Review: Beneath a Golden Veil by Melanie Dobson

Beneath a Golden Veil, by Melanie Dobson, was a book that stuck with me for days after I read it.  The story is set in the years before the American Civil War, and is about slavery, its injustices, and how it divided people, even within the same family.  In 1854, Alden Payne is a law student at Harvard, but comes from a prominent family in Virginia.  His family intends for him to take over the family plantation after he finishes his studies, but Alden's heart isn't into operating the plantation, especially when it requires the servitude of slaves for it to remain successful and prosperous.

On a trip back home before his final year of study, Alden stops by to visit his married sister, Eliza, before heading off to the family's ancestral home.  Eliza hands over a slave boy named Isaac, telling Alden that the boy is a gift for their father.  Alden arrives home with Isaac in the middle of a manhunt for an escaped slave, Benjamin, who Alden had always considered to be like a brother.  When Alden discovers that his father murdered Benjamin for his repeated insubordination, and that Benjamin was actually his half brother, he decides to run away from the plantation and takes Isaac along with him.  He intends to set Isaac free by taking him to Canada, before resuming his studies in Harvard, but Isaac's master, Alden's brother-in-law, Victor, catches up to them.  Instead of running up to the Canadian border, Alden decides that he and Isaac will board a ship to California and finish his legal studies by apprenticing with a lawyer who had already travelled West to establish a legal office in Sacramento.

Isabelle Labrie, a young woman with secrets in her past, operates a hotel in Sacramento.  California, at this time, is a free state, although any slave owners who are passing through could still keep their slaves.  Her hotel occasionally becomes a hiding spot for slaves who are trying to make their way to Canada.  It is here where she meets Alden and Isaac, who are posing as master and slave, even though Alden abhors slavery.   They do this in order to prevent Isaac from being kidnapped; there is a history of freed slaves being abducted and sold back into slavery.  Alden is taken with the beautiful Isabelle, but she despises him because she thinks that he is a slave owner.  He can't reveal what his true intentions are for Isaac without endangering them both, but trouble dogs them in the form of Victor, who has been following them with the intent of reclaiming Isaac as a slave.  However, Victor is not only a problem for Isaac; he poses a threat to Isabelle too. 

Beneath a Golden Veil touches on the issues about slavery, freedom, and the need to treat every human being with dignity and respect regardless of their skin colour.   The novel speaks about dark things that humans can do against each other, and ultimately, against God.  The lives and relationships of several of the characters, whether they were protagonists or antagonists, were messed up. However, there was also hope for those who put their hope in the Lord, both in the present world, and in the world to come. 

Also, in the novel, the author tells us through the characters that it doesn't matter what people think because the past shouldn't define us if we are children of God.  I think that this is such a precious truth.  Our identities, as children of God, are based on God's Word and on Jesus' sacrifice for us; it is not based on what happened to us in the past, or by anything that we have done.   (John 1:12 Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God...). 

There are discussion questions in the back of the book that I found thought provoking, particularly the one that asked, "The issue of slavery divided the United States of America in the 1800s.  What moral issues today divide our communities?  How do you fight for what you believe is right?" 

The novel is a bit weightier than your average historical romance; however, there is also a happy ending. As I mentioned before, Beneath a Golden Veil made quite an impression on me over its themes and ideas which have stayed with me for days after I finished the book. 



Disclaimer:  I received an e-copy of "Beneath a Golden Veil" by Melanie Dobson from Net Galley in exchange for a review.  All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Review: Manga Classics: Pride and Prejudice by Stacy King, Art by Po Tse

It is a truth universally acknowledged (by my family) that if there's a novel, story, or film with a connection to Pride and Prejudice, I'm going to want to read or view it.  Stacy King has adapted Jane Austen's novel for a manga version, with the art drawn by Po Tse.  This version retains the general story arc from the original version where Darcy's proud demeanor and Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy present impediments to their romance.  However, being an adaptation, there have been some alterations in the story, most of which I can live with, with the exception of Darcy being a poor dancer.  (Sorry, in my universe, Darcy probably suffered through lessons with a dancing master, and is probably an excellent dancer; but he just doesn't enjoy the activity.)

Some of the language has been modernized, and is not what I'd expect a person living in Regency times would use, but that would be helpful for those who don't want to slog through archaic expressions in order to understand and appreciate the content of the novel.

Generally, I liked the artwork.  The Bennet girls look suitably cute and adorable, Charlotte Lucas and Mary King look sufficiently plain, Bingley has the hair of an angelic choir boy, and Wickham is the best looking man in the crowd.  Darcy does have a handsome and noble mien, but personally, I find that the depiction of his hair in most of the drawings...is a bit of a miss for me.  There are three locks that seem to wing off in different directions.  You kind of have to see it to understand...although I will say:  shades of Dagwood Bumstead.

Like the 1995 BBC televised version of Pride and Prejudice starring Colin Firth, there is a bit of a wet shirt scene in the manga version, although the appearance of Darcy in such a disheveled state occurs at a different point of the story than that of the television series.  The manga is clean, although Elizabeth and readers get to see some glimpses of Darcy's six-pack.  The Darcy fan-girl in me squeaked a bit!  :P

I thought that this was a pretty good adaptation, and I enjoyed reading this book.  I would recommend this for those who enjoy manga romance but don't want to see anything too provocative, and for those who might find it difficult reading the original text of this classic novel.

Review: A Spy's Devotion by Melanie Dickerson

Melanie Dickerson's A Spy's Devotion is a historical that is set in regency times.  It's the story about a poor relation, a person who is financially dependent on extended family for their survival and well being.  In this novel, the poor relation is Julia Grey, who lives with her Uncle Robert Wilhern, his wife, and daughter, Phoebe.  Julia serves as Phoebe's companion, trying to restrain her cousin's impulsive behaviour towards an eligible gentleman, Mr. Nicholas Langdon.  The entire Wilhern Family wants to help Phoebe get her heart's desire.  Julia must also make a match soon so that she can avoid being cast off from the family to be a governess as soon as Phoebe gets married. 

At a ball, Julia gets a chance to dance with Mr. Langdon, and she realizes that she could also develop an attraction towards this man.  Not wanting to hurt her cousin or invite the displeasure of her aunt and uncle, Julia tries to keep her distance from him, but Mr. Langdon seems to single her out over her cousin.  Julia reminded me of Elinor Dashwood from Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, as she is quick to recognize the inappropriate displays of Phoebe's emotions.  Like Elinor, Julia tries to hide her feelings for a man who she realizes must be unavailable to her because of the expectations of others.

Nicholas is on furlough, recovering from injuries that he sustained while fighting on the Peninsula, and had been expecting to rejoin his regiment soon.  However, an important document to the War Office had been stolen from him which contained coded  information about a war plot against the British.  The primary suspects for the theft are Robert Wilhern and one of Julia's suitors, Mr. Edgerton, a man who Julia feels uncomfortable with.  Nicholas' superiors want him to discover if Julia's uncle and Mr. Edgerton are responsible for the disappearance of the diary and whether they are guilty of treason.  His leaders suggest that he take advantage of Phoebe's interest in him to get close enough to the Wilhern Family so that he can spy on them. 

Nicholas is a man who has been burned by love in the past when his ex-fiancée jilted him to marry a wealthier older gentleman.  However, he can't seem to keep his attention away from Julia.  He's an honourable man who is a bit of a stickler for propriety; he refuses to dance with any female twice at a ball, not wanting to raise any woman's hopes unnecessarily.  Somehow he manages to break his own rule and dances with Julia twice one evening, which earns Julia the ire of the entire Wilhern Family.  Through his investigations of her uncle, he manages to spend time with her, even convincing her to spy on her own family on his behalf. 
 
Will Nicholas be able to recover the missing document and apprehend the people who stole it?  Will he enter into a relationship with Phoebe so that he can spy on the Wilhern Family more easily?  Will Nicholas be able to complete his mission in another way and win Julia's heart?  Will Julia be able to avoid marriage to Mr. Edgerton?  Will she need to give up her hope for marriage and become a governess in order to survive? 

As I mentioned before, the novel is set in regency times, but it feels more like what I'd call a historical.  I feel that a typical regency romance usually tells the story of a light hearted romp with witticisms peppered throughout the tale.  A Spy's Devotion feels more serious; however, it touches on a common theme that often appears in regencies:  the necessity for members of the ton and gentry to attempt to make the best match for marriage, ideally to someone who has acceptable social connections and wealth, or face financial hardship.  Other characteristics typical of regencies that appear in this story is the importance of maintaining a pristine reputation and avoiding compromising situations that could lead to social disgrace or ruin.  Of course, A Spy's Devotion also contains espionage, treason and the possibility of invasion from Napoleon.

I didn't think that the characters experienced a lot of character growth.  The plot unfolded and things happened to Nicholas and Julia that threatened to keep them apart.  They prayed, but the prayers only reflected that they were people of faith.  I found that A Spy's Devotion was more of a story in which I read to see what would happen next and to see whether Nicholas and Julia would get together in the end.  Nevertheless, I found the novel enjoyable to read, and am glad to know of another author who writes Christian historicals.




Disclaimer:  I was provided with an e-copy of A Spy's Devotion from NetGalley in exchange for a review.  All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Review: The Warrior by Wanda Ann Thomas

The Warrior is a historical novel by Wanda Ann Thomas which is set in the times of the Maccabees. It is the first novel of the Herod Chronicles.  I was intrigued by the series name; I wondered which Herod it referred to, and as it turns out, it is in reference to Herod the Great before he became known by that name.  Herod isn't even a major character in the book.  The warrior that the title refers to is actually Nathan of Rumah. He is a former soldier of the Jewish army which fought to place John Hyrcanus II as High Priest in Jerusalem.  He is also a friend of Herod, whom he fought along side with to put Hyrcanus II into power.  Nathan was a good soldier, so much so that he earned the nickname, "the Angel of Death."  He received this name after slaying a significant number of opposing fighters who had swarmed and surrounded Herod during battle.  However, Nathan is appalled by the darkness within him that allowed him to fight so viciously, and has retired from soldiering to work on his family's olive groves.

Although Judea has a High Priest and a ruling Sanhedrin, the land is still under Roman rule.  Hyrcanus II is just a puppet who answers to Antipater, Herod's father, who serves Rome.  Nathan tries to maintain neutrality in his politics; he remains friends with Herod, but is also friends with Jewish rebels who wish to run the Romans out of Judea.  Nathan's rebel friends have been known to attack Roman sympathizers, even their own countrymen.

One day he stumbles across a family of a Pharisee, Simeon Onias, whose family had been attacked by the rebel, Judas the Zealot, and his men.  They have made off with Lydia, one of Simeon's daughters, and had forced Alexandra, the another daughter of Simeon to cut the face of his son, James, with a sword.  Simeon has also been severely beaten.  Nathan can't understand what a religious man like Simeon is doing in Galilee, away from Jerusalem where most Pharisees live exclusively.  He also can't understand why his friend Judas has attacked one of their own countrymen who obviously hated the rule of Rome as much as the rebels did.  Nathan realizes that he must put a stop to the raids that the rebels are doing, even though he loathes to choose sides; it will look as if he is choosing to side with Rome, but in truth, he is appalled that Jewish people are attacking their own. When Alexandra makes an appeal to Nathan to rescue Lydia, he promises her that he will find Lydia and return her to her family.  He feels guilty about the attack since he has done nothing to deter the raids from occurring in the past.  It also doesn't hurt that he finds Alexandra uncommonly attractive, but tells himself that he has no business seeking a delicate female like her to be his wife.
 
When Nathan visits Simeon's home in Jerusalem to report his lack of success in finding Lydia, but wanting to gain more details about why the family was in Galilee, he is turned away.  He finds out that Alexandra's engagement to a priest has ended because of her brief captivity under Judas, which could threaten the purity of the priestly line.  Out of compassion, he tries to ease Alexandra's loneliness by making a suggestion to his sister, Mary, to befriend Alexandra, but through a huge misunderstanding on the part of others, finds himself engaged to be married to Alexandra.  This part of the plot reminded me a lot of many plotlines in regencies where the hero and heroine find forced to marry to avoid scandal, although neither Nathan nor Alexandra did anything with the appearance of evil. 

Nathan is a remarkable character; he seems to really care about doing the right thing and he has a faith in God.  Some of his prayers are interspersed thoughout the novel.  He stands up to the test and makes arrangements to marry Alexandra, even offering to give her six months for them to get to know each other before they actually marry.  However, attempts are still being made against Alexandra's family, so Nathan insists on marrying Alexandra sooner than later so that he can protect her.  How will their marriage weather against the differences in their social standings?  Will Nathan find Lydia and return her to her family?  Why was Simeon in Galilee?  If Nathan gets help from Herod in order to find Lydia, what will this favour cost him?  Can he continue to maintain neutrality and not choose between siding with the Romans or the rebels?  Can he deal with the conflict that arises with the part of him that enjoys soldiering with the part of him that is appalled by his out of control and frenzied fighting instincts?   Would a gentle woman like Alexandra be able to accept the darkness of his personality?

Alexandra is a bit of an interesting study too.  She has been put down upon by her father and brother;  male patriarchal attitudes reign supreme in her father's household.  It is interesting to glimpse into how legalistic and rigid the Pharisee is towards his family and in his dealings with others.  Alexandra has little freedom; her days are spent within the confines of her father's home, or at the temple, but she has not been allowed to venture even into the marketplace or to participate in many social activities outside.  She has also had a relatively pampered life, so she views marriage to Nathan with great trepidation, even though she is deeply attracted to him.  She feels inadequate to be Nathan's wife, thinking that a sturdier, stronger woman who is accustomed to hard work would be better suited to him than herself. 

I found the characterization of Herod to be fascinating even though he plays a minor role in the story.  He is a young man of 26 who is ambitious and shrewd.  I didn't realize that historically, Herod had been raised as a Jew even though he was an Idumean.  Although The Warrior is only fiction, Ms. Thomas writes Herod's character as being knowledgeable about Jewish culture and customs, and how Rome operated.  I sort of liked him.  In the novel, he came across as gregarious go-getting rogue, and I could see how a man like Nathan might be friends with him.  This is a bit different that the King Herod that I have always pictured in my mind from the Bible: a jealous, insane king who was paranoid about being usurped.  Perhaps historically, he was the latter, but it is interesting to imagine that he could possibly be just an ambitious man who didn't care for God or for His ways.  That could make him not too different from many people who live in our world today.

In the case of the character of Simeon, Ms. Thomas shows him to be ambitious and crafty as his reasons for being in Galilee become known.   In some ways, he didn't seem that much different than Herod in his ambitious nature, especially when he reveals that he is quite ready to toss aside aspects of the Law, and even the Pharisaical laws to achieve his ambitions.  He is quite an unsympathetic character who many did not like in the novel, although it seemed as if Alexandra often sought his approval in vain.  With his legalism and lack of love, he is definitely what I have always imagined a Pharisee to be like. 

I also found the character of Judas the Zealot to be interesting.  He is even more of a minor character than Herod, but he is an insane man who thinks that he is the Messiah.  The man steals, beats others, takes a woman forcibly, and murders, but he is what his countrymen are looking for because he is against the Romans.  He is a contrast to Jesus, our true Messiah, the One Who lives and upholds God's laws, Who treats everyone, both men and women, with dignity, Who was not recognized by His people, and Whom some thought was insane. 

As I mentioned before, I recognize that The Warrior is just a novel, but I enjoyed thinking about what some of the characters represented.  I enjoyed the historical fiction too.

Besides The Warrior, The Herod Chronicles also includes The Barbarian, The Stonecutter and Warring Desires.