Author: Michelle Diener
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Self-published
Publish Date: March 1, 2013
Source: HF Virtual Book Tours
Why You're Reading This Book:
- You like your historical fiction off the beaten path.
- You like good characters.
From Goodreads.com: "The Victorian Empire has declared war on the Zulus if they don't accede to their outrageous demands. The clock is ticking down to the appointed hour. With no idea why the British are marching three massive columns of men and guns towards them, one Zulu general is prepared to take an impossible risk. But the life he's gambling with isn't his own . . .
The sole survivor of a shipwreck off the Zululand coast, 15 year-old Elizabeth Jones is taken in by the Zulus, the people of the sky. Six years later, her white skin becomes useful to the Zulu army as they try to work out why the Victorian Empire has pointed their war-machine at the Zulu nation. Elizabeth is suddenly Zululand's most important spy.
While infiltrating the British camp, Elizabeth's disguise as a young soldier is uncovered almost immediately by Captain Jack Burdell. However, he believes the tale she spins of searching for a missing brother and shields her from discovery, allowing her to bunk in his tent and giving her a job as his batman. Burdell is war-weary and disillusioned - no longer willing to follow regulations at all costs.
But as Elizabeth and Jack explore their growing attraction to each other, the two armies move towards their inevitable clash. Elizabeth is torn between the guilt of betrayal and her fierce loyalty to her Zulu family, and when Zulu and British meet on the battlefield, both she and Jack find their hearts and their lives caught in the crossfire."
My Two Cents:
I absolutely love reading historical fiction about places and times that I'm not familiar with. Sure, it's nice to read about old favorites like Tudor England or WWII Europe but it's also nice to go off the beaten path and explore some place or some time new. "Daughter of the Sky" takes place during the height of Victorian England's conquering and collecting of lands in Africa. This was very much a new time and place for me.
Although this is a story about the war between the Zulus and the English, the story itself is much more character driven, which I appreciated. I really liked seeing the people and personalities behind all of the different battles and fights themselves. The battle does create a very interesting backdrop to the story overall. I love when you can learn a little something when you're reading. I also want to point out that this book is a shining example of good self-publishing. The characters are great and I thought the editing was pretty good.
This book is fairly fast paced and kept me reading until the very end. I wish that we would have gotten to know a little bit more about Elizabeth's life with the Zulus. What was it like? How did they accept her? Was it instantaneous or did it take longer for her to become a part of the group? I think having this background would have provided a little more insight into who she was as a person and her personality overall. I would also have liked to get a little insight into Elizabeth's interesting position. She is English and white but has been accepted and integrated into the Zulus. We don't get a lot of perspective on this. I did like the love story in the book though! I couldn't wait to see what happened to Elizabeth and Jack.
This story definitely pulled me in and I would recommend it to anyone who likes their historical fiction a little bit off the beaten path.
Come back here tomorrow for a guest post and giveaway!
Follow the Rest of the Tour:
Monday, April 8
Review at Reflections of a Book Addict
Review at The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader
Tuesday, April 9
Review, Interview & Giveaway at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Thursday, April 11
Guest Post at The Reading Reviewer
Feature & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Friday, April 12
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Guest Post at A Bookish Libraria
Monday, April 15
Review at Bitches with Books
Tuesday, April 16
Review at Turning the Pages
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Thursday, April 18
Review at A Bookish Affair
Friday, April 19
Review & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Guest Post & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair
I really enjoyed this one for many of the same reasons. I knew nothing of the Zulus and their history.
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