by Melissa J. Troutman | Aug 14, 2026 | Blogs/Podcasts, Fantasy, Fiction, Friday Fiction: Books From Off the Beaten Track
A Study of Shattered Spells by Josiah DeGraaf is not just another magic-school book. Because . . . . . . Chintor Academy is not just another magic school. It has problems. Deep problems. All across the student body and even the faculty. It’s supposed to be the most...
by Melissa J. Troutman | Jul 31, 2026 | Blogs/Podcasts, Fiction, Friday Fiction: Books From Off the Beaten Track
A Little Bit of Background The first time I read the Little House on the Prairie books, I was Laura’s age, in elementary school. I remember liking the stories as pleasant, if a little boring at times, though I thought the last book (The First Four Years) was weird...
by J.R. Brady | Jun 12, 2026 | Blogs/Podcasts, Fiction, Friday Fiction: Books From Off the Beaten Track
What if sea beasts of ancient legend were alive today? This is the burning question explored in Beneath the Deep by Andrea Chatman. If you are in the mood for a good sea monster adventure with Jules Verne vibes, mystery, strong family bonds, and a touch of romance- I...
by Melissa J. Troutman | May 29, 2026 | Blogs/Podcasts, Fiction, Friday Fiction: Books From Off the Beaten Track
When it comes to my favorite classics, Ben-Hur may have more depth, but The Scarlet Pimpernel has more intrigue. Published in novel form in 1905 by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, after two years of success as a play, The Scarlet Pimpernel tells the story of what happens when...
by Melissa J. Troutman | Feb 13, 2026 | Blogs/Podcasts, Fantasy, Fiction, Friday Fiction: Books From Off the Beaten Track
I could not be more excited to share this review of Caligo by J. J. Fischer. (If you haven’t read The Nightingale Trilogy, read with caution, because I couldn’t avoid some vague spoilers of the last book.) Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a series like The...
by J.R. Brady | Jan 23, 2026 | Blogs/Podcasts, Fiction, Friday Fiction: Books From Off the Beaten Track
Hello, Friday Fiction fans! Just dropping by to introduce a new contributor to the blog, J.R. Brady. J.R. lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband, kids, and critters. She is a published author of poems and short stories. Her first...
