Find out the latest indie author news. For FREE.

ADVERTISEMENT

Formats
Ebook Details
  • 06/2021
  • 978-1-64388-519-3 BO94DQKRXG
  • 281 pages
  • $16.95
Danuta Pfeiffer
Author
Libertas
Libertas is a love story rising from the despair of slavery. Fredericka is the daughter of a White plantation owner and his Black house slave. Horace is a literate slave-companion to the son of a New York hotel baron. The first book in the Pocket Full of Seeds Trilogy follows their flight for freedom through nineteenth-century America. It was a time when runaway slaves were hunted, steamships sailed around the Horn to San Francisco, horse-tugged boats navigated the Erie Canal, a midnight tsunami struck Buffalo, Mormons sought a new Zion, and wagon trains lumbered across a continent littered with unmarked graves. Most of all, this is a story driven by an unquenchable thirst for libertas.
Plot/Idea: 7 out of 10
Originality: 7 out of 10
Prose: 6 out of 10
Character/Execution: 7 out of 10
Overall: 6.75 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot: Centering a novel upon this period of American history is a commendable undertaking, yet Pfeiffer's story proves uneven. The horrific tragedies and violence suffered by the main characters dominate the narrative; there's little true joy or triumph, especially with the growth of the main character's love story taking place off the page. Plot points regarding unsavory characters who "become" good, and good characters who seem to take a turn for the worse, do add dimension to the novel, yet these instances of character growth feel too quick and unearned.

Prose/Style: While Pfeiffer has worked hard to be authentic with language and dialect, including the slurs of the time period of her novel, the repetition of them is overdone and, ultimately, off-putting. The modern context of this type of language can't help but be felt by the reader and, when used so often on the page, takes their attention away from the narrative of historical fiction. The descriptive prose is vivid and expansive.

Originality: Pfeiffer should be commended for tackling such a challenging time period and subject matter. Still, an overall narrative focus on tragedy, the more nefarious side of human nature, and a heavy-handedness of messaging create a story that lacks the complexity of a sophisticated historical fiction novel.

Character Development/Execution: The two main characters are strong and complex, and readers won't be able to resist rooting for them as they suffer both from external forces and the harsh realities of the time. The supporting characters are portrayed, especially through language, as rather one-note. One supporting character, in particular, does a swift about-face in personality halfway through the novel that comes out of nowhere and feels inauthentic.

Date Submitted: July 02, 2021

Reviews
Amazon

FASTEN YOUR SEATBELT AND GET AN ADULT BEVERAGE!

Every sentence, paragraph, and chapter, grabs you by the heart and with warp speed entangles you through this epic story! I am still shaking my head at the brilliant talent, imagination, and tenacity of Danita Pfeiffer to present this gift to us! Many thanks and cudos from a huge fan. Now get the next one published asap!

Amazon

A FIVE-STAR PAGE BURNER!

This historical fiction is a rich and textured page-burner that I simply could not put down. The cadence, rhythm, twists and turns of “Libertas” allows the reader to easily get lost in this rich and detailed adventure. I found myself cheering out loud for the protagonists that I immediately cared for so much. While an easy read, I enjoyed that rush of emotions produced by the rich imagery and details that this well-researched book provided. The final page came, and it left me wanting to know what is next! The Acknowledgement at the end of the book must not be missed. It answered some of my burning questions that I had from the initial first page of this wonderful first book of this exciting Trilogy.

Amazon

Must read!  You'll need extras to share. . .

A beautifully written book that touched my heart, opened my eyes, and left me wanting more. Can't wait for the next book! Friends I told about the story wanted to borrow my book, but I bought them their own copies instead. This is a book that you'll want to read and re-read -- it's that good!

Debra Whiting Alexander, award-winning author and 2018 WILLA Literary Award Winn

"Brimming with excitment...a literary masterpiece!"

Formats
Ebook Details
  • 06/2021
  • 978-1-64388-519-3 BO94DQKRXG
  • 281 pages
  • $16.95
ADVERTISEMENT

Loading...