Official Review: Ferret by L.K. Samuels

[unamilagra]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Ferret" by L.K. Samuels.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Sean O’Neill, also known as Ferret, is heir to the royal throne of Ireland. That lineage no longer matters in 1697, however, when the young boy’s father is killed by English soldiers. His death means the end of the Irish rebellion against the invasion and “colonization” of Ireland by the English. Ireland’s localized, clan-based political system is no more, and the Irish are no longer free to practice their Catholic faith. Ferret’s father is killed right before his eyes. In revenge, he slashes the face of the English army’s General Winston Cromwell with his dagger before escaping.

Now newly orphaned and a fugitive of the law, Ferret finds himself in the company of a highwayman named Strongbow and a small child he comes to think of as his little sister. They wander the countryside, evading the law and dreaming of the freedom Ireland once had. As Ferret grows, so does his quest to be free of the exploitative rule of Cromwell and the English. At the same time, his almost instinctive need to lead also grows, perhaps driven by his royal bloodline. Ferret begins to question what it means to rule. Is it possible to lead one’s people without becoming a tyrant, or is the lure of ultimate power inevitable?

Ferret: The Reluctant King by L.K. Samuels is a historical fiction novel that follows Ferret from his youth into his old age. It covers the time period of England’s conquest of Ireland, as well as the early colonization of the New World. The book is told in third-person narration, mostly from Ferret’s point of view, but occasionally shifting to that of his arch-nemesis, General Cromwell. As the book covers about 50 years, there are a lot of characters, and it can sometimes be difficult to remember who everyone is. However, the major characters are well-developed. It is easy to see each one’s beliefs and motivations in a way that makes it possible to understand his actions, even the reprehensible ones. Ferret struggles with many moral dilemmas, including how to effectively lead while still allowing individual freedoms, and how far he can justify his actions in order to support a noble cause.

I loved the way this book was written. The descriptions set the scene brilliantly, from the beautiful but desolate backcountry of Ireland, to the bustling city of Cork, to the unspoiled wilderness of the early American settlement. I could see how the characters looked and the way they were dressed. The disparity of wealth between those who did business with the English and the common people was obvious in the way they were described. The author also did a fantastic job of explaining the ongoing struggle between the English and Irish, the frustrations on both sides, and the historical and cultural reasons why it was so difficult for the English to bend the Irish to their will.

My only complaint about this novel was that the pacing was sometimes off. The book was over 400 pages long and covered a lot of history, but there was not a lot of action. There were some parts that were very exciting, but at other times, I felt like the story was dragging. Some points of Ferret’s life were described in minute detail while others felt rushed.

All in all, I enjoyed this book. I rate it 3 out of 4 stars, with only the pacing issues holding it back from a full score. I noticed a handful of minor errors, but they did not detract from the reading experience. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction stories and thought-provoking novels. Those who are looking for action-packed plots might not enjoy the book as much as I did.

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Ferret
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[kandscreeley]

Despite the pacing issues, it seems like a pretty well written story. It reminds me of a movie that I can't think of at the moment. The number of characters would be overwhelming. Thanks.

[kdstrack]

The setting and descriptions sound amazing. In a historical, the pacing and overload of characters are understandable. This looks informative and interesting! Thanks for the insights and the recommendation!

[Manang Muyang]

It would be interesting to read about this part of Ireland's history. I wonder why King Sean was called "Ferret," a seemingly odd name for royalty.

[gen_g]

This sounds like a pretty good book, although I'm sure the pacing issues could be ironed out easily with the help of an editor. Thanks for the insightful review!

[Nerea]

Ferret's story is heartbreaking. I will read the book to find out how he endured being a fugitive and if he ever got hold of power to rule people. Sorry about the faults you found in the book.
Lovely review.

[Tavaiel26]

My husband got really interested in Irish history ever since he picked Dubliners, and the period he must be intrigued the most by would be precisely this one. Do you feel like it gives a good insight of Cromwell's persona, with the time he's given on the narrative?

Thank you so much for such a review.

[Charlyt]

I don't know much about the history of Ireland, but the premise is really interesting for me that I might want to read it even if it is 400 pages long. Thanks for a great review!

[Gifted Soul]

The fact that I can easily follow Ferret throughout the narrative convinces me to give the book a try.
Thanks!

[Maria Esposito]

This sounds like a book with a lot of historical perspective. Although I love history, I can understand that action is needed in historical fiction to keep the reader interested. I totally understand your decision to not give the book a perfect rating based on this criticism. Thank you for this well-structured and insightful review, great work!

[unamilagra]

Despite the pacing issues, it seems like a pretty well written story. It reminds me of a movie that I can't think of at the moment. The number of characters would be overwhelming. Thanks.

Yes, I enjoyed the book overall. Thanks for commenting!

The setting and descriptions sound amazing. In a historical, the pacing and overload of characters are understandable. This looks informative and interesting! Thanks for the insights and the recommendation!

Thanks for stopping by!

It would be interesting to read about this part of Ireland's history. I wonder why King Sean was called "Ferret," a seemingly odd name for royalty.

Apparently ferrets were pets of royalty at the time, so they were well-regarded animals. Thanks for your comment!

This sounds like a pretty good book, although I'm sure the pacing issues could be ironed out easily with the help of an editor. Thanks for the insightful review!

Thank you for commenting!

Ferret's story is heartbreaking. I will read the book to find out how he endured being a fugitive and if he ever got hold of power to rule people. Sorry about the faults you found in the book.
Lovely review.

I hope you enjoy the story! Thanks for stopping by!

My husband got really interested in Irish history ever since he picked Dubliners, and the period he must be intrigued the most by would be precisely this one. Do you feel like it gives a good insight of Cromwell's persona, with the time he's given on the narrative?

Thank you so much for such a review.

Yes, I understood Cromwell's intentions and the way he viewed himself with the time he was given. It is definitely one of those situations where "everyone is the hero of their own story." Thanks for your comment!

I don't know much about the history of Ireland, but the premise is really interesting for me that I might want to read it even if it is 400 pages long. Thanks for a great review!

I hope you enjoy it if you decide to pick it up. Thanks for commenting!

The fact that I can easily follow Ferret throughout the narrative convinces me to give the book a try.
Thanks!

I hope you like it! Thanks for commenting.

This sounds like a book with a lot of historical perspective. Although I love history, I can understand that action is needed in historical fiction to keep the reader interested. I totally understand your decision to not give the book a perfect rating based on this criticism. Thank you for this well-structured and insightful review, great work!

Thank you for your comment!

[Shabram22]

I am moved by the story you described. I don't know much about the history of what happened between Ireland and England. Ferret's story also sounds very traumatic. This sounds like a book I would thoroughly enjoy, even the slow pace doesn't scare me. Thank you for an excellent review!

[Adina Lutinger]

It seems that Ferret came under a difficult situation and now he has to make some difficult choices. Thanks for the great review!

[KimberlyS88]

I admire the amount of history is in this book that I can tell by reading your review. Ferret seems like a strong character that I look forward to reading about.

[unamilagra]

I am moved by the story you described. I don't know much about the history of what happened between Ireland and England. Ferret's story also sounds very traumatic. This sounds like a book I would thoroughly enjoy, even the slow pace doesn't scare me. Thank you for an excellent review!

I hope you decide to check it out. Thanks for commenting!

It seems that Ferret came under a difficult situation and now he has to make some difficult choices. Thanks for the great review!

Thank you for your comment!

I admire the amount of history is in this book that I can tell by reading your review. Ferret seems like a strong character that I look forward to reading about.

I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did! Thanks for stopping by.