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Editorial Review:
I no longer worried about dying on the battlefield these days―I was more concerned about starving or freezing to death. There were shortages of everything. We ate half rations, wore threadbare coats and could no longer find enough firewood to keep us warm. Morale sank like a cannonball and heaved into the ocean. No doubt Herman and I made many a Quaker angry when we plundered their larders but we were desperate. Even with the American forts destroyed, the British couldn’t bring enough supplies upriver to keep us fed.
“Fighting In King George's War” is a novel by Marlene Fabian. It's a fascinating novel that delves into the lives and trials confronted by its characters inside the backdrop of King George’s War. The tale revolves around Peter, from a stable boy to a soldier during the American Revolution. Through the war's challenges, the reader witnesses the characters' struggles and character development. Additionally, they get an insight into how the characters deal with hardships overcoming adversities in their quest for survival. Alongside conflicts include General Howes's aspirations to seize Philadelphia and Peter's unrequited love and fractured family dynamics. Throughout this narrative, there's a yearning for an end to the warfare. Themes of loyalty, friendship, resilience and the pursuit of freedom are richly woven throughout this novel. This novel depicts the themes of loyalty, friendships, survival, and the hunt for freedom. This is a novel that is both compelling and thought-provoking, one that utilizes the minutiae of daily life during the war to create a rich, immersive world that creates curiosity in the reader.
As our barge slugged its way up to the North Sea, the sun beat mercilessly on our brass-plated hats. In no time at all I felt like my brain was boiling. Soon, my throat was as dry as gravel. I prayed for a shower of rain to quench my thirst and maybe fill the emptiness in my stomach. In my delirium, I dreamed of the Wild Boar Inn, where I could always scrape a bit of sausage out of a cooking pot.
Apart from Peter, other characters that make the novel enjoyable include:
Helga is practical and hardworking, preferring the boys’ chores at the inn to book reading. Nevertheless, she finally agrees with the idea of education and demands that the kids take turns with school attendance, one at a time. Johnny, Tommy, and Sarah, the three other children in the narrative, are equally interesting characters. They learn how to read and write and do arithmetic. The fact that they can read stories to customers in the inn demonstrates how far they have grown and the joy of their father towards them. Similarly, Mathias struggles for his freedom and tells the protagonist that he signed up under General Washington’s camp since he didn’t owe any love to the King of England. He brings more life to the story by showing different views on the war.
Marlene has written the novel in a straightforward first-person narrative, hence drawing the reader into Peter’s experiences. The book is straightforward, easy to read, and pleasurable and allows the reader to have a clear picture of the characters' surroundings. The author has also used a sensational and exciting tone and expressive and vivid language, giving the reader an image of the book’s setting. As the story features thrilling and challenging moments, it instigates an urge among readers to know the outcome. Furthermore, the novel provides instances of reflections and contemplations that add weight to the tone of the story, making it more meaningful. Its medium pacing works well with the suspenseful style of the novel, adding to the reader's excitement and keeping them intrigued until the very end.
“Fighting in King George’s War” is Set in a background of war, hence depicting survival, resilience, and development of character. The characters are seen seeking answers amid the problematic situation. For instance, Peter begins as a stable boy, turns into a soldier, and learns the ways of war, which contributes to his survival. In the beginning, Herman always reminds Peter of their plan to escape since he is scared that he might die in war. However, as the story unfolds, he accepts the challenge and fights more for survival than fear. Such experiences depict persistence and the potency of hope in the most challenging moments.
I was overcome with relief when I staggered back to our barracks and found that Johann, Karl and Herman had also survived the battle.
“We’re still alive!” I exclaimed.
The title “Fighting in King George’s War” describes precisely the content of the novel. It tells the readers that the story will focus on the battles that happened in the titled war, hence creating curiosity in the reader to keep following up to the end.
King George of England is buying soldiers from him so he can put down a revolt in some land called America.”
“America?” I had heard about that far-off place from travelers at the Wild Boar Inn. Since our Prince was always desperate for money, he probably had no qualms about selling his subjects to a foreign king.
In summary, “Fighting in King George’s War” is compelling. One gets a fulfilling reading involving interesting figures, graphic settings and entertaining events. The reader embarks on an incredibly gratifying journey that leads them through a world of hazards and uncertainties, only to emerge with renewed hope and purpose. Peter and his friends conquer challenges and clashes to find peace and bearing in life’s direction. The story portrays highly depicted characters, an illustrated setting and a captivating plot that is worth reading. Marlene has skillfully made the subject matter of war easier through her novel.
*****
Fighting in King George’s War by Marlene Fabian Stiles's novel received five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence from The Historical Fiction Company
Award:
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