Review by Sara Kay -- Forgiven by Geoff Lawson

[Sara Kay]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Forgiven" by Geoff Lawson.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Forgiven by Geoff Lawton is a gripping tale of a young man from New Zealand who joins the army to fight in the South African Boer War. The book skillfully draws its reader in until they are experiencing each moment along with the impetuous youth. He goes on many swashbuckling and daring adventures that thrill, delight and horrify. However, amidst all the action, our hero's heart keeps straying back to his home, wandering through memories, yearning for the damsel that he left behind.

The most impressive feature of this book is its ability to intrigue a diverse audience. It has all the thrill and heroism of an old western movie, complemented with down-to-earth realism and historical accuracy. It describes guns, fighting, and gore in such detail as to impress the most ardent action enthusiasts. However, it also expresses the real fear and vulnerability of all people — men and women — living through such horrors. For all the romantics, it beautifully illustrates the intricacies and complications of pure young love, suspended in the culture of the era. It accurately captures people and countries in words that could fascinate the adventurer in all of us. It also explores the morality of the Boer War from both angles, immersing the reader into the reality of each. All of which is done in a simple but captivating writing style.

The book did, however, have a complex layout. It started by launching into the action of the South African war. Then it swung back to New Zealand, a few years prior. This was done without warning or context, apart from the place and date at the beginning of each chapter. From there, it continued jumping between places and dates, with both timelines moving forward at a different pace until they eventually met up. Although this added suspense and intrigue to the story, it was slightly confusing in the beginning. This factor didn’t ruin my overall reading enjoyment, though.

In honor of Geoff Lawton’s brilliant storytelling, I'm giving this book four out of four stars. Although there were some commas omitted, I think the book was professionally edited. Such minor flaws didn’t detract at all from the reading or understanding of the story. It did contain some gore and a smattering of swear words, so I would say its more suitable for older teens and adults. That aside, I would heartily recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, romance or action.

Forgiven is one of those rare books that stays in your memory after you’ve put it down. It feels as though you’ve been invited into the mind of the characters and have experienced the same realities they have. It’s a book that I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing, and I hope you will embark on the same literary adventure someday, too.

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Forgiven
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Like Sara Kay's review? Post a comment saying so!

[djr6090]

" It feels as though you’ve been invited into the mind of the characters and have experienced the same realities they have."

That is exactly the way I felt reading it. I loved this book.

[Ekta Swarnkar]

True that such books are rare. I remember reading a book that makes me feel proud. It brings a smile on my face. That's why I know the feeling. Nice review!