derive from a history of trauma. The analytical approach to human behavior made the characters in this novel feel well-developed and relatable.
I really enjoyed how the story is told gradually changed and evolved over time. In the book’s 256 pages, Ricky’s character is meticulously developed. Ricky did not completely change who he was and his actions from page to page – it was a slow-building process. The slow and steady method of storytelling suits the narrative in this novel well. It further demonstrates a realistic approach to real-life issues. It was absolutely refreshing to read a character driven story that relies on characters that feel authentic and that face obstacles I can relate to and understand.
If you are looking for a novel that entertains, provokes profound thoughts, and teaches valuable lessons, Thief of Reason is right for you. This is an intellectually invigorating and emotionally charged novel that I highly recommend.
Pages: 256 | ASIN: B08SGMZP7T
LITERARY TITAN 