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forestidylls's review against another edition
4.0
I was very skeptical about this book, especially since I felt like the second book in the series was not nearly as good as the first, but I was pleasantly surprised is too. It was engaging, thought-provoking, and was really interesting to see the (granted, fictional) perspective of slaves during the war. I thought the book did a good job of displaying the different attitudes that different slaves could have, and likely did have throughout their lives and throughout the war, from bitterness to ignorance to forgiveness.I am only giving it four stars because I still love the first book in the series more, but it was pretty close, and if I could give it 4 and 1/2 Stars I would.
savandstories's review
5.0
This book never ceases to wreck me and bring me to tears - it’s a beautiful and heartbreaking story about the life of two slaves and how God is faithful in the midst of evil and hate!
justicepirate's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great conclusion to the series! I loved it so much because I felt the characters' feelings while reading it. I felt like I was there with them.
Anna has been a chambermaid throughout her childhood for a spoiled girl Missy Claire. She made the slave girl act like a cat, naming her Kitty for the rest of her time with her. She served her slave owner well and did her best to do what she was told. Anna loved to draw so much but wasn't able to see much of the world to draw.
Grady was sold as a young boy to a slave trader. He worked hard but hated the way he was treated by each slave master he had. He missed his mother and hated that white people would separate him from his family. Grady eventually is with a new master who treats him much kindly but he has so much hatred for the white man.
Delia loves Jesus so much and wants Grady to understand who He is. Grady wants no part of God, for how could a loving God allow him to be treated like he had been. Delia is like a mother figure to him.
And then Grady and Anna/Kitty meet. This story is about their relationship with one another and their struggle in finding God. It was really interesting and amazing. It totally gives you a great insight to how slaves were treated during the Civil War period.
Anna has been a chambermaid throughout her childhood for a spoiled girl Missy Claire. She made the slave girl act like a cat, naming her Kitty for the rest of her time with her. She served her slave owner well and did her best to do what she was told. Anna loved to draw so much but wasn't able to see much of the world to draw.
Grady was sold as a young boy to a slave trader. He worked hard but hated the way he was treated by each slave master he had. He missed his mother and hated that white people would separate him from his family. Grady eventually is with a new master who treats him much kindly but he has so much hatred for the white man.
Delia loves Jesus so much and wants Grady to understand who He is. Grady wants no part of God, for how could a loving God allow him to be treated like he had been. Delia is like a mother figure to him.
And then Grady and Anna/Kitty meet. This story is about their relationship with one another and their struggle in finding God. It was really interesting and amazing. It totally gives you a great insight to how slaves were treated during the Civil War period.
punnygirl789's review against another edition
5.0
Rarely is the 3rd book in a trilogy the best, but this one is!
missbibliography's review against another edition
3.0
Lynn Austin's 'A Light to My Path' is a poignant exploration of overcoming biases and shedding the shackles of learned mentalities. Austin does a great job of showing how complex Anna's journey is and demonstrating the layer of her slave mentality with depth and sensitivity, showing the trauma she had experienced. It really opened my eyes to some of the truths of slave ownership, and I felt so so helpless and desperate as I read.
I also felt so emotional at. She was one character that, even though she was a little one dimensional, really kept the story moving and I felt the love. Also, the way that had my little romantic's heart beating.
However, I can't help but feel that the ending fell a bit short of the sweeping and nuanced writing that we get throughout the book. It was a little simplistic and didn't really match the complexities that Grady himself remarked upon.
All in all, "A Light to My Path" was a moving story, that delved into a lot of hard topics. The end was not the greatest, but the emotional journey and themes made it worth my while.
I also felt so emotional at
Spoiler
Delia's deathSpoiler
Shep came back for herHowever, I can't help but feel that the ending fell a bit short of the sweeping and nuanced writing that we get throughout the book. It was a little simplistic and didn't really match the complexities that Grady himself remarked upon.
All in all, "A Light to My Path" was a moving story, that delved into a lot of hard topics. The end was not the greatest, but the emotional journey and themes made it worth my while.
bethgiven's review against another edition
4.0
Out of the five or six Lynn Austin books I’ve read, I think this might be my least favorite … but that’s only because the competition is pretty steep as I’ve come to expect great things from this author!
A Light to My Path is the third and final volume in the Refiner’s Fire series chronicling events of the Civil War from various points of view — this time from the perspective of southern slaves. What I particularly enjoy in all of these books is the character growth and development. In this particular story, the two main characters seek to overcome the negative feelings slavery has sown in their hearts: for Grady, this means he must put aside his hatred and desire for revenge; for Anna, she must grow her self-esteem and ability to trust. They both soon discover that reliance on God is the only way to overcome their temporal tendencies (yes, the author always includes — even focuses on — Christian themes, but somehow they never come across as cheesy or overbearing).
Overall I really enjoyed this series. Historical fiction is by far my favorite genre already, and The Refiner’s Fire series is excellently done historical fiction — not only authentic but purposeful, applicable, and uplifting.
A Light to My Path is the third and final volume in the Refiner’s Fire series chronicling events of the Civil War from various points of view — this time from the perspective of southern slaves. What I particularly enjoy in all of these books is the character growth and development. In this particular story, the two main characters seek to overcome the negative feelings slavery has sown in their hearts: for Grady, this means he must put aside his hatred and desire for revenge; for Anna, she must grow her self-esteem and ability to trust. They both soon discover that reliance on God is the only way to overcome their temporal tendencies (yes, the author always includes — even focuses on — Christian themes, but somehow they never come across as cheesy or overbearing).
Overall I really enjoyed this series. Historical fiction is by far my favorite genre already, and The Refiner’s Fire series is excellently done historical fiction — not only authentic but purposeful, applicable, and uplifting.
meezcarrie's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book, as heart wrenching and infuriating as parts of it were to read. Such great character depth and development! Particularly enjoyed Joseph's talks with Grady about the white captains dying so they (former slaves) could be free and how that was like what Jesus did for us. Also fell in love with the Mueller sisters at the end and the dignity they gave to Anna. Everyone needs to read this series!
danicapage's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this one. It wasn't my favorite Lynn Austin novel, but I really did like it. I love her writing style and I love her novels.
brielle530's review against another edition
4.0
Very touching and sad story of the reality of slavery and the way things were back then. It has been several years, but I would read again. I remember it was really good.