Review by Jlblawrence -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
Posted: 07 May 2020, 16:18
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
Set in the scenic Olympic Peninsula and described with all the beauty and wildness of that land, Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is a captivating novel about a family growing together while also honoring their past. Suddenly blessed with a granddaughter he didn’t know existed, Tom Olsen finds an even greater purpose in the camping trip he’d planned to honor his late grandfather. Along with their native Haida friends, William and Myra, the foursome must traverse the difficult trailheads that delve deep into the Olympic National Forest in order to reach their remote destination. But when Sarah goes missing for eight days and then suddenly reemerges, the purpose of their trip suddenly gains an even deeper and more spiritual purpose.
Sarah manages to make it home safely and quickly becomes the most important piece to solving a great and ancient mystery. It seems there are forces at work to destroy sacred areas of the forest and it’s up to Sarah, Tom, Myra, William, and a late character named Sergei to stop it. Full of danger, excitement, nature, and history, this novel is a page turner.
This novel was excellent and I would rate it a 4 out of 4. I think anyone who has been to the Olympic Peninsula will fall instantly in love with this story. It is set in real world locations so readers could literally follow in their footsteps step by step. It is a pleasant read about family and friends and the magic that nature holds. There is no profanity or sexual content to distract from the majesty of what is happening in the story. The book is well edited and there were nearly no spelling or grammar mistakes.
I loved this book because I am familiar with the area where it took place. But even someone with no knowledge of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington will enjoy the rich description of the landscape. Magic and science are themes throughout this novel that are woven together with the skill only someone truly knowledgeable in both could produce. The magic comes in the form of the native Haida Gwaii people and the legends of their tribe. When Sarah goes missing, her shocking journey is profound enough to marry the two very different practices of folklore and archeology. The use of historical, geological, and archeological data creates an intelligent tale that left me feeling I had truly learned something.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating story to read. It has elements that every reader will be able to relate to. The storyline is deep, the writing is well done, and the character development is thoughtful and effective. I think my only complaint for this entire story is that it ended too soon.
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Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Set in the scenic Olympic Peninsula and described with all the beauty and wildness of that land, Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is a captivating novel about a family growing together while also honoring their past. Suddenly blessed with a granddaughter he didn’t know existed, Tom Olsen finds an even greater purpose in the camping trip he’d planned to honor his late grandfather. Along with their native Haida friends, William and Myra, the foursome must traverse the difficult trailheads that delve deep into the Olympic National Forest in order to reach their remote destination. But when Sarah goes missing for eight days and then suddenly reemerges, the purpose of their trip suddenly gains an even deeper and more spiritual purpose.
Sarah manages to make it home safely and quickly becomes the most important piece to solving a great and ancient mystery. It seems there are forces at work to destroy sacred areas of the forest and it’s up to Sarah, Tom, Myra, William, and a late character named Sergei to stop it. Full of danger, excitement, nature, and history, this novel is a page turner.
This novel was excellent and I would rate it a 4 out of 4. I think anyone who has been to the Olympic Peninsula will fall instantly in love with this story. It is set in real world locations so readers could literally follow in their footsteps step by step. It is a pleasant read about family and friends and the magic that nature holds. There is no profanity or sexual content to distract from the majesty of what is happening in the story. The book is well edited and there were nearly no spelling or grammar mistakes.
I loved this book because I am familiar with the area where it took place. But even someone with no knowledge of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington will enjoy the rich description of the landscape. Magic and science are themes throughout this novel that are woven together with the skill only someone truly knowledgeable in both could produce. The magic comes in the form of the native Haida Gwaii people and the legends of their tribe. When Sarah goes missing, her shocking journey is profound enough to marry the two very different practices of folklore and archeology. The use of historical, geological, and archeological data creates an intelligent tale that left me feeling I had truly learned something.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating story to read. It has elements that every reader will be able to relate to. The storyline is deep, the writing is well done, and the character development is thoughtful and effective. I think my only complaint for this entire story is that it ended too soon.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
You can almost imagine that the characters had lived those experiences and adventures at some point 