#Bookreview of Kristofferson: 67 Astounding Songs

By: Richard Somma

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: August 12, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891327337

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: June 27, 2025

Kristofferson: 67 Astounding Songs by Richard Somma is one nonfiction book that will catch the eye of any Kris Kristofferson fan. Somma diligently breaks down 67 of Kristofferson’s songs by listing specific lyrics and how the artist sang the song for his fans. In addition, the author offers his own interpretation of these lyrics and welcomes the readers to perform their very own interpretation of these 67 songs as well.

Somma explains that he worked on this book for at least three years and had planned on giving Kris a copy once it was completed. Unfortunately, Kris passed away September 29, 2024, which happened to be the day before Somma was to submit his manuscript to Atmosphere Press. Although the author never met Kris, he referenced to him informally by his first name because of the true connection he had felt throughout the years listening to Kris’s music.

While breaking down these 67 songs for his readers, Somma explained that he felt that Kris’s lyrics were witty, very gritty and always honest in what he wanted to say to his music fans. Each song told a story and each listener could interpret the song differently depending what was going on in his or her own lives.

This reviewer clearly saw the painstaking hours Somma invested in compiling these 67 songs and lyrics, and then breaking each one down to what he felt the interpretation could possibly be for each song Kris wrote and sang. This book would definitely suit the older crowd of music listeners because Kristofferson’s music dated back to the 1960’s. By breaking this book down in such detail, it helps the older listeners reminisce about where they were in their own lives when the song was released for the first time or how it carried them through a tough time in their lives.

Quill says: Kristofferson: 67 Astounding Songs by Richard Somma is one nonfiction music book that will entertain readers who grew up with Kris’s music being played on the radio. It will transport them back to a time once ago when music was very different than it is now for the younger generation.

For more information about Kristofferson: 67 Astounding Songs, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/kristofferson-67-astounding-songs-by-richard-somma/

 #Bookreview of Calypso Blue: A Len Buonfiglio/Caribbean Mystery

By: Brian Silverman

Publisher: Down & Out Books

Publication Date: June 30, 2025

ISBN: 978-1643963945

Reviewed by: Nellie Calanni

Review Date: June 24, 2025

In Calypso Blue: A Len Buonfiglio/Caribbean Mystery, Brian Silverman delivers a rich, atmospheric crime novel that plunges readers into the vibrant, enigmatic world of St. Pierre, a fictional Caribbean island brimming with secrets, colorful characters, and complex intrigue. With its tropical setting and layered narrative, Silverman crafts a mystery that’s as much about the people and place as it is about the crime itself.

The story follows Len Buonfiglio, an ex-pat New Yorker now running a bar called The Sporting Place. Len enjoys the relative calm of island life, but that tranquility is quickly disrupted when beloved calypso legend Lord Ram dies under suspicious circumstances. Rumors begin to swirl – was it an accident or something more sinister? Len finds himself pulled into a tangled web of local politics, personal rivalries, and long-buried secrets, all while navigating the island’s tightly knit, often opaque social dynamics.

Silverman masterfully blends fast-paced investigation with the rich texture of island life. The dialogue sparkles with authenticity, while the cultural nuances of St. Pierre – from the calypso music and colorful festivals to the simmering undercurrents of gossip and power – immerse readers in a world that feels at once exotic and intimate. Themes of loyalty, regret, cultural identity, and second chances weave seamlessly throughout Len’s journey, as he confronts both the mystery at hand and the unresolved wounds from his own past.

The vivid setting comes alive with Silverman’s eye for detail: the sounds of Lord Ram’s soca anthems, the flavors of island cuisine, the rhythm of daily life – all serving as a lush backdrop to the unfolding mystery. Secondary characters, from Len’s loyal friend Tubby to the alluring Betta, add depth and heart to the story, making St. Pierre itself feel like a fully realized character.

At its core, Calypso Blue is a story about belonging, redemption, and the murky line between justice and personal responsibility. As Len confronts ghosts from his past and the shadows lurking in paradise, readers are treated to a satisfying blend of classic whodunit, character-driven drama, and rich cultural immersion.

Quill says: Brian Silverman’s Calypso Blue is an evocative, sharply written mystery that transports readers to a sun-soaked island full of secrets, delivering suspense, heart, and atmosphere in equal measure. This is a perfect pick for fans of classic crime fiction with a tropical twist.

For more information about Calypso Blue, please visit the author's website at: briansilvermanwrites.com/

 #Bookreview of Hiraeth: The Voice of Home

By: Dan Morgan

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: August 12, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891327467

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: June 24, 2025

In Hiraeth: The Voice of Home by Dan Morgan, the author explains that “hiraeth” is a Welsh word meaning an indescribable yearning for home, or the very essence of what home represents for each person. In this memoir, Mr. Morgan, having a Welsh background, experienced that very desire throughout his entire life.

Although he had a home with his parents and siblings in Pittsburgh, their home was makeshift because his family was dysfunctional. His father eventually became an amputee, which caused him not to be able to work to support his family. This caused much strife among everyone in the house, and eventually his family had to move into his single uncle’s house because they couldn’t afford to pay rent or a mortgage. As the years passed, his two sisters both married at age 18 to escape the insanity under the uncle’s roof.

Right from the start of this memoir, you feel Morgan’s desire and wish for something more concrete in his life. He was a child that had some extra pounds on him, which seemed to cause many issues for him no matter whether it was at home or at school. He never seemed to feel a sense of pride for his family or himself, especially with everyone being so critical of one other. It was no wonder why his sisters set their sights on marrying young and leaving the chains that bound them to their parents. Unfortunately, since Morgan’s father became disabled, he couldn’t handle the pain from his amputation, so he turned to abusing his pain medicines and drinking heavily. This caused him to be in and out of hospitals continually, leading to an unstable environment for Dan and his sisters. Readers will empathize with the Morgan children because they didn’t have the stable and comforting support of their parents, which caused many emotional and mental hardships for the children growing up.

Because of the volatility of his family life, Morgan turned to his own vices to squelch the pain he constantly experienced throughout the years. Not only was he overweight, but he second guessed his own sexuality and this caused much heartache as well. Now Morgan found himself not only drinking himself into blackouts daily, but he also started becoming promiscuous with men because he was experimenting with his sexuality.

Although Morgan’s life was one constant struggle after another, he did eventually decide to go to college and obtain a degree to better himself. Because of his determination, and his need to take care of himself, he excelled at becoming a Sociology professor. It is at this time that readers will cheer Morgan on that he finally matured and did something with his life that was productive, and not continue on that destructive path that he was on all those years.

Quill says: Hiraeth: The Voice of Home will take readers on an emotional rollercoaster right alongside Morgan as he experienced his ups and downs with his family and his own life throughout the years. One must applaud him for finally grounding himself and making himself a valued member of society of which he could be proud.

For more information about Hiraeth: The Voice of Home, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/hiraeth-the-voice-of-home-by-dan-morgan/

 #Bookreview of American Entropy

By: Travis Hupp

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: July 22, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891326996

Reviewed by: Shrubaboti Bose

Review Date: June 20, 2025

Travis Hupp’s poetry anthology named after its titular poem American Entropy laments the decline of democracy and criticizes the hypocritical nature of American society. As an openly gay person representing a marginalized community, the author uses his poems to voice his personal dissatisfaction with the way things are. His unflinching candor in lashing out at the president (‘‘pillars of society weakened by a lying charlatan’’) and justifiable misgivings about the current political scenario in the country (‘‘nowadays disagreement might mean death’’ in Martyr), encourages readers to raise questions. Drawing inspiration from his nightmares, hallucinations and painful memories, the author delves deeper within his mind to bring out his darkest emotions onto the paper for us to see.

The collection is thoughtfully organized into six parts, starting with anger, politics, metaphysical, despair, then finally ending on a positive note with hope and love. Each poem is filled with sensory imagery and lyrical cadence, densely packed with metaphors that are subtly weaved into the lines. Sometimes the subject of the poem dominates the words, as in Enemy Embrace where the narrative revolves around the poet’s agonizing experiences of homophobic violence, culminating into a survivor’s tale. While at other times, words can take shape of a sentient creature pulling the narrative along, like we see in Horror Show where Hupp compares the process of creating a poem to that of delivering a baby. This metaphor poignantly captures the hesitation authors often feel when contemplating over unfinished fragments of expressions, reluctant to discard them in hope of reusing them at a later point in another piece, like mothers reluctant to let go of their stillborn baby.

Despite the harrowing experiences he has gone through and the constant challenges he keeps facing in his everyday life, the author never stops fighting his demons, nor does he give up writing. Here’s a quotation of a few lines from a piece titled It’s not too late: ‘‘Yesterday droned on destitute/ My meaning got lost and my muse went mute/ But there’s a part of me that still knows what to do/ Power through and write what’s true.’’ What is inspiring is that even on days when he feels particularly depressed, he writes ‘‘You’ve got to realize/ you’re stronger than the stranglehold/ when sadness is a riptide’’ and then ‘‘You got all the guts you need/ and plenty of nerve’’ in the poem Resurrect, as a means to remind himself to keep going. It is evident that these poems can serve as a source of strength to anyone who needs it.

The poem Untamed seems to be written as a tribute to music, where Hupp elaborates on how art, and music in general, has influenced him over the years. He says, ‘‘It’s art that helps you fight to survive/ Gives you anthems to sing in the dark.’’ He believes in good faith in spite of the discrimination he faced in the name of religion. After being treated as a blasphemy and a disgrace, he condemns such acts of false propriety and writes: ‘‘In whose version of justice/ would God shun sons and daughters/ of his own craftsmanship/ for an endless infernal sentence/ of parental neglect and abandonment’’ in I’m lost if you’re lost. Towards the end of the anthology, as the poet’s tone becomes slightly optimistic, we find two lines in a love poem called Wonderstruck, ‘‘with you nearby me/ minor details escape’’ that resonates in our hearts.

Quill says: Hupp’s collection American Entropy is a journey of emotions: intense, powerful and beautiful, while also impressive and inspiring at the same time.

For more information about American Entropy, please visit the publisher’s website at: atmospherepress.com/books/american-entropy-by-travis-hupp/.

 #Bookreview of An Umbrella Made for a Man

By: Katherine Elberfeld

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: July 8, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891326910

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: June 19, 2025

In An Umbrella Made for a Man by Katherine Elberfeld, we are introduced to Irene Maxwell, a woman who, after divorcing, decides that she wants to pursue being ordained as an Episcopal priest. This takes place in the 1990’s and although there are other women that are ordained in the Episcopal Church, Irene has no idea just how intense the seminary training will be for her because she’s a female. Plus, it isn’t until she’s officially working as an ordained priest that she truly understands the gravity of how she will be harassed in many different ways, by not only the male priests, but also the congregants. It is at numerous junctures in her new career that she second guesses the choice she made to follow her calling to the church.

This reviewer was very much enlightened in regard to how Irene truly was treated by fellow priests and congregants in the Episcopal community. Instead of the male priests looking upon her as a fellow priest no matter her sex, they looked upon her as a female that wouldn’t mind the overtures they were presenting her with. They treated her like she was a female they could harass and they intentionally overstepped their boundaries with her to achieve their personal goals.

Although this is a work of fiction, Katherine Elberfeld penned this with substantial evidence to create this story because she too was ordained to the priesthood in 1994. Readers will feel her anguish that she must have experienced directly while training and working to become an Episcopal priest. It’s disheartening to know that these circumstances could truly exist in the religious environment that they did, where religion should not discriminate in any form toward male or female. One must wonder that if she experienced such outlandish behaviors in the religious community, how many other females in her position experienced the same exact behaviors from their churches? Church should have been a safe haven for her and the other female priests, not a place that caused them dread and heartache. Their sole focus should have been serving their congregation, not trying to skirt advances from their male counterparts.

Another thing to mention was that these situations didn’t just happen in one Episcopal Church location. They happened repeatedly each time that Irene relocated herself in order to escape the harassment. It’s saddening to think that even though this story was a work of fiction, Elberfeld must have seen plenty of these circumstances, mimicking Irene’s situations, throughout her own time serving her ministry.

Quill says: Readers of An Umbrella Made for a Man by Katherine Elberfeld will find themselves cheering for Irene regarding how she handled her unfortunate circumstances while fulfilling her ministry. You’ll develop feelings for her as if she was a real person you might know and become friends with.

For more information about An Umbrella Made for a Man, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/an-umbrella-made-for-a-man-by-katherine-elberfeld

 #Bookreview of Death Valley

By: Kim Brian Snyder

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: July 22, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891327009

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: June 18, 2025

You know that kind of book that sneaks up on you — you start it expecting a dusty desert adventure or a ghost-town legend and suddenly, you're halfway through and emotionally invested in a man trying to reconcile with his past, his brother, and a mystery that’s followed him for twenty-five years? That’s Death Valley. Kim Brian Snyder’s novel is part reflective road trip, part eerie mystery, part slow-burn redemption story — and it all unfolds against the sun-blasted, otherworldly backdrop of one of America’s most mythic landscapes.

At the heart of the story is Mick Johnson, a once-ambitious journalist whose life has been quietly, tragically shaped by a childhood adventure gone horribly wrong. As a teenager, Mick and his brother Kenny ventured into an abandoned Death Valley mineshaft chasing the legend of Scotty’s gold. Only one of them made it back. For years Mick has lived with that weight, burying it under sarcasm, distraction, and the numbing routines of adulthood. But when an assignment to cover a poker tournament leads him — conveniently or fatefully — back into Death Valley, old ghosts rise up, both literally and figuratively, most in memory and maybe in something stranger.

What follows isn’t just a tale of trying to make peace with the past, but a clever, layered story that blends ghost town folklore, mild time-slip sci-fi, personal reckoning, and an unexpectedly endearing relationship with a charming, sharp-witted park ranger named Rose McDonald. Rose has a meaningful role in Mick's disintegration and reconstruction and their dynamic, filled with banter and a gradually deepening connection, gives the story warmth and levity without ever veering into cheesiness.

Snyder’s writing style is conversational, precise and often funny in a self-deprecating, dry sort of way that makes Mick feel real and relatable. There’s a journal-like quality to the narration — not rushed, not overly polished, but very personal, like someone pulling you aside to tell you the truth over a beer. One of the best things about the book is how effortlessly Snyder transitions between emotional vulnerability and light-hearted quips. Snyder lets the deeper stuff — guilt, grief, memory, regret — sit beneath the surface, like heat under the desert floor, and it rises at just the right moments.

Here’s a great example of Snyder’s blend of tone and imagery:

“Standing quite alone, I felt myself getting lightheaded and growing faint. My vision began to swim backstrokes… Dazed and confused, I knew I was losing my hold on the here and now.”

That scene, in Scotty’s Castle, captures the strange, hazy energy that runs through much of the second half of the book — you’re never quite sure if what’s happening is supernatural, psychological, or some combination of both, and that ambiguity makes it all the more compelling.

What makes Death Valley read so well is that it doesn’t rely on flashy gimmicks. It’s not trying to be a big thriller or a grand sci-fi epic. Instead, it quietly explores how a single moment in childhood can ripple through a lifetime, how the desert — with all its silence and legend — can be both a place of hiding and a place of healing. It’s character-driven, a little spooky, often funny, and surprisingly touching.

Quill says: If you’re into stories that mix desert Americana, lost treasure myths, guilt and grief wrapped in dry humor, and a touch of time distortion that makes you question what’s real and what’s memory — you’ll feel right at home in Death Valley. It’s a smart, soulfully written book that sticks with you like desert dust on your boots.

For more information about Death Valley, please visit the publisher's website at: atmospherepress.com/books/death-valley-by-kim-snyder

 #AuthorInterview with Kirk Ward Robinson

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Lily Andrews is talking with Kirk Ward Robinson, author of Priscilla Speaks: A Novel (The Speaks Saga).

FQ: Hello, Mr. Robinson. In the afterword, you stated that Priscilla Speaks tested your inventiveness to the point of despair, as opposed to the previous installments. Regardless, you made it work. Could you please comment on the hurdles and how you overcame them? 

ROBINSON: Hello. Thank you for the invitation.

The difficulty with Priscilla’s story was that, in Part I, the entire Speaks Saga was explained, including the answers to the mysteries that readers who have been along since Timewall will understand, and I hope, experience emotional satisfaction if not moments of revelatory elation.

Since each of these novels is written as a standalone story, one challenge was to present the answers to these mysteries in such a way that a new reader would not be confounded by a parade of events that seemed pasted into the novel for no apparent reason. I had to make these revelations fit in with the evolution of Priscilla’s story, which caused me some re-thinking and re-writing. This might seem to be the normal progress of the creative process, but I, like Kurt Vonnegut before his death, write extemporaneously, leaving crafted paragraphs behind before moving on, which means that having to revisit something already written is a trial.

The other difficulty was reconciling the timelines, which arrived at their apex in Priscilla. I could no longer be ambiguous about anything. It all had to fit, ages, birthdays, siblings leaving, and what might be going on in the world during the various periods the Saga encompasses.

The way I overcame these challenges was to create a detailed timeline, which I taped to the wall next to my writing desk, sometimes penning in notes as I went, and including information as trivial as the historical weather on a given day. The rest was altering my routine to reexamine my previous day’s work, which I did from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. every morning, seven days a week, making changes, double-checking the timeline, altering word choice and punctuation.

FQ: Was the notion to create Priscilla as a character initially haphazard- as one of Blaize's children—or was it intentional?

ROBINSON: I hope I do not disappoint when I reveal that the Priscilla mentioned in Timewall Speaks was little more than a name I threw in to round out Timewall’s story, the name popping into my mind as I typed the sentence, and with no further thought—or expectation—to revisit the character. So yes, haphazard would be the word, painful (or sloppy) as it seems now.

Author Kirk Ward Robinson

FQ: Priscilla evolves dramatically as a character. What do you consider to be the most notable or distinctive aspect of her growth?

ROBINSON: The novel is arranged as it is to demonstrate Priscilla’s emotional growth. I realized early on that I could expend a couple hundred thousand words if I attempted to show this evolution in a linear fashion. Instead, each Part jumps her a little farther along in her growth, using her birthdays as time markers. It is her growth from insular child to emotional wholeness that I consider to be the most important aspect of her character.

FQ: You also brought up research showing a large number of autistic people identify as LGBTQ. Is this a notion that you have featured outside of the plot flow, or can the reader locate it in the story?

ROBINSON: Autism in the LGBTQ community is not explored in the story. I came across this bit of information while doing research on autism, and thought readers would benefit from this knowledge in the Afterword.

FQ: The protagonist utilizes a foreign language in one of the last scenes. Why did you expressly decide to make this message available in Swahili, and what impact did you anticipate it would have on expanding the audience?

ROBINSON: I had already revealed that Priscilla could assimilate foreign languages rapidly. The purpose of the Swahili is Dhakiya, who is from Kenya, and to demonstrate the climax of Priscilla’s emotional growth. She can now embrace relationships, going so far as to learn Swahili for her girlfriend.

FQ: Could you maybe elaborate on the scene where the protagonist claims to be "Adam" and why it was all related to "now," at a time when her friends were stunned by some truths about her? That left me feeling a little adrift.

ROBINSON: I’m not sure exactly which scene you are referring to, possibly Stacey’s inner monologue. “Adam” was my play on southern accents, something I dabble at throughout the Saga. I am from the South myself, and take an interested joy in the variety of accents down here. As for the inner comment from Stacey, they had been roommates for some ten months or so, and Stacey had never known Priscilla by any other name except Adam. It was only during the short period before the funeral that Stacey learned Priscilla’s given name, propelled when Fits tells Priscilla that she doesn’t need “Adam Argent” anymore. (I hope there are no spoilers in this.)

FQ: What happens to Priscilla and her siblings in "The Speaks Saga?" Do you have any plans to reunite them in the future at some point? A finale, perhaps?

ROBINSON: There will be a fifth book in the Saga, The Family Speaks, which will take place post-Covid, and that book will bring the Saga full circle. Readers will learn what a thirty-plus-year-old Ridley has been up to, Tommy’s military career and his struggles with PTSD, Robbie’s rehabilitation, what Priscilla achieves with her brilliant mind, and Timewall’s final arrival at true freedom—not to mention Joss, Lainey, Wayah, Nene, and of course, Blaize, who will each find their own growth in their own ways.

FQ: What do you want the reader to remember most from this series?

ROBINSON: That circumstances don’t define people, people define themselves. Poverty, despondency, and addiction can be overcome. Not always easy, and there is certainly a price to be paid, but this above all, to thine own self be true.

FQ: What were the top themes of this series, and do you believe you have met your goals thus far?

ROBINSON: I have met my goals so far—indeed, I believe I have exceeded them. Why can I say this? Because each character to me is very real, more so than I ever anticipated. I have become profoundly fond of every one of them, and since several of the characters take their traits from people whom I’ve known, I know the characters are authentic.

FQ: For readers who have just read Priscilla Speaks for the first time, what is your parting advice?

ROBINSON: My advice to those who have only read Priscilla is this: If you enjoyed it, say so. If you didn’t enjoy it, say that, too. But if you did enjoy it, hurry back to Timewall Speaks and start reading. You won’t be disappointed.

As a side note to this interview, readers should know that many of the locales in the novel were washed away by Hurricane Helene, including one of the shelters that Pris and Fits use, as well as the campground they hike into.

 #Bookreview of Priscilla Speaks: A Novel (The Speaks Saga)

By: Kirk Ward Robinson

Publisher: Highland Home Publishing

Publication Date: June 3, 2025

ISBN: 979-8988681533

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: March 31, 2025

Kirk Ward Robinson’s moving tale Priscilla Speaks: A Novel (The Speaks Saga) tells the story of a girl who struggles to fit in as she feels different from others, forcing her to flee and try to navigate life’s uncertainties by herself.

Priscilla understood she was different from others early on, but she could not explain why. Nonetheless, the sense persisted, like an invisible friend who stubbornly refused to emerge. She had never considered her mother Blaize to be a mother since, instead of protecting and loving her, she wandered around and occasionally scolded her. Priscilla had an aggressive attitude and buried wrath that made it hard for anybody to relate to her at school. She would later come to realize that not even her mother could do so. Her failure to relate to her family members fueled her fury, which she carried with her to school, frequently sending shivers down the spines of others.

Because she thought friends were erratic and needy, Priscilla never thought it was necessary to have any. Her lessons and teachers bored her, and her intolerance appeared to increase with each day. Following a violent altercation with a boy one day, a counselor discovered that she had a condition that could account for her attitude and behavior. Her mother would not hear any of it, however. Priscilla was later expelled after assaulting a student who possessed a video of her nude in the washroom. As it looked, life was unpredictable and full of secrets that she could not fully fathom. Eager to break free from the routine and tedium of her gloomy, destitute existence, she would make a decision that would lead her down an enchanted path in quest of an unknown future, all while battling with her sexuality and increasingly confusing feelings.

In addition to offering a glimpse into the protagonist’s upbringing, choices, and personality, this story—a must-read explanation of mental health-related, self-discovery, trauma, and healing themes—richly details the relationship, character, and attitude of Priscilla’s mother. The novel, set in a sun-drenched Southern town, pushes the reader to imagine an alternative destiny for the family. It compels the reader to confront uncertainties alongside the protagonist through her perplexing emotional journey, chock-full of heartaches, which eventually take an unexpected twist and lead to a firm awareness.

The story hints at an examination of the autism spectrum as a serious and pervasive phenomenon. Its premise is supported by thorough research that provides helpful facts while letting the reader decide what is true or false. The protagonist’s mother’s past, in which she is portrayed to have learned to harden herself so fully against grief and weakness that nothing can even faintly enter, will be appreciated. She is a mother who fervently felt she owed her children security, happiness, and the opportunity to be innocent—things she never had—and she adds intrigue to the narrative as one considers how her actions could have shaped the protagonist’s distinctiveness.

Quill says: Kirk Ward Robinson’s Priscilla Speaks is impressive due to its comprehensive coverage of crucial subjects that parents will find interesting. In addition to having a witty and captivating protagonist who goes above and above to make the reading experience charming and emotionally engaging, the story’s tone remains consistent throughout. With language that keeps the reading fascinating and flowing, this is a thought-provoking work that can be read as a stand-alone novel, but will undoubtedly pique the reader’s curiosity of the series’ predecessors.

For more information about Priscilla Speaks, please visit the author's website at: kirkwardrobinson.com

 #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

 #Bookreview of Between the Lies

By: Shana Frost

Publisher: Loch Fuar Publications

Publication Date: March 28, 2025

ISBN: 978-1-7384994-4-1

Reviewed by: Trix Lee-Rainwater

Review Date: June 2, 2025

What drives someone to sacrifice everything they know for the truth? This question lies at the heart of Shana Frost's Between the Lies.

Nina Banerjee is an investigative journalist who has spent years building her career after leaving her family behind in Mumbai. When her investigation into sham marriages leads her to an abandoned building one night, she wakes up hours later next to her dead colleague Jonas with no memory of what happened. She flees the scene but becomes the prime suspect in both Jonas's murder and the murder of Anne Muller, PC Robert Muller's wife. Robert is convinced Nina killed his wife and is determined to bring her to justice. His grief over Anne's death has consumed him, straining his relationships with his closest friends and colleagues. However, when Robert and Nina finally meet, an undeniable attraction develops between them despite his suspicions. Despite his initial hostility, Robert finds himself drawn to the enigmatic journalist, even as mounting evidence points to her guilt.

When circumstances force them to work together, they uncover a vast conspiracy involving corrupt police officers, international human trafficking, and DCI Dickheadson, Robert's superior officer who seems unusually invested in pinning both murders on Nina. As they dig deeper, with help from an unlikely alliance of a tech expert, a pub owner Billy, and also a former sex worker Daisy, they discover that Anne's death might not be what it seems. Each revelation comes at a cost, putting both Nina and Robert in increasing danger. With corrupt police officers hunting them, professional killers on their trail, and their hearts becoming increasingly entangled, can Nina and Robert uncover the truth before it's too late?

Between the Lies is a romantic 18+ thriller novella from the same author of Strangers in Crime. At its core, this is a story about trust, how it's earned, broken, and sometimes miraculously rebuilt from the ashes of betrayal. Through Nina and Robert's evolving relationship, Frost showed how love can flourish even in the darkest circumstances while never diminishing the serious nature of the crimes they're investigating. The author tackled weighty subjects like human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable immigrants with appropriate gravity while still maintaining the emotional engagement of a romance.

Through Nina's perspective as an immigrant herself, Frost offered insight into the complex challenges faced by those who leave everything behind to build a new life. The story’s examination of truth, justice, and redemption added layers of meaning to what could have been a straightforward romantic thriller. While some coincidences stretch credibility and certain plot points rely heavily on convenient timing, the author's handling of both the romance and thriller elements helps smooth over these minor issues.

Between the Lies proves that sometimes the greatest truths about ourselves are discovered when everything we believe is called into question.

Quill says: Between the Lies is a thrilling sensual novella that will satisfy fans of both romance and crime fiction while offering thoughtful commentary on contemporary social issues.

For more information on Between the Lies, please visit the author's website at: shop.shanafrost.com/

 #Bookreview of Slave: A Novel

By: Christina Maraziotis

Publisher: Existential Publishing

Publication Date: October 30, 2024

ISBN: 978-1959776130

Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford

Review Date: June 2, 2025

The highly anticipated release of Christina Maraziotis’ fourth book in her Loveletting Series, Slave is a phenomenal delight. Maraziotis’ natural ability to leave her audience on the precipice of free-fall from the end of one story before she artfully swoops in with a rescue and promise to keep reading in the next is outstanding.

As has been the case in each novel, Maraziotis focuses on a sublime theme and builds upon it. In Slave, love is the foundation that is something beyond a feeling of heart. Rather, it is something to covet and reawaken within the soul in an attempt to erase sin. Charlotte is desperate to gain independence during a time when women weren’t worthy of such an existence. When Charlotte and Mac are washed ashore after their plunge to the depths of the water below in the end of Ghost, we don’t know if she and Mac survive. Charlotte is furious when she realizes her true love (Mac) is alive. She is wrestling with her own ‘betrayal’ of moving on with Tilghman when she thought Mac was dead.

Evil continues to lurk, however. James is still quite alive and well. Even though Charlotte managed to escape his evil grasp, she is not safe from his will to conquer her once more. There is a greater conflict going on between her and Mac. Will there ever be trust? Are they capable of committing to each other; or has too much happened for this to ever be the case? Charlotte struggles with her own vulnerabilities and her wanderlust of what could have been with Tilghman. This clouds her judgment when it comes to a future with Mac. Therein lies her ultimate dilemma. Both Charlotte and Mac have work to do if they are able to move forward. A conscious effort to grasp and rediscover a tenderness is of the essence.

There is a bevy of situations and circumstances to unpack in this novel and just like its predecessors in books 1-3, it is an epic journey that I personally recommend one take. Bravo Christina Maraziotis! You have delivered yet another must read!

Quill says: Slave is a continuation of the dynamics and complexities of human existence. It is impossible to pick this book up and not set it down until the final page has been read.

For more information about Slave, please visit the author's website at: www.christinamaraziotis.com/

 #AuthorInterview with Douglas A. King

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Lily Andrews is talking with Douglas A. King, author of An Innocent World.

FQ: Your book asks big “what if” questions about Adam and Eve. What inspired you to imagine a world where they didn’t eat the forbidden fruit? 

KING: My working with dogs. I realized that I was looking innocence in the face. They carry no grudges. They forgive instantly. I began to imagine an alternative to our existence. If dogs could lead an innocent life, why can’t we?

FQ: You talk about people choosing between an easy life and a hard one. Why do you think God would want us to choose the harder path? 

KING: Like any good parent, God wants His children to develop strong character. And the way to do that is the way He did it, by facing and overcoming the challenges of existence.

FQ: You say dogs helped you understand innocence. What do animals teach us about goodness that people sometimes forget? 

KING: To carry no grudges. It takes a lot for them to stop loving you. I have found that with reading my book over and over, I don’t have grudges for very long. Within a day or two they’re gone. I think, as a result, I’ve become more innocent.

FQ: If someone lives a peaceful and kind life, but never suffers, do you think they can still grow strong in character? 

KING: No, I don’t think so. Look at the rich. They don’t really suffer e.g. they don’t struggle to stay alive. They have everything handed to them. Would you describe them as having strong character?

FQ: You use a lot of logic in your book. Why do you think logic is such a powerful tool when thinking about faith and human nature? 

KING: Everyone has the capacity to be logical, if they choose. I think of logic as a foundational language that all of us have, like mathematics. That’s why I chose it to convey my message.

FQ: You describe two kinds of people: the Innocents and the Guilty. Do you believe most people start off innocent and lose it, or are we born into guilt?

KING: Everyone is tainted with guilt before they are born, simply from having chosen to eat from Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. That is not to say that we are evil when we are born, we need a trigger. That’s where genetics comes in. If you have a particular evil in your family tree and you run into a situation in your life that triggers that evil impulse, you may act it out. I say ‘may’ because it is ultimately up to you whether or not to commit that evil act.

FQ: Your version of an innocent world still includes accidents and disasters. Why did you choose to keep those challenges in that world? 

KING: It’s real life. Whether you live in an Innocent world or a Guilty world, there will still be things that we can’t control. Besides, these provide opportunities for character development, although limited.

FQ: You suggest that evil comes from outside of us, not from within. How do we protect ourselves from that kind of evil in real life? 

KING: Evil doesn’t usually come at us from out of the blue. We are in someway already involved. The trick is to acquire an innocent mind, so that you are not drawn into evil.

FQ: Some readers might struggle with the idea that suffering is necessary to meet God. What would you say to someone who’s going through a really hard time? 

KING: I would empathize with their suffering while not engaging in it. I would say that though it may not seem like it now, your suffering will end, you will come through it, as long as you keep trying. And you will come out of it a better person.

FQ: If young readers could take one big idea from your book, what would you hope it is—and why? 

KING: Using logic, I was able to uncover a lie, a lie so well established that no one thought twice about it. So, if you want to know the truth, let logic rule your life.