Stairway to the Stars

A Stairway to the Stars by M.W. Shryock

Reviewed by Lorena Padureanu

I started reading this book right at the beginning of my holiday, and instead of actively enjoying the beautiful weather, I found myself completely immersed in this wonderful story. The combination of adventure, mystery, suspense, relationships, and humor kept me fully engaged.  Purchase Here.

A Stairway to the Stars begins like a whimsical fantasy story that gradually reveals itself to be deeper, darker, and more emotionally powerful than I expected.

Set in the early ’90s, the story is told through Mariana, a witty, intelligent, and awkward 15-year-old, as she recounts how a series of heartbreaking events uprooted her family from their comfortable life in Chicago and brought them to a monotonous existence in rural Virginia.

Everything changes when her grandmother’s old book and beautiful carpet become the gateway to an extraordinary adventure. Alongside Whammy, her beloved family dog, Mariana discovers a golden spiral staircase hidden inside a mysterious tree that suddenly appears in her house. This frightening, yet mesmerizing appearance becomes the portal to Apokalon, a strange planet filled with unfamiliar landscapes, strange beings, and dangers Mariana could never have imagined.

What starts as a desperate attempt to return home gradually becomes a whirlwind journey. Soon, she discovers her arrival wasn’t accidental and that she has a mission to accomplish. This takes her through a world she does not understand, forcing her to make difficult choices, confront danger, form unexpected relationships, and ultimately fall deeply in love.

What initially feels almost playful and magical slowly becomes a fight for survival, and the closer she and Whammy come to the merciless emperor, the more the story shifts from lighthearted fantasy into something genuinely grim and tense.

The adventure takes Mariana and Whammy through dark tunnels, wild waters, strange landscapes, and perilous encounters. Along the way, they meet Kyran, a brave and handsome young man who becomes an important part of Mariana’s life. Their relationship adds another layer to the adventure, bringing romance, trust, and heartbreak to a journey already full of uncertainty. Mariana must face not only the dangers of Apokalon but also the complicated feelings and difficult decisions that come with growing closer to others.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is the warmth of its characters, whose immense help makes Mariana’s extraordinary adventure feel vivid and personal. Among them, the most endearing is undoubtedly sweet, loyal Whammy. He is no longer an ordinary family dog, but a talkative, wise, and perceptive companion. His patience and devotion provide hope and reassurance even in the darkest moments. More than a sidekick, he becomes her moral compass and trusted guide, often recognizing dangers she overlooks and encouraging her to think before acting. Their love for each other is one of the most emotional threads running through the book. He represents something familiar and grounding in a world where almost everything else is strange and frightening. His presence, his familiar smell, and the simple reassurance of having him beside her give Mariana a comfort that makes her determination to protect him even more moving.

Underneath the adventure, the book is a coming-of-age story. As Mariana’s journey unfolds, her understanding of what she is fighting for gradually changes. At first, her world is relatively small; she is desperate to get home largely because she wants to return to the people and things that make her feel safe. But as the journey continues, that concern grows outward. As she encounters new people and develops deeper relationships, including a new love, her circle of care expands. She begins to recognize that other people’s lives and happiness matter to her just as much as her own. And the more people she comes to love, the more courage she finds to continue this fierce and increasingly dangerous journey.

In this sense, Mariana reminded me of so many wonderful characters whose adventures are also journeys of inner transformation. There are echoes of The Arabian Nights, particularly in how the adventure begins; Spirited Away; and The Wizard of Oz—a connection Mariana herself repeatedly makes—as well as something of the larger, more perilous journey of The Lord of the Rings. Like those stories, the physical journey is closely connected to the transformation of the person making it. And yet, the story here has its own particular emotional evolution.

Both the initial descent into Apokalon and the later descent into the ominous grounds of the ruler Dyfel-Epf carry symbolic meaning. As the Oracle tells Mariana, you need to go down in order to go up, and that becomes almost a blueprint for her entire journey. Before the magic carpet and the mysterious book, Mariana is a rough-around-the-edges, anxious teenager who hides inside her books, her music, and her isolation. She is intelligent and witty, but also guarded and afraid. The descent into Apokalon forces her out of the comfort zone she has created. In this harsh and unfamiliar world, she cannot simply retreat into a book or wait for help to arrive. She has to act, make difficult choices, trust people, and keep going even when she is terrified.

A Stairway to the Stars is an adventure about finding courage through love and discovering an identity beyond others’ expectations. Mariana’s journey reminds readers that becoming yourself is not about looking different or proving your individuality to a crowd. It is about learning what matters, caring deeply, and finding the strength to keep moving forward—even when the path ahead is frightening and unknown.

I recommend this book to teenagers and adults alike, to anyone looking for a captivating adventure and, perhaps more importantly, a story that invites us to reflect on how much of who we are is truly our own. Maybe, along the way, you too will discover what Mariana does:

“I had been stripped of this superficial, meaningless sort of conformity masquerading as individuality. I had discovered the strength inside myself.”

So You Want To Be A Deep Sea Diver

So You Want To Be A Deep Sea Diver

Reviewed by Diana Coyle

Do you love swimming in the ocean and wonder what lives on the ocean floor? If you are passionate about these things, you may be a great fit to become a deep sea diver, and you can learn all about this interesting job in “So You Want To Be A Deep Sea Diver” by Linda Soules. Being a deep sea diver is so much more than diving deep in the water. Divers perform specific tasks depending on whether they work commercially or in science. Still, no matter the job, they must deeply respect the ocean and all of Mother Nature that inhabits it. Does this sound like a special job you might want to learn more about?  Purchase Here.

Linda Soules has presented yet another fascinating book for readers of all ages to enjoy. To be honest, before reading this book about deep sea divers, I never thought much about how complicated their jobs really are. The author provides plenty of details and interesting facts, and in doing so, she gives readers the information they need to decide whether deep sea diving is a career they can enjoy long-term.

As an adult, I walked away having learned a few things I never even thought about before reading this delightful children’s book. First, the fact that more than eighty percent of the ocean is unmapped and unexplored is mind-boggling. Plus, Soules explains that sea divers fall into different classifications, and their jobs differ in their responsibilities. I never thought about commercial divers maintaining our Internet cables or even our oil and gas lines deep below the sea. Or how scientific divers collect samples of species and microbes that remain undiscovered to us. No matter what job each diver performs, they must respect the ocean and follow protocols to keep themselves safe while working.

The illustrations, also provided by Linda Soules, were spot on, as all her previous titles were. Each picture perfectly orchestrates what her written words describe. I enjoyed the illustrations as much as I enjoyed reading the informative text. Since she says she is horrible at drawing, the illustrations she provided were AI-generated, and she fully disclosed this to her readers. She did a wonderful job choosing illustrations that perfectly enhance this children’s career guide.

Linda Soules is an award-winning author of the So You Want To Be… series of career-exploring books. This continually growing series aims to inform children about the various careers available to them, as they get older.

Overall, “So You Want To Be A Deep Sea Diver” is another career guide that helps children decide whether being a deep sea diver is the career path they should choose. The information she provides is thoroughly engaging, the illustrations perfectly match her words, and the additional resources she provides are priceless for readers who want to learn more about the fascinating career of being a deep-sea diver. Well done, Ms. Soules!

 

So You Want To Be An Architect

So You Want To Be An Architect by Linda Soules

Reviewed by Diana Coyle

When you hear the word architect, people don’t really put much thought into just what exactly is involved in becoming one. In “So You Want To Be An Architect” by Linda Soules, she meticulously explains what an architect does and what qualifications they need to become one. Architects must study for years and take extensive, multi-part tests to qualify as licensed professionals. When they are hired, they must first imagine what kind of building is needed for the project; then draw concrete plans, known as blueprints, showing what the building will look like. Are you creative, smart, and love building things? Then becoming an architect just might be the career path for you.  Purchase Here.

Linda Soules outdid herself again with another wonderful guide for children, outlining the pros and cons of becoming a highly skilled architect. Children can thoroughly reference her research and decide whether they fit into what an architect is and does as a career. This book, like the others in her series, provides plenty of information to educate children about this lucrative field that might be the perfect career path for your child.

As an adult, I walked away learning a few things, as I always do with Ms. Soules’ books in this series. I learned that architects are hired to build worlds in video games, create rides in theme parks, or even build buildings on film sets. I never imagined these things would be provided by an architect, but after reading her well-researched information, it made complete sense that an architect would be needed for these jobs as well.

The illustrations, which the author created using AI, were sharp in design and used eye-catching colors. Each one perfectly complemented the written text that she provided. When you look at these illustrations, they are just as detailed as the writing itself, and readers will pause to take in each one as they turn the pages. I enjoy the illustrations as much as I enjoy the written text she provides.

Linda Soules is an award-winning author of the So You Want To Be…series of career-exploring books. This continually growing series aims to inform children about the various careers that might be available to them as they get older.

Overall, “So You Want To Be An Architect”  by Linda Soules is another book in her wonderful series that teaches children not only what they need to consider education-wise to become an architect, but also the pros and cons of becoming an architect. Her research was well done, as always, and her illustrations perfectly enhanced this children’s career guide. This is another title in this series that this reviewer highly recommends!

I'm Sorry You Feel That Way

I’m Sorry You Feel That Way: A Novel by Rebecca Wait

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

“So . . . Where is she?” Alice says, “In the coffin at the front. They already brought her in.” Hanna gives a sharp laugh. “I meant our mother. Don’t get my hopes up.”  Purchase Here.

This early conversation in “I’m Sorry You Feel That Way” by Rebecca Wait is between Hanna and Alice, two sisters who haven’t seen each other for a long time. They meet at Aunt Katy’s funeral where Alice has been nervously welcoming guests while trying not to sweat through her black dress, a dress she compares to a dark sack befitting a penance performance in Biblical times. Hanna jokes about hoping their mother is in the coffin using the words above, words that sound a warning to the reader about the weight of an ongoing family circus whose axis revolves around their mother, Celia, and her unseen presence in every conversation even when she is not in the room.

Celia, Alice, Hanna and their brother Michael are people who have lived together, shared the same house and eaten at the same table yet, they have always felt like strangers around each other. Michael is the mother’s favorite- her golden goose- a child who never goes wrong. Even when as a child he got caught stealing, Celia defended him, “My son… is not a thief.” Alice is the dutiful one and the most like Celia in both temperament and looks. Celia however expects her to take care of her, not to pursue her own needs and desires. Hanna on the other hand is the least loved child and she knows it. Celia sees her as volatile and impossible to control. Even when Hanna is diagnosed with depression, Celia believes that a family curse has fallen on her. But the mother’s belief, it turns out, is just another story.

Wait’s genius shines especially in how she presents a relatable picture of how family members identify each other based on rumors, assumptions, and errors of the past. The family rumors in this story are never fact-checked, and we as readers falls for them too. Wait surprises us and makes us realize we are too quick to judge. She has structured the story like a tragedy wearing a comedy mask, a comedy that highlights the pain instead of making you forget it. You could cry or become deeply saddened by the relatable family dynamics, but instead, Wait gives you moments to laugh, to shake your head and roll your eyes just before she draws the tears again when you have let down your guard.

If you have ever been sidelined or side-eyed in a family setup, this book will feel like a support group in novel form. And if you have ever felt like the difficult one, the story will be a major confidence booster, revealing to you that most times, the ones who don’t fit in, are the ones who see things more clearly. In a world that often asks us to choose between drama and comedy, this book allows you to feel both at once, in the end, leaving you with the recognition that life is messy, and the only way through it is to laugh and cry, often at the same time.

 

Bad Americans Part II

Bad Americans Part II by Tejas Desai

Reviewed by Christine Kinori

What if, during a global lockdown, a reclusive billionaire invites 12 people to a luxurious Hamptons mansion for an elite dating app competition? Better yet, they cut off the Internet and force the group to share stories every night to survive the social isolation. Well, that is the premise of Bad Americans: Part II.  Purchase Here.

The book is basically the literary equivalent of a reality TV reunion show, if a mastermind of psychological satire and dark humor directed it. While Book I was a critically acclaimed slow burn, Book II amps up the psychological tension until everything comes to a head in the climactic finale.

The book plays out like a modern, hyper-realistic Decameron. During the day, it is all about flirting, gossiping, and dining while actively plotting your arch-nemesis’ takedown. However, the real tea is served at night when the storytelling begins. Each tale acts as a catalyst, sparking fiery arguments, massive debates, and shifts in people’s perspectives on many issues.

What I love about this sequel is that Desai remains unapologetic and true to himself as a writer. His experimentation with style is clear in this book. He doesn’t stick to one prose style. In one chapter, he uses neurotic noir to highlight the frantic, hilarious romantic comedy that some of the characters are experiencing.

In another chapter, he uses Sylvania’s unfiltered nature to deliver a brilliantly sharp, satirical look at identity and transformation that leaves you laughing while also making you truly contemplate these issues.

The highlight has to be the “Dope Double Ditty” chapter featuring a rap challenge battle. It is the absolute crown jewel of stylistic fun, as Angela and Darnell use rhythm to tackle heavy topics like community friction and structural racism without ever losing their entertainment value.

It is impossible to discuss this book without mentioning the realistic dialogue. Desai outdoes himself in how well he makes all these 12 characters seem as authentic as possible. He perfectly channels real-world observations of urban tension, micro aggressions, cultural pride, and linguistic rhythms straight into the characters.

Thanks to this unique style, the conversation and intense debate between the characters feel like real, messy human discourse. For a second, it takes us back to those family dinners that feel like a minefield, as everyone has different perspectives on life and experiences.

In this sequel, Desai completes the narrative arc, which mirrors the entire 2020 pandemic lockdown experience. Together, the two books form a singular “masterpiece” of social commentary. Unsurprisingly, this second book is unflinching and unforgiving in how it magnifies the underlying fractures of modern America.

In its essence, Part II is a riveting masterclass in the psychological toll of social isolation. The book unmasks how pandemic-driven social claustrophobia changes how we interact with each other.

As a reader, it was fascinating to watch the dynamics between the characters shift during dinners. The dinner debates play out like an ideological boxing ring where one statement can deliver a knockout punch.

The book perfectly captures the political and social polarization we are currently witnessing in our society. It truly proves that some of these deep ideological divides aren’t just internet talk.

In his own style, Desai uses these characters to expose America’s fractured identity. The book effortlessly exposes the emotional and psychological toll of the immigrant experience.

Simultaneously, it directly confronts structural inequalities, racial tensions, and class barriers many Americans currently face.

Bad Americans: Part II feels like a deliberate channel for literary voyeurism. Through its reality-TV surveillance structure and the confessional nature of the stories, readers feel like flies on the wall, prying into private human chaos.

The book exposes all the human vulnerabilities, flaws, and the disintegrating social and moral decorum that people normally try to hide from the public eye. Ultimately, Desai uses this voyeuristic format not just to entertain us, but to call us out.

Overall, we can’t help but praise Tejas Desai’s mastery. It takes mad skills to write a high-concept book that is deeply intellectual, fiercely critical of modern American subcultures, and yet consistently, wildly entertaining from start to finish.

Once again, Desai proves that he is a literary chameleon who uses dark humor and sharp satire to push the envelope and provoke readers to confront uncomfortable societal mirrors.

 

 

 

What Will I Do with My Love Today

What Will I Do with My Love Today by Kristin Chenoweth

Reviewed by Nancy Eaton

What Will I Do with My Love Today? is a picture book about kindness, family, and love. The author gives examples of how a young child could show love to animals and family.  Maine Diaz’s illustrations are full of color, making each page feel welcoming and easy for young children to connect with.  Purchase Here.

The book shows us that it is not only important to feel love but also to show love.  The book accomplishes this goal by providing ways kindness plays a part in showing love.

Another important theme is adoption. Chenoweth, who was adopted herself, shares this part of Kristi Dawn’s journey in a way that feels honest and hopeful. Family here is about love and caring, not just biology. Knowing that Chenoweth’s own experience with adoption and her rescue dog, Thunder, inspired the book makes it feel even more heartfelt.  The rhymes make the story fun to read aloud and help keep young children interested. The colorful illustrations by Maine Diaz add to the story’s cheerful feel and make the characters and their experiences easy for children to connect with.

What Will I Do with My Love Today? encourages kindness.   It encourages kids to think about how they can show love in their everyday lives, not just say the words. The message is simple, positive, and easy for both children and adults to take to heart. After reading, you might find yourself thinking about all the little ways you can share your love, too.

To All the Men I've Killed Before

To All the Men I’ve Killed Before by Katy Brent

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

“We’re here for revenge. And the revenge I have in mind isn’t going to be sweet. It will be brutal.”

This phrase in “To All the Men I’ve Killed Before” by Katy Brent, introduces the reader to a story heavily driven by the desire for retribution, by characters who do not forgive easily – in fact, who do not forgive at all. The phrase further primes the reader for a journey that will keep them on the edge, turning pages, while remaining conflicted about the character’s central morals.  Purchase Here.

Kitty Collins, a thirty-year-old serial killer who kills only the “worst men who absolutely deserve it,” and her twenty-year-old half-sister Antoinette, arrive in Los Angeles to find and kill Aidan Ward, a British therapist who beat Kitty’s friend Tor almost to death, before fleeing to LA. Tor barely survived and was left with a swollen face, a closed eye underneath a couple of bruises, and a lingering trauma that makes her unable to sleep. But as Kitty and Antoinette settle in and search online for Aidan, Antoinette comes across information regarding a serial killer right at the heart of Los Angeles who is brutally murdering women who are found sexualizing themselves, women who, according to Kitty, are only exercising agency over their own bodies. Antoinette wants Kitty to hunt down the Los Angeles serial killer as well, especially because the police have not so far acknowledged his presence, even as the number of those slain continues to rise.

The story also captures the interruption of the sisters’ evening meal at a restaurant in West Hollywood by an A-lister movie star who wants them to join him for a “little party” in his room that night. Kitty recognizes him, remembering that several women have previously sued him for sexual misconduct, although the cases were dropped for lack of evidence. After dismissing him, Antoinette hisses across the table that they should kill him, too. But Kitty doesn’t realize the weight of Antoinette’s words until the following day, when she finds her resting her feet on the dismembered naked torso of a man right there at the center of their room.

This story involves two protagonists whose discovery that they share a parent felt, to me as the reader, like a nuclear bomb of a plot point. This was made worse, especially by my discovery that one of them had committed an unforgivable act against the other’s family, raising the question in me of whether she was justified or merely monstrous.  Kitty – the main protagonist’s repetition that she had killed a lot of people, most especially primed me for a journey that initially felt wrong, but gradually emerged as more complicated than I thought, a journey that made me question what I thought about right and wrong. But what made the story deeply engaging was the half-sister’s involvement as Kitty’s “an assassin-admin assistant.” Her entrance pointed to a coordinated, systematic operation that was ideologically driven by individuals who saw themselves as avengers for women wronged by men.

Brent used humor that made the dark violence not just palatable, but engaging and almost enjoyable. For instance, she told of a jaw that hung out like a scream mask, a massacred movie star who looked like a sad, aging pirate – specifically like Captain Hook but in need of a midlife health check, and a lip-less, dead individual who the main protagonist thought was looking at her. This humor allowed me to break the tension, made the protagonists more relatable, and, at times, made me question my moral responses. “To All the Men I’ve Killed Before” by Katy Brent is a book I would recommend to readers who enjoy dark, morally complex thrillers served with a side of sarcasm and humor, as well as to readers who enjoy books about complex family dynamics. Kitty and Antoinette are exactly the kind of characters these readers will enjoy, even though they know they probably shouldn’t.

 

 

Looked Down Upon

Looked Down Upon: The Exiled Kin by Jordan Lopez

Reviewed by Lily Andrews

“Looked Down Upon: The Exiled Kin” by Jordan Lopez follows sixteen-year-old Lucas “Luke” Ramirez, who lives in an old, small cottage at the heart of Blackroot town, Tennessee, together with his thirty-seven-year-old mother, who is a nurse, and his seventy-two-year-old grandmother. He has autism, a condition that makes it extremely difficult for him to make friends or cope with change. His grandmother, on the other hand, is fighting liver cancer as well as COPD, an illness that affects her lungs, requiring her to rely on an oxygen tank for breathing. Luke grows up knowing that his father, a successful mechanic, died in a car accident when Luke was three. He was told his father wasn’t big on taking pictures, which is why there are no photos of him in their house.  Purchase Here.

Luke starts his sophomore year at Princeton County High School and almost immediately notices Natalie Brown, a new student. He keeps to himself, but with Brown, he feels different. They meet over lunch. But some bullies, led by Rob, interrupt their warm conversation, creating a scene by mocking Luke’s condition and leaving him deeply shattered. He imagines having beautiful times with Brown. But we know that underneath all that lies a chilling, recurrent nightmare that involves a masked haunter who lunges at him in his sleep, sometimes mocking his worth and reminding him that he doesn’t deserve to be loved.

Luke’s story explores, among other themes, identity and self-acceptance. This theme ideally forms the backbone of the story. Self-acceptance, especially, emerges as an often painful struggle, worsened by constant reminders that you are different; this often leads the victim to hide their authentic self, even as they believe they are broken or that a large part of them is out of sync with the world.

“Looked Down Upon:  The Exiled Kin” is a story where the hero spirals, cries, withdraws, and tries to fight back, showing us how deeply he is hurting. His struggles pull us right into his world, a world where systems meant to protect him often fail, and where survival seems like a daily battle for someone like him.  By writing Luke’s story, two-time published author and autistic self-advocate who was often misunderstood in his tender years by many of his peers and teachers, Jordan Lopez manages to show us that autism doesn’t place any limit on an individual’s purpose. His writing style keeps emotions close to the surface, so you don’t struggle to feel the story as it happens. The mystery of the masked haunter is one of his most compelling creations and a major source of psychological unease that keeps you guessing and turning pages as you wonder what that creepy figure is all about.

“Looked Down Upon: The Exiled Kin” is without a doubt a story that anyone who has ever felt like an outsider will resonate with. It is a book that offers insight into what it is like to raise or support an autistic child. It makes you understand autism easily, and on the other side, the impact of bullying and how it can shape a child’s self-worth. This makes it a great read for parents, teachers, and caregivers. Readers who love stories about courage and justice shouldn’t miss it either.

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Deadly Dilemma

Deadly Dilemma: Suicide, Faith, and the Search for Identity and Purpose by Anthony Gurley

Reviewed by Christine Kinori

It takes a lot of courage to write a deeply personal memoir about the darkest moments of your life. Anthony Gurley’s Deadly Dilemma: Suicide, Faith, and the Search for Identity and Purpose is an incredibly raw and intimate memoir that does not shy away from a struggle most people are constantly battling.  Purchase Here.

The book opens with a profoundly poignant suicide letter that Anthony never sent. In that moment, he had decided to end it all. However, he chose not to act on his plans but rather to examine his entire life with unfiltered honesty.

What follows is a gripping memoir that emotionally dives into his poverty-ridden childhood in a North Carolina housing project. His first brush with abandonment which came when his father left, followed by academic failures and years spent navigating the complexities of faith, marriage, and career.

From the start, Gurley approaches this memoir with a radical vulnerability that will surprise you. As one reads through the chapters, the book starts to feel like a late-night conversation where there is room to safely discuss traumas—a safe space of sorts.

The balanced retrospective, as Anthony exposes every emotional and traumatic wound, feels authentic. Thanks to this, even the dark themes of the book don’t feel completely overwhelming or hopeless.  Instead, we get a sense of hope as the book becomes an impactful testament to his daily mental health struggles and his endurance through faith—a reminder that we can weather life’s worst storms and that sometimes our greatest victories are silent but powerful.

Don’t get us wrong, this is a heavy book to read. The raw confrontation with psychological, intergenerational trauma and the weight of silenced depression in this book is not easy to read. However, by grounding the book in reality, the intentional pacing keeps the heavy themes from dragging the reader down.  Nonetheless, this is one reason to read the book. Uniquely, it provides a realistic blueprint for others walking through the dark.

The book also does a perfect job of destigmatizing faith and mental health. It bridges the gap that many who have deep faith while struggling with severe mental crises refuse to talk about. Anthony shows that these are not mutually exclusive realities and there is no shame in openly talking about it.  For so long, religious communities have wrongfully treated mental crises as a spiritual failure. It is about time someone tears down this dangerous narrative to the ground. The agonizing guilt these narratives perpetuate has only made matters worse.

Anthony stresses that fighting clinical depression doesn’t diminish one’s faith. He reframes mental health as a medical reality that requires real, professional care alongside spiritual support.

Anthony’s story also proves that there really is light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, mental health is a daily struggle, but the little triumphs that come along the way help people build meaningful lives.

At the end of the day, life is a choice; one can choose to stay and anchor oneself to things that help make one better. It can be family, friends, faith, or a hobby. Whatever it is, as long as there is hope. For Anthony, his two biggest grounding anchors are his 50-year marriage and 30-year career.

Deadly Dilemma is a necessary, life-saving read for anyone navigating the quiet intersections of depression, identity crises, and faith. It is unflinching and strips away the taboo surrounding the intersection of faith and mental health.

Anthony’s story is not only beautiful because of his unabashed authenticity and honesty. It is a life-affirming reminder that even when plans change, we can discover new purposes in life. It is a celebration of a man who bravely fights and learns to tame the internal dragons in his mind.

My Inner Child Wants to Kill

My Inner Child Wants to Kill by Karsten Dusse

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

I read My Inner Child Wants To Kill not too long ago, and it’s one of those books where the title makes you think it’s going to be wacky, but it actually ends up being a lot heavier than you expect. Björn is a lawyer who’s been trying to keep himself together with concentration because his wife basically told him he was slipping. And it helped him calm down a bit, but you can tell it didn’t fix whatever was beneath the surface. It just made the noise quieter.  Purchase Here.

The book starts with him deciding not to kill this gangster, Boris, even though he has every reason to. And the way it’s written, it doesn’t feel like some big moral moment. It feels like he’s just worn out. That kind of sets the tone for everything else. Most of the story comes out in therapy sessions, and the way he talks about these completely wild events, with a calm, almost flat tone, is weirdly funny and unsettling. Even a family trip goes off the rails in a way that made me stop and think, “Okay, this is not normal vacation chaos.”

The whole inner‑child thing becomes a lot more literal than I expected. It’s not just a metaphor he’s supposed to think about — it’s something he actually has to face, and once he does, you start to see how much of his adult behavior is tied to stuff he never dealt with as a kid. The book doesn’t sugarcoat any of that. It’s not the usual “heal your inner child, and everything magically improves” message. It’s more like: here’s the stuff you’ve been dragging around for years, and here’s what happens when you finally stop pretending it’s not there.

As it goes on, you see how much of him was shaped by old wounds and beliefs he didn’t even realize he had. And the book doesn’t pretend that self‑awareness automatically makes someone better. Sometimes it just makes you more aware of the chaos you already have. I actually liked that honesty, even though it’s not exactly comforting.

If you enjoy psychological stories or narratives that challenge the usual self-help tropes, this book stands out. Its dark humor and unsettling moments force you to confront just how chaotic inner struggles can be, which is at the heart of its message. It’ll leave you thinking long after you finish.

 

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