#Bookreview of The Vultures of Doom

By: Jack Borden

Publisher: Creekland Press

Publication Date: August 15, 2024

ISBN: 978-1959823025

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: July 26, 2024

In The Vultures of Doom by Jack Borden, twelve-year-old Avelyn, and eight-year-old Killian live with their parents in their gourd house. They are a family of Tixies, which are small, wingless creatures that inhabit woodlands. They live in hidden places such as hollow trees or other areas where they can conceal themselves from the rest of the forest for protection.

One afternoon when the family is just about to have lunch, a visitor arrives to discuss an urgent matter with their father, Sitric. Aedan, another Tixie, explains that the king has requested Sitric’s help in making weapons of war to fight the Vultures of Doom, which have the intention of taking over the entire forest. These vultures are one-eyed birds that will stop at nothing to kill whatever creature crosses their path, but especially Tixies, which are their favorite meal choice. Word in the forest is that the vultures plan on arriving soon and will kill anyone they come across in order to claim all of the forest for themselves. Sitric accepts the king’s request.

Shortly after, Avelyn and Killian’s mother, Ciara, has a visitor who has information for her. Alanna tells Ciara that all adult Tixies have been asked to immediately go to the Great Clearing and to leave their children home. The plan is that the children will be picked up by butterflies and taken to a safe cave until the Vultures of Doom war is over. Ciara explains to her children what is happening and tells them to wait for the butterflies to arrive and they will transport them to a safe cave until the vultures are addressed. The plan is for her children to stay in their house until morning when the butterflies will pick them up, but in the middle of the night, chaos strikes. A Vulture of Doom shows up at their house and wants to eat them. Avelyn and Killian have no choice but to leave before the butterflies arrive. They both decide to head to the Great Clearing to find their parents. Little do they both know, that from this moment forward this journey will require plenty of courage and skill to survive. Do Avelyn and Killian eventually find their parents and the other adult Tixies? What do they learn along their difficult journey? Who are the victors at the end of the Vultures of Doom war?

This reviewer was thoroughly entertained reading this story and found herself engrossed right from the very first page. The entire Tixie world and the one-eyed vultures were so creatively crafted that readers will become so engrossed into the storyline and won’t realize just how fast they are turning the pages to see what happens next. Borden spared no expense when he crafted this unique storyline with these truly believable characters that live in the forest. This reader found herself completely pulled into the story and wanting to become another adult Tixie that was ready to fight against the evil vultures. The author developed his storyline at the perfect pace allowing readers to see, feel, hear, and taste what was happening to Avelyn and Killian while they were on their dangerous journey to find their parents at the Great Clearing.

This story was so jammed packed with action and suspense that readers, both young and old, will feel as if they are fighting along with Avelyn and Killian as they try making it across the forest to the Great Clearing. The storyline and characters were so believable you will find yourself thinking you are another Tixie helping in the fight against The Vultures of Doom. The author’s creativity was at such a high level that this reviewer would love to see this book turned into a motion picture.

One interesting fact learned about Borden’s book was that he crafted this story for his oldest children and created the Avelyn and Killian characters in their likenesses. In addition, this is the first book in the Tixie Chronicles, so readers can eagerly look forward to what the author will pen for us next.

Quill says: The Vultures of Doom by Jack Borden is one book you shouldn’t pass up. It will take you on a fulfilling journey right alongside the characters, from start to finish, and is well worth looking into!

 #Bookreview of Marvelous Days

By: Hayden Thompson

Publisher: Independently Published

Publication Date: May 16, 2024

ISBN: 979-8328712712

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: July 18, 2024

In Marvelous Days by Hayden Thompson, Kevin Brunner, who is a widowed biologist and an expat living in Germany, decides that now is the perfect time to retire. Since his wife is deceased, he fills his time with extensive traveling throughout France, something he couldn’t do much of while he worked the past thirty years in the biology field. Among these many vacations, he meets new people that eventually become his true friends that he keeps in touch with over years to come.

Since he is retired, he has come to the decision that his current residence is too big, and it’s time to scale down since it’s just him. While he is going through some of his late wife Elma’s things, he comes across a box full of her travel items from their France and Switzerland trips. Flipping through one of her travel books, an envelope tumbles out of the pages. Curiously, he picks it up and opens the envelope. It contains a love letter between Elma and a gentleman named Paul. The contents reveal they were having an affair, which Kevin was completely unaware of. Since stumbling upon this devastating information, he has mixed feelings toward his deceased wife, because while he thought their relationship was fine, it clearly wasn’t. He now finds himself questioning a lot of things in his life. He moves to his new residence, and continues to travel extensively to occupy his time. Does Kevin ever get over the betrayal of his deceased wife? Will he find complete fulfillment in his travels?

This reviewer’s first impression of this uniquely written novel was that readers will find themselves so involved in Kevin’s life that they will feel as if they are another close companion to him, especially on his extensive travel vacations. As you turn the pages, you become more and more entwined in Kevin’s life through his emotions that he expressed throughout the pages. The narrative was written in first person and made this story read like a travel journal written by Kevin himself. Being written in first person, readers will feel more intimately engaged with Kevin as if he’s speaking directly to you as you turn the pages.

When Kevin found out about Elma’s affair randomly while going through her things, my heart bled for him because what he read was devastating. Through Kevin’s first-person narration, readers will easily feel as if they are sitting right next to him experiencing the heartbreak as he discovers that Elma had cheated on him. You can’t help but feel his devastation, confusion, and anger as he continued telling his story.

This story was told over a ten-year period from 2012 to 2022, including how Kevin and his family and friends lived through Covid isolation. It reads like a travel log and personal diary all wrapped into a neat package for the readers to unwrap as they turn each page.

Interestingly, Thompson has worked and traveled in various countries like his main character, Kevin. He had a career in medical science and decided he wanted to start writing fiction. Marvelous Days is his third novel. In addition, the pictures included in this novel were actually taken by the author himself.

Quill says: Marvelous Days is one book in which readers will go through a roller coaster of emotions as felt through the main character Kevin’s eyes. This reviewer truly enjoyed going on Kevin’s journey right alongside him.

 #AuthorInterview with Nora D'Ecclesis

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Tripti Kandari is talking with Nora D'Ecclesis, author of The Contessa's Legacy.

FQ: You intertwine the history of ancient Pompeii to the contemporary modern world through a family and its legacy. What was your inspiration behind this multigenerational saga?

D'ECCLESIS: My husband introduced me to The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon. I read all volumes during our college and graduate school years and it was inspirational. Gibbon's masterpiece motivated my jump over 98AD to 1590AD because he explored all facets of those years. I certainly don't need to agree with his theories to value his work, but my novella starting in 79AD is exploring a fictional family and generational legacy. Therefore, my one line in The Contessa's Legacy:

"Following Pompeii, Roman history was marked by frequent and brutal wars…numerous nations merged their cultures and took over Naples and eventually, peace was established."

The Contessa's Legacy is a fictional women's saga that begins in Naples, Italy when the survivors of Pompeii were forced to emigrate from the flames and volcanic ash to the next town. The concept of a multi-generational novella from 79 AD to 2019 challenged and inspired my writing skills within the framework of a limited word count for a novella.

Author Nora D'Ecclesis

FQ: Every reader will glean some unique message from The Contessa's Legacy. As its author, what message do you hope for its reader to take away from it?

D'ECCLESIS: Since Common Era (A.D.), the topics and social issues such as the horrific slavery, acceptance and/or abuse of emigrants and immigrants, school bullies, suicidal ideation and suicide, freedom of religion and natural disasters, such as volcanic eruption, have plagued our civilizations. We must be diligent to reform and improve on the way prior generations handled these issues. We can continue the dialog and debate on the impact of these global problems and hopefully improve the quality and quantity of life for all humans.

FQ: What were some of the narrative challenges you faced in the process of writing the novella?

D'ECCLESIS: The theme of generational legacy is woven into every chapter, but it takes a swift turn to surprising events in the story telling with an in depth look at the impact of school bullies.

It was written in third person with a reliable narrator, a tad more difficult than a first-person novel for any author.

FQ: How has the work on this novella influenced your ultimate perspective on legacy and change? Has it transformed or challenged your initial beliefs? 

D'ECCLESIS: Contessa Angelina takes the novella into the modern era as she makes the choice, rightly or wrongly, to immigrate to America. It is her character's passion that produces the theme of generational legacy in her children down to her great grandchildren. However, the vicissitudes of life are endured side by side with joys and sorrows in each chapter. It was my intention to tell a good story with historical accuracy of the events that impacted on their lives.

FQ: Do you relate to any of the characters in the book? 

D'ECCLESIS: Not personally, it is a work of fiction and my characters including the protagonist and antagonist are therefore fictional. Writing the Pompeii character of Aunt Giovanina was inspirational, as she would certainly be the bodhisattva saint like goal all mothers strive to emulate.

I released this novella for pre-order April 21, 2024, which is the day Rome was mythically founded by Romulus and Remus on April 21, 753 BC (CE).

FQ: Do you have any upcoming project in mind on similar themes? Any glimpses into your next work? 

D'ECCLESIS: The women's saga of the contessa's generational legacy concept will continue with a stand-alone novella from 2019-present day, with a strong focus on the early married years of Philip and Sofia, who is the relative who carries the flame as well as the green eyes!

FQ: Have there been authors or literary works that you have taken inspiration from for your narrative style and themes?

D'ECCLESIS: It is a theme driven novella...and as Edward Gibbon implied, a literary work should get the historical facts as accurate as possible while telling a compelling story.

FQ: The writing of a literary work is often a transformative experience for an author. What is the effect that the creation process of The Contessa's Legacy has had on you, personally or professionally?

D'ECCLESIS: Our personal legacies are presented to the next generation with the realization that they will take what resonates with them and craft their own. I respectfully accept the modifications, mindfully and without judgement.

We examine history not to avoid repetition of the same errors, because we inevitably do repeat them, but rather to formulate mindful choices in the present.

 #Bookreview of Choo! Choo! Choo! The Train at the Zoo

By: Kathleen Welton

Illustrated by: Tamara Joubert

Publisher: Blue Balloon Books

Publication Date: September 3, 2024

ISBN: 978-1962202237

Reviewed by: Anne Hubbard

Review Date: July 10, 2024

Choo! Choo! Choo! The Train at the Zoo, by award-winning author Kathleen Welton, is the delightful story of Peg the Pig and her animal friends as they take an adventurous train ride through the zoo. The charming illustrations in this story are brought to life by Tamara Joubert.

As our story opens, Peg the Pig calls “All aboard!” and begins driving the zoo train down the track, as her animal friends join in for fun along the way. We meet lions, tigers, giraffes, elephants, monkeys, gorillas, penguins, polar bears, owls, zebras, and pigs during the course of the train ride. The enjoyable story also explores the beauty of nature, as Peg the Pig begins driving the train in the morning with the sun shining brightly, and finishes the ride when the stars are twinkling high above in the sky.

Welton has crafted an entertaining tale that expertly mimics the “Wheels on the Bus” song, which is sure to catch the attention of young readers. The zoo characters are not only adorable, but also serve a purpose for Welton’s earliest readers in that they will help the youngsters to learn what sounds various animals make.

The illustrations, crafted by Tamara Joubert, are vibrant and colorful, and will certainly captivate any young reader. Not only does Joubert do an excellent job of bringing the animals to life, she also completes the rest of the scene surrounding the creatures flawlessly, down to the very last detail on the page.

Quill says: With its fun and catchy sing-song story along with its vivid, amusing illustrations, Choo! Choo! Choo! The Train at the Zoo is sure to capture the hearts of young children. Welton has achieved another winner that is sure to find its way onto the bookshelves of beginning readers.

For more information on Choo! Choo! Choo! The Train at the Zoo, please visit the author's website at: www.kathywelton.com

 #AuthorInterview with D.L. Jennings

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Katie Specht is talking with D.L. Jennings, author of Days of the Dark (Book 3 of the Highglade series).

FQ: You wrote your debut novel, Gift of the Shaper, while on active duty serving on your ninth combat tour. I am curious, as I'm sure your readers are, as to what that looked like. There you were, on active military duty, writing a novel. It doesn't sound like an environment that would be conducive to writing. How did this process go for you?

JENNINGS: I would say it was exactly the environment that was conducive to writing, mostly because of a combination of factors: a remote East African location, no internet, and down time. All of those things put together made for just the right ingredients to spark a creative urge in me to start writing. I had brought a few books with me, but quickly tore through them. I told myself that, since I had grown up reading fantasy, maybe I could try my hand at writing it, too. After settling on a general setting and an idea for the characters, I started writing what would become Gift of the Shaper on my iPad, finishing the whole thing over the course of about a year.

FQ: The entire fantasy world you have created for the Highglade series, including the region, characters, artifacts, even the names, is so comprehensive and creative. You did not miss one single detail. How did you create such an intricate world? Did you derive inspiration from anywhere?

JENNINGS: I have always loved daydreaming, and I did so much of it when I was writing the series. I was raised on Dungeons and Dragons, and my favorite part was always the character creation: what was this one like? Where did he come from, and what shaped him? I poured those kinds of questions into my writing to make sure that each of my characters were believable and fleshed out. I also took a lot of inspiration from various cultures – Irish, Mongolian, Bedouin – when shaping the characters and the regions they’re from.

FQ: Would you say you're a fan of reading fantasy yourself? Any favorite fantasy authors?

JENNINGS: My mom raised me on Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, so it was only natural that I would gravitate towards writing fantasy as well. I would have to say that my favorite author, though, is Robert Jordan, who wrote the Wheel of Time series – not only because he was a great writer, but he was a fellow war veteran and ended up doing something great with his life. It’s very motivating to me.

Author D.L. Jennings

FQ: In your bio, you share that you've been deployed 11 times to six different locations. Can you share a bit about these experiences: where you've been deployed, and what your role was within the Air Force Special Operations Command?

JENNINGS: I was a Career Enlisted Aviator in the Air Force, and my specialty was called Airborne ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) Operator, which basically meant I spent a lot of time on a special mission aircraft collecting intelligence. I flew somewhere in the neighborhood of 350 combat missions, and I only know that because they gave me a certificate when I hit 300, as it’s considered a difficult milestone to achieve. What it all boiled down to, though, was I was doing a job that I loved supporting some of the baddest dudes on the entire planet, and considered myself very lucky to be doing it.

FQ: When you were writing the Highglade series, did you have any issues keeping all of your characters and details straight? Did you have an organization system as you progressed with your writing and the details became more complex?

JENNINGS: When I was writing Awaken the Three (Book 2) and Days of the Dark (Book 3), I found myself doing a whole lot of CTRL+F in the manuscript for the first book. I wanted to make sure I got things straight like eye color (a very important trait for the race of people called the Athrani), previous character interactions, and overall story arc. The closest thing I have to organization is a text file on my phone with potential plot points or bits of dialogue that I may or may not end up using. I think it would drive a normal person mad, but then again I spend several hours a day talking to made up people in my head, so I think I’m already past that.

FQ: Days of the Dark is the conclusion of the Highglade series. Since your first series as a published author has been so successful, do you have any plans for future standalone books or perhaps another series?

JENNINGS: I have always loved writing, and consider myself very lucky to have found it. I’ve been rolling around an idea for a new story for a few years now, but I wanted to make sure that I finished my series first; it was very important to me that I told the whole story. Now that I have told the best story I could, I am very excited about my next project, which I try to update on my website, www.dl-jennings.com

FQ: On your website, you share a bit about your journey to becoming a published author, including the rejections you faced along the way. What advice would you give to someone who wants to publish a book, but is intimidated by the process?

JENNINGS: You never know what you are truly capable of until you try. Some of my friends have told me that they’re impressed with my imagination and that they could never write a book, but I was in my 30’s the first time I ever put pen to paper (metaphorically). Writing a book is far and away my proudest achievement and I’m so happy I attempted it – but at the same time I never would have been able to do it without the encouragement of my friends and family, people who told me that what I was writing was something worthwhile. I would say to anyone who is thinking about writing a book: do it. If you have it in you, it will get done.

FQ: You share that you travel a lot, and you even blog about it on your website and Instagram. Can you share with your readers a bit about your favorite trip recently: where you went, what you experienced while there, and why you loved it?

JENNINGS: Travel is one of my favorite things to do, and this past October I did something I almost never do: I visited the same place twice. Two years ago, I stumbled on a castle for rent on Airbnb. It slept 10 people and was situated in a Tuscan town called Poggibonsi. I had always wanted to go to Tuscany, and I knew that some of my friends and family would want to join me, so I reached out and got enough people interested in sleeping in a Tuscan castle that we ended up making it happen. We had such a good time that we ended up going back in 2023, and the owner remembered us. The last night we were there he cooked all of us a traditional Tuscan meal complete with wine made from grapes that he grew in his vineyard right on the property. We spent 5 days there in total, and I think, without exaggeration, it is my favorite place on earth. I have a feeling we will be back again.

 #Bookreview of Days of the Dark

By: D.L. Jennings

Publisher: Indigo River

Publication Date: July 9, 2024

ISBN: 978-1-954676-75-6

Reviewed by: Katie Specht

Review Date: April 20, 2024

From fantasy author D.L. Jennings comes the third book in his Highglade series Days of the Dark, the thrilling conclusion to his award-winning, epic series chronicling the battle between humanity and the ferocious chovathi.

The battles that have played out between good and evil thus far in the Highglade series pale in comparison to what Jennings has in store for readers of Days of the Dark. The chovathi, the subsurface-dwelling, carnivorous creatures, have been restricted to their underground lairs for years, but now, with the help of a new, unexpected power, they rise stronger than ever and threaten even the strongest of gods. As the chovathi become stronger, the Holder of the Dead seeks to use their chaos as a distraction that will allow him to take down the gods that created the universe and usurp the throne for himself. As the battle ensues, seemingly ordinary Highgladers (people who hail from the village of Highglade), along with others, find themselves stepping up and becoming unlikely heroes as they fight in the epic battle for the balance of creation.

Jennings possesses an exceptional talent in his writing in that he can vividly create detailed depictions of fantasy worlds that fully immerse the reader within these worlds. The amazing level of detail that he describes only helps to further engross the reader during the course of the story. Jennings’s style of writing is, without a doubt, the type that will fully transport readers from simply passively reading the story in their living room to feeling like they are in the village of Highglade themselves, witnessing the battles and bloodshed firsthand.

In addition to creating detailed worlds, Jennings is also gifted at developing vibrant characters for his story. It is also necessary to note that he does not simply develop four or five characters, like a typical cast might be for an average book. The number of characters in Jennings’s story is staggering, yet, they are all thoroughly developed and play an important role in the progression of the plot. The plot itself is well-paced and moves along steadily without any stalling, and the action does not cease during the course of the story.

As a reader who had not read books one or two, it was easy to get a bit lost in the beginning, especially with all the unusual characters and region names. However, it was extremely helpful and smart on the author’s part to include maps of the region of the story’s setting, as well as a detailed glossary of terms, including characters, locations, and important artifacts. This allowed me to jump into the story and grasp a better understanding more quickly.

Quill says: Days of the Dark is the epic, sweeping conclusion to the fantasy Highglade series, complete with gods, vicious creatures, battles, suspense, mysteries, and death. If you’re looking for a book that will transport you to another world, Days of the Dark will not disappoint.

For more information on Days of the Dark: Book Three of the Highglade Series, please visit the publisher's website at: www.simonandschuster.com or the author's website at: www.dl-jennings.com

 #Bookreview of Pigs Have Wings

By: Kathleen Welton

Illustrated by: Chau Pham

Publisher: Bookfox Press

Publication Date: June 16, 2024

ISBN: 978-1-960157577

Reviewed by: Anne Hubbard

Review Date: July 3, 2024

Pigs Have Wings, by award-winning author Kathleen Welton, is the inspiring children’s story of a determined little pig who has big dreams.

Our story opens as we meet Miz Peg, a petite pig who is adorable in her own right, but is unhappy for a very specific reason. She desires to dance and sing, but whenever she tries, she finds herself tumbling onto the ground. When she expresses her longing to jump and dance to her friends, they all tell her she is being silly, because “pigs don’t have wings.” Peg notices some birds flying high effortlessly, and thinks that if anyone can help her, it has to be them. So, she tries again to dance, this time in their presence, but still finds herself falling flat on the ground. This is when Peg meets a kind owl, who swoops down to offer her much-needed encouragement, inspiring Peg to do what she never could before.

Welton tells a sweet, simple story of a determined little pig that is written in rhyme, which little ears are sure to love. The sweet story demonstrates a powerful and important message for young readers: that working hard and believing in themselves will help them to achieve their dreams. It is especially important these days when some young people may be told that they cannot do something simply because of the way they look, walk, or talk. This inspiring tale can offer them hope that simply by persevering and accepting themselves for who they are, amazing things can happen.

Welton does a superb job of making this story flow well in rhyme, which little ones often love. The illustrations, done by Chau Pham, are top-notch as well. They are bright and vivid, offering specific details to accurately depict each particular scene and make the story come alive. Kids will especially adore the scene portraying Peg’s friends cheering for her as she achieves her dreams at the end.

Quill says: With the inspiring message of perseverance and believing in yourself along with the vibrant, adorable illustrations, Welton has achieved a definite success with her latest children’s book Pigs Have Wings.

To learn more about Pigs Have Wings, please visit the author’s website at: www.kathywelton.com