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Daughter of the Void
H.R. Cole’s Daughter of the Void, the first book in the Chains of Fate trilogy, follows Raelyn, a young woman caught between duty and destiny in a divided world haunted by magic, war, and forgotten secrets. The story begins with a forbidden excursion that sets the tone for an epic unraveling of personal identity, looming war, and hidden powers. As political alliances form and dangerous truths bubble to the surface, Raelyn must navigate complex relationships and a growing sense of her own magical abilities, all while being tethered to a prophecy and a mysterious past that could remake the world.
I was completely pulled into this world. The writing is smooth, but not overly polished. H.R. Cole has a talent for atmosphere. You feel the chill of ancient forests, the oppressive silence of stone castles, and the heat of tension between characters who know more than they let on. Raelyn as a protagonist isn’t perfect, and that’s what makes her work. She’s sharp but hesitant, brave but emotionally guarded. The relationships, especially between Raelyn and Ellisand, felt raw and real. And Laris—well, he’s complicated in all the best and worst ways. Their interactions were electric, uncomfortable, and often intense, and I honestly didn’t know how I wanted things to turn out. That kind of uncertainty kept me turning the pages, though.
But it’s not all sunshine and sword fights. A few scenes in the middle of the book lingered longer than needed I think. And while the world-building is strong, there are many moving parts—factions, magical laws, military structures—and some of it felt like it was waiting for the next book to really pay off. That said, there’s no shortage of intrigue. Secrets hang over every chapter like storm clouds. I found myself rereading certain passages just to catch all the foreshadowing. And the way Cole threads emotional stakes through the political drama? Honestly, it got me more than once.
In the end, Daughter of the Void is a slow-burn fantasy adventure with a lot of heart and a sharp edge. It’s for readers who like complex women, moral gray zones, and stories that aren’t afraid to bruise their characters a little. If you enjoy the emotional tension of Kristin Cashore’s Graceling or the slow, layered world-building of The Queen’s Thief, this book will be perfect for you. I’m already hungry for book two.
Pages: 374 | ASIN : B0F8ZZ7JPB
Mystery and Intrigue
While The Jury Waits follows a self-absorbed but magnetic defense attorney who gets tangled in the most personal case of his career, the murder trial of his lover. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the setup of the story was driven by two things; first, my intense desire to step outside my comfort zone to write a work of fiction, and secondly by my love of crime shows, movies, and John Grisham novels.
What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Believe it or not, the movie, Liar, Liar where Jim Carrey played a charismatic attorney who came across as not having a legal mind at all.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
I consider them different. Balancing the two, albeit difficult to do, is driven by the structure associated with writing a decent work of fiction. Introduce, develop, and create mystery and intrigue through plot twists is my approach.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
The sequel to While the Jury Waits. It is going to be a trilogy eventually.
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It Started With a Drawing
D.O.L: Light Running, Part 1, which has recently been renamed Light Running in Parris Island, follows a fiery, sharp-tongued woman who becomes entangled in government secrets and paramilitary organizations while battling her own haunted past. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The entire saga started from a drawing I did in art school in 2005 and a horrible experience I had during a short story class I took in 2009. When I turned in my final assignment for that class I will admit I was full of myself. I thought my final draft was God’s gift to man. My classmates were less than enthused and humbled me with their criticism:
‘I didn’t like it.’
‘Writing isn’t your thing.’
‘I thought the plot was too generic.’
This devastated me, and I didn’t touch the story for another three years. Between 2012 and 2020 I tried to rework the narrative but never got very far into the storyline. Then Covid struck and, like many, I found myself with an abundance of free time. In seven months I completed the first book. After a two-year editing process I submitted my book for review. I’m proud to say that, so far, I have not received less than a five star review.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
The short answer is ‘realism’. My characters are alive and real in my head. I can see them move about in the real world. Furthermore, I am able to hear the inflections in their voices and even accompany certain scenes with background music. It is my job – my purpose – to make sure that my characters live just as vibrantly in your mind.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The primary theme of the book was Lilly’s first mission as an ARMOR agent. An unknown adversary has infiltrated Parris Island, forcing Lilly to rely on someone with less experience than herself. In the previous books most of the heavy lifting had been done by side characters like Joe or Andrew. This was Lilly’s maiden voyage and I wanted to keep the reader guessing as to whether she would sink or swim.
Supporting themes include: Sisterhood in the military; reunion and loss and unexpected betrayal.
Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?
The next book is already out on Amazon, and it is called D.O.L: Light Running In Afghanistan. I’ll give you three guesses where Lilly is going, but you’ll only need one.
In this installment, Lilly must embark on her second mission with little-to-no recovery time from the first. Things escalate when her transport plane is shot down behind enemy lines. Light Running In Afghanistan gives an intriguing alternative story to the book/movie ‘Lone Survivor’. However, in this version, Lilly ends up being the lone survivor and she encounters a village that houses a centuries-old secret. The story will keep you guessing and your questions will be answered but, of course, more questions will arise.
I see this entire series seamlessly spanning a multitude of literary genres. The major themes for the entire saga are already completed in my head; it’s the fine points that need further development. With that in mind, I won’t reveal too much about where things are going. After all, the entire series is one gigantic mystery. And the title: D.O.L is classified. The name of the game is escalation and fun and I intend to deliver on both.
D.O.L Light Running Part 1
D.O.L: Light Running, Part 1 plunges the reader into a high-octane, emotionally-charged dystopian military drama that follows Lilly Lamberton—a fiery, sharp-tongued heroine entangled in government secrets, paramilitary organizations, and her own haunted past. The narrative starts in explosive fashion and rarely lets up, blending raw action with psychological depth. From secret missions and violent ambushes to quiet reflections on loss and identity, this book is both a survival story and a deeply personal coming-of-age saga, set in a world cracking at the seams.
Jason Logan Maxwell writes like he’s trying to outpace a storm—fast, punchy, and relentless. The dialogue is witty, often hilarious, and refreshingly grounded. Characters feel alive because they’re flawed, they fight dirty, and they bleed. The pacing is intense, almost breathless at times, and while that energy keeps the story charging forward, it does leave some emotional moments a bit rushed. Still, when the book slows down, it doesn’t lose power—it hits harder. The flashbacks, the trauma, the tenderness buried under tough exteriors—they all ring painfully true. There’s something raw and human beneath the sci-fi military veneer, and it pulled me in more than I expected.
The book doesn’t shy away from the gritty or the grotesque. Some of the backstory, especially the POW sequences, are harrowing, borderline horrific. But it wasn’t gore for gore’s sake. It served a purpose. It gave weight to the trauma these characters carry. And Lilly—god, Lilly. She’s tough, smart, impulsive, and deeply broken. Watching her navigate betrayals, boot camp, and blackmail was riveting. She’s someone I rooted for fiercely, even when she messed up. She doesn’t ask for your sympathy—she earns it. The book also isn’t afraid to call out military systems, toxic leadership, and blind patriotism. It’s bold in the best way.
Light Running isn’t just an action novel, it’s a gut-punch of a character study dressed in tactical gear. It’s perfect for readers who like their stories gritty, their characters layered, and their themes heavy. If you enjoy works like The Hunger Games or Codename Villanelle but crave a sharper edge and darker truths, this book is for you. Be warned: it’s a wild ride with sharp turns. But if you can hang on, it’s worth every second.
Pages: 194 | ASIN : B0DN85DM2K
The Heart of the Trilogy
El legado de Nahia follows a fairy torn between love for her human-turned-family and her duties in the Soberanía de las Hadas (Fairy Realm). What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
El legado de Nahia is Book 3 in my Faerie Legacy Series and Nahia is the rebellious faery princess whose story fills in that 200-year gap between books 1 and 2 (Herencia Encantada and Un Don de Cuna). Her strengths and weaknesses lead her to change her family’s genetic footprint and, after a great many adventures, to a bittersweet victory.
What character did you most enjoy writing about? Was there one that was more challenging to write than others?
I loved writing Nahia’s character arc; she matures so much throughout this novel. Not sure why, but I also get a fiendish kick out of writing antagonists, and in El legado de Nahia, it was very satisfying to develop Alaia and Ederne as their own plots threatened our heroine.
Friendship, love, sacrifice, and duty are virtues that are highlighted throughout the story. Why are these important in telling the story?
Beyond the fantasy in this novel (really the whole series) we find a great deal of realism. At the heart of the trilogy is the relationship between women in a family, hybrid though it might be. How mothers and daughters communicate and relate to one another is a critical aspect of this 200-year saga driven by generational love.
Where do you see your characters after the book ends?
At the end of El legado de Nahia we leave the family poised to move forward in blissful interdimensional harmony. Although that has the traditional fairytale happy ending vibe, the thought of a 4th book has been nagging at me. The chronicle of the latest descendant of the Santillán clan is just too tempting to leave alone. As soon as I come up with a proper conflict for young Aintza, I’m sure book 4 will take off.
Author Links: GoodReads | BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon
Learning Something New
Thomas Edison and the Magi Solution follows Thomas Edison’s former assistant as he finds himself on a journey to investigate allegations that Hitler has made a deal with the devil. What was the inspiration that created the fantastic journey these characters go on?
The inspiration for ‘Magi Solution’ was a piece of history I’d never known before. In the spring of 1941, Deputy Fuhrer Rudolf Hess stole a plane from the Augsburg-Haunstetten airfield and took off on a wildly improbable mission to Scotland to broker a peace between Germany and the Allies. He failed, Churchill and Hitler both deemed him insane and he was confined to the Tower of London. But was he insane? What if he possessed a secret of Hitler’s that no one has dared to imagine? And what if Hess went on to vow that only three men were worthy of this dark knowledge: Edison (who’s been dead for years), Roosevelt, who’s alive but unavailable, and John Dawkins, Edison’s intrepid assistant. And with that, the plot’s afoot!
What research did you do to understand the backdrop for your story?
A lot. When you’re dealing with a period as iconic as WWII you want to make sure you’ve got the underlying details just right so your novel has a historical foundation that allows your high-flying fiction to soar. It was work. It was also fascinating and the parallels to today’s world were startling. As Harry Truman famously said, “The only thing new in the world is the history you don’t know.”
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Edison appears in the book as a reincarnated spirit: still feisty, determined and capable, but also diminished. As a modern-day Prospero he sadly observes, “I’m the ‘Wizard of Menlo Park. And I’ve lost my magic.” But he’s only lost his capacity to invent. He’s retained his ability to learn – and in the course of a series of hair-raising adventures, realizes that while the world is too big and too stupid to be saved, sometimes it can be helped immeasurably simply by saving one person. It’s Edison’s swan song and it’s an elegant one that’s worthy of his genius.
Can fans look forward to more historical fiction releases from you soon? What are you currently working on?
Possible. But not for now. My next project is a play and after that, who knows. I think I’ll leave Mr. Edison in retirement. He’s earned a rest. And so has John Dawkins. But John’s 10 year-old son, Josh? There’s a story brewing there. I can’t wait to see what might happen next.
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Thomas Edison and the Magi Solution
If you ever wondered what would happen if Indiana Jones met Thomas Edison, crossed paths with Groucho Marx, and then all three went on a mission to save the world from Hitler—with a dash of sci-fi and the occult thrown in—you’re in for one wild ride. Thomas Edison and the Magi Solution is the final book in David Church’s “Edison Trilogy,” and it doesn’t hold back. It’s historical fiction dialed up to eleven, a kind of high-octane alt-history caper where real figures from history go head-to-head with evil in ways you absolutely never saw in your high school textbooks.
The writing is a mixed bag in the best way. Sometimes it’s poetic and rich with mood—like the eerie prologue with Rudolf Hess making his jaw-dropping escape, or the haunting scene where U.S. troops discover the horrors of Ohrdruf. It’s rare for pulp-style fiction to pause and really make you feel the gravity of history, but Church pulls it off. Then, right after, he swerves into pure madcap adventure with moments like John Dawkins and his wife Sophie fighting off Nazi agents in their farmhouse, or a midair showdown involving fuel tanks as weapons. The whiplash is real, but I didn’t mind. It felt like switching channels between a war drama and a Saturday matinee. Somehow it works.
The book’s full of big personalities and colorful dialogue, but it’s the quieter moments that stayed with me. Like when Edison’s old radio interview plays in the background and Josh, the young protagonist, listens in awe. And that’s the weird magic of this book—it throws so much at you, but every now and then, it hits something honest and true.
The dialogue can be a little over-the-top, and the action can sometimes teeter into full-on absurdity. But I’ll be honest: I didn’t care. I was in it for the fun, and it delivers. This is the kind of book that knows exactly what it is—wildly ambitious, borderline ridiculous, but full of heart. There’s a real affection for history under all the chaos. Churchill isn’t a prop—he’s got gravitas. Same goes for Roosevelt and even the fictionalized Edison, who somehow manages to be both a wizard and an inventor without ever feeling like a caricature.
Thomas Edison and the Magi Solution is for readers who love genre-blending, who don’t mind their fiction a little messy if it means it’s got momentum and flair. If you like your history with a side of “what if,” and you don’t mind Thomas Edison being treated like a Marvel hero with a lab coat, then you’ll enjoy this book. It’s for the dreamers, the sci-fi nerds, the WWII buffs, and anyone who loves a bold swing.
Pages: 275 | ASIN : B0DPRDZL4G
Utter Destruction
T.V. Holiday’s Cataclysm: Legend of The Iron Warrior Vol. 2 follows the Iron Warrior as he attempts to stop a demon-power couple from overthrowing another city and causing unimaginable destruction. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve always had a love for horror stories and this was my attempt to do one of my own. Based on the way Slaying Paradise ended, it opened the door for me to go darker. I’ve always loved vampire stories and the Evil Dead series is one of my favorites. The world these characters inhabit is prime for those elements. I originally started this story back in 2004 but never finished. I tried a reboot, for lack of a better word, in 2012 but still never finished. This is the third time that I’ve written a version of this story. Just to finish it has been an accomplishment.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
Crystal ended up becoming one of my favorites to write for. Her dynamic with Travis was fun and natural. The banter just rolled out and she added some of the balance I felt the story needed in certain places. Ashley was more challenging because it took me a while to find her voice. I found her as I got closer to the end of the first draft. Once I went back for the revisions, I was able to find her much easier.
How did you balance the action scenes with the story elements and still keep a fast pace in the story?
To me, the action scenes flow naturally within the story. The action is part of telling it. That level of violence is essential to the character development and how it impacts those exposed to it. I’ve read that my stories have a fast pace, and it surprises me, to be honest. I try to focus on every bit of the story having a purpose. If a scene doesn’t add anything or is a repeat of something prior, then it has to go. I don’t want to be bored reading the story and it seems like that is what helps me with the pace.
Where does the story go in the next book and where do you see it going in the future?
T.V. Holiday’s Vendetta: Legend of The Iron Warrior Vol. 3 will be the final chapter in this trilogy. This will be the end of the story. I’ve seen the end for almost 20 years now. To me, utter destruction and the breakdown of everything is the only way to go. The Iron Warrior will be broken down in every way and ultimately lead him on a collision course with Luc in Brimstone. The confrontation has been building for two books and now is the time for it all to come to a head. After Volume 3, there will be the potential for spin-offs with other characters. But my goal is to end this and complete the mission that God tasked me with. This one will be the largest story I’ve written yet.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
In the wake of Luc’s failed attempt to seize control of Carnage Coast with The Free Love Initiative, The Iron Warrior is reeling from a devastating loss. Bodies pile up, and the streets run red as he struggles to control the ever-growing darkness within himself.
Detective Rebecca Walters, now tasked with investigating the mounting murders, but time is running out. As the clock ticks, the pressure to solve the case grows, and her failure will lead to more than she can possibly imagine.
Meanwhile, Luc has enlisted the help of the ruthless Monsoon and his deadly wife, The Crimson Queen. Together, they are hellbent on adding The Iron Warrior to their long list of fallen champions and bringing Carnage Coast to its knees.
As nefarious forces close in, The Iron Warrior must make a harrowing decision: succumb to the darkness and meet his brutal end at the hands of Monsoon and The Crimson Queen, or help Detective Walters solve the case and prevent Carnage Coast from falling into eternal night?”
LITERARY TITAN 