While the description of an indentured Scotsman in the Colonial South enticed me to pick Lori Benton's newest book The King's Mercy, this book contains so much more.
The first surprise when reading this book is that although the picture features a woman, the bulk of the story focuses on Alex, the indentured Scotsman. As such the story is a little grittier and real than most of what is published by Christian presses. Specifically as Alex was imprisoned by the English and then sold as an indentured servant, Benton includes details to indicate the inhumane cruelty experienced by Alex and his fellow prisoners as well as the slaves on the plantation. In many ways having a good deal of the story told from the male point of view was a refreshing change and opens up the audience for the book considerably.
The second "aha!" is that The King's Mercy has a double-meaning in that the main character receives "mercy" from two different king's. As the title suggests, mercy is a recurring theme throughout the book. In particular, the difference between giving mercy and forgiveness to others or denying mercy and how that impacts an individual is depicted in the life of the antagonist. In addition to these psychological insights, Benton does a great job demonstrating how restrictive the live of women was at the time period. Lori Benton was not an author I had encountered previously, but I will be seeking out her other novels.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received The King's Mercy from Waterbrook via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
No comments:
Post a Comment