#BookReview - Mindbender by Avinash Naduvath

Mindbender

By: Avinash Naduvath

Publication Date: April 18, 2022

ISBN: 979-8803700333

Reviewed By: Tripti Kandari

Review Date: June 7, 2022

Avinash Naduvath’s Mindbender, a psychological mystery that 'literally' transcends the typicality of a conventional world, takes the reader on a mind-boggling journey – through an anomalous world – along the meticulous path to a murder mystery – into the depths of the inner psyche of a traumatized person.

A scream serves as a source of awakening for a trio, waking them up in a condition of blackout to their current lives. The trio from different age groups quickly uncovers a world filled with abnormalities. Eight-year-old Pogo meets Joshua, who claims to be his cousin, yet Pogo has no recall of him. Joshua, an observant adult in his early twenties, awakens perplexed in a bed far from his current base, an asylum, with no recollection of anyone bringing him here (or where was this "here"?) Sarah, now wrinkly and fifty-four years old, couldn't remember the last two decades of her life. The anomalies continue to mount for the trio: a place where only five buildings exist (two of them where they wake up, a diner, a supermarket, and a hotel), a highway that goes nowhere (and with no traffic!), to just name a few.

To top it all off, touching specific objects evokes specific memories associated with the object. The trio soon comes across the equally strange and suspicious (and nosy) supermarket supervisor Klaus and diner owner Tonks. We learn the source and location of the scream - a dead body of a girl is found in the hotel ‘The Bender.’ To add to the suspense and action, Joshua and Sarah accept the offer of a free hotel stay in The Benders as beta-testers, intending to explore the hotel in search of any clues to the scream and trying to find the mysteries underlying all the anomalies.

Tonks and Klaus, meanwhile, pull off their impersonations. Could they really be police officers investigating the girl's murder, as they claim, or is it just another lie (given that there is no police station in the area, in addition to other necessities)? Or does the source of the scream itself hold the most important piece to the ultimate puzzle of the murder mystery as well as a broader puzzle about this odd and suspecting 'construct' of the world?

The plot proceeds along with the help of the characters' perspectives. The author has made a big effort to keep readers in a constant state of anticipation. A guess on the next action doesn’t seem possible, and everything comes out (just) when it should. Choosing lucid dreaming as the starting point for the story, the narrative offers a novel and holistic approach to it, incorporating traumatic experiences and bullying at its core.

Each of the six perspectives that flow throughout the story is like a deep dive inside each narrator's head. The traumatic pasts of each, which influence their perspectives on and responses to current events, reveal a lot about human nature and personalities. The narration style shows the strangeness and enigma of an abnormal universe in an evocative style that effectively conveys a sense of one's entrance into a dreaming realm.

Quill says: Mindbender boggles the mind with a novel approach to a psychological thriller and leads the imagination to expand its perception of lucid dreaming with its stimulating plot line.

#AuthorInterview with Patrick Scott, author of Unburied: The Loci of Power Series, Cycle 1

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Katie Specht is talking with Patrick Scott, author of Unburied: The Loci of Power Series, Cycle I.

FQ: What was the inspiration behind the story of Unburied?

SCOTT: As I prepared my debut novel Big Beasts for release, I felt a strong urge to explore a new character and world. I began with a modified version of the scene which opened the book and got hooked by wanting to know more about everything. From there, the story blossomed into the strange and mysterious world it became.

FQ: Can you share a bit about your professional background and how you began authoring books?

SCOTT: My path to storytelling is familiar. I was one of those kids lost in my head and telling myself stories. I started writing longer and longer things in college. After a particularly short story I let my roommate read, I heard something I hear quite a bit when working in smaller chunks. “I want to know more,” my roommate said. I wrote my first novel and never looked back.

I’ve been working on my craft since then. I’ve won some small contests and placed some short stories. But mostly, I ended up playing in bigger worlds. While content to create, I fortunately submitted what I thought would be a standalone novel, Big Beasts, to Atmosphere Press who saw something in my work which spoke to them and their readers.

After the first novel came out, I approached them again with two things, a sequel to Big Beasts and the opening to the new series which Unburied begins. We agreed it would be fun to put out something new and different to connect with a different audience

FQ: What was the writing experience like for you as you wrote this story?

SCOTT: I marveled at how big everything grew. It all started with something simple. The longer I stayed in the world the deeper I realized things went. I joke all the time that it’s so hard for me to pick the good days of writing from the bad days because in the end it’s a bit like running a marathon. You’re done and you’ve accomplished something and all the moment-to-moment things fade into the background. I guess that’s what made me decide to tackle everything that I’ve set myself up for.

FQ: How did you develop the main character of Faye? Is she based on anyone you personally know?

SCOTT: I’ll answer the second question first. Faye is not a single person. All characters, from Faye to her roommates and Moira, are everyone that I’ve ever met and no one that I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. Faye’s key talents, personality and outlook came from the very first time I wrote her. Granted, she changed over the course of the process as I discovered how deeply she had been harmed and the things she did to protect herself. But Faye was Faye from the start. Seeing her solidity in the first draft and how she interacts with the world is so rewarding as a writer.

FQ: When you began working on this series, did you have the entire story developed in your mind or has it come to you gradually as you have been writing it?

Author Patrick Scott

SCOTT: About halfway through Unburied, I figured out some key things about the story. That’s when everything opened up to me including how deep the rabbit hole went. When that happened, I got both excited and a little scared because I knew that Faye’s story was just the opening, like the first few notes as the orchestra plays the prelude. At that point, my multiple notebooks and files came into play capturing as much as I could.

FQ: The name of the series, Loci of Power, is rather unique. Can you share a bit about how you developed the title and the meaning behind it?

SCOTT: As with so much that happens, the series title came from so many different things landing at the same time and melding into something which struck me in a particular way. First, there’s a psychological concept referred to as the Locus of Control and this impacts our interaction with the world and how we move through it. In developing the characters and magic for the series, I realized control might not be the only thing which has a locus in someone. In short, the magic is seated in individuals, manifests uniquely and is necessary for their lives, in the present and going forward. Thus, the Loci of Power was born.

FQ: Are there any lessons you are hoping to impart to your readers with this book and/or the entire Loci of Power Series?

SCOTT: Lessons might be too lofty a term. In the first book, I did want to address something we all face. Unburied looks at how people have things they pretend have no impact on them or their lives. These events can be positive and negative, but more often than not it’s trauma we seek to keep buried. I hope the book will demonstrate how keeping things covered rarely brings about the health and healing we truly need.

As far as the series, I’m not sure we’re to the point where I can address overall themes. I mostly hope, as with the first book, to tell an exciting and layered story about individuals who are fighting through and making sense of things. We’ll see where we end up in the last book.

FQ: Can you share a bit about the development of the integral character of Moira, Faye’s mentor?

SCOTT: When I started writing Moira, I liked that she seemed full of knowledge, wisdom and a life of her own outside of how she interacted with Faye. I sought to make her a mentor, but one with flaws and secrets. Too often in our tales, we accept the wise figure almost without question. I wanted the readers to like Moira and understand her place in Faye’s life while going “there’s something different about her” at the same time. I hope I struck that balance because she’s a rich and amazing character to write.

FQ: What is the relevance of the subtitle Cycle 1 and how did you develop it?

SCOTT: Realizing the scope of the series, I understood things would be easier for readers and myself if I were to break the series up into cycles. The plan lies in making sure that each cycle carries us to the satisfying conclusion of an arc. From there, we’ll enter the wider world where greater things will be asked of our cast of characters in each successive cycle.

FQ: Would you share with our readers a bit about what they can expect in future books in the series?

SCOTT: While avoiding any major spoilers, I will say I’ve drafted the next novel and have begun my first round of edits. Faye’s in the sequel and plays a key role. However, the sequel is not her story. I created Cycle 1 to have four novels about each of the roommates – Faye, Cho, Ari and Nena. Their tales, while building on one another, will give readers a glimpse of how things like family, life and magic are uniquely expressed and lead toward a much larger threat.

#BookReview - Transcendence: A Woman's Guide to How to Heal, Discover Self-love for Better Health, Happiness and Abundance

Transcendence: A Woman’s Guide on How to Heal, Discover Self-love for Better Health, Happiness and Abundance

By: Marsha Roopchand-Walker

Publication Date: April 23, 2022

ISBN: 979-8421481157

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: June 4, 2022

An interactive and welcoming embroidery targeted at helping women deal with diffidence, build self-assurance and grace, and embrace who they are will greet readers within the pages of Transcendence: A Woman's Guide on How to Heal, Discover Self-Love for Better Health, Happiness, and Abundance.

Transcendence: A Woman's Guide on How to Heal, Discover Self-Love for Better Health, Happiness, and Abundance is an astute and comprehensive text whose approaches and principles are designed to help readers develop tools and skills to successfully live a fulfilling life. Upon opening the first page, readers are going to find healing and inspiration as it covers important topics such as self-care, career, health, positivity, and dealing with grief among others.

The tapestry is divided into twelve chapters that bud from aspects such as proper attention to nutrition, good sleep, meditation, the flow of money, and the importance of faith. Each is outlined in its chapter, with empirical evidence and tips for improvement. For example, the chapter on love and relationships examines ways one can heal from past trauma, the power of vulnerability, loving oneself, and making peace with the past.

More distinctive are author Roopchand's raw and powerful anecdotes which are extracted for insight as she seeks to encourage equilibrium and bring hope to others. She further embraces the Christian faith and teachings on prayer as an anchor during tough times. The result is a holistic guide and a timeless investment for ages to come. Still, the goal is not flawless achievement through rigorous exercises, a strict diet, and overtaxing spiritual habits but aims to help live out one's best life.

The chapters systematically build on each other and condense with sage advice to create a well-rounded life. The author goes ahead and offers alternative methods of healing, away from Western medicine such as a plant-based diet and implementing a more alkaline diet. Further, she asserts the need to exercise as often as one can, as the body requires circulation throughout the body to carry nutrients to the cells. She provides inexpensive options that readers can adapt to stay in good health.

The book closes with the author's eye-opening discussion on love and relationships by looking at ways to heal from trauma, make peace with the past, forgive others and ourselves, and stay away from negative self-talk. The tone of the writing is fitting for this type of genre and readers will gradually feel like they are listening to a dear friend over a warm cup of tea.

In addition to the tips and tools to enhance overall health, there are call-outs that prompt self-reflection and help women reshape their mindsets. Transcendence: A Woman's Guide on How to Heal, Discover Self-Love for Better Health, Happiness, and Abundance oozes with Roopchand's passion and vivacity as she makes this as much a page-turner as it is a book of advice.

Quill says: Transcendence: A Woman's Guide on How to Heal, Discover Self-Love for Better Health, Happiness, and Abundance is a meticulously written lifestyle tome that is chock full of practical and easy ways of cultivating your inner self.

For more information on Transcendence: A Woman’s Guide on How to Heal, Discover Self-love for Better Health, Happiness and Abundance, please visit the website www.healthcoach4women.com/book

#BookReview - Keeper of the Mirror: The Portly Lady

Keeper of the Mirror: The Portly Lady

By: Theresa Nellis

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: May 7, 2022

ISBN: 979-8820304774

Reviewed by: Holly Connors

Review Date: June 3, 2022

Mystery, suspense, and lots of magical elements are waiting for readers who are ready to dive into book 2 in the Keeper of the Mirror series, The Portly Lady.

In book 1 of this young adult fantasy series, The Book of Peter, readers were introduced to Peter, a teen who, honestly, didn’t have many redeeming characteristics. To make matters worse, through some fantastical events, Peter meets an old man, Bael, who encourages the teen’s bad behavior. Evil is afoot, and while Peter may think he knows what’s going on, he has a rude awakening coming in book 2 in the series.

In the early pages of The Portly Lady, we meet up with Zack, one of the boys from the BARF (Peter’s name for the Amsterdam Regional Foster Home) who we met in the first book. We also get reacquainted with Sully, a dog everyone loves (well, everyone who isn’t evil!), who was once Peter’s best, and only friend. Now, however, Sully is a loyal sidekick for Zack. We quickly meet the Portly Lady (the foster home’s director), who is disparaging poor Zack, and calling Sully a mutt. She also tells Zack that she is Bael’s mother. Could that be true? That would make her Peter’s grandmother...Zack isn’t sure what to think of this new information.

Meanwhile, Peter sneaks into Kate and Tom Powell’s home. Kate and Tom were once Peter’s foster parents, but now, well, things aren’t so cozy between the three of them. Peter is creeping around the house, searching for the Amulet of Ivae, a charm with incredible power, power to travel between worlds, and perhaps power to free Bael from his prison…

As the story progresses, Zack begins to form a close relationship with Kate and Tom (and Sully!) while Peter continues to search for a way to free his father from a mystical prison. But readers will learn (no spoilers here!) that Peter should perhaps let his father live out his cruel, evil life in his cave prison given what Kate tells Zack about Bael’s plans for his son…

I wasn’t sure what to expect when given The Portly Lady to review, particularly because I hadn’t read the first book in the series. There is a prologue that gives some interesting background on the mystical world of Duendere as well as the different groups of elves – Luxen and Nullar – and some background on the elven history and what caused a “great divide” between the two groups. Then it’s on to the action…

It did take me a few chapters to get into the story, but that’s because I hadn’t read the first book and was figuring things (and storylines) out. Once I had all the characters settled, however, I was quickly drawn into the story. I would suggest starting with book 1 so you don’t miss out on any of the relationships and twisty plotlines. The Portly Lady isn’t a “classic” tale of good vs. evil simply because the tale is so unique – there’s nothing ordinary about it. The characters are well developed and it’s a credit to the author when a reader loves, and hates, a character at the same time. You’ll find yourself rooting for Zack and Sully, hating Bael, feeling sorry for Huxley (the other misfit from BARF that Bael convinced to leave the foster care system), as well as despising Peter but then wishing he would come around to the side of good. There are plenty of twists and turns in the tale that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. There are so many things happening in The Portly Lady that if I mentioned even half of them, this review would be much too long. Suffice it to say, if you love fantasy series, check out the Keeper of the Mirror series and find out if good, or evil, wins...

Quill says: Power struggles, family connections to both good and evil, lots of mystical elements, and plenty of action and intrigue combine to make Keeper of the Mirror: The Portly Lady, an excellent continuation to this popular young adult fantasy series.

For more information on Keeper of the Mirror: The Portly Lady: Keeper of the Mirror: Dark Magical Fantasy Series 2, please visit the author's website at: theresanellis.com/

#BookReview - River of Ashes by Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor

River of Ashes (St. Benedict Series)

By: Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor

Publisher: Vesuvian Books

Publication Date: August 2, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-64548-098-3

Reviewed by: Katie Specht

Review Date: June 2, 2022

From author duo Alexandrea Weis and Lucas Astor comes the first book in the St. Benedict series entitled River of Ashes. This psychological thriller chronicles the teenagers from St. Benedict High School, and specifically, the mischief that occurs at parties held at the abandoned seminary by the river in their town.

Beau Devereaux, the son of the most powerful family in town, is seemingly untouchable and he knows it. His family has hidden his dirty secret for years, allowing his evil to continue. During his senior year, he focuses all of his energy on his girlfriend’s twin sister, Leslie, while continuing to accumulate victims along the way as collateral damage.

Leslie is not fooled by Beau’s façade and tries her best to convince her sister, Dawn, to stay away from him. Unfortunately, Leslie is unable to convince her sister of Beau's hidden side. Dawn is convinced that she has found the ultimate catch in Beau and is always in disbelief that he has chosen to be with her.

The situation becomes more complicated when Beau torments a new girl at St. Benedict High, along with a girl from out of town who shows up a river party one night. Despite Beau’s intimidation and threats to keep quiet, the girls share their stories with each other, and together with Leslie and eventually Dawn, they all devise a plan to stop Beau’s evil actions once and for all.

Weis and Astor have created a truly disturbing, yet thrilling story with River of Ashes. It is the type of story that the reader cannot help but feel disgusted about at certain times; however, the reader will be unable to put the book down until discovering how the story is resolved. The riveting writing will draw the reader in and keep a strong hold until the very last page is turned.

As a reader who was, for lack of a better term, slightly turned off, during the course of reading this book, I was pleasantly surprised to see a note from author Weis at the end of the book explaining why she chose to write such a disturbing and violent story. I appreciated her sharing her rationale and thoughts regarding this, as well as providing statistics regarding violence against women.

Quill says: River of Ashes is a psychological thriller of epic proportions that will keep the reader captivated until the very end. Impressive author duo Weis and Astor have achieved another success with their impressive and enthralling opening to the St. Benedict book series.

For more information on River of Ashes (St. Benedict Series), please visit the website: alexandreaweis.com/books/adult-titles/st-benedict-series/

#AuthorInterview with Robin D'Amato, author of Don't Poke the Bear

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Kimberly Trix Lee is talking with Robin D'Amato, author of Don't Poke the Bear.

FQ: According to your profile, you moved to New York City, fell in love with it, and never left. If you could only pick one, what’s your favorite thing about New York City?

D'AMATO: The variety of people. Everybody has a story, and there are millions of them intertwining in the City every day. Sometimes I like to sit on my stoop and just people-watch.

FQ: I’m curious about your inspiration for the characters in this book. Could you tell us more about this and how you developed them?

D'AMATO: As this was the first novel I ever attempted, these characters were based on people I used to know in the 90s. I knew I wanted to write about New York City (“Write what you know”), and the biggest changes in the City for me were happening in the 90s. I picked people who I thought had the most interesting stories and tried to make a book about them. The individual characters are composites of more than one person, but the inspiration came from real people and some actual events. The book is full of “Easter Eggs” for people who lived through the 90s in New York City.

FQ: Among the three main female characters in this story, is there one you can relate to the most? Which one would it be and how so?

D'AMATO: I would say Allie is the character closest to me, which is probably why I decided to make her the central character of the three. Her thoughts and sensibilities are similar to mine, including her taste in music. I ultimately put more of myself in her as I went along. She was a great mouthpiece for my opinions, even though she had her own agenda at times.

FQ: How long did it take you to develop this story from start to end? What was the most challenging aspect?

Author Robin D'Amato

D'AMATO: This book was eight years in the making, not including a break of a couple years I took to write Somebody’s Watching You, which actually came out first. My rough draft was really sketchy, and I started to add characters and scenes to make it more interesting. What I got was more interesting, but the timelines were all off. Because I didn’t write this linearly, scenes were out of order, things that should have happened in sequence were overlapping, and the flashbacks were confusing. It took a long time to organize all the different elements into something cohesive.

FQ: The women in the book were all involved in relationships that don’t really allow them to grow and develop, whether he’s a junkie or a serial cheater or even someone who’s just not pulling his own weight in terms of financial responsibility. Is there anything you’d like to say to women who are currently in relationships like these?

D'AMATO: I know several women in relationships like these, women who become the caretakers in all aspects of their relationships. I often wonder if it starts out as a fear of losing their partner if they don’t give him enough, then turns into something they can’t undo. I would say relationships work best when they strive to find some balance, as cliché as that might sound. Both partners should take care of the other—maybe not always equally, but shared caretaking over time.

FQ: Every single one of us is a product of our past. Pest was especially molded by his traumatizing childhood. Do you believe that there could be a way for him to free himself from his past?

D'AMATO: I think, rather than free himself of his past, it is more a matter of recovering from his past. His past shaped him into the survivor he is, which is a large part of his personality. But recovering from the worst aspects of it could help with his decision-making processes and life choices, not to mention how he reacts to stressful situations. I think over time Pest would learn some better coping skills, as he is a character who, despite his outbursts, is self-aware.

FQ: Allie’s issue about “having a thing for rabid dogs” is a real one. I know people who have been in bad relationships with toxic men and they now believe that they just attract the worst men. What are your thoughts on this?

D'AMATO: On the surface, men who have a lot of baggage seem more interesting and are often irresistibly charming. As much as Allie didn’t like the furniture salesman because she didn’t want to be bored, she found Pest fascinating, and not just because he was talented. There is something between furniture salesman and Charles Manson, however. Allie was well into her thirties before she figured that one out.

FQ: Let’s talk about Natia’s mother. She wasn’t a bad person. She only wanted the best for her daughter and I can imagine that after seeing that Natia was living in a cluttered apartment in a shady neighborhood, as a mother, she would want her daughter to get out of that area. Tell us a bit about your thoughts on this.

D'AMATO: Natia’s mother did mean well, but her style of taking care of the people she loved was to control all aspects of their lives. Meanwhile her daughter was impulsive and determined, which created a huge conflict between mother and daughter when they disagreed. It would be a shock to any parent to see their child living in squalor, but other parents might try having a discussion, or maybe offering financial assistance, but in any case, would keep the lines of communication open while they were busy worrying. Natia’s mother didn’t like what she saw and simply turned on her daughter. When Natia’s mother couldn’t control something, she’d simply attempt to get rid of it. Acceptance wasn’t even considered.

I think this happens with a lot of parents when faced with unpleasant truths about their child. Maybe the child doesn’t want to go to college, maybe the child is gay, maybe the child is transgender, maybe they want to join the circus. Some parents would rather cut off the child, maybe disown them, rather than deal with an unpleasant truth. This is what Natia’s mother was doing.

June Book Giveaway

This month's book giveaway - a wonderful children's book, Mushroom Rain. A brand-new copy and the entry form is super easy and quick. Scroll to the bottom of our main page to enter:

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