Review of The Rebels

Bradley Shelvie · Post by **Bradley Shelvie** » 03 Mar 2023, 19:53

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Rebels" by Dave Lloyd.]

3 out of 5 stars

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The Rebels by Dave Lloyd is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of two soldiers, Frank Shannon and Matthew Grounds, who form an unlikely friendship during the American Civil War. Being the first installment of Lloyd's Montana Saga, a series of four books, it starts with a promising premise, but unfortunately, the pace of the story drags badly, making it challenging to keep the reader's attention.

Despite the slow pacing, the book has its moments, and after pushing past the tedious sections, the story becomes enjoyable. The character development of Frank and Matthew is impressive, and their friendship is heartwarming, adding depth to the narrative. The themes of survival, friendship, and redemption are skillfully woven into the story, providing an added layer of complexity.

However, the use of dialect in the book can be distracting and at times difficult to understand. Although the author includes a disclaimer regarding the use of dialect, it can still be a hindrance to readers. The dialect is used to add authenticity to the characters and their surroundings, but it ends up being more of a distraction than a benefit to the story.

One of the strengths of The Rebels is the vivid descriptions of the characters' journey and their surroundings. The author does an excellent job of painting a picture of the Civil War era, and the challenges faced by the characters. The book's attention to detail immerses the reader in the story's setting, making it easy to visualize the characters' journey. These descriptions help to elevate the book beyond a simple adventure story and add a layer of depth to the narrative. Despite its flaws, The Rebels is a book that can be appreciated for its attempt to create a realistic portrayal of the American Civil War's aftermath.

This is a book that falls short of its potential due to its slow pace and distracting dialect. However, those who persevere through these challenges will find an enjoyable story with well-developed characters and themes. While the book has its flaws, it sets the stage for the subsequent installments in the series, and readers can hope for improvement in the pacing and get used to the dialect in the upcoming books.

In conclusion, The Rebels is a book that will appeal to readers interested in historical fiction set during the American Civil War. While it has its issues, the book has some redeeming qualities, and its characters and themes provide an excellent foundation for the series to build on. Overall, this book is worth a read for fans of the genre but be prepared for some challenges along the way. I rate the book 3 out of 5 stars.

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The Rebels
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Mhiz Vyi Vyan · Post by **Mhiz Vyi Vyan** » 05 Mar 2023, 21:26

I enjoy books with the theme of friendship,they always get me emotional. This is a nice review.

Edit_or · Post by **Edit_or** » 06 Mar 2023, 01:22

Your review is interesting, I love it.
Thanks for putting it together.

Bradley Shelvie · Post by **Bradley Shelvie** » 06 Mar 2023, 22:38

Hilarybbe wrote: ↑05 Mar 2023, 21:26 I enjoy books with the theme of friendship,they always get me emotional. This is a nice review.

Thanks you so much. I appreciate it that you've taken the time to read and react to my review.

Bradley Shelvie · Post by **Bradley Shelvie** » 06 Mar 2023, 22:39

Edit_or wrote: ↑06 Mar 2023, 01:22 Your review is interesting, I love it.
Thanks for putting it together.

Thanks you so much.

Elina Tshabalala · Post by **Elina Tshabalala** » 07 Mar 2023, 00:45

I understand the need to "set the stage" and provide additional background info but I do not like it when the story takes too long to take off. I'll give this one a miss. Thanks for the review