Review by Amy Bekins -- The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Jou...
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Amy Bekins
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Review by Amy Bekins -- The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Jou...
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden" by Londyn Skye.]
Drawing into the life of a poor slave girl The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to a Winter Garden tells the story of Lily, a slave who is brought to the North by the son of her master into a place that she never dreamed possible. London Skye invites the reader to follow Lily throughout her journey to Ohio and on as she becomes a world reknown pianist. Lily is a slave girl who is torn from her mother's arms and taken into a household where she befriends the son of the master of the house, a compassionate boy names James. Their friendship is discovered by his father who then turns James against Lily and makes James cruel, just like his father. James goes off to medical school and returns to take Lily with him. James discovered Lily's secret love of music and the piano and takes her to a man who helps her to cultivate her talent and allows her the dream of actually performing, something not allowed to slaves during that time. Lily and James' romance grows as she grows into her talent and finds a family among those James brings her to in Ohio.
Skye is a great storyteller bringing the reader right along with Lily as she travels up with James on a journey away from her cruel master. Skye engrosses the reader in the story. Skye takes the reader on a ride of emotions through joy, fear, hope, love, and passion. The reader walks and rides alongside Lily as she discovers her talent and the joy that comes from good friends and love. The story draws people in and when finished the reader is eager to see what happens in the second book. Most chapters start with an excert from a slave code or a definition which adds a touch of creativity and foreshadowing to the story, drawing the reader in deeper.
There is little depth in Skye's novel, but that is not the intention in the book. The conflict behind the story is lacking and the book drags in the middle. The reader is left wanting and desiring more from a book that has so much potential. Skye was able to do so much more with her novel, yet leaves the reader longing for more and dragging in the middle. Skye switches between abbreviating words and writing phonetically to give a southern drawl to her characters, but this writing style is inconsistent and distracting. Skye also changes the time frame with no warning, which can cause confusion.
I would give this book a 3 out of 4 stars. It is beautifully written and helps to portray some of the challenges faced by slaves during the time immediately preceding the civil war and the feelings that often get complicated by a slave-master relationship. The story lacks depth, though, and the conflict was not nearly as engrossing as it could have been. However, the story did end on a cliffhanger making you hunger for the next story.
This book is for more mature audiences. There is a fair amount of foul language and a very graphic sex scene. This novel would appeal to people that like historical romances. Especially those that like stories about the old south that dwell on the challenges and difficulties faced by people of color during that time, and the complicated dynamic of slave and master.
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The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Drawing into the life of a poor slave girl The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to a Winter Garden tells the story of Lily, a slave who is brought to the North by the son of her master into a place that she never dreamed possible. London Skye invites the reader to follow Lily throughout her journey to Ohio and on as she becomes a world reknown pianist. Lily is a slave girl who is torn from her mother's arms and taken into a household where she befriends the son of the master of the house, a compassionate boy names James. Their friendship is discovered by his father who then turns James against Lily and makes James cruel, just like his father. James goes off to medical school and returns to take Lily with him. James discovered Lily's secret love of music and the piano and takes her to a man who helps her to cultivate her talent and allows her the dream of actually performing, something not allowed to slaves during that time. Lily and James' romance grows as she grows into her talent and finds a family among those James brings her to in Ohio.
Skye is a great storyteller bringing the reader right along with Lily as she travels up with James on a journey away from her cruel master. Skye engrosses the reader in the story. Skye takes the reader on a ride of emotions through joy, fear, hope, love, and passion. The reader walks and rides alongside Lily as she discovers her talent and the joy that comes from good friends and love. The story draws people in and when finished the reader is eager to see what happens in the second book. Most chapters start with an excert from a slave code or a definition which adds a touch of creativity and foreshadowing to the story, drawing the reader in deeper.
There is little depth in Skye's novel, but that is not the intention in the book. The conflict behind the story is lacking and the book drags in the middle. The reader is left wanting and desiring more from a book that has so much potential. Skye was able to do so much more with her novel, yet leaves the reader longing for more and dragging in the middle. Skye switches between abbreviating words and writing phonetically to give a southern drawl to her characters, but this writing style is inconsistent and distracting. Skye also changes the time frame with no warning, which can cause confusion.
I would give this book a 3 out of 4 stars. It is beautifully written and helps to portray some of the challenges faced by slaves during the time immediately preceding the civil war and the feelings that often get complicated by a slave-master relationship. The story lacks depth, though, and the conflict was not nearly as engrossing as it could have been. However, the story did end on a cliffhanger making you hunger for the next story.
This book is for more mature audiences. There is a fair amount of foul language and a very graphic sex scene. This novel would appeal to people that like historical romances. Especially those that like stories about the old south that dwell on the challenges and difficulties faced by people of color during that time, and the complicated dynamic of slave and master.
******
The Prodigy Slave, Book One: Journey to Winter Garden
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: What did you do at school today? by C.C. Lacavera
