Book Review | Lucia Mann | The Sicilian Veil Of Shame

The Sicilian Veil of Shame

Author: Lucia Mann

Title: The Sicilian Veil Of Shame

Genre: History, Slavery, Child Prostitution, Holocaust

Pages: 329

Price: £12.38

Series: African Freedom

Started: 20th November 2016

Finished: 31st December 2016

Synopsis: The ten year old daughter of a Sicilian mafia boss is cruelly kidnapped from her bedroom on the night of her glamorous birthday celebration. She knows her captor well, and, until this night, has trusted him and held him fondly in her heart. Maria's prospects for rescue plummet as she is sold into child prostitution and eventually sent to a holocaust death camp. Is it possible for a girl so misused for so long to emotionally endure the torment she suffered and still maintain a semblance of normalcy? The quest for an answer leads the reader on a zigzag journey through the bloodline of three generations, ending in the bowels of a mafia mansion on the island of Sicily. In this book, you will experience the profound love of a daughter for her mother, and a granddaughter's misgivings about her crazed grandmother, the matriarch of a battered family:

• Brianna, a successful law student who gives up everything to search for her beloved mother.
• Lynette, Brianna's mother, a survivor of child slavery in South Africa
• Maria, a kidnapped child who endures years of torment to eventually become the most powerful mafia boss in Sicily. 

Lucia Mann's story explores the ugliness of child slavery while it tests our attitudes toward revenge and mental health. 

Review: This is the only book in the African Freedom series that I have bought. The rest were sent to me by Lucia Mann in exchange for honest reviews. When I started to read this book I was falling into a slight reading slump and found it impossible to stay focused on the book for more than a few pages at a time. Despite the reading slump I kept coming back and reading through 3 to 5 pages at a time until I finally beat the reading slump. Once I had beat the reading slump I became fully immersed in the book and found it almost impossible to put the book down and stop reading. This book was as interesting and insightful as the rest of the series. I would highly recommend this book and the rest of the series to anyone with an interest in African history, the history of slavery or just history in general. If investing in this series be sure to read them in the correct order so that the story line of all the books make more sense as a whole. I read these books in the order that I received them so the complete story line was confusing to me at times. Lucia Mann is an amazing author and her books deserve a space in all book collections around the world. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Book Review | Lucia Mann | Rented Silence

Rented Silence: The Birthplace of Slavery (African Freedom Series)

I received this book for free from Lucia Mann. This book was sent to me through Amazon from the author for reviewing her other books in this series. Lucia sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and as a thank you for other positive reviews. 

Author: Lucia Mann
Title: Rented Silence
Genre: Fiction, Historical, Slavery

Synopsis: Two tiny newborns were buried alive in a compost pit, covered with corn husks and left to die. A hungry wild dog, saliva flowing, stood impatiently over the mound. As it started to dig out its prey, an escaped slave whooshed it away. Drawn by the sound of a weak human cry, the runaway cautiously approached the mournful whimper. What could provoke a new mother to bury her twin babies alive? A will to protect her children for the inescapable pain and horror of becoming chattel to an evil South African plantation owner. Experience post-WWII Africa through the eyes of characters who unearth the painful secrets of those times:

• Shiya - a white newborn rescued from an intended grave, who lives five idyllic years in the bush before she is captured, tormented and eventually freed. 
• Anele - the black runaway slave who saved Shiya's life and suffers the consequences for the rest of her days.
• Alan Hallworthy - the wealthy, cruel plantation owner who lusts for the bodies of young girls, even that of his own five year old daughter.
• Brianna - Shiya's modern day daughter who is mystified by her mothers secrets and never stops trying to reveal the truth.

Review: I would like to thank Lucia Mann for sending me another of her amazing books. So far I have truly all the books that I have received from Lucia and I cannot wait to own the rest of her books which I plan to buy in the near future. This was a very amazing read but I already knew that it would be based on her other books. I really enjoy the writing style of Lucia and how brilliantly she portrays the emotions of the characters without actually saying what they are feeling. I would highly recommend this and all Lucia Mann books to any avid reader with an interest in historical fiction and the days of slavery. This set of books really opens your eyes to the despicable acts committed against people just because they were black or where not of the same background of the slavers. It also makes you realise how horrible it must have been to be persecuted and made to feel less than human just because of your skin colour and nationality. In my opinion all people should be treated as equals no matter what the colour of their skin or where in the world they originate from. Not one life is worth more than another. Being respectful and accepting of all people is what the world needs. Lucia Mann books will always be a part of my book collection and I will most likely read them many, many more times as the years pass by.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars