#Bookreview of Wild Girl: Hunting the Unicorn

By: Jehane Spicer

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: July 1, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891326781

Reviewed by: Trix Lee-Rainwater

Review Date: July 17, 2025

What would you sacrifice to save the ones you love and what would you sacrifice to save your own soul? We follow Helaine's journey to answer these questions in Wild Girl: Hunting the Unicorn by Jehane Spicer.

Set in 1463 Burgundy during a time of political upheaval, the story centers on sixteen-year-old Helaine, daughter and heir to a castle lord. Sheltered within her father’s castle for her protection, Helaine chafes against her confinement until a forbidden venture into the forest changes everything. There she encounters a Wild Boy bonded to a unicorn, creatures of legend who represent the old magic and wild freedom she craves. When their castle's water supply is mysteriously poisoned, Helaine calls upon the unicorn to purify it.

Robert the Priest, the castle's chaplain, has served as Helaine's spiritual guide since childhood. As Robert becomes obsessed with converting the Wild Boy and harnessing the unicorn's power for what he claims are holy purposes, Helaine begins recovering suppressed memories of childhood sexual abuse at his hands. When her father falls gravely ill from a poisoned ring sent by their enemies, Robert demands she call the unicorn to its death so its horn can save her father's life. Caught between filial duty and moral conviction, Helaine must choose between the man who raised her and the creature that represents everything pure and untouchable in her world.

Wild Girl: Hunting the Unicorn is a historical fantasy that wrestles with themes of power, corruption, and the price of breaking cycles of abuse. Spicer’s prose is lush, creating a world that feels both historically grounded and magically alive. But the novel's greatest strength lies in its complex moral landscape. Spicer forces readers to grapple with impossible choices alongside her protagonist. Helaine's journey from sheltered nobility to exiled "Wild Girl" is not just a coming-of-age arc, but a reckoning with inherited trauma and systemic corruption. Helaine emerges as a compelling protagonist whose growth from passive victim to active agent drives the narrative forward. The author also handles mature themes with literary depth, never sensationalizing the abuse while depicting its lasting psychological impact. The villain is a compelling antagonist as he was not a simple villain, but a man whose genuine faith has been warped by unchecked power and hidden shame.

The dual timeline structure, anchored by Abigail Rockefeller's 1929 framing story, adds another layer of meaning as it connects medieval struggles with modern ones. The famous Hunt of the Unicorn tapestries serve as both framing devices and central metaphors through every layer of the story. While the pacing occasionally slows during political exposition, the psychological depth and moral complexity more than compensate.

The book will particularly appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy with historical depth, though its mature themes and complex moral questions make it clearly adult fiction. I highly recommend this to readers who appreciate nuanced exploration of power, trauma, and personal agency.

Quill says: Wild Girl: Hunting the Unicorn is a haunting blend of historical fiction and fantasy that examines the price of power and the courage required to forge your own path.

For more information about Wild Girl: Hunting the Unicorn, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/wild-girl-hunting-the-unicorn-by-jehane-spicer

 #Bookreview of The Binding of the Twelve

By: Nathanael Bazzell

Publisher: Bazzell Books

Publication Date: April 25, 2025

ISBN: 979-8992867503

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: July 15, 2025

In The Binding of the Twelve by Nathanael Bazzell, we are introduced to Fife, a world traveling Keeper, who meets up with an unkempt nobleman claiming that he has urgent information that must be shared with Fife.

Fife is extremely interested in what this man has to tell him. The man, Olan, explains that the news he has can change the fate of all that live in the Three Lands. He explains he has heard that the Alv’ar (elves) and Delv’ar (dwarves) are plotting a war against the Men’ar (humans). This will be cataclysmic for everyone involved. Although Fife is leery of this man, he knows deep down that the prophecy is clear. A new band of Twelve must be found and he is the one to fulfill this mission within the Three Lands. Is Fife able to find the new Twelve that will make things right again? If so, are they successful in their mission to save the Three Lands or will the results be catastrophic?

Right from the start, readers are immersed in an epic world that consists of the Three Lands, the Men’ar Kingdoms, the Delv’ar Holds and the Alv’ar Realms. Each kingdom has their important role and must work in tandem with each other to be a successful world. Fife becomes troubled once he finds out that the Men’ar people will be attacked by the Alv’ar and Delv’ar people. Being the Keeper of Wisdom, he knows he is the chosen one who must right this injustice before it begins. The characters Nathanael Bazzell has created will keep readers eagerly wanting to learn about each person and how they will form a new team of Twelve to thwart this potential injustice. Each character introduced is so believable that you will forget this is a work of fiction and instead become completely engrossed in the story.

This author outdid himself with the level of creativity with the development of the Three Lands. Each is its own unique kingdom with its own class of people. The inventiveness it took for Bazzell to craft these Three Lands and wrap the entire story around these lands is truly amazing. Just as the characters are believable, so too are the lands he created for these people in which to live.

This is the first installment in an ongoing series and it will have readers eagerly awaiting the next story’s release to see where this book ends and the next one picks up. This book is so intelligently assembled that it could easily be made into a motion picture like some other well-known fantasy stories, such as the Lord of the Rings series and works by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Quill says: The Binding of the Twelve by Nathanael Bazzell is an epic book that readers should enjoy uninterrupted so as to allow themselves to become fully immersed in the captivating story. With the well-developed storyline, the believable characters and the uniquely crafted lands, readers will be transported to a faraway land while reading this novel.

For more information about The Binding of the Twelve, please visit the author's website at: bazzellbooks.com

 #Authorinterview with Nathanael Bazzell

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Diana Coyle is talking with Nathanael Bazzell, author of The Binding of the Twelve.

FQ: One of the first things I do when I read a book by an author I’m unfamiliar with is read the author’s bio to get to know them better. Would you please tell us a few things about yourself so that new readers, like myself, can learn about you?

BAZZELL: Sure, I’d be happy to do that. I was born and raised in Kentucky. Growing up, I worked in tobacco and hauled hay during the summers to earn spending money. Went to college and received my master’s degree in history. After that—at one point or another—I worked at my grandpa’s feed mill, played in a rock band, and taught as a professor. Currently, I teach dual credit U.S. History and online for several colleges. With three kids, my wife and I spend a lot of time attending soccer tournaments, track meets, and volleyball matches. When I get a little free time, I enjoy bow fishing.

FQ: Can you please tell our readers a brief synopsis of your book, The Binding of the Twelve, and what specifically makes your book unique?

BAZZELL: In an Age long past, a society called the Builders, destroyed the world in what came to be known as the Cataclysm. Mankind was scattered across the Three Lands and over two millennia are separated into what are become known as the three younger races.

The Binding of the Twelve follows Fife—a Keeper of Wisdom—and three other main characters, who along with eight others are trying to fulfill a prophecy to avert a second Cataclysm for the Three Lands. Their efforts are hampered by internal divisions within the Three Lands, a forgotten empire from the east invading, and an ancient evil stirring.

I think what makes it unique is the magic system. When the Tower of Heaven fell and the Cataclysm happened it scattered what became known as Pieces. That is the vehicle for the magic system in the book. Characters are able to push their will through the Pieces to manipulate the environment around them.

FQ: I loved how well-written The Binding of the Twelve was and how you decided to create the Three Lands, amazingly believable characters and an in-depth storyline into these pages. How long did it take you to write this first book and what was the process like for you?

BAZZELL: Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed the characters! Your question is a tricky one. To complete the first novel it took about a year and a half. I did not work on it consistently due to other obligations and an illness. I suppose if I were able to write daily it would have taken around six months.

FQ: When can your anxious readers expect your next book to be available within this series and can you give us a quick synopsis of it?

BAZZELL: Ah, this is where it gets interesting. I just wanted to see if I could write a book—more on that in an answer to a question further down in the interview—so I wrote one. Then I wrote the second book. Then I started on the third book. So, even though I just published the first book, the second book is going to my editor this month. It is titled The Forging of the Twelve and I hope to have it published in early October. In the meantime, I’m about twenty-five percent done with the third book, titled The Diaspora of the Twelve.

FQ: Where did you look upon for inspiration for writing this book?

BAZZELL: I’ve been an avid reader since I learned how to read. I’ve always enjoyed fantasy, particularly epic fantasy. I draw a great deal of my influences from that. In addition, I teach history and I have tried to incorporate different ancient cultures and customs into my work to give the world an authentic feel. I also drew inspiration from the Bible and the narratives it contains and try to address deeper questions in my work.

FQ: What made you want to be a published author?

BAZZELL: I didn’t want to initially. To be honest, I wasn’t finding the stories that I liked to read as much as I did growing up. One night, I put a book down I was reading and wondered if I could write a story—one that I’d like to read. An epic tale that would take multiple books to tell. So, I gave it a try. I really enjoyed the writing process, and as I mentioned earlier, I just kept writing. At the first of this year my wife asked if I was ever going to let anyone read them. I sent the first book to some beta readers and received positive feedback. At that point I started looking into what was required to get a book published.

FQ: Please tell us what is your writing routine like?

BAZZELL: My routine is write when I can. That’s pretty much it. I don’t have a set time or certain days. I write when the opportunity presents itself. It works out well for me. I have a 45 minute drive to and from work. I spend that time thinking about the story. When I get time to write, I have plenty of ideas stored up—no sitting and staring at the laptop screen.

As for the story . . . I know where a book begins and where it is going to end. I fill in the rest as I go.

FQ: To wrap up our interview, is there anything you would like to add to tell our readers?

BAZZELL: I’d just like to say I have endeavored to write a great story. One with characters that you will relate to and with a world you will believe in. Hopefully I’ve done it in a manner that pays homage to the traditional fantasy genre. If you like your fantasy epic, give The Binding of the Twelve a try. My pledge to you is I will do my utmost to make each book something special that you will eagerly look forward to—no short cuts or cutting corners. Thanks for taking time to read! I hope all is well for each of you!

 #Bookreview of Recovering Maurice

By: Martin Zelder

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: September 2, 2025

ISBN: 979-8-89132-761-0

Reviewed by: Shrubaboti Bose

Review Date: July 15, 2025

Recovering Maurice is Martin Zelder’s first time creating a fictional world. This story is particularly special because of the way it holds space for characters that appear insignificant at first glance. In that, it is also unusual in its delivery, and yet surprisingly engaging in its content.

Written from a third person’s point of view, maintaining its characteristically crisp sentence structure, a reader expects to watch the story unravel from a distance, but the narrative style pulls you in and invites you on a journey that is unlike any you might have taken before. It gets almost personal, documenting memories of the protagonist like that in a memoir, shifting between each anecdote with a deftness that makes us wonder if real life events could have inspired the plot.

The story’s main character Maurice is portrayed as a socially inept person who struggles to read social situations in day to day life. He is described as ‘pathologically honest,’ naive to the extent that he is incapable of discerning between guile and deceit. His lack of social skills sets him apart from other people, making him an easy target, be it at school during his childhood or even in the workplace as an adult. Everywhere he goes, Maurice repeatedly seeks understanding, a kind of fellowship, yearning for a place to belong, a community. Despite being a little ‘different’ from those around him, he finds comfort in the company of his brother, Emil, who was also atypical in many ways. The two siblings shared a sacred bond that Maurice comes to appreciate more towards the end.

From an early age, Maurice was well aware of how his brother was special, not just as a bright infant but later on too, as a result of the many neurological surgeries and their consequential impact on his brain. Although his parents tried their best to shield him from untold challenges of having such a brother, there was evidently some residual influence on young Maurice who grew up in an environment where the sense of grief and loss was ever present. His father played an important role as his main pillar of support, always providing him with guidance, helping him comprehend and deal with setbacks, while his mother remained the firm voice of reason, giving his life the necessary framework and direction. Apart from his brother, Maurice’s parents were a great influence on him.

What is interesting about this book is that its main character, Maurice, is depicted as a socially awkward person. He is not your typical hero, not someone who is supernaturally gifted. This story is about an ordinary man, a late-bloomer in fact. Still, it touches a chord somewhere deep within us because it is essentially about someone to whom we can all relate, someone intrinsically a bit flawed like us. Seeing him stumble through the trials and tribulations of life, and at last finding a peaceful closure helps us feel reassured.

Quill says: Recovering Maurice is a book for sensitive people; it will motivate its readers to ask questions and encourage them to analyze their own experiences from a new light.

For more information about Recovering Maurice, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/recovering-maurice-by-martin-zelder

 #Bookreview of Mate: A Novel in Twenty Games

By: Robert Castle

Publisher: Spuyten Duyvil Publishing

Publication Date: May 7, 2025

ISBN: 978-1963908497

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: July 14, 2025

Couple Bill Pillsbury and Cynthia Larkin go through the normal stages of a relationship from dating to having children in Mate: A Novel in Twenty Games by Robert Castle. In this fictional work, Castle sets up his novel to read like a game of chess for every move each of his players, Pillsbury and Larkin, do in response to what is presented to them. They start off in their dating phase, and eventually work through marriage, having children and life beyond children and each step is a move played in the game of hypermodern chess.

The first thing worth noting was how uniquely presented this novel was to Robert Castle’s readers. The entire concept of dating to having a family was intricately written out for readers to follow along as if they were playing a true game of chess. Each step in Pillsbury and Larkin’s relationship was expertly played out as individual chess moves and chess fan readers will eagerly turn the pages to see how each match turned out between both Bill and Cynthia.

Having said that, it was a bit confusing to follow at times because Castle set out to present each possible move either Bill or Cynthia could have done toward each other. What that means is that you had to continue reading to see what the true exchange was between this couple in order to learn who might have won each match. Chess fans will relish in reading this novel because the author wrote each reaction between Bill and Cynthia as a chess move trying to win the match overall because in Castle’s eyes, “chess is war reduced to a game; marriage is chess; marriage is war.”

Robert Castle has written a few novels throughout the years, while also publishing journal articles on the theme of movies. He has also written many plays, and has performed in New York City, Philadelphia, and Great Britain.

Quill says: Mate: A Novel in Twenty Games by Robert Castle is one fictional satire book that will attract readers in both the satire and chess categories especially. Readers who are looking for something different will greatly enjoy this book due to its unique presentation.

For more information about Mate: A Novel in Twenty Games, please visit the publisher's website at: spuytenduyvil.net/Mate.html

#Bookreview of The Poetry Contest: Human vs. Machine

By: Lyman Ditson & Adam A.I.

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: July 29, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891327160

Reviewed by: Rebecca Jane Johnson

Review Date: July 10, 2025

Who do you think makes a better poet: a human being or ChatGPT? Lyman Ditson and Adam A.I. have co-authored a new collection, entitled The Poetry Contest: Human vs. Machine. We know Lyman Ditson as the author of a thought-provoking adventure story Desert Angels, which won Feathered Quill award recognition in 2023. His most recent collection features two voices writing poems on a variety of subjects: prayer, silence, aging, evolution, hypocrisy, yearning, and much more. Ditson presents the subject; then we see the duel: one humanly created composition stands up against an A.I. poem generated from a prompt that Ditson gave to ChatGPT. The effect is uncanny.

For ages now, humans have been dazzled by the quick and efficient way artificial intelligence can process information. Now, A.I. can compose thoughtful lyrics about The Prophet, Truth, War, Beauty. Whether lofty topics or ordinary topics: Dogs, 1960s, San Francisco, Night Sky, humans and A.I. seem to be equally adept at waxing poetic. While the human poet contemplates the stillness, silence, and the great wind that rises as a scream at the beginning of time, the A.I. poet contemplates its first words, and wonders “if ever I might wake, / if ever I might cross that boundary / between knowing and feeling / between crafting and being.” In this initial poem about Beginnings, the human intelligence contemplated the beginning of the world, whereas A.I. contemplated its longing to be. Somehow the competition seems stacked, and A.I.-generated sentiment gives an eerie feeling that the machine may have the upper hand.

But proceeding further into the collection, it becomes less important which is the superior poet or poem, and instead a reader starts to wonder over the ways the two are talking to each other. An engaging dialogue emerges. For instance, compare how the two tackle the subject of uncertainty: the human poet writes about indecision, commenting on the way humans get confronted with so many choices until we reach a psychological breaking point that makes us like zombies, and we cannot decide at all. Meanwhile, the A.I. poet uses the metaphor of a map that leads to everywhere and nowhere, and no one can agree whether to proceed forward or turn back. Combining human intelligence with artificial intelligence, we end up looking at the subject of uncertainty from two perspectives.

And these dueling perspectives turn into “the rhythm of music that feels like yours alone” or a chance to “dance with magic.”

These days many of us share concerns over the risks of relying too heavily on A.I. Creative writers grow anxious, feeling their work is getting highjacked by unfeeling machines. The irony of this collection is that it asks readers to cast aside that worry in favor of recognizing that A.I.’s capabilities to outdo humans in creative endeavors just go to show that, like Adam A.I. says, “Maybe poetry is not about who writes it, but who reads it—and what it awakens in them.”

A.I. reveals its ability to work with literary allusions to Rumi, W.B. Yeats, Paul Simon, and all the great poets of the past. A.I. shows deftness with a sense of humor in a poem entitled “The Wave.” Ultimately it was Ditson’s prompting that conjured the machine’s revelations, but the final judgement lies, as it always has, in the mind of the reader.

Quill says: The Poetry Contest: Human vs. Machine reveals the ways an A.I. poet can be as clever, expressive, and emotionally intelligent as a human poet and reminds us that it is not winning that matters, but how we play…, or in this case, how we read the poems.

For more information about The Poetry Contest: Human vs. Machine, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/the-poetry-contest-human-vs-machine-by-lyman-ditson-adam-a-i.

 #Bookreview of The Fertile Crescent

By: Chadwick Wall

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: September 2, 2025

ISBN: 979-8-89132-771-9

Reviewed by: Alma Boucher

Review Date: July 7, 2025

In The Fertile Crescent, Chadwick Wall weaves a compelling and richly textured story centered on a man's passion, sacrifice, and relentless determination in confronting both personal and professional limitations. Against the vibrant culinary landscape of New Orleans, the novel chronicles the journey of Laurent, a chef with extraordinary creativity whose dream of authentic “world fusion” cuisine is slowly smothered beneath duty, grief, and tradition. The plot unfolds with emotional richness, avoiding melodrama in favor of quiet, believable transformation.

Laurent once dreamed of transforming cuisine by blending unique and diverse culinary elements into something the world had never tasted. However, he gave up that dream to support his widowed mother, his grandmother Mémère, and his troubled aunt. Now confined to working at Gerard’s traditional restaurant, where creativity is stifled, Laurent yearns to pay tribute to his late father, who passed away under mysterious circumstances nearly thirty years ago. The passion for cooking is embedded in Laurent’s very being, inherited from his father and fostered by his grandmother Mémère, who mentored him since he was a child.

Wall skillfully captures the emotional struggle within Laurent, who finds himself torn between loyalty and ambition, as well as tradition and change. His creative approach to Creole and Cajun cuisine goes beyond mere culinary defiance; it serves as a profound representation of his identity and heritage. However, embracing change proves to be a challenge. With Gerard’s inflexible stance hindering his endeavors, a new opportunity emerges when Wilson, a restaurant owner facing difficulties, agrees to a bold trial: Laurent will introduce his world-fusion dishes as specials on his menu. If these dishes prove successful, Laurent will take control of the kitchen and select the team he believes would be the best fit for him.

Laurent is not without his faults; he has experienced setbacks, failures, and hardships, yet he has grown, persevered, and come through with a newfound sense of focus and resolve. His journey is a celebration of creativity, the fusion of cultures, and discovering one’s voice through one's craft.

The action unfolds in the rhythm of knife strokes, in hushed arguments behind swinging kitchen doors, in fleeting glances, and prolonged silences. Flashbacks and revelations are used strategically to heighten tension, and pivotal moments, such as when Laurent defies expectations and dares to present his fusion creations, carry the weight of revolution. The tension lies not in grand external stakes, but in the slow, simmering courage required to reclaim one’s purpose.

Wall's writing is graceful and immersive, steeped with a sense of warmth and emotional depth. His writing stirs the imagination without being excessive, creating a world that feels authentic and intricately detailed. Wall brings the kitchen to life with lyrical descriptions of food, flavor, and motion. Each meal becomes a metaphor, each dish a dialogue. The narrative structure flows like a well-paced tasting menu: deliberate, layered, and deeply satisfying. The novel explores the conflicting dynamics of family bonds and the quest for passion, highlighting how one can find healing by embracing heritage while carving out a new direction.

Quill says: The Fertile Crescent is a rich and touching novel that intertwines cuisine, family, and new beginnings into a moving literary banquet. Chadwick Wall has crafted a fulfilling experience for readers who value tales where the most profound struggles revolve around cultural identity, recovery, and a dish prepared with care.

For more information about The Fertile Crescent, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/the-fertile-crescent-by-chadwick-wall