*[Blog Tour Review] Daughter of the Sky by Michelle Diener

 

Summary:

 

The Victorian Empire has declared war on the Zulus if they don't accede to their outrageous demands. The clock is ticking down to the appointed hour. With no idea why the British are marching three massive columns of men and guns towards them, one Zulu general is prepared to take an impossible risk. But the life he's gambling with isn't his own . . .

The sole survivor of a shipwreck off the Zululand coast, 15 year-old Elizabeth Jones is taken in by the Zulus, the people of the sky. Six years later, her white skin becomes useful to the Zulu army as they try to work out why the Victorian Empire has pointed their war-machine at the Zulu nation. Elizabeth is suddenly Zululand's most important spy.

While infiltrating the British camp, Elizabeth's disguise as a young soldier is uncovered almost immediately by Captain Jack Burdell. However, he believes the tale she spins of searching for a missing brother and shields her from discovery, allowing her to bunk in his tent and giving her a job as his batman. Burdell is war-weary and disillusioned - no longer willing to follow regulations at all costs.

But as Elizabeth and Jack explore their growing attraction to each other, the two armies move towards their inevitable clash. Elizabeth is torn between the guilt of betrayal and her fierce loyalty to her Zulu family, and when Zulu and British meet on the battlefield, both she and Jack find their hearts and their lives caught in the crossfire.

Summary & Cover taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 340 pages (Paperback)

Source: Review Copy

Available Formats: Print/E-books

Publication Date: March 8th 2013 by Michelle Diener      

 

Daughter of the Sky was my first read by historical fiction author Michelle Diener and I'm very pleased to say that it was a wonderful introduction to her writing style and I'm really glad I signed up for the tour for this book.

 

I've often felt that historical fiction set in Africa is an underused theme so that coupled with the fact that I've long been wanting to give this author a try is was prompted me to want to read Daughter of the Sky, plus my obsession with Africa may have a wee part in that as well. I was a little unsure of how the author would portray the people and the land but I was impressed with how the novel turned out.

 

I was hooked on Elizabeth's story as soon as I started the book and spent an entire night staying up and reading it. The way the author was able to evoke such strong emotions from me for the characters in the book surprised me because it happened so fast.

 

Elizabeth had to deal with so many hardships in her young life after being shipwrecked off the coast of Africa and left in the care of the Zulu people feeling as though she were always alone except for the few who came to accept her as one of them. She was smart, strong and funny and I loved how devoted she was to the people she loved.

 

Jack was an enigma at first. I didn't like him right away but he did come to grow on me as I saw the tenderness in him when he dealt with Elizabeth. However he, just like Elizabeth was being pulled in two directions and their loyalties to each other, their countries and the people they love are tested.

 

Fraught with daring adventures, drama and a taking place in the African bush Daughter of the Sky was a fast paced historical novel that drew me in and made me care about the characters. I could tell that the author did research on the period in question and it showed. I liked that the side characters weren't just used as props helping support the setting but had personalities as well.  I sincerely hope that Michelle Diener writes another historical fiction novel set in Africa soon.

 

Overall, I loved Daughter of the Sky and thought that it was a fantastic read. It was a wonderful but to introduce me to a new author and I can't wait to read more by Michelle Diener. I highly recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction that are set in exotic locations.

 

About the Author

Michelle Diener writes historical fiction. Her Susanna Horenbout and John Parker series starts with IN A TREACHEROUS COURT. Set in the court of Henry VIII, it features the real historical figures of artist Susanna Horenbout and Henry’s Keeper of the Palace of Westminster and Yeoman of the King’s Robes, John Parker. It was followed by KEEPER OF THE KING’S SECRETS, also featuring Susanna Horenbout and John Parker, and DANGEROUS SANCTUARY, a short story with the same characters, set between the two books, is currently available as an ebook only.

A new historical novel, set during the Napoleonic Wars in London in 1811, THE EMPEROR’S CONSPIRACY, was released on November 27th, 2012.

Michelle also contributed a short paranormal story to the ENTANGLED Anthology entitled BREAKING OUT. All the proceeds of the sale of ENTANGLED go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Michelle grew up in South Africa, and now lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

 

 *I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my free and honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are 100% my own.

 

Loved it!
★★★★★

 

 

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