Kindle Edition
Amazon
Jennifer Miller
Category:
Historical Fiction
ISBN-10: 0741450305
Type: Fiction
Pages: 333
Copyright: 2008
ISBN-13: 9780741450302
Price: $9.99 (eBook)
Marooned is the 1860's saga of Justin Radcliff, a young American, who is beaten and thrown overboard by his evil twin brother, Edward.
Kolya, a handsome Black man and new leader of the transplanted Zulu tribe there, finds Justin caught in his fishing net barely alive. He nurses him back to health and they form a deep bond that cannot be broken.
This powerful epic struggles with different cultures and traditions and with that comes the pain, truth and ultimately the acceptance of what cannot be changed. Passion, love, loyality and courage in a life- and - death battle with betrayal, rebellion, greed , murder and revenge.
Many lives are intricately interwoven and reverberate with discontent and superstitions, with the threat of drought and an active volcano looming over the village.
Brother against brother, treachery all around plus Zulu tribal power going to be the victor, be he evil or good.
Against the backdrop of the Ivory Coast, the moment erupts with fury and mayhem as Justin stands stalwartly firm against a seemingly impossible array of threats.
Adult reading / Fiction/ historical romance
Rated 5 ***** by readers
AuthorsDen Book Review of Marooned
By Jennifer Miller
Marooned takes place in the later 1800s and is the story of two brothers, two cultures and the battle of good verses evil.
The book starts out on a grand scale and pulls you into another world from long ago. A complex story that is entertaining and descriptive.
From the first page I found myself eager to follow along the journey solving the mystery that grasps you from the first chapter and doesn’t let go. The story unravels, not unlike that old fishing net that a foreign man is found in at sea, and the pieces are woven together in a complex and passionate pattern. Being an equestrian, I found that the detail of the strong and beautiful horses painted absolute beauty in my mind. The creatures described in rich detail like the human characters in the book. I felt as if I myself were riding through this adventure on the back of a stallion, my mane one with theirs. I recommend this book for something different and fun. Full of description and life, it is exceptionally written. This book holds adventure, passion, love and danger. What more could you want?
An AuthorsDen Review
By Terri Potts
__________________________________
AuthorsDen.com Review by
Eugenia Fain
The European Justin and the African Kolya are two comrades bound together by fate. Kolya rescues Justin from the sea after his evil twin brother attempts to drown him, and not for the first time in their lives. Set on the Ivory Coast in the mid-nineteenth century amidst a plantation, this captivating novel speaks of a heathen Justin, and Kolya, who believes in superstition. The missionaries and preachers who are involved in their lives are respected companions.
The pair suffers through many an altercation, however, they remain united in one common cause; that is to build a boat to exact revenge on Justin's brother for framing him for a crime. Romance spices up the novel as well as conflict with the tribal Chief who seeks vengeance in separating the pair. Author Jennifer Miller delivers a novel that is well-written and hard to put down.
The reader is drawn into a story that is a classic tale like Cain and Abel. The age-old conflict between the brothers culminates in a duel to the death. Justin fights Edward valiantly, though it seems he is fighting a losing battle, he is able to push through. Rescued from the vise of death by his loyal friends, he succeeds in burying his brother, thus, the childhood conflict comes to an end. This fast-paced and spellbinding novel includes Christian overtures and a burial.
At the conclusion of the book, Kyola and Justin ride off together on the stallion called Ortega. I highly recommend the novel as a tale for all times. Though set in a past time, it will captivate audiences even today. Feel the tension and the drama of sibling rivalry; and celebrate friendship at its best.
Excerpt
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The year is 1856, the place; the Ivory Coast.
Koyla’s native population is a Zulu band who came to the island in effort to evade being drawn into the Slave Trade.
Kolya and Justin have become fast friends following Kolya’s rescue of the man thrown overboard three years ago by a resentful, vengeful relative harboring the hope to convince their father that Justin has been lost at sea and the family fortune rightfully now belongs solely to himself.
Justin now lives on the island, in the old Plantation home of his grandfather. Hatti, an elderly native woman from a neighboring native village works for him as cook and household help.
She is greatly fearful of the voodoo dolls some of the nearby village people have placed in the trees bordering the estate.
Rapport with the local village chief and the chief’s son Kolya, his horse Ortega, along with growing camaraderie with Andrew, one of the Christian Missionaries ministering to various groups of the native people; ease loneliness and provide some solace for Justin. Admiration for himself is exhibited by many of the local villagers.
Reader’s will join Justin on the pages of MAROONED as he readily toils among the local native group; working alongside during crop harvesting he has gained respect from many, appreciation of some.
Along with his attempting to build a ship, a skill well engrained as a son and grandson of shipbuilders; upon which he and Kolya hope to leave the island in addition to his rescue of a lovely young woman tangled in fishing nets and washed ashore; Justin finds himself ensnared in local politics and mired in the superstitions of the native people.
She is the sole survivor of a sunken ship out on the sea and is believed by many of the native people to be a witch come to destroy the village. They do not understand that she was not dead and believe Justin brought the nearly drowned woman back to life.
The MAROONED storyline is forwarded by drought, storm, friendship, and jealousy; along with need for companionship, superstition and omens, and fear, along with Justin’s near overpowering ire caused when his aggrieved sibling left him for dead out in the sea.
Storms rage and searing heat continues, love is lost and love is found, Justin keenly feels his need for revenge mounting even as he becomes the object of revenge toward him by others on the island, cannibalism and missionaries all figure in the tale.
Adding to the lack of tranquility; during the darkness of an intense gale, another ship nears the cove incised into the coastline of the island.
Characters are credible, not all are likeable, however good or bad likeable or not; characters are well fleshed, exhibit distinct personalities and habits and may remind readers of someone they know.
Dialogue helps move the tale forward, language at times is gritty, sincere, and fits the situation cited.
Drought and a rampant rainstorm, volcano and earthquake all figure in the narrative.
Not for everyone; some profanity along with some graphic sex. On the other hand, for those who enjoy a novel twist on an old theme of jealousy, and attempt to murder the object of jealousy I am happy to recommend Writer Miller’s MAROONED.
The tale moves along, reader interest is maintained from Prologue to Epilogue, action and conclusion are satisfactory.
Recommended for college and public libraries, the home bookshelf, and for gifting those who enjoy a tale well woven.