Leo Vidal Book Reviews

  Book Review: Crow: The Luck of Charm Sometimes, the smallest things can offer comfort when the world around us seems determined to take our happiness away. In Crow: The Luck of Charm , Surya Prakash Shrivastava explores this idea through Yash, a young man whose life is overshadowed by family conflict, environmental noise, loneliness, and the painful feeling of being unwanted. In the midst of these difficulties, an unexpected visitor—a crow—becomes his unlikely source of comfort and peace. The story begins with Yash waking to the sound of his parents arguing. Confined to a wheelchair, he feels trapped not only by his physical circumstances but also by the emotional atmosphere of his home. Construction noise outside adds to his distress, leaving him with little opportunity to escape the constant turmoil surrounding him. His repeated questions about why he was born into such a difficult life reveal the depth of his unhappiness. Then a crow appears at his window. Its presence offers ...

  Book Review: Rainbow Phoenix by Marcelle Cooper Rainbow Phoenix By Marcelle Cooper Genre: Science fantasy, dystopian adventure, coming-of-age A story about identity, freedom, the dangers of absolute power, and the courage to become whole. In Rainbow Phoenix , Marcelle Cooper creates an imaginative science-fantasy adventure that combines spectacular worldbuilding, political intrigue, personal discovery, and a heroine determined to challenge a society that has already decided who she should be. Phoebe Fenix has grown up on Pheyrath, a world dominated by solemn traditions, elaborate mourning rituals, and the belief that every person belongs to one of seven colors, each representing a particular calling. As she approaches the age when the mysterious Cores will determine her future, Phoebe dreams of something different. She longs for the brightness, freedom, and excitement of Solara, the world associated with Yellow. But her desire to escape her assigned destiny will lead her into a ...

  Book Review: The Primordial By The Founder What happens when the gods of ancient Egyptian mythology become entangled with a modern-day apocalypse? In The Primordial , The Founder delivers an ambitious, action-packed fantasy that combines Egyptian mythology, supernatural powers, monstrous invaders, and the fate of humanity in a battle that ultimately reaches beyond Earth itself. The story begins with the emergence of the Children of Purity, a dangerous religious cult whose leader, Aleister Manley, seeks to gain access to the realm of the gods. His attempt to cross the boundaries between worlds unleashes Apep, the god of chaos, and an army of terrifying creatures upon Los Angeles. As civilization descends into devastation, a young university student named Lahai discovers that he is far more than an ordinary human being. Lahai learns that he is the reincarnation of Ra, the ancient Egyptian sun god, and that he alone may possess the power to stop the catastrophe. Guided by Nun, the p...

  Book Review: Burning Caripero by Kan Hayami Burning Caripero By Kan Hayami Burning Caripero is an unconventional, technology-driven work of fiction that blends personal conflict, dark humor, artificial intelligence, and social criticism. Inspired by an actual dispute, the book explores what happens when a person's determination to defend his principles collides with an impersonal digital marketplace—and when the AI systems he relies on become part of the problem. Review In Burning Caripero, Kan Hayami transforms an apparently ordinary online marketplace dispute into an unexpectedly ambitious exploration of technology, human dignity, artificial intelligence, and the dangers of allowing frustration to consume one's life. At the center of the story is Hayami Kan, a retired Tokyo firefighter who is trying to establish a new life through literary translation and small online sales. A dispute over a used computer motherboard, sold through the fictional marketplace Caripero, draws h...

  Book Review: Cosmic Sadness: Toska… By Kirill Khrestinin In Cosmic Sadness: Toska… , Kirill Khrestinin presents a dark, unsettling exploration of loneliness, failed dreams, obsessive love, and the painful distance between the lives we imagine for ourselves and the lives we actually experience. Set largely within the brutal world of a prison, this psychologically intense novel follows Ruslan Levin, a Russian immigrant whose growing disillusionment with life threatens to consume whatever hope remains in him. Levin is a deeply troubled man. Approaching middle age, struggling with sleeplessness, and haunted by memories of the life he left behind in Russia, he finds himself increasingly alienated from American society and unable to establish meaningful connections with other people. His work as a correctional officer exposes him to violence and human cruelty, while his own thoughts become an equally disturbing prison. His loneliness is intensified by his conflicting desires for intima...

  Book Review: Pure Nerve: The Noovitalist Manifesto By Timofei Sheludiakov What does it mean to live with purpose, take responsibility for your choices, and turn your ideas into something that changes the world? In Pure Nerve: The Noovitalist Manifesto , Timofei Sheludiakov tackles these questions through a bold philosophy of action, entrepreneurship, personal responsibility, and the relentless pursuit of creation. At the heart of the book is the concept of Noovitalism , a philosophy Sheludiakov develops around the relationship between the mind and the life force that drives people to create. He describes this combination as “controlled fire”—the ability to harness ambition, curiosity, and restless energy, then channel them into meaningful work. His central argument is that having ideas, knowledge, and talent is not enough. What matters is the willingness to act, accept responsibility for the outcome, and persist when circumstances become difficult. The author explores these ideas...

  Book Review: David vs Goliath – Part 1: The Invention By Sascha Tordai What happens when an independent inventor develops a promising product, attracts the attention of a powerful corporation, and then finds himself struggling to protect what he has created? In David vs Goliath – Part 1: The Invention , Sascha Tordai tells a compelling, deeply personal story about innovation, ambition, corporate power, and the potentially devastating consequences of doing business with a much larger opponent. The book introduces readers to Tordai, a technically gifted inventor whose fascination with machinery began in childhood. Growing up around workshops, tools, engines, and computers, he developed a practical understanding of how things work and an instinct for solving problems. His early life was also marked by family difficulties, bullying, and the tragic death of his sister Josephine. These experiences provide important background to the persistence and determination that would later shape ...

You Are Capable of More A No-Excuses Guide to Becoming Your Best Self Author: Chris Sund Publisher: Game Changer Publishing Genre: Personal development, self-improvement, leadership What does it take to become the person you know you could be? Is it greater talent, better opportunities, more education, or simply a little more luck? In You Are Capable of More: A No-Excuses Guide to Becoming Your Best Self, Chris Sund makes a compelling case that meaningful personal growth often begins with something much closer to home: the choices we make every day. Sund's book is an encouraging, practical guide for readers who feel they have more to offer but struggle to translate that potential into action. Rather than relying on empty motivational slogans, he draws on personal experiences, professional challenges, family relationships, and lessons learned through leadership to explain how people can develop greater discipline, resilience, confidence, and purpose. Taking responsibility for your f...

A moving historical novel about a family’s struggle to survive war, persecution, and the destruction of the world they once knew. Avi Dobzinski’s The Warsaw Diary Keeper is a deeply affecting historical novel that follows Alina Kaufer and her family through the gathering darkness of prewar Europe and the devastating years of World War II. Drawing on real historical figures and documents, as well as fictional characters, Dobzinski creates an intimate portrait of a family caught in the machinery of history. At the heart of the story is Alina, a young girl whose childhood begins in a world of familiar homes, family gatherings, school lessons, and small everyday pleasures. Through her eyes, readers experience the gradual transformation of ordinary life into something increasingly frightening and uncertain. The growing hostility toward Jews, the spread of nationalism, and the collapse of social order are not presented merely as distant historical events. They intrude into family relationsh...

  Book Review: A Line Struck Through By Alice Wendover In A Line Struck Through , the second installment in Alice Wendover’s Marrow & Vine Mystery series, a village celebration turns into a murder investigation, drawing a small English community into a web of old secrets, strained relationships, and carefully concealed truths. This is a cozy mystery with an unusually literary sensibility, where the smallest details on a printed page can prove as revealing as the most obvious physical evidence. The story opens during Wychcombe’s annual Bonfire Night celebration. As the villagers gather around the fire, they discover that the figure displayed in a chair on an old handcart is not the customary effigy but the body of Roland Askew, a respected local man involved in the village’s historical trust. The shocking discovery sets off an investigation in which suspicion spreads quickly, old grievances resurface, and seemingly insignificant details take on new meaning. At the center of the ...

  Book Review: The Pieces That Made Me Whole: Finding Purpose Through the Life You Thought Had Broken You by Jimmy Adams Some of life's most painful experiences can become the very lessons that help us discover who we are meant to be. That is the powerful message at the heart of The Pieces That Made Me Whole , Jimmy Adams's heartfelt memoir and guide to personal growth, faith, and self-discovery. Adams takes readers through the defining experiences of his life, beginning with a childhood marked by family conflict, uncertainty, and hardship. His memories of looking out a window at the trees outside his childhood home offer a poignant image of a young boy searching for peace in a world he cannot fully understand. From there, his story unfolds through family separation, financial struggles, difficult experiences growing up in Los Angeles, and the influence of people who helped him find direction and stability. Some of the book's most memorable passages explore the lasting im...

  Book Review: Ashes of the Ninth Flame by E.M.M. Joy Ashes of the Ninth Flame , the first book in E.M.M. Joy’s The Ninth Flame series, is an enchanting fantasy novel that combines dragons, ancient mysteries, forgotten history, and the enduring power of memory. At its heart is a moving story about sacrifice, belonging, and the extraordinary importance of remembering those who might otherwise be lost. The story introduces us to Liora, a warmhearted young woman living in Greyhaven, a charming village where dragons are part of everyday life and ordinary pleasures include fresh bread, friendly conversations, and helping one’s neighbors. Liora’s life seems peaceful, but strange dreams, unexplained sensations, and the arrival of a mysterious traveler suggest that her past holds secrets she has yet to discover. As she follows the clues, she becomes entangled in the forgotten history of Aster Vhal and the nine keepers of the Eternal Flames. Central to the mystery is Kael, the Ninth of th...

A dark, imaginative collection of short stories filled with sinister secrets, unexpected twists, and unsettling characters. What happens when love turns into obsession, jealousy becomes deadly, and the line between good and evil begins to disappear? These are some of the questions explored in Miss J Diaries , a collection of short stories by Dare Zaenab that takes readers into a world of murder, betrayal, revenge, supernatural forces, and deeply troubled relationships. Organized into two sections, Ashes and A Bowl of Cherries , the book offers a wide variety of stories, many of which deliver their surprises in just a few pages. Rather than following one central plot, Zaenab presents a succession of unusual situations and disturbing revelations, allowing each story to establish its own atmosphere and leave its own impression. One of the collection's greatest strengths is its ability to surprise the reader . In “Granny Knows Best,” a seemingly ordinary friendship develops into a dis...

  Book Review: The Wrong Ambrose Hearne By Alice Wendover In The Wrong Ambrose Hearne , Alice Wendover delivers an atmospheric and intricately constructed cozy mystery that combines the charm of an English village bookshop with a murder investigation full of unsettling clues, buried secrets, and questions about identity. The first book in the Marrow & Vine Mystery series, this novel offers a refreshing alternative to mysteries that rely on nonstop action, building suspense instead through careful observation, intriguing contradictions, and the secrets hidden in ordinary objects. The story begins when Bridie Quell, the owner of Marrow & Vine, discovers Ambrose Hearne dead in the bookshop’s stockroom. What initially appears to be a fatal accident involving a fallen ladder soon becomes considerably more complicated. The position of the ladder, the dead man’s discarded glasses, and other peculiar details suggest that the explanation may not be as straightforward as it seems. Wh...

  Book Review: Unleashed by H. Z. Ross In Unleashed , H. Z. Ross delivers an action-driven story about loyalty, leadership, betrayal, and the difficult process of finding the courage to stand up for oneself. At the center of the novel is Tommy Rivers, a young member of the Watchdogs, a secretive paramilitary vigilante organization dedicated to fighting criminals and protecting the public. What begins as a story about a close-knit team carrying out dangerous missions gradually develops into a more personal struggle involving authority, ambition, and the price of unquestioning loyalty. Tommy admires Carr, the Watchdogs’ commanding leader, and deeply values the camaraderie he shares with his fellow team members. But when Carr begins imposing increasingly demanding training regimens and treating his men with growing hostility, the team’s unity starts to unravel. Tommy struggles to understand the change in a man he once trusted implicitly. The situation becomes even more troubling when...

  Book Review: The Pieces That Made Me Whole: Finding Purpose Through the Life You Thought Had Broken You By Jimmy Adams In The Pieces That Made Me Whole , Jimmy Adams offers a heartfelt and deeply personal account of adversity, faith, family, and the journey toward discovering who we truly are. Drawing on his own life experiences, Adams explores how childhood wounds, family struggles, financial hardship, and the pursuit of success can shape a person in ways that may not become clear until many years later. Adams takes readers back to his childhood, where family conflict and uncertainty left him searching for peace and stability. Through vivid memories—including the evergreen trees outside his childhood window, a painful family separation, and the challenges of growing up in difficult circumstances in Los Angeles—he shows how experiences we may not fully understand as children can influence our beliefs, relationships, and choices as adults. Some of the book's most memorable moments...

She Never Left Ground Zero by Erin Strong — Book Review A moving story of courage, love, and the lasting human cost of September 11 Some of the most powerful stories about September 11, 2001, are not simply about what happened that terrible morning, but about the people who lived through it and the lives that were changed forever. She Never Left Ground Zero by Erin Strong explores precisely that territory, offering a deeply personal story about a New York City police officer whose courage and commitment come at a tremendous cost to herself and her family. The novel follows Sofia Vega, whose life takes shape around her career in law enforcement, her relationship with fellow officer David Rossi, and the family they build together. Their daughter, Marie, represents the future they hope to share. But everything changes when the terrorist attacks strike the World Trade Center. Like countless other first responders, Sofia goes toward the danger while others flee. Amid the smoke, destruction...

  Book Review: The Codex Deception by Stuart J. Young The Codex Deception by Stuart J. Young is an ambitious, fast-moving thriller that blends murder mystery, historical intrigue, ancient religious traditions, and secret societies into a story that challenges readers to question what they think they know about history. The story begins with the murder of Andrew Inksen, a researcher who believes he has uncovered a secret powerful enough to change the world. His investigations into the mysterious Voynich Manuscript and Leonardo da Vinci's work have brought him dangerously close to revelations that certain powerful people will do almost anything to keep hidden. When journalist Maggie becomes determined to discover what happened to Andrew, she finds herself drawn into a dangerous web of conspiracies, clandestine organizations, and ancient prophecies. At the heart of the novel is an intriguing premise involving the true identity of the Mona Lisa, a secret bloodline, and the possibility...