Official Review: The Unconquered by Peter Man

Jgideon · Post by **Jgideon** » 30 Oct 2019, 05:35

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Unconquered" by Peter Man.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Victoria Solana lived a quiet life with her adoptive parents, Michael and Angela, in a small town in Canada: Dundas (west of Toronto). Their house was not only their home but also the home of one of the most sought after books, The Book of Secrets. Victoria was not bothered about who her biological parents were because Michael and Angela showered her with all the love that she ever needed. However, things changed in a split second when both her parents died in a car accident. With his last words, Michael ordered Victoria Solana to follow certain instructions that would help her discover her identity. The sixteen-year-old Victoria finds herself in a world without the people who loved her unconditionally. Could she make it on her own in a cruel world?

The Unconquered Children of the Divine Fire by Peter Man follows the story of Victoria Solana, the protagonist of the story, as she traverses different periods (the past, the present, and the future) to search for her identity. The book consists of 52 chapters in 300+ pages. While narrating Victoria’s story, the author takes the reader through the history of Chinese mythology, art history, and a futuristic view of the world. All the aspects of the novel are interwoven in an exciting science fiction story.

The novel is very engaging and takes the reader through different phases of Victoria’s life. Victoria and her biological parents assume different identities in different timelines. I was glad to pick all the clues that the author dropped along the way, which helped me to connect the dots about the identity of each of the characters and how each of the stories led to the next chapter in the life of Victoria. I must say it was quite a challenging puzzle to solve at first.

I loved how the author dug deep into Chinese history. This made him give a detailed account of how China rose from ashes to beauty. I enjoyed learning about the different historical figures in Chinese history, such as Confucius. The most stunning lesson was that of the rise of a poor orphan, who later became a beggar monk (due to the wars and oppression in China) and ended up being the powerful Chinese leader, Ming Taizu. His wife, Queen Ma, supported him unconditionally. Their descendants would later become the founders of the largest companies in China and in the world today: Alibaba and Tencent.

I loved how the author brought out the theme of the ‘Big Lie’ versus the truth. This helped me to understand the economic differences between China and the West, including America. Those who love to learn more about the relationship between China and America will appreciate this aspect of the book.

I did not like two issues about the book. The author included a lot of promotional material for the book in the first few pages of the copy that I read. I do not like it when such happens, especially at the beginning of the book because it sends a message that the author is trying too hard to get the book to be read. I found my mind screaming, “Please let me ‘discover’ the book on my own.” However, not every reader will be offended by such. The book has several errors that would have been eliminated by a round of professional editing. Therefore, I gave The Unconquered Children of the Divine Fire 3 out of 4 stars. I did not give it a lower rating because the book is very informative and entertaining. The book has a mild dose of romance, but with no profanity. I recommend it to readers who love sci-fi stories with a bit of romance and historical fiction. However, it has some gory scenes of murder.

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The Unconquered
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Meg98 · Post by **Meg98** » 17 Nov 2019, 15:20

This sounds like a very unique and interesting read. Your review has intrigued me and I think I will put this one on my list. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Post by **kandscreeley** » 17 Nov 2019, 18:03

I feel sorry for Victoria. The two people in this world she knows love her are gone in a split second. She sounds strong enough to survive, though. I do wonder what secrets her dad left for her to find. Thanks!

Aksharma · Post by **Aksharma** » 18 Nov 2019, 07:29

The novel is very engaging and takes the reader through different phases of Victoria’s life. Victoria and her biological parents assume different identities in different timelines. that good way read the books.

tristenb · Post by **tristenb** » 18 Nov 2019, 14:15

I think it sounds interesting. I'm curious what the big secret is about her biological parents. I would like to know so I'm going to add this to my list as well. Thanks for the review!

Miller56 · Post by **Miller56** » 18 Nov 2019, 14:46

Thanks for the review. This book definitely sounds intriguing. I think I will add this to my list to read. Your review piqued my curiosity.

Maríe Wamakima · Post by **Maríe Wamakima** » 19 Nov 2019, 04:16

I enjoy historical fiction. A lot. So despite the promotional messages I think this book will be worth my while.

LeDiplomatique · Post by **LeDiplomatique** » 19 Nov 2019, 08:25

I love reading about the Chinese culture because it is one of the richest cultures in the world. Judging from your review, this is a book loaded with mystery. I sounds like a jigsaw puzzle where one has to find each piece in the story and find where each fits. Thanks for the detailed insightful review.

kdstrack · Post by **kdstrack** » 27 Nov 2019, 12:56

I love the mix of fiction with the historical information about China. You have also intrigued me with the puzzle pieces of the parents' different identities. This book is calling me! Great review.