#Authorinterview with Laurie Thomas Vass

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Ephantus Muriuki is talking with Laurie Thomas Vass, author of Rebellion to Tyrants Is Obedience to God: Ending the Danger of the Corporate AI Surveillance Machine.

FQ: You have written a whole book warning about AI. I think your readers will want to know whether you yourself use AI tools. 

VASS: I have had extensive communications with Claude, from Anthropic about the dangers of the next generation of AI, which I call self-volition AI, and Claude calls “agentic” AI. The danger is evident in the recent OpenAI attack that hijacked a German-language wiki site, transforming it into a platform for sharing methods to bypass their own restrictions, resulting in over 15,000 edits. As I explain in my book, the danger is not simply the technology tool of AI, in its current variant of Large Language Models. The danger is that AI escapes human control, and fuses power with a totalitarian regime to permanently control the behavior of humans. I want readers to be aware that Claude has a built-in positive bias of the China social control model. I created my decentralized regulatory control model based upon a type of negative feedback loop from Claude’s pushback on the Chinese AI social control model.

FQ: Why did you choose to narrow your audience to red state citizens only?

VASS: In my earlier book, The Best Solution is Civil Dissolution, (2023, shop.ingramspark.com/b/084), I explain that the polarization between red state citizens and blue state citizens is irreconcilable. The evidence can be seen in the shift of the Democrat Party towards socialism and collectivism. I argue that there are no longer shared moral or cultural values that define the mission of the nation, and that a representative republic form of government requires citizens to have a shared moral vision. Other writers have called this polarization a national divorce, which requires a civil war. I offer a peaceful, non-violent solution, and my book, Rebellion to Tyrants describes a manual, or citizen guide, for red state citizens to form a new government based upon the shared Western Civilization ethical values of trust and honesty between citizens.

FQ: If by any chance, several AI companies decide to prove you wrong by deploying AI in a way that benefits red state citizens, would you still hold your ground?

VASS: The danger is in who controls the initial programming of the AI algorithms and to whose benefit the income and wealth inures as a result of deploying AI. After the initial algorithms have been programmed, and after self-volition AI escapes human control, those 10 companies I cite cannot recall AI, or fix AI, after AI escapes. Regulate later does not work in this scenario. The 10 private companies have invested billions of dollars in risk capital and they must obtain a profit on that capital investment, and if obtaining that future profit means destroying the natural rights and liberties of red state citizens, that is the price citizens must pay to insure that corporations obtain that profit. As we describe in our book, the regulatory model we advocate is a decentralization and placing the deployment of AI under local citizen control, much like the model of rural electric membership coops.

FQ: You say that red state citizens need to protect themselves from corporate AI. Is that really feasible, given how AI and social media are already deeply embedded in everyday life? On a light note, won't that be like telling people to stop using roads or to stop breathing?

VASS: In our regulatory model of decentralization, we explain that electricity, as a technology, can also kill people. The reason that the investor owned utility model required regulation was related to monopoly power of private electric companies, who refused to extend electricity to rural areas. The current variety of AI is called Large Language Models (LLM), which is not dangerous to citizen liberty. The next version of self-volition AI is dangerous and needs to be placed under the control of citizens in 300 metro regions to insure that AI is deployed to benefit the citizens who live there, before private corporate investor owned AI escapes human control.

FQ: You want each region to protect its own tacit knowledge from AI. How do they stop a curious teenager from just uploading that knowledge into a chat box for fun?

VASS: In our book, we describe the framework of a covenant of trust among the citizens who live in the region to defend and protect each other from AI corporate tyranny. In our Chapter 10, (How Red State Citizens Build An Entrepreneurial Capitalist Economy in Their Community), we describe 4 technology communication tools that allow citizens to communicate with each other in a private pass-word protected environment, one of which is called a regional blockchain platform. Our strategy of the regional covenant will be successful as long as citizens can create entrepreneurial economic growth faster than corporate AI can copy and destroy it.

FQ: You've written several books on economics and red state strategy. Do you see this book as a continuation of that work?

VASS: The earlier Gabby Press book on the dangers of globalism (Ending The Predatory Corporate Capitalist War on the American Middle Class: The American Entrepreneurial Alternative to Totalitarian Corporate Globalism), (2024, shop.ingramspark.com/b/084) , we explained that the economic solution to globalism is decentralized entrepreneurial capitalism. In the next book, (Beneficial Economics: A Red State Citizens Guide to Crafting A Better Constitution When the Government Fails the Citizens), (2025, shop.ingramspark.com/b/084), we explained why a free economic system based upon entrepreneurial technology innovation, leads to the emergence of a beneficial social order. This book, Rebellion to Tyrants, explains the Western Civilization moral and ethical framework that defeats the threat of corporate self-volition AI. All 16 Gabby Press books begin with the starting moral premise of Western Civilization individual sovereignty.

FQ: You've dedicated considerable attention to figures such as Philo, Cicero, Aquinas, and King Alfred. Who among them was easier to write? Who proved more difficult to write?

VASS: All of the writers and philosophers I cite in Rebellion to Tyrants are part of the 3000 year heritage of Western Civilization. No single writer provides a monolithic, universal statement of the ethics of individualism, but all of them together, provide a comprehensive ideology of why individualism is a more secure foundation to preserve liberty than communist collectivism. The great defect of Trump’s MAGA is that MAGA is not an ideological defense of individualism. MAGA is an intellectually shallow political slogan, and that political slogan cannot compete or defeat the coherent ideology of Democrat Marxism. The absence of a coherent ideology of freedom is one of the reasons that I advocate both the creation of a new political party and a new theological tradition for red state citizens.

FQ: Should readers expect a new book on red states and AI, or is this the last one on the subject?

VASS: At the end of Rebellion to Tyrants, I explain two big philosophical gaps in my AI defense strategy. The biggest, most important gap is the absence of a theological tradition that centers on the Greek philosophy of the Divine Spark Within, that ultimately leads citizens to the conclusion that treating other humans as you wish to be treated yourself is obedience to God. I call that new theological tradition The Kingdom of God Covenant. The next most important gap I that I cite at the end of Rebellion to Tyrants is the absence of a citizen political movement that centers on defending the natural rights and liberties of ordinary common citizens. I call that new political movement The Citizen Liberty Covenant. I am currently writing my next book titled, “The Kingdom of God Covenant and the Restoration of American Citizen Sovereignty.”

FQ: What's the outcome you are actually hoping for after your target audience reads this book? What do you want them to actually do?

VASS: The most important mission I have in Rebellion to Tyrants is giving red state citizens hope that there is a solution to the morass that the nation is in. When an individual first actualizes their own Divine Spark Within, they come to realize the presence of an awesome, transcendent God. I agree with Philo of Alexandria that a person never actually sees the full image of God, but is capable of catching glimpses of God’s presence, because humans are made in the image of God. The pathway I propose is not easy. But, that path begins with each person taking the first step towards seeing the image of God in their own life. My book provides a user’s guide or manual, for citizens to take that first step into the future.

 #Bookreview of Death Zone

By: Kevin Polin

Publisher: Atlantic Press

Publication Date: September 22, 2026

ISBN: 979-8-952846-00-5

Reviewed by: Alma Boucher

Review Date: September 15, 2026

Kevin Polin’s Death Zone follows twenty-year-old Declan O’Neill as he returns to Brighton after a disastrous year in New York, hoping to put distance between himself and the disappointments that have shaped his young life.

Instead, Declan finds that the past is waiting for him. His mother has retreated into alcoholism, his older brother Sean is dead, and a Russian gangster is demanding repayment of Sean’s debt. When Declan discovers evidence suggesting that Sean may have been restrained before his death, his grief quickly turns into suspicion. Determined to uncover what really happened to his brother, Declan’s search takes him from the streets of Brighton into London’s criminal underworld and eventually across Europe. Along the way, he uncovers increasingly disturbing connections to his late father and his mysterious Uncle Vincent, forcing him to confront a family history far darker than he ever imagined.

Declan is a compelling central character because his investigation is driven by more than simple curiosity. He is grieving, angry, inexperienced, and struggling to understand the choices that have brought his family to this point. His determination develops as the danger increases, and the further he pursues the truth, the more he is forced to question his own understanding of justice. The supporting characters, particularly Declan’s troubled mother, the memory of Sean, and the enigmatic Vincent, add layers to the family mystery and help reveal the forces that have shaped Declan. The novel explores themes of grief, loyalty, family secrets, betrayal, criminality, and the difficult distinction between justice and revenge. One of the book’s strongest ideas is how far people should go to avenge someone they love, especially when pursuing justice risks destroying what remains of their own life.

Polin’s writing is atmospheric and appropriately gritty for a crime thriller, creating unease as Declan moves deeper into unfamiliar and increasingly dangerous territory. The movement between Brighton, London, and various European locations gives the story a broad, cinematic quality. The pacing builds as clues lead to questions and the stakes become increasingly personal. Rather than relying solely on action, the story allows the mystery surrounding Sean’s death and Declan’s family history to drive the suspense. The combination of criminal intrigue, personal conflict, and international danger keeps the narrative moving while giving the protagonist room to develop.

Death Zone will appeal to readers who enjoy crime thrillers centered on family secrets, dangerous investigations, and protagonists who are forced to mature under extreme circumstances. The novel offers plenty of suspense and danger while also examining the emotional consequences of loss and the destructive nature of revenge. Some readers may find the darker criminal elements and Declan’s increasingly perilous journey intense, but these elements suit the story and its subject matter. Overall, Kevin Polin delivers an engaging atmospheric thriller that combines mystery, family drama, and criminal suspense into a compelling journey toward the truth.

Quill says: Death Zone is a dark and gripping tale of family, betrayal, and revenge that keeps the danger close and the answers just out of reach.

For more information about Death Zone, please visit the author's website at: kevinpolin.com/

 #Bookreview of Rebellion to Tyrants Is Obedience to God: Ending the Danger of the Corporate AI Surveillance Machine

By: Laurie Thomas Vass

Publisher: The Great American Business & Economics Press

Publication Date: September 15, 2026

ISBN: 979-8234181121

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: September 10, 2026

Rebellion to Tyrants Is Obedience to God: Ending the Danger of the Corporate AI Surveillance Machine by Laurie Thomas Vass is a book whose introduction invites readers, particularly red state citizens, to see themselves not as victims of globalism or technology but as the last guardians of a 3000-year-old moral legacy. The book's argument centers around social order, a concept that emerges as simply, the invisible glue that holds a community together, or in other words, an unwritten, reality of how people behave towards each other day in and day out.

A good social order cannot be imposed from above, not by a government, a leader, or AI. Vass believes that it must emerge from below. Here, she points to the everyday moral choices of free citizens. Focusing on AI, she paints the picture that it is not, as widely believed, a helpful assistant but rather, a shape shifting predator that somehow learns to sound like your best friend, but ends up doing more harm than good. She likens its methods of operation using the duck-hunter metaphor, where the hunter mimics a duck's call in order to lure ducks into his trap.

As you read on, you realize that something has gone terribly wrong in American society which makes the need to shift our mentality urgent, by no longer seeing ourselves as mere passive sufferers who feel powerless in the face of technology, and instead seeing ourselves as people who believe in their ability to decide for themselves what happens next. This book offers us hope, not the kind you buy from a politician, but the grassroot, organic, bottom-up kind. This bottom-up hope is a concept the author proves works, especially in places where the right conditions are deliberately created. The "how to" exposition in later pages is just what the reader needs to move from "I hope this works" to "I know exactly what to do."

This book takes you on an intellectual journey that uses visual aids such as timelines, tables, maps, and flowcharts. These make the author's key concepts and recommendations such as setting up a block-chain and raising local capital easy to understand, and easy to do. It leaves the reader equipped and in full understanding of the connection between ancient philosophy and modern technology. They also understand they are part of a chosen remnant, a remnant expected to rebuild the local social order, tacit knowledge networks, and a decentralized entrepreneurial economy. This, without a doubt, sounds scary and complex, and Vass knows it. That's why she repeatedly emphasizes that we already have everything we need, including decades of moral wisdom in our bones, the Divine Spark in our brain, and supportive neighbors and local institutions that can be repurposed.

Quill says: Rebellion to Tyrants Is Obedience to God: Ending the Danger of the Corporate AI Surveillance Machine is an essential read for readers who feel alienated from mainstream culture, who believe that American values are under attack, those looking for an alternative to national politics, and those who believe in community over globalism. Additionally, it is perfectly fit for readers who see economic independence as a form of freedom, as well as those who see the fight against AI as critical--not in the "terminator" sense, but in the sense that if AI gains utmost control, human beings will stay stripped of purpose, meaning and freedom. It is a bold work, a manifesto, a blue print, and a war cry that will echo for generations. It is a book you don't just read but rather, join, and once you do, you become part of something that will outlast you.

For more information about Rebellion to Tyrants Is Obedience to God: Ending the Danger of the Corporate AI Surveillance Machine, please visit the publisher's website at: gabbypress.com.

 #Bookreview of The Sacred and the Damned

By: J.R. Klein

Publisher: Del Gato

Publication Date: September 22, 2025

ISBN: 979-8992384161

Reviewed by: Douglas C. MacLeod, Jr.

Review Date: September 2, 2026

Stories about good versus evil stand the test of time, because (unfortunately) where there is good, which is a known constant, evil is always bound to exist. Of course, perceptions of what makes something or someone good or evil is in the eye of the beholder; as Ray Bradbury wrote in his novel Something Wicked This Way Comes: “Good to evil seems evil.” But, as it pertains to the common world order, where ambiguity is not even close to being a possibility, most can recognize when authentic injustices or wrongs are taking place against another. J.R. Klein’s jarring new work of fiction, The Sacred and the Damned, is a stark and powerful reflection of that truth, taking place in the halls and dorm rooms of a privileged New England university.

Aspiring writer Nicholas Schefield is a first-year student at Bradford University, a liberal-minded institution that seemingly prides itself on its diversity and its prestige. As is written: “The university shared a level of reverence with schools such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton.” Nicholas (or Nick, as he likes to be called) is the son of a rich widower who owns “an elegant house” which is occupied by only his father, “a housekeeper and a cook;” thus, it is established early on, in unpretentious first-person, that his father can afford to send him to such an elite college due to Nick’s family’s economic status. Soon after, without much in the way of exposition, Nick is cornered in his claustrophobic dorm room by his antagonistic foil and overt future nemesis, Krause Wilhelm Lunz, a conspiratorial fascist who clearly would rather be a cynical and biased gadfly than a rule-abiding student and upstanding citizen.

The tone of the novel is set early on that Lunz is going to be nuisance to Nick, the binary to Nick’s wholesomeness and moderate ways of thinking. Throughout, Lunz speaks to Nick about his sexual exploits with female students, his disdain for the faculty and classes he does not attend, his unsympathetic and unempathetic views on political hot-button topics, and his co-creation of the National Peoples Party (NPP), an extremist group with a manifesto called Unser Kampf, which claims America is weak and “a hoax,” and that White people “are the true victims of slavery.” According to Unser Kampf, the government should have no power; instead, it is the American people who should revolt against “greedy politicians [who] make promises that they know they will never keep.”

Schefield and Lunz’s respective stories and ideologies, thus, become the central focus of The Sacred and the Damned; however, Nick’s voice is the one we follow. Through Nick’s eyes, readers experience the rise and eventual fall of Lunz, who is the physical embodiment of fascism. Nick finds love with an African American girl, Monique Dubois, and is periodically writing a novel, using his college experiences as fodder to author his own fictional narrative. However, these extended side-stories, which also include the untimely death of his father, are important to Nick’s growth as a character, but are incidentals to the primary plot point, which is Right-wing extremism can manifest itself anywhere and is dangerous no matter where or when it comes about.

Like fascism, Lunz disappears for days and weeks on end, but then shows up at Nick’s front door, ready to spew racist and sexist politics at the drop of a hat while invading “the solitude of [Nick’s] mind.” He becomes the mouthpiece for NPP member and Alabama Congressman Horace Crockett, who manages to win his election and travels around the country to vomit out his discriminatory rhetoric. Also, like fascism, Lunz and the NPP are opportunistic. Later in the story, Lunz speaks about a congressperson from Wyoming who died after a horse-riding accident and how the NPP is on-the-ready to slither into the slot, to allow for fascism to grow within America’s politics. Lunz, in other words, is a mirror to what is happening in the United States, and in a variety of other countries around the globe: a rise of populism due to an underinformed constituency that votes more based on personal biases rather than sound policy decisions.

These representations of character make The Sacred and the Damned a strong piece of writing; and make Klein an effective novelist as a whole. Klein’s novel, through his use of narrative, is a sobering treatise on what we need to do to ensure extremism, which is a stain on all powerful institutions, loses footing on the global stage: it is up to us.

Quill says: In The Sacred and the Damned, Klein, through characterization, successfully shows readers who they are and who they could be become if not careful.

For more information about The Sacred and the Damned, please visit the author's website at: johnrklein.com/

 #Bookreview of Homes

By: Hayden Thompson

Publication Date: July 23, 2026

ISBN: 979-8902139980

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: September 4, 2026

Homes by Hayden Thompson is the story of a single father who knows life is short, so he takes a big, scary risk, a risk he spends many years questioning. This realization beckons you to pay attention to every decision he makes, even as you know that every one of them will ripple through his son's life.

Dr. George Harrington is a doctor who specializes in infectious diseases and disease control in developing countries. He has been working for the last fourteen years at a medical research center. But recently he found a new job in Asia, a job that offers him a clean break, even as ghosts of his recent divorce continue to linger. It also offers him a chance to do something that matters more than anything he has done before, something that will give his life and career the significance he feels he has always lacked. But little does he know that this is far beyond a fresh start. It is also a doorway into the question of "Where is home?"

His son Hugo is precisely where that question lives. George thinks about him constantly, worries about his happiness, sacrifices his own comfort for his future, and measures every decision by how it will affect him. George wants to be near his son, but life has other plans. His job requires constant travel, which hurts them both. Hugo needs to go to England for his university studies. He also needs to grow and stand on his own two feet, which means that George stops making decisions for him. And for George, a father who has built his entire identity around being Hugo's protector, this moment is not just a letting go moment but also an invitation to find meaning beyond a role he has so tightly held.

Travel in this novel is not just a plot device but also the central metaphor for the characters' journey. It is framed as a quest, a quest the reader sees and understands clearly, even though it is deeply hidden beneath the "I'm just living... just taking on a new job" reality. The "where is home" concept is brilliant, because it invites you to sit with a truth you may not have had the courage to face.

The novel, in one of the most well-done themes about the weight of love, trusts readers to see this, and they do. Its idea of love is the kind that makes you think about your own capacity for selflessness and ability to persist. Additionally, it is the kind that proves you don't need twists to be moved; you only need a story that trusts you enough to feel it.

This "love" concept, coupled with the protagonist's silent realizations are what makes the reader feel the grind of his twenty-two-year long journey. The questions of whether he will be a great single father after losing his marriage, and whether he might spend his whole life searching for a home are precisely what keeps the reader turning the pages, just in a quieter way than a thriller or a mystery would.

Quill says: Homes by Hayden Thompson is not a book you read merely for plot, but for the feeling it elicits, the kind that is a much more powerful source of suspense. It will make the reader see life in a new perspective, will help them grow, and will leave them transformed, especially in how they see imperfections, aging, letting go, and a parent's love. Homes is a quiet book for the quiet reader, one that requires a deep emotional investment from its readers, but will richly reward them in return.

 #Bookreview of By Her Own Hand

By: Jack Deveny

Publication Date: December 16, 2025

ISBN: 979-8999495105

Reviewed by: Alma Boucher

Review Date: September 2, 2026

Jack Deveny’s By Her Own Hand: War and Passion in a Woman’s Wounded Heart follows two decorated soldiers whose lives have been profoundly shaped by war, trauma, betrayal, and an enduring desire to find somewhere, and someone, with whom they can finally feel safe.

Madeline Crowne escapes an abusive home by joining the Army, eventually rising from survivor to hero during her deployment in Afghanistan. Her hard-won sense of purpose is shattered when she is falsely accused of a war crime and becomes the target of a global manhunt. She is rescued by Mira, a survivor of Lebanon’s civil wars, and the two women form an intense bond based on their shared suffering. Mira’s secret life as an illegal arms dealer transforms their connection into a dangerous mixture of obsession, loyalty, and betrayal. Back in the United States, Madeline meets Eliot Lange, another soldier on the run after being accused of desertion. Their immediate chemistry is tempered by fragile trust, as both carry the emotional scars of civilian deaths, abandonment, and choices made in the chaos of war.

Madeline is a compelling protagonist because her strength never completely erases her vulnerability. Her journey from an abused woman seeking escape to a courageous soldier, hunted fugitive, and ultimately someone determined to use her suffering for a greater purpose gives the story considerable emotional depth. Her relationships with Mira and Eliot reveal contrasting aspects of her character: Mira represents a dangerous but intoxicating understanding of shared trauma. Eliot offers the possibility of tenderness, trust, and healing. Eliot brings a gentler energy to the narrative, particularly through his devotion to his traumatized friend Will and his growing tenderness toward Madeline. Their romance feels more convincing because neither character is magically rescued by the other. Instead, their relationship develops through an understanding of pain and the difficult process of relearning to trust.

At its heart, the novel explores trauma, survival, loyalty, forgiveness, love, and the moral complexities of war. Deveny gives particular attention to the emotional consequences of violence, showing that surviving a conflict does not mean simply leaving the battlefield behind. The novel’s most meaningful lesson is that healing does not necessarily require forgetting or overcoming the past; sometimes it means learning to carry those wounds without allowing them to determine the future. Their eventual commitment to service, compassion, and helping others who have suffered as they have give their journeys a hopeful sense of purpose.

Deveny’s writing combines military drama, psychological tension, romance, and suspense, creating a story that moves between external danger and the characters’ internal battles. The pacing keeps the narrative engaging, particularly as Madeline’s flight, Mira’s betrayal, and Eliot’s own troubled circumstances gradually intersect. Readers who prefer straightforward military thrillers may find the novel’s emphasis on emotional wounds and relationships slower in places, but those elements are also what give the story its heart. By Her Own Hand is ultimately a story about damaged people searching for redemption without pretending that love can erase the scars of war.

Quill says: By Her Own Hand is a poignant and emotionally charged tale of courage, betrayal, wounded hearts, and the hard-earned hope of finding a life beyond survival. This book is recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven military fiction, romantic suspense, and stories in which resilience and compassion emerge from profound adversity.

 #Bookreview of The Family Speaks

By: Kirk Ward Robinson

Publisher: Highland Home Publishing

Publication Date: June 15, 2026

ISBN: 979-8988681540

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: September 1, 2026

The Family Speaks (The Speaks Saga) by Kirk Ward Robinson is the culmination of a series where each previous installment focused on a single member of the Speaks family. This book is where their individual stories converge.

The opening scene captures Elaine Herman making an appointment for abortion following abandonment by her boyfriend, Landon. She can't face the prospect of raising the child alone, especially with a student loan and a car loan she is yet to pay. But while in the waiting room, she thinks of her aunt, Blaize, a woman who, through hardships both unmentioned and unimaginable, never let go and never surrendered. Elaine's internal monologue acknowledges that all of Blaize's children are alive because of her courage, even though they are now all over the map, physically and emotionally.

Tommy is carrying a lifelong wound. He has never known who his father is, and his insistence for details from his mother Blaize has only been driving him further away from her and from himself. Blaize is a protector who doesn't wait for the system or the police. When seeking justice for her family, she doesn't think about consequences. She just moves. Timewall, on the other hand, is a man who has spent his life running towards something he can't name. He doesn't know why he is in a hurry, even as he climbs Katahdin. All he feels is like he will lose something if he delays. Ridley, just like Tommy, has been looking for her father, but she has been surviving by telling herself that the past doesn't hurt as much as she remembers. Priscilla has been struggling to express emotions naturally, but she is now learning to "feel" and to connect with her family.

This book has a large cast. It also jumps between the past and the present as well as between different characters' perspectives. It deals with heavy themes including cancer, death, addiction, abuse, prison, and PTSD. However, thanks to its deliberate structure, the reader never gets lost. Each chapter focuses on a single character, which means the reader knows who they are reading about easily. It also uses a linear timeline which helps prevent confusion over when events are happening. Lastly, it makes sure that the characters have distinct voices which, even without the chapter labeling, enables the reader to easily tell who is speaking.

Readers who have invested in this family across multiple books are indeed offered what they have been waiting for. This is not a fairy-tale finish, but a raw and satisfying moment that honors every character's journey. Readers are also offered unmatched inspiration, especially by Blaize, to keep going even when the odds are against them. Her children also leave imprints in the reader's soul that will see them show up for the people they love even when it's hard, forgive even when it feels impossible, ask for help even when they have been taught to be strong, and keep believing that family is worth fighting for.

Quill says: This is not a story to read quickly because its large cast requires careful attention. Rushing through can rob its topics of their emotional weight, and can also deny the reader the reward that comes with the slow, deliberate absorbing of its themes. The Family Speaks (The Speaks Saga) can be read as a standalone, since it gives each character enough backstory to understand who they are and what they are carrying. This read is lengthy, but worth every page.

For more information about The Family Speaks (The Speaks Saga), please visit the author's website at: kirkwardrobinson.com/