Anonymous

What a fabulous story!

Reviewed: 10-15-19

I can't put into words how much I enjoyed this book. All I can say is that your money will be well spent, if you purchase it. Not only is the story fantastic, but priceless and moving are the lessons imparted to the reader. There is something for everything within it's pages and the narration is perfect. Enjoy the ride.

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A YA dystopian "HIT", by Delilah S. Dawson

Reviewed: 12-27-16

As a huge fan of Delilah S. Dawson's, I have now read and listened to this novel and vastly enjoyed it each time. I found the premise to be very interesting and realistic- considering the state of National and general personal debt, currently. The story is based on the near future, in which Valor National Bank has used their considerable monetary resources to bail the US out of all of our National debt. This, basically, seems to make each citizen debtor their property and they have decided to use America's youth as "agents", of a sort. The choice is this: pay back your debt immediately or become an indentured assassin for Valor. The only other outcome is death, at the hands of the assassin sent for you.

The main character, Patsy, takes the job as an assassin for Valor, in order to save her mother's life. Her mother is the only person Patsy has ever been able to depend on, in her life, and she believes that she is prepared to do anything to save her. But is she really? As the job becomes more complex and she begins to notice connections to those she is sent to "collect" from, she wonders if there is more going on than anyone understands.

I loved the way Delilah worked in these connections to create a rich and complex dystopian story, which has much more to offer us in the sequel, Strike, as well. She is, also, fabulous in dealing with difficult situations in a meaningful way, while injecting a bit of necessary levity. The ending just blew me away! Overall, Hit was a major literary HIT for me (if you will excuse the pun).

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This novel will speak to your heart!

Reviewed: 12-27-16

"Wow!" Yes. That is the fist thought I had, after finishing this book. Delilah S. Dawson (writing under the pseudonym of Lila Bowen) has created an innovative Supernatural Old West atmosphere in Wake of Vultures. The themes she covers are as real today as they were in 1800s Texas - racial tensions, sexism, the journey to find oneself and one's place in the world, and freedom from whatever/whomever oppresses those they find inferior. One of the greatest lessons that I found in Nettie's story is that a person can be their own oppressor, but can learn to free themselves with the love of compassionate allies, who seek to help them achieve their endeavors.

Nettie Lonesome is a young woman with mixed heritage-Black and Native American-in a small (primarily Caucasian) town in Texas in the 1800s. Mam and Pap found her and took her in as a baby "when nobody else had wanted her but the hungry, circling vultures.", a line that has obviously been repeated to her throughout her life. She is, also, treated as a slave by the only parents she has ever known. Having shown this early on in the story, "The last fourteen years of Nettie’s life had passed in a shriveled corner of Durango territory under the leaking roof of this wind-chapped lean-to with Pap and Mam, not quite a slave and nowhere close to something like a daughter."

She, also, prefers to bind her chest and dress as a boy, in order to keep from attracting unwanted attention, and has a talent with gentling the most difficult horses and broncs. Although, soon we learn that she is not as "useless" and "ordinary" as Mam and Pap believe her to be.

And, then her journey begins. As she hunts the evil plaguing Western Texas-stealing children in the dark of night-she learns more about herself and becomes more self-assured. She gains and loses friends and allies during her quest, but her strength and determination see her through the hardships she experiences. And she soars!

Ms. Bowen has written, yet, another book with a message. In fact several messages that will speak to your heart, if you read and experience Wake of Vultures fully. Hopefully, at least one of those messages takes root in your heart and stays with you forever.

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9 people found this helpful