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The Magnificent Legend of the Steampunk Warrior
From the first page, The Magnificent Legend of the Steampunk Warrior feels like diving headfirst into a swirl of brass gears, magic dust, and heartbreak. It’s a strange and beautiful mix of time travel, friendship, and redemption. The story follows Thaddeus Might, a self-proclaimed Time Magician, along with Clyde, Arnold, Karl, and others as they tumble through centuries and worlds chasing after fragments of the fabled Golden Lion. The book blends steampunk invention with mystical lore and even a touch of science fiction, all while threading through themes of loss and second chances. It’s a wild, cinematic journey, jumping from Victorian England to alien worlds, filled with wit, wonder, and a surprising amount of emotion.
The writing is lush, full of rhythm and melody, almost poetic at times. Author M. Scott Smallwood clearly delights in language, spinning dialogue that feels both archaic and alive. Sentences twist and turn like clockwork spirals, sometimes dazzling, sometimes dizzying. Still, the characters kept me grounded. Clyde’s weariness and Arnold’s loyalty hit close to home. Thaddeus, with his tragic backstory and impossible hope, stood out the most. He’s eccentric and endearing, the kind of character who makes you smile even when he’s rambling about time’s cruel logic. What I liked most was how human it all felt beneath the fantasy, people clinging to purpose, trying to fix what can’t quite be fixed.
At times, I caught myself grinning. Other times, I found myself working to keep up with the story’s many threads. Yet, I never wanted to stop reading. There’s something earnest in the storytelling, something old-fashioned and heartfelt. You can feel the author’s joy and pain in every page, the same way you can hear a musician’s soul in the flaws of a live song. The mix of humor and heartbreak worked for me, especially when the story leaned into its quieter moments, those small pauses between battles where the characters actually breathe. That’s when the book shone brightest.
The Magnificent Legend of the Steampunk Warrior is an ambitious and oddly touching ride. I’d recommend it to readers who love sprawling adventures, old-school fantasy, and stories that aren’t afraid to get weird and sentimental. It’s messy, it’s moving, and it’s magnificent in its own peculiar way.
Pages: 268 | ASIN : B0FR2PMMPD
Thieving Shadows
In Thieving Shadows, Jessica Piro drops readers into the gritty, class-divided city of Rookfall, where a young cobbler’s apprentice, Matthew, and a mysterious thief named Genevieve find themselves tangled in a larger conspiracy involving power, memory loss, and revolution. The story unfolds through their unlikely bond as they navigate corrupt law enforcers, violent inequality, and a lingering mystery surrounding a devastating explosion that changed their city forever. It’s a tale of survival, rebellion, and rediscovery set against a rich and decaying steampunk backdrop full of haunting ruins and shadowy secrets.
I was immediately drawn in by Piro’s worldbuilding. The setting is tangible. You can feel the damp rot of the Barrows, hear the buzz of the airships, and taste the desperation in every stolen bite. What I really appreciated was how Piro layered Rookfall’s society. There’s no subtlety to the cruelty of the elites or the grinding poverty of the lessers, but that works in the book’s favor. The story doesn’t pretend life is fair. It shows how people survive when hope seems naïve. And while the plot dabbles in the fantastical with hidden powers and ancient machines, it’s grounded in sharp and often painful truths about oppression and human nature. I found myself rooting for Genevieve not just as a character, but as a symbol of rebellion. She’s clever, dangerous, and stubbornly alive.
But what got me emotionally was the relationship between Genevieve and Matthew. There’s no forced romance or cheesy dialogue. It’s awkward and real. They both carry deep scars–hers from betrayal, his from poverty and fear. And yet there’s a fragile trust that builds in stolen moments. Matthew’s kindness is quiet but powerful, and Genevieve’s journey from lone wolf to someone who might accept help resonated with me. Piro doesn’t rush their connection, and that patience pays off. The villain, Baron Hawkes, felt a bit cartoonishly evil at times, but that’s a small bump in an otherwise gripping ride.
Thieving Shadows surprised me with its heart. I heartily enjoyed the steampunk adventure and the dystopian mystery. It’s a story about people trying to matter in a world that wants them forgotten. Fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows or Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard series will find their next great read here. It’s messy, dark, and relatable, and I couldn’t put it down.
Pages: 289 | ASIN : B0F44D46DN
Moonlight Serenade
Terry Mark’s Moonlight Serenade offers a wild reimagining of World War II, blending historical fiction with bold fantasy. It’s August 1944. The Normandy invasion has shaken Europe. General Patton races across France with his armored command. Meanwhile, Amelia Earhart is stationed on a remote South Pacific island, secretly reporting on Japanese warship movements for the U.S. Navy. Across the globe, young Navy flier Paul Newman teams up with Earhart as they embark on a whirlwind journey through war-torn Europe, eventually crossing paths with Patton. In a twist straight from the imagination, Anne Frank and her family flee Nazi werewolves while Hitler and his forces hunt for the Vim gems—mystical relics with the power to unleash unspeakable destruction.
This novel is an alternate history as bizarre as it is captivating. Real historical figures—Anne Frank, Paul Newman, Amelia Earhart, and Glenn Miller—are thrust into a world where historical events collide with the fantastical. It’s a premise reminiscent of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, where fact and fiction fuse to dazzling effect. The story’s strength lies in its playfulness. While the characters face peril, the tone is unmistakably tongue-in-cheek, making it difficult to take the danger too seriously. This approach suits the material perfectly.
Mark’s mischievous storytelling keeps readers guessing, weaving real-life events with inventive twists in a way that feels fresh and exhilarating. Imagine World War II in a snow globe—shaken, scattered, and reassembled into a thrilling new vision. The result? Pure entertainment. This isn’t literary fiction, nor does it aspire to be. It’s pure pulp escapism, and it excels in its mission. Glenn Miller, reinvented in Mark’s imaginative world, is an undeniable standout, stealing the show with charisma and charm. Despite being the third entry in a series, the novel works seamlessly as a standalone. Newcomers can dive in without hesitation and follow the action with ease.
Moonlight Serenade is an unabashedly bombastic romp, a whirlwind of intrigue and humor set against an alternate WWII backdrop. It’s not just a book—it’s an adventure worth taking, and one that will leave you grinning from start to finish.
Pages: 309 | ASIN : B09M547NX8
Finding Self-Worth
Counterblow Clemency follows a rebellious sixteen-year-old boy who, with his friends, faces the consequences of his actions and is drawn into a conflict far beyond their control. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I had a wild dream one night about being on a freeway covered in blinding digital advertisements. Then the dream shifted to the aftermath of a giant house party. I wandered through this mansion with tons of empty alcohol bottles and dirty wine glasses scattered about until I found a small office with a woman inside, crying at her desk. I won’t say anymore because I don’t want to give anything away, but it was November, so I decided to explore this world full of advertising pollution during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and it grew from there.
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
My characters in Counterblow Clemency are universally on an amoral spectrum. I think it’s more productive to appeal to whatever drives a person, rather than making them feel that they need to measure up to a societal standard. Bjorn and the lads are only guided by loyalty to each other. They do things their own way, which explains why they’re constantly being chased by the authorities. This is a story about finding purpose and something to believe in. Their world is full of people who have given up hope and these kids are careening around trying to find something to do with all of their energy—the energy that humans typically expend striving to leave a legacy. No one ever taught them that they could make a difference. These ideas are important to me because kids need to internalize that they never need to be perfect—they just need to persevere.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Counterblow Clemency explores the themes of dignity, entitlement versus social responsibility, teamwork, and the kinship of chosen family. The main character, Bjorn, is 16 and doesn’t understand why his parents feel increasingly foreign to him as he moves through adolescence—he just knows that he’s angry about it. But he can count on his friends. The important thing is that this kid isn’t alone when his whole world crumbles. Part of his journey is learning that he’s worth saving. And as he grows, he faces the fact that he’s in a position to help people—if he can stay alive. Finding self-worth, accepting help, and helping others are important milestones for young people that I wanted to honor.
I find a problem in well-written stories in that I always want there to be another book to keep the story going. Is there a second book planned?
I hope so! I deliberately ended Counterblow Clemency with enough going on that there could be a sequel or even a series. I have ideas about what adventures the lads will have next, just in case.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Promo City is blazing with advertising pollution, but all sixteen-year-old Bjorn Bear cares about is having fun, until the city’s deadliest assassins attack him. With his motley gang of friends by his side, Bjorn must evade a crime boss with a vendetta, overcome genetically-engineered mini hippos, and race against time to discover and stop whoever is out to get him—all while facing the possibility that the only family he’s ever known isn’t real.
Counterblow Clemency
Counterblow Clemency follows the journey of three primary protagonists: Bjorn Bear, Doodle, and Murgatroyd, as they navigate a futuristic world filled with wonders, perils, and a desperate need for change. Bjorn, a rebellious teen, is joined by his friends, who come from radically different circumstances. Together, they face the consequences of Bjorn’s actions and are drawn into a conflict far beyond their control.
Shibles masterfully balances the familiar with the unfamiliar in this sci-fi tale. A hallmark of great science fiction is the blend of relatable elements with the fantastical, allowing readers to anchor themselves in the story while exploring new and strange wonders. Shibles achieves this by leveraging familiar experiences, such as parent-child relationships and friendships, while setting the characters in a world that is entirely fantastical. This technique allows readers to stay connected to the narrative, even as Shibles’ creativity runs wild with the setting. The characters are well-crafted and relatable, their struggles and imperfections making them both believable and engaging. As the story unfolds, readers find themselves rooting for these flawed yet endearing characters, even as their situation grows increasingly dire. Shibles’ approach of not providing convenient explanations for everything mirrors the experience of the protagonists being thrust into situations beyond their control. This technique adds to the immersive quality of the world Shibles has created. While it might be a bit challenging for those new to sci-fi, it is a testament to the depth and richness of the narrative. Experienced sci-fi enthusiasts will undoubtedly appreciate this intricate storytelling, and newcomers will find it a rewarding and enriching dive into the genre.
Counterblow Clemency works beautifully as a standalone adventure and has the potential to launch a new series. Shibles ties up most loose ends within the book’s relatively brief runtime, making it a satisfying read. For fans of the fantastical and the unknown elements of science fiction, this book is a must-read.
Pages: 156 | ASIN : B0CQTKF5MN
LITERARY TITAN 