I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young man in a society where the sexes are separated heavily finds a look into their world’s past and into a new way of life in author Mandy Eve-Barnett’s “Life in Slake Patch”.
The Synopsis
Page after page revealed a life unthinkable. Evan could not imagine the possibilities. Images of men and women with children sitting, eating, and playing together in strange dwellings, so different from their log structures. Some made of a smooth, consistently shaped stone of sorts, while others towered above ground with shiny, gleaming surfaces. There were no words to express the amazement. Surely, these pictures were the wild imaginings of a person possessed; they could not be true – especially compared to life in Slake Patch.
Evan’s first exposure to this inconceivable life was through a trusted friend and mentor, Jacob. Shared through the secretive exploration of banned books and creative storytelling, Evan internalized the great tales of fantasy. Life prior to the Grand War was lived differently. Change came to the world due to that drastic event thus calling for extreme measures. Wise old Jacob could see the Grand War as reason enough for society to evolve in a fundamental way.
Intrigued by the stories and burdened by the concepts he found to be desirable, Evan’s existence comes into question when he sees that maybe these unbelievable truths—things of the past—weren’t all that bad…
The Review
This was such a wonderful and inventive narrative. The exploration of a society in a world in which the sexes are not only divided, but women are much more protected and revered in their society. Families are divided as well by the gender gap, and a discovery of what was once a family unit in an old book by the main character and his mentor, a lifelong journey of discovery and change is found. The character growth and interactions were both original and unique to this world and kept the reader engaged in this story.
Yet it was the world-building that truly draws the reader into the narrative immediately. The mythos and originality that the author pours into this world are phenomenal, as are the ways in which this world impacts the character’s growth. I even love the detail the author puts into this world-building, as the unique hierarchy that this society builds impacts everything from politics and the ruling body of their world to how they build relationships with one another and the ways in which the fabric of their society are stitched together are closely examined in this reading.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, imaginative, and entertaining, author Mandy Eve-Barnett’s “Life in Slake Patch” is a must-read novel. The alt-history fiction tale is one of the more original tales I’ve read in recent years in this genre, and the way the author uses strong imagery and a mysterious atmosphere to build this world were truly inspiring. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Mandy currently lives in Alberta, Canada but is originally from England. Her background is diverse and gives her rich experience to utilize in her writing. Mandy has been a nursing professional, a business owner, and a sort after administration expert. She has traveled throughout Europe, parts of America and Canada and was born in Africa.
Mandy is passionate about writing to the point of obsession and she succeeded in becoming a published author in record time. Mandy’s venture into freelance writing has been successful and she regularly contributes to Strathcona Connect, an e-zine and the Never Been Better page in the Sherwood Park newspaper as well as well as holding the position of Secretary for her local writing group, Writers Foundation of Strathcona County. She is also Secretary of Alberta Authors Cooperative.
Writing in various genres, Mandy has been published in anthologies, on numerous web sites as well as regularly blogging about her writing journey.
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