Praise

Elba Kramer:
This book surprised me in every way. It is raw, funny, and painfully human. Elba Kramer tells his story with honesty and dark humor that feels both heartbreaking and healing. I connected with how he uses lies not to deceive, but to survive — and how truth still finds its way through. The “Elder Elba” voice adds a brilliant touch, like the truth talking back. It’s not just a memoir — it’s a reminder that every scar hides a story worth hearing. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

Styx & Stonez:
Styx and Stones are two bickering twins in the underworld. Their mom is the Queen of the underworld and has come up with a way to teach them a lesson. My favorite part of this book was the witty dialogue between the twins. It made me laugh at time, but it also made me think. In that regard, it amazed me. Rare is something that can teach you and at the same time make you laugh. I highly recommend this short book.

The Last Known Position:
Whether it’s the forest and the trees or the old one, this soulful meaningful story, is to me about the conflicted human spirit. The adults, the pale ones whose fears, traipse with suspicion of each other and many unfounded concerns. They sense only the negative in this vast naturistic setting, even when the forest spirit tries to tell them they’re safe many times-even relocating them. What thrilled me the most about this little book, is the child, a girl who listens and understands and has not learned to fear. She frolics adventurously with enthusiasm and play. It is sad for the humans who have lost their trust in others, and as the author tells us, “ they are their own worst enemy.” The writing is spooky deep and unusual.

The Last Heretic:
Steve Goldsmith’s “The Last Heretic” is a philosophic challenge to the legitimacy of both empire and religion. Archelaus (“Archie”) records history. But his sarcasm and defiance place him in the center of the tension between power and truth. The larger implication is that what we read as history, or even religion, has been defined by those in power, potentially formed and enforced through coercion. Under those societal forms, no one dared to record inconvenient truths and events. Goldsmith does a good job of exploring belief, rebellion, and the human struggle against imposed narratives and established dogmas. Contradiction and defiance are not positioned as singular options but one that require reflection since convictions, or conversely, to the extent someone is willing to betray their ideals, all carry personal cost. I was not certain if it was intended, but Archie’s love-interest also introduces the potential theme of temptation, not only of lust but of power as well. “The Last Heretic” is an engaging, timely and well-researched novel. Some sections get bogged down but the reader is immersed in the historical and cultural complexities of faith and politics is a satisfying and overall balanced manner. While rooted in the conflicts of early Christianity, its themes echo in modern day debates about truth, censorship, and ideological conformity. A great read for those willing to probe universal questions and meditate on the nature of truth as we perceive it. I enjoyed it.

Dear Dairy:
Dear Diary is an interesting read. At times hard to follow but i think therein lies the author’s skill at depicting neurodiversity accurately. There were moments that made me smile and others that made me shake my head. Being partly dyslexic myself I adored his spelling of the word “maybe” as “mabye” - a mix up i still sometimes make when my spell checker is on. I also liked the moment where he cracks a joke towards a bully who is about to pummel him and gets himself out of the situation- something I have also experienced. I appreciated the different thought threads woven together from different angles much like my own brain can be at times.

First off, I have to confess that I did not know most of the biblical references. All in all, I don't think that really mattered. What was clear was that this author has a unique understanding of behavior especially as this has to do with influencing groups of people. What was also clear is that he had a hilarious way of delivering it. This is the second book by this author where I will say this. He has an amazing way to make you think and make you laugh on the same page. This is a rare talent. But this is a rare author. I highly recommend this story and any of his other stories.

The Infernal Twins:
The Infernal Twins is clever, sharp, and unexpectedly thoughtful. Steve Goldsmith takes a bold concept—divine miscommunication—and turns it into a smart, entertaining story that balances humor with deeper reflection. The premise alone pulls you in, but it’s the execution that really makes this book stand out. What works so well is the way the story plays with big ideas without feeling heavy-handed. The miscommunications are layered, often funny, and sometimes uncomfortably familiar, revealing how easily intentions can go sideways—even on a divine scale. Beneath the wit, there’s a strong undercurrent of commentary on belief, control, free will, and the chaos that follows when messages are misunderstood. The writing is engaging and confident, with a tone that feels both irreverent and insightful. It’s the kind of book that entertains you in the moment but also leaves you thinking long after you’ve put it down. If you enjoy stories that blend satire, theology-adjacent themes, and sharp storytelling, The Infernal Twins is a standout read. Original, amusing, and surprisingly meaningful—this one earns its five stars

Myths, Morals, and Management Failures

The Infernal Twins: A Series of Divine Miscommunications is an irreverent trilogy steeped in mythology, that blends satire, sarcasm and sin into a surprisingly thought-provoking read. For me, the opening book is the strongest, following squabbling siblings Styx and Stonez as they’re dispatched on an educational tour of Dante’s Nine Circles as part of a mythological (and essentially therapeutic) field trip. As a parent of three ‘warring’ siblings myself, I could relate to the logic. The dialogue is snappy, the chapter titles are strong, and I especially liked the Fraud section, which carries genuine insight beneath the humour. At times the pace feels a little rushed, but the central idea of “divine miscommunication” is a clever hook that carries well across all three books.