well-written historical fiction by Irma Joubert

Child of the River by Irma Joubert

This book is the coming of age story of Persomi, a poor, white, sharecropper’s daughter in South Africa.  She rises above her circumstances in the the bushveld at the beginning of apartheid. As a lawyer, she follows her heart and stands for what she believes in, although it is certainly not popular.

Joubert makes the history of South Africa come alive, especially with the effect that it has on the characters in the book.  It was a painless and interesting way to learn some history about a country that I know little about.

Joubert’s characters were well-drawn, and for the most part, admirable.  I loved Persomi, for her dedication to the truth and her willingness to suffer for the right things.  Boelie was a man of integrity and upheld his principles even when life would have been easier otherwise. 

I liked several things about the noveI besides its characters.  I liked the fact that this novel spanned many years and I got to see the characters and the plot develop. I also liked the way the author broke the chapters into sections regarding historical facts or the storyline of the characters. This technique made the book easy to read

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The ending was worthy of some tears, but it did catch me by surprise.  It was utterly satisfying.  I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction.  They will not be disappointed.  I received a free copy from the publisher for my honest review.  

Fast paced thriller by Roni Kendig

Conspiracy of Silence by Ronie Kendig

Tox, a special ops soldier, is dead and buried by his country, or so everyone he loves thinks.  However, his country needs him now, and he is manipulated back into action by a deadly plague, which has attacked his niece, the president’s daughter.  To quell the plague, he travels across several continents tracking the organization that has orchestrated the world disaster.  The order of the Arrow and Flame proves to have strongholds and eyes wherever Tox and his team turn.  They are poised to release the deadly virus and only Tox and his team can stop them . . . or can they?

This author was new to me.  Her fast-paced writing and complex characters and plot kept me reading. I was fascinated by Kasey, the expert on deception.  I’m not sure if such a skill really exists, but it would make sense if it did and would certainly be necessary in situations like this.  Tox’s “conscience,” Chiji, was a very interesting character.  I would have loved to know more about his story.  Ram and his sister also merited a second look, too.  Although this book is the first in the series, I almost felt I was entering the story mid-stream, which I think indicates strong, well-drawn characters.

The plot moved quickly and sometimes I struggled to keep up.  I dared not put the book down for too long or I would forget where the characters were and what they were doing. 

This book was not overtly “Christian,” but I would  recommend  it  due to the lack of vulgar language and improprieties.  I like to recommend books with a great storyline and characters that live out their faith but that aren’t preachy.  This book fills the bill with plenty of action, detailed characters, a secret organization and lots of plot twists.   I recommend it for those who like suspense and thrillers.  Good job, Ronie Kendig.  I received this book in exchange for my honest review.