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The Dragons of Alsace Farm
Laurie Lewis
2018 Gold Medal
376 Pages
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Fiction - Inspirational
Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite
Noah has hidden from his family and life for ten years and has doubts about returning to his uncle’s home when he receives a request to return as soon as possible. Agnes is the neighbor he visits daily to help with chores. She is fighting with herself and slowly losing the battle to dementia. Tayte is Agnes’ granddaughter and the two have not seen each other for many years. Tayte is headstrong, very organized compared to her grandmother's disregard for order, and afraid of being rejected. As Noah, Agnes and Tayte work together, they face the enormous and impossible task of trying to live with and accept each other with all of their oddities. They have fun days going on picnics, and bad days fighting and feuding. Noah must also deal with his uncle being close to death, reuniting with cousins, and slowly becoming proud of the man he is learning to be.
The Dragons of Alsace Farm by Laurie Lewis is filled with secrets, doubts, redemption, love and forgiveness. The story is about the dragons that lie in our brains and hearts, the events that put them there, and the escape routes to set them free. I could not help but become involved with each character, and cried for their hardships and cheered with them for their happiness. There was much inspiration and faith written into The Dragons of Alsace Farm with great skill. I truly became part of the story, feeling the characters' pain and wanting to offer my advice. The Dragons of Alsace Farm is a thought provoking novel with a plot and characters that make this a fantastic read. I highly recommend this book and can promise that you will not be disappointed.
Noah has hidden from his family and life for ten years and has doubts about returning to his uncle’s home when he receives a request to return as soon as possible. Agnes is the neighbor he visits daily to help with chores. She is fighting with herself and slowly losing the battle to dementia. Tayte is Agnes’ granddaughter and the two have not seen each other for many years. Tayte is headstrong, very organized compared to her grandmother's disregard for order, and afraid of being rejected. As Noah, Agnes and Tayte work together, they face the enormous and impossible task of trying to live with and accept each other with all of their oddities. They have fun days going on picnics, and bad days fighting and feuding. Noah must also deal with his uncle being close to death, reuniting with cousins, and slowly becoming proud of the man he is learning to be.
The Dragons of Alsace Farm by Laurie Lewis is filled with secrets, doubts, redemption, love and forgiveness. The story is about the dragons that lie in our brains and hearts, the events that put them there, and the escape routes to set them free. I could not help but become involved with each character, and cried for their hardships and cheered with them for their happiness. There was much inspiration and faith written into The Dragons of Alsace Farm with great skill. I truly became part of the story, feeling the characters' pain and wanting to offer my advice. The Dragons of Alsace Farm is a thought provoking novel with a plot and characters that make this a fantastic read. I highly recommend this book and can promise that you will not be disappointed.
Recommend this book:
Eye of the Moon
Book 1 of "Eye of the Moon"
Ivan Obolensky
2018 Gold Medal
554 Pages
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Fiction - Intrigue
Reviewed by Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
In the scintillating supernatural mystery, Eye of the Moon by Ivan Obolensky, two young men battle family discord and the forces of the occult. Percy's parents had no place for him in their busy lives and left him with their close friends, the Dodges. Percy was the same age as the Dodges' son Johnny, and the two boys grew up together as brothers. When they were young, Johnny's Aunt Alice died unexpectedly during a house party. Alice had lived an extraordinary life, and her death was out of the ordinary. Rumors of murder had been whispered about, but nothing ever came of the innuendos. Many years later, at a weekend house party the Dodges are giving for old friends and family, things again take an unexpected and shocking turn, and Percy is surprised to find himself in the midst of it. For a bit of fun, Johnny and Percy delve into one of Alice's ancient occult books and receive unexpected results. A lot of old secrets are revealed, and the familial fur begins to fly. Will Johnny and Percy survive the family celebration without being disinherited or exiled? Or even worse, will they suffer the same fate as Alice?
Eye of the Moon by Ivan Obolensky is a thrillingly eerie mystery novel with a Gothic ambiance and supernatural elements seeping through the story line. The intriguing tale is told from the main character Percy's point of view, engaging the reader with his articulate and conscientious personality. From the beginning, Percy relates his history and that of each person in the narrative, melding their past with the present. Despite the chronology of the many events the characters had experienced before the story began, they are combined to create a fabulously spine-chilling plot. This is an amazing novel, and I recommend it to those who love a spooky mystery with a supernatural flavor. However, it would be more suitable for a mature audience as there are a few mild references to drug use and sexual encounters.
In the scintillating supernatural mystery, Eye of the Moon by Ivan Obolensky, two young men battle family discord and the forces of the occult. Percy's parents had no place for him in their busy lives and left him with their close friends, the Dodges. Percy was the same age as the Dodges' son Johnny, and the two boys grew up together as brothers. When they were young, Johnny's Aunt Alice died unexpectedly during a house party. Alice had lived an extraordinary life, and her death was out of the ordinary. Rumors of murder had been whispered about, but nothing ever came of the innuendos. Many years later, at a weekend house party the Dodges are giving for old friends and family, things again take an unexpected and shocking turn, and Percy is surprised to find himself in the midst of it. For a bit of fun, Johnny and Percy delve into one of Alice's ancient occult books and receive unexpected results. A lot of old secrets are revealed, and the familial fur begins to fly. Will Johnny and Percy survive the family celebration without being disinherited or exiled? Or even worse, will they suffer the same fate as Alice?
Eye of the Moon by Ivan Obolensky is a thrillingly eerie mystery novel with a Gothic ambiance and supernatural elements seeping through the story line. The intriguing tale is told from the main character Percy's point of view, engaging the reader with his articulate and conscientious personality. From the beginning, Percy relates his history and that of each person in the narrative, melding their past with the present. Despite the chronology of the many events the characters had experienced before the story began, they are combined to create a fabulously spine-chilling plot. This is an amazing novel, and I recommend it to those who love a spooky mystery with a supernatural flavor. However, it would be more suitable for a mature audience as there are a few mild references to drug use and sexual encounters.
Recommend this book:
Awakening of the Summer
Yorker Keith
2018 Honorable Mention
320 Pages
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Fiction - Intrigue
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Awakening of the Summer by Yorker Keith is a literary fiction story with fine elements of romance. Featuring an interesting cast of characters, the story introduces readers to a love triangle explored from very unique angles. James is an economist at a Wall Street firm, a man with a strong passion for painting. When he takes his summer vacation in a mountain resort, he encounters two sisters, Sophie and Kelly. While he is excited by Sophie’s intellect (she is an editor of a law review magazine), he is hopelessly attracted to Kelly’s sensual beauty. When James rescues Sophie from drowning, Kelly sees him as a hero and falls for him. There are twists in the story, and through a series of events and heartaches, James gets to gamble with the hearts of both sisters. But for how long can the love triangle continue?
This is a brilliantly plotted story that deals with love, family, friendship, and art. The characters are complex and I enjoyed the way the author builds up the tension, creating an emotional conflict that is at the same time intriguing and at the center of character development. James is a fascinating character, a skilled professional with a powerful gift with the brush. This is a story for readers who enjoy examining the hearts of complex characters and navigating hidden and delicate pathways. Yorker Keith’s writing is beautiful and polished, filled with insightful passages and dialogues that read like real life conversations. Awakening of the Summer is an emotionally engaging story with characters that are easy to like.
Awakening of the Summer by Yorker Keith is a literary fiction story with fine elements of romance. Featuring an interesting cast of characters, the story introduces readers to a love triangle explored from very unique angles. James is an economist at a Wall Street firm, a man with a strong passion for painting. When he takes his summer vacation in a mountain resort, he encounters two sisters, Sophie and Kelly. While he is excited by Sophie’s intellect (she is an editor of a law review magazine), he is hopelessly attracted to Kelly’s sensual beauty. When James rescues Sophie from drowning, Kelly sees him as a hero and falls for him. There are twists in the story, and through a series of events and heartaches, James gets to gamble with the hearts of both sisters. But for how long can the love triangle continue?
This is a brilliantly plotted story that deals with love, family, friendship, and art. The characters are complex and I enjoyed the way the author builds up the tension, creating an emotional conflict that is at the same time intriguing and at the center of character development. James is a fascinating character, a skilled professional with a powerful gift with the brush. This is a story for readers who enjoy examining the hearts of complex characters and navigating hidden and delicate pathways. Yorker Keith’s writing is beautiful and polished, filled with insightful passages and dialogues that read like real life conversations. Awakening of the Summer is an emotionally engaging story with characters that are easy to like.
Recommend this book:
The Last Valentine
A Labyrinth of Love Letters Novel
Felix Alexander
2018 Finalist
308 Pages
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Fiction - Literary
Reviewed by Caitlin Lyle Farley for Readers' Favorite
The Last Valentine is just one of many secrets in the Puerto Rican city of Old Sienna. When Olivia finds a bloodstained love letter in her father’s coat, she becomes entranced by the poetic longing scribed on the page. She resolves to place the letter in the legendary Labyrinth of Love Letters. Even the discovery that the letter is a stolen piece of evidence in the unsolved murder of an unidentified man does not deter her from her goal. Olivia convinces her close friend, Isaac, to help her. Little does the pair know that some of the Labyrinth’s secrets are deeper and darker than the letters exchanged between forbidden lovers. One of those secrets would mean death for Olivia if she were ever to discover it.
The Last Valentine is a novel of romantic love in all its forms, from happy ever afters and the loneliness of unrequited love, to the tragedy of impossible, secret romances confined to whispers and the cover of darkness. There were times when I thought it was glorifying the unhealthy side of romance a bit much, but it works in the context and fits the theme. Felix Alexander’s writing is poetic and evokes a great sense of mood throughout. This is accentuated and refined by its '30s setting and the classicist attitudes of this era. The characters all intertwine and connect with each other, often in ways I didn’t anticipate, and their motives direct the plot down a path littered with deep, dark secrets.
The Last Valentine is just one of many secrets in the Puerto Rican city of Old Sienna. When Olivia finds a bloodstained love letter in her father’s coat, she becomes entranced by the poetic longing scribed on the page. She resolves to place the letter in the legendary Labyrinth of Love Letters. Even the discovery that the letter is a stolen piece of evidence in the unsolved murder of an unidentified man does not deter her from her goal. Olivia convinces her close friend, Isaac, to help her. Little does the pair know that some of the Labyrinth’s secrets are deeper and darker than the letters exchanged between forbidden lovers. One of those secrets would mean death for Olivia if she were ever to discover it.
The Last Valentine is a novel of romantic love in all its forms, from happy ever afters and the loneliness of unrequited love, to the tragedy of impossible, secret romances confined to whispers and the cover of darkness. There were times when I thought it was glorifying the unhealthy side of romance a bit much, but it works in the context and fits the theme. Felix Alexander’s writing is poetic and evokes a great sense of mood throughout. This is accentuated and refined by its '30s setting and the classicist attitudes of this era. The characters all intertwine and connect with each other, often in ways I didn’t anticipate, and their motives direct the plot down a path littered with deep, dark secrets.
Recommend this book:
The Second Cup
Can someone else steal your suicide? (The Butterfly Effect Book 1)
Sarah Marie Graye
2018 Finalist
320 Pages
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Fiction - Literary
Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite
The Second Cup by Sarah Marie Graye is a novel about four friends who find out how fragile life can be and how much someone else’s life can impact theirs. Jumping between different narratives, this novel is the perfect read for those who like gritty, raw and emotional stories that will have them reaching for the tissue box quite often!
This is the story of four women, Faye, Abbie, Olivia and Beth, who found each other at university and became great friends. Faye fell in love with Jack all those years ago and her heart still belonged to him. Even though there is a chance that he might be with someone else, she decides to try to find him. When she finds out that he killed himself, everything falls apart in the lives of these women. To find out what happened, Faye goes to find Jack’s best friend, Ethan; Abbie is now questioning everything about her life; Beth wants to escape the pain of his death, no matter how she gets it; and Olivia is the one left wondering what will happen to the four of them and how their lives will pan out. How can the death of one person change the lives of four women who were living their lives normally? How can these women survive the death of a friend?
What I really appreciated and enjoyed about the novel is that it came as close to real life as possible. It covered real issues like depression, illness, suicide and unhappiness, and showed how hard these can be on people. Most of us try to hide it, some conquer it, and then there are some who lose the battle and become victims. Sarah Marie Graye covered these issues well and with care. She highlighted these issues and ensured she had the reader’s full attention. A truly amazing and well-developed novel that just blew me away with the writer’s superior writing skills.
The Second Cup by Sarah Marie Graye is a novel about four friends who find out how fragile life can be and how much someone else’s life can impact theirs. Jumping between different narratives, this novel is the perfect read for those who like gritty, raw and emotional stories that will have them reaching for the tissue box quite often!
This is the story of four women, Faye, Abbie, Olivia and Beth, who found each other at university and became great friends. Faye fell in love with Jack all those years ago and her heart still belonged to him. Even though there is a chance that he might be with someone else, she decides to try to find him. When she finds out that he killed himself, everything falls apart in the lives of these women. To find out what happened, Faye goes to find Jack’s best friend, Ethan; Abbie is now questioning everything about her life; Beth wants to escape the pain of his death, no matter how she gets it; and Olivia is the one left wondering what will happen to the four of them and how their lives will pan out. How can the death of one person change the lives of four women who were living their lives normally? How can these women survive the death of a friend?
What I really appreciated and enjoyed about the novel is that it came as close to real life as possible. It covered real issues like depression, illness, suicide and unhappiness, and showed how hard these can be on people. Most of us try to hide it, some conquer it, and then there are some who lose the battle and become victims. Sarah Marie Graye covered these issues well and with care. She highlighted these issues and ensured she had the reader’s full attention. A truly amazing and well-developed novel that just blew me away with the writer’s superior writing skills.
Recommend this book:
The Steel Road
The Ardent Halo, Book I
Edie James
2018 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
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Fiction - Magic/Wizardry
Reviewed by K.J. Simmill for Readers' Favorite
The elves didn't believe in an afterlife; you were either dead or alive. So when Dreyah, the prophesied human/elf crossbreed whose death would spark war, was found murdered by some magical ritual, the thought of her returning had not been imagined. But death did not want her, yet. It was not her time, and thus it rejected her, sending her back to the living. Thoughts of the two bloods within her, giving her two lives, surfaced to explain away the strange phenomenon, but she had not been convinced. Dreyah knows she must avenge her murder, and seeks to find her place. She is both elf and human, and also the spark of war. She must choose a side, choose with which blood her loyalties lie.
The Steel Road by Edie James is the first book in The Ardent Halo series. It is a complex coming of age tale ripe with politics, agendas, deception, and magic, both made by machine and nature. Houses and factions are driven by their own beliefs, and the guidance of The Four and their chosen. But even those thought to be touched by the divine are not beyond manipulation. The Steel Road is immensely descriptive with impressive world building, along with myth, legend, history and lore. Magnificent scenery will leave vivid impressions, while alliances and agendas drive the complex threads of a very involved plot. This world is divided; elf, human, and the space between where war once raged. Each side is different, each side has its own levels of development, and the contrast makes for a fascinating transition in what I would have to call a steampunk high fantasy cross.
Engaging, immersive, and very much alive, this is a tale you won't soon forget. For readers who find it difficult to follow houses and alliances, there is a short comprehensive appendix at the end, ideal if you plan to read it over a few sittings and become hazy on some of the details. A strong first book in what promises to be a fascinating series.
The elves didn't believe in an afterlife; you were either dead or alive. So when Dreyah, the prophesied human/elf crossbreed whose death would spark war, was found murdered by some magical ritual, the thought of her returning had not been imagined. But death did not want her, yet. It was not her time, and thus it rejected her, sending her back to the living. Thoughts of the two bloods within her, giving her two lives, surfaced to explain away the strange phenomenon, but she had not been convinced. Dreyah knows she must avenge her murder, and seeks to find her place. She is both elf and human, and also the spark of war. She must choose a side, choose with which blood her loyalties lie.
The Steel Road by Edie James is the first book in The Ardent Halo series. It is a complex coming of age tale ripe with politics, agendas, deception, and magic, both made by machine and nature. Houses and factions are driven by their own beliefs, and the guidance of The Four and their chosen. But even those thought to be touched by the divine are not beyond manipulation. The Steel Road is immensely descriptive with impressive world building, along with myth, legend, history and lore. Magnificent scenery will leave vivid impressions, while alliances and agendas drive the complex threads of a very involved plot. This world is divided; elf, human, and the space between where war once raged. Each side is different, each side has its own levels of development, and the contrast makes for a fascinating transition in what I would have to call a steampunk high fantasy cross.
Engaging, immersive, and very much alive, this is a tale you won't soon forget. For readers who find it difficult to follow houses and alliances, there is a short comprehensive appendix at the end, ideal if you plan to read it over a few sittings and become hazy on some of the details. A strong first book in what promises to be a fascinating series.
Recommend this book:
The Great War
One Hundred Stories, Of One Hundred Words, Honouring Those Who Lived and Died One Hundred Years Ago
Dawn Knox
2018 Finalist
212 Pages
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Fiction - Military
Reviewed by Neil A White for Readers' Favorite
The Great War by Dawn Knox is an ambitious undertaking that recounts 100 stories, each told in exactly 100 words, on the 100th anniversary of WWI. At precisely 10,000 words, the book is a quick read, but the scenes that Ms. Knox’s sparse, yet vividly compelling prose evokes will resonate and remain with the reader for far longer. Aiding this imagery is the spacing of the stories; one brief story per page, giving the reader time to reflect before continuing. In fact, The Great War reads more like a book of poetry; if one would ever deign to call trench warfare poetic.
The stories themselves run the gamut of emotions; thoughts of home, thoughts of family members missing loved ones, comradeship on the front lines, the living hell of the trenches, to thoughts on God and the utter futility of their undertaking. And all recounted from the perspective of the English, French and German combatants, whom we learn have much in common.
One short passage sticks with me that perfectly encapsulated the war’s senselessness. Summing up a collective mindset of the combatants at the outset: A way to see the world, a lark, and a war that would soon be over. Only to quickly realize the utter desperation and hopelessness of their situation - if they lived.
“One man arrives in the trenches. He is young, strong and eager to engage in battle. He is warned to keep his head down but it is easy to forget this order when you’re young, strong and eager to engage in battle. Within minutes, the young soldier is dead. Another man arrives, keen to make his mark.”
Ms. Knox has produced a powerful piece of work to starkly remind us that our history should never be forgotten.
The Great War by Dawn Knox is an ambitious undertaking that recounts 100 stories, each told in exactly 100 words, on the 100th anniversary of WWI. At precisely 10,000 words, the book is a quick read, but the scenes that Ms. Knox’s sparse, yet vividly compelling prose evokes will resonate and remain with the reader for far longer. Aiding this imagery is the spacing of the stories; one brief story per page, giving the reader time to reflect before continuing. In fact, The Great War reads more like a book of poetry; if one would ever deign to call trench warfare poetic.
The stories themselves run the gamut of emotions; thoughts of home, thoughts of family members missing loved ones, comradeship on the front lines, the living hell of the trenches, to thoughts on God and the utter futility of their undertaking. And all recounted from the perspective of the English, French and German combatants, whom we learn have much in common.
One short passage sticks with me that perfectly encapsulated the war’s senselessness. Summing up a collective mindset of the combatants at the outset: A way to see the world, a lark, and a war that would soon be over. Only to quickly realize the utter desperation and hopelessness of their situation - if they lived.
“One man arrives in the trenches. He is young, strong and eager to engage in battle. He is warned to keep his head down but it is easy to forget this order when you’re young, strong and eager to engage in battle. Within minutes, the young soldier is dead. Another man arrives, keen to make his mark.”
Ms. Knox has produced a powerful piece of work to starkly remind us that our history should never be forgotten.
Recommend this book:
The Coin
Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
2018 Bronze Medal
308 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite
Suspenseful, thrilling, and action-packed are apt words to describe The Coin by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra, a mesmerizing story with great potential to have readers utterly captivated. It all starts with a coin, a mysterious, coveted coin, but what is the value of a coin that people are killed and the lives of many put in danger? Set against the lush backdrop of the French Riviera, this novel explores very powerful themes such as lust, love and betrayal, and many things in between. Gabriela Martinez couldn’t have known that the coin she’d found in the Riviera could set her up as a target. A man gone mad, a very clever killer has her almost in his grip, and will not relent. There is only one person who can protect her, the Intelligence Operative Richard Harrison, but does he have everything required to outwit a cunning killer and unforgiving terrorists?
The story has a brilliant opening; it begins with murder, and the reader is immediately introduced to one of the key characters in the story, the madman. Curiosity awakens and becomes a force that keeps the reader turning the pages. The setting is very beautiful and the idea of the “coin” is just brilliant and enigmatic, something of a mystery which adds to the pervading sense of danger that dominates the entire story. The characters are well crafted and explored in great depth, and the author does this without sacrificing her powerful plot points and her oh-so-beautiful prose. Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra’s work is one of the craftiest stories that will make readers fall in love with the exotic French Riviera. The Coin is hugely entertaining!
Suspenseful, thrilling, and action-packed are apt words to describe The Coin by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra, a mesmerizing story with great potential to have readers utterly captivated. It all starts with a coin, a mysterious, coveted coin, but what is the value of a coin that people are killed and the lives of many put in danger? Set against the lush backdrop of the French Riviera, this novel explores very powerful themes such as lust, love and betrayal, and many things in between. Gabriela Martinez couldn’t have known that the coin she’d found in the Riviera could set her up as a target. A man gone mad, a very clever killer has her almost in his grip, and will not relent. There is only one person who can protect her, the Intelligence Operative Richard Harrison, but does he have everything required to outwit a cunning killer and unforgiving terrorists?
The story has a brilliant opening; it begins with murder, and the reader is immediately introduced to one of the key characters in the story, the madman. Curiosity awakens and becomes a force that keeps the reader turning the pages. The setting is very beautiful and the idea of the “coin” is just brilliant and enigmatic, something of a mystery which adds to the pervading sense of danger that dominates the entire story. The characters are well crafted and explored in great depth, and the author does this without sacrificing her powerful plot points and her oh-so-beautiful prose. Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra’s work is one of the craftiest stories that will make readers fall in love with the exotic French Riviera. The Coin is hugely entertaining!
Recommend this book:
The Golden Peacock
Lauren Grossman
2018 Finalist
287 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by Karen C. Webb for Readers' Favorite
The Golden Peacock by Lauren Grossman centers around Rainee, a bestselling author who is stuck on her next novel idea. When she finds a ticket from the Holocaust Museum in her desk drawer, she decides to visit London and track down the survivor, Jana Bowman. Finding Jana in a nursing home in London, Rainee also meets the handsome director, John. Realizing that Jana is in a state of Alzheimer's and deathly afraid of a doctor who visits the home weekly, Rainee decides to visit every day and try to reach her. She also does research on the disease and on Nazi Germany in her spare time, while engaging in a relationship with John. Finding out the doctor's father was possibly a Nazi soldier during World War II, Rainee uncovers a nest of long-buried secrets, which causes her to dig deeper and deeper, all the while placing her in ever-increasing danger from an unknown source.
I found the tale of Jana and Rainee touching and intriguing. Told in alternating viewpoints, the story gives Jana's account of life during the Holocaust, as well as Rainee's point of view in 1997. The ending was especially touching and, while somewhat predictable, it still held my interest until the last page. The author's knowledge of historical facts and the insertion of words or sentences in German gave credibility to the story. It was very clear that this author had done her homework, which increases the readability and enjoyment of the story. I thought the characters were slightly mundane, and the dialogue a tad pedestrian, but overall, The Golden Peacock by Lauren Grossman is a well told, well thought-out story.
The Golden Peacock by Lauren Grossman centers around Rainee, a bestselling author who is stuck on her next novel idea. When she finds a ticket from the Holocaust Museum in her desk drawer, she decides to visit London and track down the survivor, Jana Bowman. Finding Jana in a nursing home in London, Rainee also meets the handsome director, John. Realizing that Jana is in a state of Alzheimer's and deathly afraid of a doctor who visits the home weekly, Rainee decides to visit every day and try to reach her. She also does research on the disease and on Nazi Germany in her spare time, while engaging in a relationship with John. Finding out the doctor's father was possibly a Nazi soldier during World War II, Rainee uncovers a nest of long-buried secrets, which causes her to dig deeper and deeper, all the while placing her in ever-increasing danger from an unknown source.
I found the tale of Jana and Rainee touching and intriguing. Told in alternating viewpoints, the story gives Jana's account of life during the Holocaust, as well as Rainee's point of view in 1997. The ending was especially touching and, while somewhat predictable, it still held my interest until the last page. The author's knowledge of historical facts and the insertion of words or sentences in German gave credibility to the story. It was very clear that this author had done her homework, which increases the readability and enjoyment of the story. I thought the characters were slightly mundane, and the dialogue a tad pedestrian, but overall, The Golden Peacock by Lauren Grossman is a well told, well thought-out story.
Recommend this book:
A Slave of the Shadows
Naomi Finley
2018 Gold Medal
329 Pages
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Fiction - Mystery - Historical
Reviewed by Jane Finch for Readers' Favorite
A Slave of the Shadows by Naomi Finley tells the story of Willow Hendricks and her life at the Livingstone Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina during the mid 1800s. Willow finds herself increasingly disturbed by the treatment of the slaves on not only her own plantation, but on neighbouring ones too. She is raised by Mammy, a black slave, and Mammy’s daughter becomes her best friend. Willow is tormented by the little knowledge she has of her own mother, and resentful of her father who is strict and uncompromising. Willow makes friends with Whitney Barry from a neighbouring plantation and together they set out to try to make life better for the slaves, and to fight against the slaves’ oppression. However, the actions of Willow and Whitney threaten to get out of hand and when Willow finally finds out the truth of her past, she realises that life will never be the same again.
The author, Naomi Finley, has skilfully crafted an epic story of oppression and obsession set in the deep south during a time when equality was unheard of and slavery was the norm. The characters of Willow and Whitney are perfectly developed, and the descriptions of life in these times is both upsetting and awe-inspiring. This is absolutely a book that has to be read if possible in one sitting, because it is impossible to put down. Each chapter leaves the reader hanging and consistent reading is compelling. Well done to an author that not only has a message to portray, but has done so in a professional and incredible way. An amazing book, and I, for one, can’t wait for the sequel. I enjoyed it immensely.
A Slave of the Shadows by Naomi Finley tells the story of Willow Hendricks and her life at the Livingstone Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina during the mid 1800s. Willow finds herself increasingly disturbed by the treatment of the slaves on not only her own plantation, but on neighbouring ones too. She is raised by Mammy, a black slave, and Mammy’s daughter becomes her best friend. Willow is tormented by the little knowledge she has of her own mother, and resentful of her father who is strict and uncompromising. Willow makes friends with Whitney Barry from a neighbouring plantation and together they set out to try to make life better for the slaves, and to fight against the slaves’ oppression. However, the actions of Willow and Whitney threaten to get out of hand and when Willow finally finds out the truth of her past, she realises that life will never be the same again.
The author, Naomi Finley, has skilfully crafted an epic story of oppression and obsession set in the deep south during a time when equality was unheard of and slavery was the norm. The characters of Willow and Whitney are perfectly developed, and the descriptions of life in these times is both upsetting and awe-inspiring. This is absolutely a book that has to be read if possible in one sitting, because it is impossible to put down. Each chapter leaves the reader hanging and consistent reading is compelling. Well done to an author that not only has a message to portray, but has done so in a professional and incredible way. An amazing book, and I, for one, can’t wait for the sequel. I enjoyed it immensely.
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