A Flight of Arrows | Review & Giveaway

A Flight of Arrows

The Pathfinders #2
WaterBrook Press (Penguin Random House)
April 19, 2016
ISBN-10: 1601427344
ISBN-13: 978-1601427342

Hearts are divided.
Loyalties will be tested.
The fates of two families hang in the balance.

Twenty years ago, during the devastating fall of Fort William Henry in 1757, a young Redcoat named Reginald Aubrey stole a new-born boy--the lighter-skinned of Oneida twins--and raised him as his own.

No one connected to Reginald escaped unscathed from this crime. Not his adopted daughter Anna. Not Stone Thrower, the Native American father determined to get his son back. Not Two Hawks, William's twin brother separated since birth, living in the shadow of his absence and hoping to build a future with Anna. Nor Lydia, who longs for Reginald to be free from his self-imposed emotional prison and embrace God's forgiveness--and her love.

Now William, whose identity has been shattered after discovering the truth of his birth, hides in the ranks of an increasingly aggressive British army. The Redcoats prepare to attack frontier New York, and the Continentals, aided by Two Hawks and the Oneida warriors, rally to defend it. As the Revolutionary War penetrates the Mohawk Valley, two families separated by culture but united by love and faith must find a way to reclaim the son marching toward them in the ranks of their enemies.

Read the first chapter.

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My Review: If any of you follow me on Goodreads, you know that it normally does not take me long to read a good book (2-3 days). There were several reasons it was hard for me to read this book, none of which had ANYTHING to do with the book itself. A Flight of Arrows is powerful, compelling, and intense. The story is heart-wrenching and had me in its grips from beginning to end. This is not a story for the faint of heart or those of you looking for a fun, light-hearted read.

Lori does an excellent job of describing the war between the British and Americans. She describes the scenery, emotions, and battles in vivid detail (without being too graphic). She also excels in keeping us informed on what is going on both with the menfolk and womenfolk involved in the story, even though they are not together for most of it. This story invokes a powerful feeling of the fear, anxiety, and anger present during the Revolutionary War.

The characters made the story. Lydia, Anna Catherine, Two Hawks, William, Stone Thrower, Reginald and Good Voice come together in an amazing way, and you can see the work of the Lord in each of their lives. The heartache, joys, disappointments, fear, and anger each character feels is gripping and raw and powerful. My heart swelled with emotion for each blow these characters took, and cried in joy with each moment of happiness they were rewarded with. Lori made the characters come to life in my mind with each page.

Now, the reason I had such a hard time reading this book is because of the message. It hit home FOR REAL Y’ALL. Each of these characters had to make choices that would affect the rest of their lives, for the better or worse. The paths we walk are not always clear, as each character comes to realize, but if we ask the Lord for guidance in earnest, He will direct our paths. Two Hawks says it best, “Life is a blessing, but it is also a testing. Take the one as you do the other and trust Him who allows all.”

Overall, I absolutely LOVED this powerful, emotionally challenging story. I cannot wait to read more from the Pathfinders series.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Blogging for Books program in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.*

Lori Benton was raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American history going back three hundred years. Her novels transport readers to the eighteenth century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history. When she isn’t writing, reading, or researching, Lori enjoys exploring the Oregon wilderness with her husband. She is the author of Burning Sky, recipient of three Christy Awards, and The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn.

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GIVEAWAY:

I have a copy of this amazing story to give away! To enter, comment on this post: Have you read Lori Benton's books? If so, which is your favorite? 

Giveaway will end SATURDAY, JULY 23 at MIDNIGHT (EST).

*Blogging for Books provided me with two copies of A Flight of Arrows in exchange for my honest review. They are not affiliated with this giveaway.*