Jenny D. Williams

This novel was unlike most of the books I've read. Set largely in Uganda, this novel highlights a conflict I knew next to nothing about and I appreciated that educational aspect of this book. The plot is centered around the disappearance of an aid worker and a Ugandan man she was traveling with. Sabine, the aunt of the missing aid worker, journeys to Uganda to find one of her last remaining family members and joins forces with Rose, a young woman who is also looking for someone. There's a lot to like about this novel, but I struggled to stay engaged towards the end and I didn't really like how the story concluded.… (mere)

This is a story that is told from the perspective of Sabine and Rose. Sabine is a native German who spent 18 years in Africa as an aid worker. After burning out, she returned to her native land. Rose lives deep in the heart of war torn Africa. She has recently fled from being captive among the rebels. She is having a hard time fitting back into her community - they view her as a traitor.

Sabine gets a call from her niece, Lily's stepfather to say that she has not returned home from her trip to Africa. Like Sabine, Lily went as an aide worker, but just for a short time. Now, she is missing. Sabine - since she is familiar with Africa - agrees to fly there and search for Lily. She meets Rose, and a man named Christoph, and together they head deeper and deeper into dangerous territory in search for Lily.

This book was just okay. I wanted to like it more, but it was just not well written. The characters were glossed over quite a bit - you didn't really get into the heart of their past until the very end of the book. The author almost seemed like she was keeping secrets just to keep them, but it didn't add anything to the story. You didn't really feel like rooting for Lily - who was portrayed as a spoiled child who shouldn't have been there in the first place.

I would say skip it. I think it could have been better told.
… (mere)

The story I read in this book was not the one I expected. From the description I read on NetGalley I was expecting something with less depth and emotion than what I got. It was a pleasent surprise. Williams' novel takes you around the world and through time; introducting you to horrors and atrocitys, the ache of returning home from something so truly terrible, and leaves you wanting to hold your loved ones a little tighter, and fight just a little harder when something matters. Her scenery comes alive when you read, you feel as though you are in Uganda, in the midst of the war and homes of her characters. She also ignites further interest in the reader regarding the ivory trade, at least for me she did. I was aware of how it had decreased animal populations, but was unaware of its extent in financing these civil wars. However this is also a story about love, love for your sister, your partner, and the ever unspoken bonds of people forced together in horrible situations. Williams' story sucks you in with its mystery, and weaves together an atmosphere that keeps you turning each page. Told from the points of view of Sabine and Rose, their voices are distnct and diffent; though they experience similar traumas, and the supporting characters are equally well written and diverse. What I appreciated the most was the sense of historical accuracy; while the events are obviously fictionalized the history they are taken from is very much real, and the representation that Williams brings to the table is important.… (mere)