Review by Liz Alice -- The McCoys Before The Feud
4 posts
[Following is a volunteer review of "The McCoys Before The Feud" by Thomas McCoy.]
Set in 1865, The McCoys Before The Feud, is a gripping historical fiction about unity, justice, and everything it takes to right the wrong. Thomas A. McCoy has accomplished the task of writing a novel capable of delivering a history lesson, whilst spinning it into a work of fiction any young reader could enjoy.
As the civil war is coming to an end, Thomas McCoy Jr. discovers a way to get hold of some of the valuables the Northerners had confiscated from the Southerners. He secretly gathers his kinfolk and plans to carry out raids to get back what they had lost. But they can’t barge in and hope to seize the gold and silver guarded by two dozen soldiers. So they send spies, and at the dead of the night, make planned attacks. Can they successfully carry out the raid, or will they get caught?
The McCoys are a tight-knit clan. They are excited to work and look up to Thomas for leadership. Throughout the book they are constantly conducting raids, one after the other, each more extensive than the preceding one. Their tactics are different from the modern approach, which makes it more interesting to read. Having the same family name, they are addressed only by their first names, and when some of them end up sharing their first names too, it gets rather comical. On their quest for justice, even after acquiring the valuables, they have not lost sight of their initial objective.
As someone who ventured into historical fiction for the first time, I had a gratifying experience. Sprinkled with bits and pieces of history, it is obvious that the author has spent a considerable amount of time and effort in writing this book. If you're already familiar with modern spy novels, this book will be interesting enough to follow, yet quite different that it feels like a breath of fresh air. It deals with a time where people are worried about walking on dry leaves rather than hacking into security cameras.
They have an intriguing way of covering their tracks (unless it rains). Since the novel is set in the 1800s, there is an evident lack of a modern communication system, which compels them to take risky actions. Although the story follows McCoy kinfolk’s perspective, it also reveals how the soldiers are going ahead. For a book that spans over a few days, there is a lot of food involved. The cooks are always cooking up a storm to feed the McCoy men. It gives you the feeling of having a hearty meal.
Some parts of the story felt rather predictable. The style of writing can come off as a bit bland and might not appeal to all audiences. However, the book is thoroughly edited and contains no notable errors. Despite having a few unusual words, the overall writing was simple and easy to understand. It had a satisfying ending with a cliffhanger worth looking forward to. It gets a solid 4 out of 4 stars rating. I’d recommend this to those who enjoy historical fiction, war novels, action, and adventure.
******
The McCoys Before The Feud
View: on Bookshelves |
Set in 1865, The McCoys Before The Feud, is a gripping historical fiction about unity, justice, and everything it takes to right the wrong. Thomas A. McCoy has accomplished the task of writing a novel capable of delivering a history lesson, whilst spinning it into a work of fiction any young reader could enjoy.
As the civil war is coming to an end, Thomas McCoy Jr. discovers a way to get hold of some of the valuables the Northerners had confiscated from the Southerners. He secretly gathers his kinfolk and plans to carry out raids to get back what they had lost. But they can’t barge in and hope to seize the gold and silver guarded by two dozen soldiers. So they send spies, and at the dead of the night, make planned attacks. Can they successfully carry out the raid, or will they get caught?
The McCoys are a tight-knit clan. They are excited to work and look up to Thomas for leadership. Throughout the book they are constantly conducting raids, one after the other, each more extensive than the preceding one. Their tactics are different from the modern approach, which makes it more interesting to read. Having the same family name, they are addressed only by their first names, and when some of them end up sharing their first names too, it gets rather comical. On their quest for justice, even after acquiring the valuables, they have not lost sight of their initial objective.
As someone who ventured into historical fiction for the first time, I had a gratifying experience. Sprinkled with bits and pieces of history, it is obvious that the author has spent a considerable amount of time and effort in writing this book. If you're already familiar with modern spy novels, this book will be interesting enough to follow, yet quite different that it feels like a breath of fresh air. It deals with a time where people are worried about walking on dry leaves rather than hacking into security cameras.
They have an intriguing way of covering their tracks (unless it rains). Since the novel is set in the 1800s, there is an evident lack of a modern communication system, which compels them to take risky actions. Although the story follows McCoy kinfolk’s perspective, it also reveals how the soldiers are going ahead. For a book that spans over a few days, there is a lot of food involved. The cooks are always cooking up a storm to feed the McCoy men. It gives you the feeling of having a hearty meal.
Some parts of the story felt rather predictable. The style of writing can come off as a bit bland and might not appeal to all audiences. However, the book is thoroughly edited and contains no notable errors. Despite having a few unusual words, the overall writing was simple and easy to understand. It had a satisfying ending with a cliffhanger worth looking forward to. It gets a solid 4 out of 4 stars rating. I’d recommend this to those who enjoy historical fiction, war novels, action, and adventure.
******
The McCoys Before The Feud
View: on Bookshelves |
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