Review of Shadows of the Past
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Ben Winniee
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Review of Shadows of the Past
[Following is a volunteer review of "Shadows of the Past" by Ugochukwu Uche.]
Shadows of the Past by Ugochukwu Uche. It is an emotional thriller book that begins in a rural town of Benda, Abia State, with Amaka, a beautiful girl who was sent by her mother to harvest cassava from her late father’s farm. As she was working on the farmland, she saw a man called Sergeant Chukwudi, who happened to have a long-standing land dispute with her father. Asking her to leave the land and never to come back to the land again, but Amaka refused to leave, standing her ground. Their confrontation escalates, which results in a fight between her and Chukwudi violently abducting Amaka and carrying her away. Later, authorities confront Chukwudi in a tense standoff at his place. As he threatens violence, police shoot and critically injure him. Amaka, on the other hand, was taken to the hospital, and it’s revealed that she is pregnant, impregnated by Chukwudi during his assault. Her mother, Nkechi, devastated and furious, demands an abortion, but the doctor explains it’s too late for a safe procedure. With Amaka reluctantly agreeing to it. Chukwudi, now paralyzed and stripped of his rank, is sentenced in court to twelve years in prison under Nigeria’s Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015. Though justice was formally served, the Amaka family began to worry with deep emotional scars. The courtroom becomes a solemn symbol of justice and the lasting consequences of abuse of power.
Years pass. Amaka’s son, Ikenna, is adopted by Mr. Chike and his wife, Mrs. Ada Okafor, a couple who are seeking the fruits of the womb. Raised him in a loving, stable home, Ikenna has grown up into a bright, emotionally perceptive teenager, unaware of the circumstances of his birth. He began to worry when he lost his father, Chike, to a sudden heart attack. Amid grief and academic pressure, he begins to question his identity and sets out to find out the truth about his biological parents. Meanwhile, Chukwudi has been released from prison and confined to a wheelchair and turned to crime, assembling a network of disillusioned young men for armed robberies. Uche draws a stark contrast between the quiet resilience of victims like Amaka and the desperate descent of perpetrators like Chukwudi, showing how choices, when compounded by impunity and unresolved trauma, shape destinies. Ikenna’s search eventually leads him to Amaka, who, though reluctant, confirms his origins. The revelation that he was conceived through rape devastates him, and yet, it also begins a slow process of reckoning and reclamation. Torn between anger, sorrow, and confusion, Ikenna returns to university, trying to find his place in a world suddenly complicated by the weight of truth. Uche weaves tension as Chukwudi, unaware that Ikenna is his biological son, begins to manipulate the boy under the guise of a family friend, grooming him into trust. Their relationship builds with quiet unease, culminating in a brutal confrontation when the truth emerges. Get your copy, and let’s uncover what happened next as Ikenna tries to defend himself from Chukwudi in a final act of self-defense.
My engagement through this book is the most impactful I’ve had recently. How this book weaves different lives together through one tragic event is both heartbreaking and eye-opening. I love the fact that every character has depth and purpose. The use of simple grammar made this book enjoyable to read and easy to connect with. The value of justice, healing, and redemption stood out strongly. I gained the understanding that every action, no matter how small, has lasting consequences. The fact that this book ends with a sense of hope, even after so much pain, even makes this book truly unforgettable.
I would love to give this book a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars. This is because I found no evidence of errors, and the author's writing style and editing were so perfect. The author going straight to the point without jumping around the bush makes this book more interesting while reading. I really enjoyed everything about this book—no stress, a well-crafted book, I must say. Kudos to the author for making the effort to write this amazing story.
This book is recommended and suitable for audiences who enjoy powerful storytelling that tells a real story that touches the heart. That includes issues such as trauma, justice, and redemption. This book is also good for Nigerian audiences. Students, educators, social workers, and anyone who values character-driven stories with emotional depth will find it deeply moving and thought-provoking. Grab your own copy of this book today, and thank me later!
******
Shadows of the Past
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Shadows of the Past by Ugochukwu Uche. It is an emotional thriller book that begins in a rural town of Benda, Abia State, with Amaka, a beautiful girl who was sent by her mother to harvest cassava from her late father’s farm. As she was working on the farmland, she saw a man called Sergeant Chukwudi, who happened to have a long-standing land dispute with her father. Asking her to leave the land and never to come back to the land again, but Amaka refused to leave, standing her ground. Their confrontation escalates, which results in a fight between her and Chukwudi violently abducting Amaka and carrying her away. Later, authorities confront Chukwudi in a tense standoff at his place. As he threatens violence, police shoot and critically injure him. Amaka, on the other hand, was taken to the hospital, and it’s revealed that she is pregnant, impregnated by Chukwudi during his assault. Her mother, Nkechi, devastated and furious, demands an abortion, but the doctor explains it’s too late for a safe procedure. With Amaka reluctantly agreeing to it. Chukwudi, now paralyzed and stripped of his rank, is sentenced in court to twelve years in prison under Nigeria’s Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015. Though justice was formally served, the Amaka family began to worry with deep emotional scars. The courtroom becomes a solemn symbol of justice and the lasting consequences of abuse of power.
Years pass. Amaka’s son, Ikenna, is adopted by Mr. Chike and his wife, Mrs. Ada Okafor, a couple who are seeking the fruits of the womb. Raised him in a loving, stable home, Ikenna has grown up into a bright, emotionally perceptive teenager, unaware of the circumstances of his birth. He began to worry when he lost his father, Chike, to a sudden heart attack. Amid grief and academic pressure, he begins to question his identity and sets out to find out the truth about his biological parents. Meanwhile, Chukwudi has been released from prison and confined to a wheelchair and turned to crime, assembling a network of disillusioned young men for armed robberies. Uche draws a stark contrast between the quiet resilience of victims like Amaka and the desperate descent of perpetrators like Chukwudi, showing how choices, when compounded by impunity and unresolved trauma, shape destinies. Ikenna’s search eventually leads him to Amaka, who, though reluctant, confirms his origins. The revelation that he was conceived through rape devastates him, and yet, it also begins a slow process of reckoning and reclamation. Torn between anger, sorrow, and confusion, Ikenna returns to university, trying to find his place in a world suddenly complicated by the weight of truth. Uche weaves tension as Chukwudi, unaware that Ikenna is his biological son, begins to manipulate the boy under the guise of a family friend, grooming him into trust. Their relationship builds with quiet unease, culminating in a brutal confrontation when the truth emerges. Get your copy, and let’s uncover what happened next as Ikenna tries to defend himself from Chukwudi in a final act of self-defense.
My engagement through this book is the most impactful I’ve had recently. How this book weaves different lives together through one tragic event is both heartbreaking and eye-opening. I love the fact that every character has depth and purpose. The use of simple grammar made this book enjoyable to read and easy to connect with. The value of justice, healing, and redemption stood out strongly. I gained the understanding that every action, no matter how small, has lasting consequences. The fact that this book ends with a sense of hope, even after so much pain, even makes this book truly unforgettable.
I would love to give this book a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 stars. This is because I found no evidence of errors, and the author's writing style and editing were so perfect. The author going straight to the point without jumping around the bush makes this book more interesting while reading. I really enjoyed everything about this book—no stress, a well-crafted book, I must say. Kudos to the author for making the effort to write this amazing story.
This book is recommended and suitable for audiences who enjoy powerful storytelling that tells a real story that touches the heart. That includes issues such as trauma, justice, and redemption. This book is also good for Nigerian audiences. Students, educators, social workers, and anyone who values character-driven stories with emotional depth will find it deeply moving and thought-provoking. Grab your own copy of this book today, and thank me later!
******
Shadows of the Past
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The TUFF House by Dennis Rice
