#Bookreview of Lights Out in Istanbul

By: J. Robert Keating, Ralph O. Heatly

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: July 8, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891326897

Reviewed by: Alma Boucher

Review Date: June 13, 2025

Nestled within the historic skyline and timeworn stones of Istanbul, Lights Out in Istanbul reveals its story beneath the gleam of minarets and the shadow of international espionage. In this city where East meets with West, loyalties fracture, friendships waver, and innocence is too often the first casualty of schemes hatched in silence.

In this captivating story, we are introduced to the mysterious Henry Vanzant, who makes an appearance on the widely viewed Muggsy Boyd Show. During his segment, he expresses a cautious hope regarding the possibilities of artificial intelligence, encouraging society to use it as a means to enhance efficiency. However, beneath his serene facade lies a more complex and troubling story, one that originates from a program developed by his associate Paula. She called it the back door, a covert entryway into the heart of the internet. In Henry’s own words, written and published, it was nothing less than a master key.

Henry’s book, filled with technical knowledge, served as a guiding light not just for the curious but also for those with malicious intent. Among those individuals was Faheem El Hashem, a man driven by deep ambitions and no sense of morality. Seeking to undermine the very foundation of internet governance, ICANN, Faheem abducts Henry. Faheem locks him in a steel cage, subjecting him to the horrific spectacle of a live-streamed execution drama. The aim was psychological degradation, theatrical intimidation, and, above all, manipulation.

What was Faheem’s primary objective? To halt the functionality of websites, domains, and digital infrastructure by targeting ICANN’s root zone, aiming to take advantage of the crucial key that Henry had mentioned. However, just having the master key was not sufficient, as the system had evolved. Additional insight was necessary, knowledge held by Karyn, Henry’s former girlfriend, and now pivotal to Faheem’s urgent schemes. To make matters even more complicated, the elusive and dangerous Mr. S, who had previously been imprisoned thanks to Henry’s actions alongside Karyn and their associate Alex, has resurfaced, filled with vengeance, cleverness, and allied with Faheem.

However, hope remains. Emerging from the darkness is Black Code, a covert organization with eyes everywhere in the digital realm. Their algorithmic watchmen flagged Henry’s and Karyn’s names, sparking a secretive rescue mission. Yet, Henry’s book disclosed too much, particularly concerning the Black Code’s exclusive technology. Consequently, ICANN strengthened its security measures by changing passwords and port configurations, making the master key ineffective.

Still, the consequences ripple outward. When three major electrical plants suddenly cease operation, it becomes evident: this is no random outage, but a deliberate strike. Communications between pipeline software and the physical conduits have been severed. The power grid, so delicately balanced between output and demand, would be stressed if too many plants shut down. In Istanbul, where a third of the electricity is fueled by natural gas, a shutdown would mean chaos. If too much generating capacity is lost, it would damage the equipment, and the whole system would have to be shut down.

Further from Istanbul, the power grids of the eastern and western United States collapse, and hundreds of millions are plunged into darkness. Every indication points to a solitary source, once the vital center of global pipeline management, now muted by Faheem’s actions, employing the key that Henry unknowingly provided to the world.

From the initial hint of tension to the climactic, heart-pounding conclusion, this novel keeps a tight hold on the reader. The writing is refined, concise, and fast-paced; every sentence is sharp, and every paragraph is a strike. Scenes ooze urgency, and though moments of contemplation are rare, they resonate powerfully. The dialogue is precise, illuminating the character and intensifying the plot with every interaction. Action, be it gunfire or close combat, is intense and vivid. The overall impact is graphic, but not superficial.

Quill says: Lights Out in Istanbul is an espionage story sharpened to perfection—immersed in mood, filled with danger, and as unyielding as it is polished. It is an exemplary showcase of contemporary thriller writing: swift, ruthless, and expertly crafted.

For more information about Lights Out in Istanbul, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/lights-out-in-istanbul-by-j-robert-keating-ralph-o-heatly

 #Bookreview of Pillars of Creation: A Quest for the Great Name in a Nietzschean World

By: Carlos Nicolás Flores

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: July 22, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891327023

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: June 12, 2025

Carlos Nicolás Flores’s Pillars of Creation: A Quest for the Great Name in a Nietzschean World is not your typical coming-of-age novel. It's trippy, raw, sometimes hilarious, and deeply introspective. Imagine drifting through the haze of a South Texas summer with a head full of literary ambition, weed smoke, and existential dread—that’s pretty much what it’s akin to.

The story centers around Yoltic Cortez, a young Chicano guy living in a dusty border town called Cuatro Vientos, who is attempting to make sense of a world that to him is quickly changing while taking care of his sick father, pursuing his ambition of being a famous writer, and navigating life with his mysterious, blue-eyed girlfriend, Marfil.

The book is told in the second person, which is unusual but weirdly intimate. It feels like you’re inside Yoltic’s head, living his confusion and passion in real time. From the opening pages, where he’s floating through a high on a strain of weed called “Tezca,” the narrative is part hallucination, part memory, part waking life. And that’s what makes it so compelling—Flores blurs the line between reality and dreams in a way that feels totally natural, even familiar if you’ve ever lived in that kind of mental or emotional fog.

There’s not a lot of “plot” in the traditional sense. Yoltic isn’t chasing a big goal or solving a mystery—he’s trying to keep his head above water. He’s got family obligations, writer’s block, and a sense that the world is both beautiful and totally broken. You can feel a real sadness in him, but also defiance even as he constantly questions everything—God, America, literature, his own identity.

The relationship with Marfil is one of the book’s most interesting layers. She serves as his anchor, his mirror addition to being his lover. But their connection is fragile. There’s tenderness between them, but also uncertainty and fear. And because she might be undocumented, there’s this quiet tension that hangs over everything.

What Flores does best is create a deeply immersive atmosphere such that draws the reader in—you can readily feel the heat of the colonia, hear the Border Patrol trucks rumbling past and even smell the beans on the stove. He also ably captures what it means to be stuck between cultures by showing how being Chicano isn’t just about language or heritage, but a constant tug-of-war between belonging and not.

Themes like addiction, guilt, memory, cultural pride, and the weight of history are woven through everything, but never in a preachy way. Flores lets Yoltic think it all out—talk to ghosts, argue with himself, chase old dreams, and fall into despair—and you’re right there with him. The writing is full of little details that hit hard: the dried flowers in a vase after a mother’s death, a worn photo on the nightstand, or the panic of losing a passport in a town that doesn’t feel like it’s quite yours.

Quill says: Readers will find Pillars of Creation: A Quest for the Great Name in a Nietzschean World by Carlos Nicolás Flores to be an absorbing book focused on survival and expression rather than achievement or resolution. They will appreciate its uniqueness about finding meaning in the mess, and trying to stay sane in a world that doesn’t make sense. If you’ve ever felt stuck, or pulled in a hundred directions by identity, family, and ambition, this book will speak to you. It’s rough around the edges, and that’s exactly what makes it feel honest.

For more information about Pillars of Creation: A Quest for the Great Name in a Nietzschean World, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/pillars-of-creation-a-quest-for-the-great-name-in-a-nietzschean-world-by-carlos-flores

 #Bookreview of Cora and Martha and Other Stories

By: Thomas Penn Johnson

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: July 15, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891327191

Reviewed by: Alma Boucher

Review Date: June 11, 2025

In Cora and Martha and Other Stories, writer Thomas Penn Johnson delivers a captivating and richly textured collection of interconnected tales that explore the human condition with a quiet, unrelenting intensity. With artistic skill and attention to the emotionally significant, Johnson invites readers into the intimate, often wounded spaces of his characters’ lives—each story serving as a glimpse into decisions, remorse, strength, and the subtle poetry of everyday moments.

Fifty years ago, two houses were quietly occupied by their original inhabitants at the northern edge: Cora Johnson and Martha Brown. These women represented a familiar presence in many Black neighborhoods—strong elders who had endured years of transformation, having resided there since the Great Depression.

In Summer's End, reflection is offered through poetry shaped by a life marked by hardship and history. The verses draw from personal experiences, offering stories deeply rooted in the Black American tradition where the past is always present. Since the Civil War, the reality of racial violence lingered— emphasized by the disturbing image of Confederate flags defiantly declaring, “Nigger Beware.” These symbols were not just relics but living threats.

In Once Upon a Time at Shooting Creek, readers are brought into the Blue Ridge Mountains, a region where faith, memory, and nature hold significant importance. Throughout the Civil War, both enslaved and free Black people worked in apple orchards, nurturing them amidst the chaos of war. When the soldiers returned home, the trees flourished, nurtured with affection and attention. This act served as a form of quiet defiance, a legacy sustained through the land.

Another story follows Chrisholm, a slender Black boy who meets Duck, a classmate facing a terminal illness. Duck’s only wish was to attend school. Despite his fragile condition and being placed in special education, he and Chrisholm quickly formed a bond. When Duck left for extended treatment, both boys knew he would not return. Their silent farewell carried a weight beyond words—a final, shared moment between two souls connected by more than circumstance.

Every following story enriches the central themes of the collection. Johnson depicts his characters with both respect and authenticity. His writing is lean but lyrical, willingly dwelling in grief while ensuring it never veers into sentimentality.

Johnson’s experience as a poet shines through in his writing. His sentences breathe with rhythm and clarity, and every paragraph is woven with sensory detail and emotional resonance. More than once, a turn of phrase lands with the weight of revelation, drawing readers into a moment of truth so personal it feels shared.

What distinguishes Cora and Martha and Other Stories is not just the profound emotional resonance but also its stark honesty. These are stories of ordinary people facing the extraordinary within themselves, confronting the quiet violence of time, memory, and social division. And yet, hope flickers at the edges of nearly every tale, not brightly, but enough to remind us of the endurance of the human spirit.

Quill says: A lyrical, deeply affecting collection, Cora and Martha and Other Stories marks Thomas Penn Johnson as a powerful voice in literary fiction. These stories ache with beauty and honesty—readers will remember them long after reading.

For more information about Cora and Martha and Other Stories, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/cora-and-martha-and-other-stories-by-thomas-penn-johnson/

 #Bookreview of Leonie's Leap: A Liberation Journey

By: Marzia Pasini

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: June 3, 2025

ISBN: 979-8-89132-622-4

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: June 9, 2025

Leonie's Leap: A Liberation Journey by Marzia Pasini is a vivid, moving, and deeply philosophical coming-of-age novel that blends lyrical and emotionally charged storytelling with soulful reflection. It revolves around Leonie, a brave, curious, and emotionally complex young boy who makes the bold and life-altering decision to escape a bleak, oppressive Hungarian orphanage in search of something greater than mere survival—longing instead for freedom, meaning, belonging, and self-discovery. With poetic language and spiritual undertones, Pasini warmly invites readers into an enchanting, dreamlike world where reality bends and emotions stretch wide.

The novel begins with Leonie lying awake on a frozen winter night, preparing to flee the orphanage. He is an acrobat, recognized for his breathtaking talent but inwardly exhausted from years of stress, pressure, and quiet grief. Though praised by outsiders, we see him struggle with perfectionism, anxiety, and the ache of not feeling good enough. To him, the orphanage feels like a bleak, decaying place—harsh and cold, yet oddly comforting in its familiarity. Unbeknownst to him, his plan to escape is a leap into the unknown that will not only be physical but symbolic, and also a launch into a richly layered journey that is as emotional as it is mystical.

Leonie unexpectedly experiences bizarre symbolic moments and, in an intriguing, strange, and highly emotional sequence, also engages with Hridaya, a blind fortune teller with a mysterious presence and a special ability to read palms and souls. Hridaya’s words feel ancient, poetic, and full of wisdom and through his soulful guide, Leonie begins to explore not just the world around him but the world within him—his fears, his wounds, his longing, and his spiritual purpose.

This novel's chapters alternate between Leonie’s personal experiences and intensely contemplative "dearheart" letters—smooth, meditative passages written straight to the reader. Readers will find these interludes philosophical, grounding, and tender, offering thoughtful reflections on themes like fear, truth, belonging, identity, and healing. Pasini’s prose is lyrical, gentle, and expressive as well as deeply rich with metaphors and her writing is both imaginative and emotionally grounded, inviting the reader to pause, feel, and reflect.

One of the novel’s most powerful qualities is how it balances the mystical with the deeply human. It beautifully handles heavy themes such as abandonment, trauma, loneliness and perfectionism, without feeling heavy-handed or too dark. Notably, it repeatedly incorporates a thread of light, hope, and wonder woven through the sorrow. The book encourages reflection by not telling you what to believe but rather inviting you to listen inwardly and find your own meaning. The protagonist's emotional journey is wonderfully genuine, and readers will appreciate following him through his uncertainties, astonishment, courage, and little personal victories.

Quill says: Leonie's Leap: A Liberation Journey is a luminous, soul-stirring, and unforgettable novel that beautifully reads like a fairy tale for grownups—honest, raw, mystical, and deeply compassionate. With her kind, knowledgeable, and brave voice, Marzia Pasini skillfully inspires anybody who has ever felt lost, trapped, invisible, or uncertain of her direction. Her book offers a crucial reminder that healing isn’t always loud, and that even in our fear, brokenness, and confusion, we carry light. It’s a gentle invitation to leap—into the unknown, into our hearts, into our truth. Conclusively, it is a radiant, poetic, and inspiring read that will linger long after the last page.

For more information about Leonie's Leap: A Liberation Journey, please visit the author's website at: www.marziawrites.com/

 #Bookreview of To Know Good and Evil: Frank Adams Detective Series #2

By: Daniel V. Meier Jr.

Publisher: BQB Publishing

Publication Date: October 7, 2025

ISBN: 979-8886330502

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: June 9, 2025

Daniel V. Meier, Jr.’s To Know Good and Evil is a sharp, engaging mystery set in the sweltering backroads of North Carolina. With the feel of a Southern noir, it follows retired NTSB investigator Frank Adams, who’s pulled back to his college hometown to investigate the suspicious crash of a small plane that killed his old chemistry professor. The tale is founded on a shocking twist and what begins as a favor to a friend soon turns into something deeper, full of danger, buried secrets, and big questions about morality, science, and the power of truth.

The story kicks off when Frank gets a call from an old college acquaintance, Ted Grant, who believes that the recent death of their former professor, Dr. Lanmore, wasn’t an accident. The plane crash that killed him also took out part of a corporate hog farm—an eerie, gruesome detail that sets the tone. Frank travels back to the small town of Scottsville to poke around, but what he uncovers is more than he expected. There’s palpable tension with the sheriff, a loud sense of weird behavior from the locals, and hints that Lanmore may have been working on something very important and possibly dangerous. As Frank begins to dig deeper, he starts to piece together a complex puzzle involving sabotage and corporate interests but is shocked to encounter people who’d rather keep the past buried.

With a steady pace in each chapter, we follow Frank as he visits the wreckage, interviews a nervous young mechanic, and inspects the damaged parts himself. We see the investigation quickly shift to a more thorough analysis of power, motivation, and secrecy, uncovering information that unexpectedly confirms his long-held concerns. He is a remarkably grounded protagonist, who is also outstandingly intelligent, and resolutely motivated by duty, memory, and a strong sense of justice throughout the narrative. Ted, his friend, brings a touch of dry humor and philosophical musing, making their interactions fun and believable.

This story is easy to follow and reads like a detective story with a scientific twist. While the chapters are well-paced and build smoothly on each other, the author's writing style is smooth and deeply engaging, with just enough sensory detail to make the readers feel as if they are part of the protagonist's endeavor.

Well depicted themes of truth, memory, and the blurred line between good and evil are woven throughout as pointed out by the title itself. What does it mean to act morally in a world full of corruption and compromise? The protagonist's journey is partly external, solving a mystery and also internal, revisiting a past he thought he’d left behind. The author's prose is smart but accessible, never bogged down in jargon or unnecessary description which makes this read one of the best flowing available in the genre.

Quill says: To Know Good and Evil by David V. Meier Jr. is a thoughtful, suspenseful read that balances mystery, character, and ideas. It’s a perfect pick for readers who enjoy mysteries that not only stimulate the mind with intelligent plotting and moral complexity, but also resonate emotionally through richly drawn characters and heartfelt themes.

For more information about To Know Good and Evil, please visit the author's website at: danielmeierauthor.com/

 #Bookreview of A Guide to Jazz in Japan

By: Michael Pronko

Publisher: Raked Gravel Press

Publication Date: April 30, 2025

ISBN: 978-1-942410-36-2

Reviewed by: Tripti Kandari

Date: June 3, 2025

A Guide to Jazz in Japan by Michael Pronko is a personal jazz journey as much as a travel guide, drawing on the author's years of experience living in Japan to immortalize the icons of the jazz tradition of Tokyo.

A passionate and well-informed take on the jazz scene of Tokyo and Yokohama, the book is a real-world, experience-based documentation listing Tokyo's top-tier jazz clubs and scoops of practical travel advice. It details not just every club but their environment, the type of music, and the etiquette to follow in a city where jazz isn't just music but a serious cultural tradition. A major highlight of the work is a deep respect towards Japan's jazz culture, where jazz venues aren't just venues to go and listen to songs but places treated as sacred sanctities. As such, the guide sweeps one through the etiquette and rules to be a part of this culture, the understanding of which is the road to developing a genuine appreciation of this tradition.

The author captures the atmosphere of each venue visually and emotionally. While capturing décor and layout, it lays out the crowd's behavior, tone of music, sound quality, and lighting effects in detail. These sensory elements account for an immersive reading complemented by photographs and layout, which increase visual engagement but do not interfere with the core text.

More so, the guide isn't all about the jazzy mood — it's full of practical knowledge, with locations to every venue, timings, music style, entrance charges, and venue accessibility to foreigners. There is a structured presentation of each club, where each description comes out as a distinct identity. The observant tone along with accessible and information-centric language make for responsible cultural documentation.

The guide introduces jazz clubs in Japan not as tourist attractions but as living cultural practices. This approach to the jazz tradition in Japan makes it a valuable text for those seeking information on it — not just as a leisure activity on their travels but also as a chance to understand its core. It's a well-researched and culturally sensitive guidebook that presents the jazz landscape of Japan in a rich and respectful attire. A trusted reference material, it's a handy and perfect source for those into music tourism, jazz studies, and Japanese urban culture.

Quill says: A Guide to Jazz in Japan is a must-have guide to understand Japan through jazz, transcending a mere jazz club directory to become a passport to cultural experience.

For more information on A Guide to Jazz in Japan, please visit the author's website at: www.michaelpronko.com

 #Bookreview of Until the Walls Come Down

By: Gal Podjarny

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: July 22, 2025

ISBN: 979-8-89132-695-8

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: May 28, 2025

Until the Walls Come Down is a touching and deeply emotional novel written by Gal Podjarny that gently follows the journey of a young Israeli woman named Tammar, who, while expecting her first child and dreaming of a peaceful future with her loving Palestinian husband, Ali, is suddenly thrown into a world of heartbreak, confusion, and personal struggle after her parents are killed in a tragic terrorist attack. This event not only shakes her life to the core, but also brings back old wounds, family tensions, and social pressures that test her courage and challenge everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and identity.

From the very beginning, Tammar stands out as a powerful and relatable character whose emotions feel so real and honest that readers can almost hear her heartbeat, feel her sorrow, and understand the overwhelming pressure she faces as she tries to keep her family together while grieving, protecting her childhood home from destruction, and preparing for the birth of her baby. Her palpable love for Ali, who is gentle, patient, and supportive despite being treated unfairly by many around them because of his origin and background, is one of the strongest and most beautiful parts of their story. Throughout the narrative, readers are drawn into a deeply inspiring environment of two people holding firmly on to each other even when the world around them feels like it’s falling apart.

The novel also paints a complicated but honest picture of Tammar’s relationship with her two brothers—Barak, who is fiery but logical and responsible, and Daniel, who is distant, extremely religious, and hard to reach. Each one of them carries their own version of pain, disappointment, and loss, and each struggle to connect with the other after years of separation and misunderstanding. The scene at the funeral, where emotions boil over and old resentments explode into a public fight, is heartbreaking and tense, and yet it is written with such tenderness and care that readers will not only feel the chaos, but also the deep love hiding beneath the surface.

Podjarny's writing style is soft and poetic, filled with quiet details that bring the world to life: the smell of sea air near Tammar’s childhood house, the heat of the sun on the street where a bulldozer approaches, the bittersweet taste of pastries at the morning table, and the ache in a daughter’s chest when she hears her brother say he never felt loved. These moments, captured in eloquent prose, conjure up a world that is both familiar and relatable, yet profoundly significant, serving as a reminder to readers of the ways in which people, places, and memories influence who they are.

Quill says: Gal Podjarny does something very special in this book—she shows us how grief can hurt deeply but also open the door to healing, how family can break but still find its way back together, and how even in a country full of conflict and division, peace can begin with a quiet conversation, a shared memory, or a single act of kindness. Interestingly, the book offers a silent yet profound call to young readers to think critically and to trust that change is possible, even if it begins with tiny steps. Until the Walls Come Down is not just a story—it is a gentle and emotional experience that teaches empathy, bravery, and the quiet power of standing up for what you believe in, even when it’s hard, and even when you’re standing alone.

For more information about Until the Walls Come Down, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/until-the-walls-come-down-by-gal-podjarny