Review of Deceitful Survival

[Titu Sam]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Deceitful Survival" by LC Lee.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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I felt a memorable and tensible moment when reading “Deceitful Survival,” authored by LC Lee. The hardships of personal loss and the act of survival haunted me during the first chapters of the novel. Beth, the protagonist of the story, suffers incredibly much in the story—her father kills her mother, while later on she lives with her aunt in an oppressive life. The frequency of these incidents builds up potent feelings of fear and powerlessness, as well as a desire to learn more about Beth’s strength.

Now, we will talk about Rene, one of the main subjects in “Deceitful Survival.” In the beginning, he is only a priest and is struggling in his new life; he also falls in love with Andree, a woman he cannot have. His moral struggle, which is time and again in the novel, therefore, revolves around his dilemma between his faith and Andree. Rene's character starts with a man with faith who is willing to give up the priesthood for love. Thus, his actions are care and protectiveness for Andree, although they too experience a lot of problems and risks as they are together. I found the character in this play is Rene’s story of love, sacrifice, and the conflict between virtue and passion.

With Beth being sent to Haiti and the descriptions of the unfamiliar landscape (as well as the protagonist's freedom upon arrival), these descriptions of the landscape begin with a relief—a momentary relief. And her past shadows always hang at the back of her mind. You will not only feel on edge because of the atmosphere of the novel (often bogged down with dark family secrets and deceit), but you will also feel like you are part of this masterfully told story.

The quiet, reflective moments were interesting enough. I considered human relationships, forgiveness, how to be free, and how life is cruel. This story isn’t only fast-paced and action-packed; rather, it’s a more deep emotional journey. Overall, the novel is tense and insightful, but with a combination of tension, sadness, and hope—it’s an immersive, thoughtful experience. That's why I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I have not found objectionable points and dislikes in the book.

The editing of the book is delightful and errorless from mistakes of grammar. I especially recommend this book to any fan of historical fiction and emotionally driven narratives.

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Deceitful Survival
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