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 | Africa's Unfinished Symphony

Africa's Unfinished Symphony

I received this book for free through Bostick Communications. The author sent me this book in exchange for an honest review. Previously, I have reviewed another book, A Veil Of Blood Hangs Over Africa, by Lucia Mann and I thoroughly enjoyed that book so I had high hopes for this book and I was sure that this book would also be an amazing read. 

Author: Lucia Mann

Title: Africa's Unfinished Symphony

Genre: Fiction, Historical, Slavery

Synopsis: A witch doctor's power and his ancient tribal ways cruelly collide with the force and authority of modern Africa. 

Africa is viewed through myriad eyes. You will never forget these characters:

• A young girl forced to endure a painful, cruel and antiquated tribal custom
• The sole survivor of a vicious tribal massacre
• A nun who endures a physical assault that compels her to question her faith
• A disadvantaged school girl who is infected with HIV
• The translucent soul of a murdered friend

While the tale of South Africa in the wake of world war II is riveting, violent and cruel, it also is brimming with stories of kindness, compassion and courage. Africa's unfinished symphony highlights commanding characters who not only bring haunting racial clashes to life but also convey the intense conflicts that existed between archaic customs and modern influences. You will be captivated as you follow the convoluted path of Farida of the ancients battling to become Bertha of the modern world. But are the outcomes of her struggles the best results for her and her beloved Africa? This book will immerse you in historic African themes that will jolt you out of complacency and into compassion.

Review: I would like to thank the author for the chance to read another of her amazing books. This is the second book that I have read by Lucia Mann and it has lived up to the expectations that I had about how much I would love this book based on the first book I read. I am positive that this book will be in my collection for many years to come and that I will settle down in front of the TV with this book many more times in the future. I plan to buy all the rest of Lucia Mann's books. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Book Review | Lucia Mann | A Veil Of Blood Hangs Over Africa | Bostick Communications

A Veil of Blood Hangs Over Africa: The Birthplace of Slavery

Author: Lucia Mann

Title: A Veil Of Blood Hangs Over Africa: The Birthplace Of Slavery

Genre: Historical, Fiction

Synopsis: The grief of the newly captured slaves was overpowered only by the lecherous brutality of their master. From a humble Tswanas Kraal to an opulent South African estate, you will be held captive by Lucia Mann's interweaving stories of loss, cruelty, courage and hope. You will never forget the characters who bring this tale so vividly to life. 

- Mabali - Who was stolen from the comfort of her ancient homeland and forced to endure decades of agony and ruthlessness.

- Nobuntu - who discovered the purity of love in the filth of a slave estate and who would ultimately give birth to zulu kings. 

- Shiya - The offspring of a white slave child who was forced to suffer the same indignities her mother suffered.

- Nigel and Alan Hallworthy - two cruel and callous men who inherited fortune and bought protection from their evil deeds.

- Brianna - Shiya's modern day heir who struggled to make sense of a history that was slowly eating away at her. 

This multi-generational tale takes one on a journey that starts with an encircling rope net; progresses to a filthy stifling slave ship; and ends at a rich slave estate where unthinkable acts take place. The thorny history of the birthplace of slavery comes to life with unforgettable characters yearning for liberty, meaning and justice. 

Review: This was an excellent read and I just couldn't bring myself to stop reading and put the book down. I am strongly against racism and slavery so it was saddening to read this book. This book outlines the true nature of slavery and how slaves were treated. It was very saddening to read how slaves were treated and that pretty much nobody cared enough to try and help them and that those who did care were disposed of by the rich and it was not investigated. Those who stood up for what was right where killed without there being any consequences. There is a mix of stories throughout this book that all interweave together. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read historical accounts of slavery and the cruelty that slaves had to endure. This is a fictional book but the cruelty shown in this book would have been real for people who were actually slaves. This book is factual in how the slaves were treated and abused by their white masters even though the characters are not real. The white masters thought that they were above the law because they were rich and could afford to pay bribes. There are many issues faced in this book such as interracial marriage(which was illegal), racism(which is still as strong today as it was then) and the apartheid which meant that there was a separation between black and white people. 

I would like to thank Bostick Communications and Lucia Mann for sending me this book for free for review. Bostick Communications is a company that deals with press releases and they send out free books to book reviewers so that the books and authors can gain recognition. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars