PAID REVIEWS
118 BOOKLIFE FEBRUARY 2, 2026
SF/FANTASY/HORROR Dragon Island J.B. Manas | Somerton Press 264p, e-book, $4.99, ISBN 979-8-9862591-5-4
Brisk thriller grounded in science, conspiracy, and taut suspense.
demonstrations—particularly her Devo- nian-era Tiktaalik session with school- children—effectively frame the evolu- tionary principles she relies on when confronted with the island’s anomalies. These details, offered through concise explanation rather than exposition dumps, lend plausibility to a premise rooted in impossible biology. Action is crisp and
Manas (author of The One ) delivers a brisk, cinematic science thriller in Dragon Island , fusing paleontology, military secrecy, and creature-driven suspense into an adventure that moves with blockbuster efficiency. After a viral video appears to capture a winged creature torching a remote Caribbean village, paleontologist Vikki Barnes—once an eager field researcher, now con- strained by past trauma—is drawn into an inquiry that defies conventional biology. Her reluctance dissolves
Great for fans of R.D. Brady’s Predator Dominion , Max Brooks’s Devolution.
visual, from a tense helicopter descent over rugged terrain to close-range encounters in the dense jungle. Manas keeps chapters lean and dialogue forward-moving, though some military chatter and antagonistic speeches occasionally flatten into archetype. What’s most compelling here is Vikki’s emotional core: her cautious approach to danger, shaped by a family tragedy that ended in her mother’s death years ago, adds dimension to her scientific rigor and creates friction with the mission’s escalating stakes. Dragon Island will appeal to readers who favor creature thrillers with scien- tific backbone and accessible pacing. Blending discovery, tension, and grounded biological inquiry, Manas offers an energetic entry in the monster-adventure canon.
only when aerial footage reveals enormous footprints bearing anatomical contradic- tions that suggest a flying quadruped—all the more impossible, as Vikki notes, because “there’s never been a flying vertebrate with four legs in the history of the planet.” That unsettling evidence pushes her toward Isla Lagarta, the site of the attacks and now secured by the military, accompanied by a small investigative team and an uneasy reunion with her scientist ex-boyfriend Matt. Manas constructs the novel with smart scientific scaffolding. Vikki’s museum
Cover: A- | Design & typography: A- | Illustrations: – Editing: A | Marketing copy: A
SF/FANTASY/HORROR Chronicles of the Threlphax: Of Kith and Kin Laura Lee Dooley | BookBaby 348p, trade paper, $19.95, ISBN 979-8-317-80504-3
Emotional, immersive debut promising paranormal intrigue and romance. Great for fans of Maurice X. Alvarez and Ande Li’s Return to Averia , Sophie Kim’s The God and the Gumiho.
surface, and a deeper mystery relating to alien life known as the threlphax comes to light—a mystery that reveals shocking truths about Tae-hee and Kit’s heritage. Meanwhile, Kit and Jong fall into a heady romance, one that feels rushed at times but is nonetheless irresistible to follow, par- ticularly when their relationship is challenged by the presence of the threlphax.
With her first offering in the Chronicles of the Threlphax series, Dooley delivers an emotional and immersive debut that grapples with identity, family, and the para- normal. It’s been decades since Tae-hee Kim has seen her twin brother Tae-soo; the last time she was with him, she was burying his ashes next to their mother’s. So, when a man by the name of Kit approaches her on the bus and claims to be Tae-soo, hoping to reconnect
Beyond the novel’s romantic developments, the complex relationships between the members of KSH House promise an emotional read and serve as a credit to Dooley’s carefully layered characterization. That strength is complimented by rich world-building, and, when explored in tandem with the development of the book’s larger conflict, makes Of Kith and Kin a solid work of speculative fiction perfect for readers who favor character-driven, plot heavy storylines.
and affectionately calling her “dongsaeng”—a Korean greeting between siblings—she is unable to reconcile this stranger with the brother she once knew. But as Kit reveals details of their past that only the two siblings would know, Tae-hee hesitantly accepts that he may be telling the truth. With her brother now back in her life, Tae-hee takes Kit to KSH House—a small business dealing in antiques and vintage artifacts—to meet her friends, including her best friend, Jong-hyun Park, who Kit feels an immediate connection to. As Kit adjusts to life at KSH House, secrets about his and Tae-hee’s past—as well as KSH House—
Cover: B+ | Design & typography: A | Illustrations: – Editing: A- | Marketing copy: A
PICTURE BOOKS Dog Gone Brave Peter Bremer 40p, hardcover, $26.50, ISBN 979-8-218-72032-2
Touching story of a special bond between a boy and his dog.
with a delightful reunion of “wet, sloppy kisses” and snuggles all the way home. Tanya Maneki’s illustrations capture the story’s evolving atmosphere, from Chumley and Benjamin’s contented playing at home to a frightening storm to Benja- min’s heartbreak that his dog may be lost forever. Benjamin’s parents play an impor- tant role as well, remaining calm in the
This heartwarming story of a boy and his dog will delight young readers. Benjamin’s best friend is his sweet pooch, Chumley, who “help[s] Benjamin with his feelings” and calms him down when he is nervous. The two spend all their free time together, playing, cuddling, and enjoying summer break. But when a menacing rainstorm moves in one day, poor Chumley is just as terrified as Benjamin at the cracking thunder and rain
Great for fans of Lauren Castillo’s Just Like Millie , Luca Tortolini’s My Dog and I.
midst of the storm while reassuring Benjamin they will do their absolute best to find Chumley. Benjamin’s fear is palpable, but animal lovers of all ages will rejoice when Chumley is found safe and sound.
pelting against their window. The pair tries to comfort each other, until Benjamin’s dad sets off the smoke alarm with his cooking and Chumley goes into sensory overload, escaping out the front door and into the storm. Bremer (author of the YA fantasy novel Treetops ) hits all the right notes for animal lovers in this sweet tale, showing Chumley and Benjamin’s special bond and the panic both feel when they’re separated by the storm. At first, Benjamin freezes in fear, unsure of what to do—“His hands felt clammy, and his legs were frozen in place”—but with tender encouragement from his parents, he decides to venture into the storm and help find his pal. The search is scary, and young readers will feel worried for Chumley as Benjamin screams his name into the night, but Bremer thankfully ends
Cover: B | Design & typography: B+ | Illustrations: A- Editing: A- | Marketing copy: A
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