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kamimarrone's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sh00bs's review
4.0
I love this book. It’s Mulan set in the Revolutionary War, but it’s based on real people. The author covers the historical differences in her notes at the end.
It may be slow for some, but here is something about it that makes my heart warm. There were also moments in this book that nearly brought me to tears. Usually that happens in books when a charter dies, this book brought me to tears out of awe and admiration. Many times it gave me chills.
It’s enjoyable and inspiring to walk in Deborah Samson’s shoes. This is a great read if you enjoy Historical Fiction.
Audiobook Note:
The audible narrator was trying for an Oscar. It was a best only nice, at worst distracting and cringe.
It may be slow for some, but here is something about it that makes my heart warm. There were also moments in this book that nearly brought me to tears. Usually that happens in books when a charter dies, this book brought me to tears out of awe and admiration. Many times it gave me chills.
It’s enjoyable and inspiring to walk in Deborah Samson’s shoes. This is a great read if you enjoy Historical Fiction.
Audiobook Note:
The audible narrator was trying for an Oscar. It was a best only nice, at worst distracting and cringe.
privatecaboose's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cheryl_fritz's review
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mullensamy's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
I give this an extra star because it covers a topic/person that deserves a story but is never mentioned. Parts of the book with in-depth war info were dry but easy enough to skim over if you're well-versed or uninterested in strategy & statistics. The romance was not overwhelming and didn't really surface until the last 3/4 of the book and I consider it necessary to the plot. The author admits that she took liberties with the story and this is historical FICTION so there's nothing wrong with that!
bargainsleuth's review
5.0
For this and other book reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
I’ve had great success with the Amazon First Reads program offered through my Prime membership. Each month there are 8 choices of books across many genres, and Prime members can select one book to read a month before the book is released to the general public. This was my choice for March 2023.
This is my first Amy Harmon book, but it definitely won’t be my last. She certainly knows how to weave a tale that grabs the reader and takes them on a ride.
Deborah Samson was a real-life person who fought as a man in the Revolutionary War and later went on a speaking circuit to tell her story. The story Harmon tells starts when Samson is a child, sent off to become an indentured servant to a household with 10 boys. (Oye! That poor mother), and leads up to her choice to run away and join the Continental Army. You can just tell by the writing that this book was so well-researched, such care was taken to tell Deborah’s story.
Life as a Continental soldier was hard, made especially harder when you’re a woman trying to hide one’s body during bathroom breaks, having her menses, and living with only men for several years. Although I’ve read a lot about the Revolutionary War, I feel like I learned a new layer of history when reading Deborah’s story and the deprivations the soldiers experienced throughout the war. Samson joins the army towards the end, around the time of Yorktown, the last major battle, but fighting continued for two more years.
Deborah gets injured, as does her general, and is found out. The situation and the solution are the only time I had to suspend disbelief. There’s a romance thrown in at the end of the book, which I wasn’t expecting, but could see coming. It didn’t detract from the story, but I wasn’t expecting romance after all the grit and grime of the war.
I’m glad I got to read Amy Harmon’s latest book, and look forward to other titles in her catalog. Highly recommend!
I’ve had great success with the Amazon First Reads program offered through my Prime membership. Each month there are 8 choices of books across many genres, and Prime members can select one book to read a month before the book is released to the general public. This was my choice for March 2023.
This is my first Amy Harmon book, but it definitely won’t be my last. She certainly knows how to weave a tale that grabs the reader and takes them on a ride.
Deborah Samson was a real-life person who fought as a man in the Revolutionary War and later went on a speaking circuit to tell her story. The story Harmon tells starts when Samson is a child, sent off to become an indentured servant to a household with 10 boys. (Oye! That poor mother), and leads up to her choice to run away and join the Continental Army. You can just tell by the writing that this book was so well-researched, such care was taken to tell Deborah’s story.
Life as a Continental soldier was hard, made especially harder when you’re a woman trying to hide one’s body during bathroom breaks, having her menses, and living with only men for several years. Although I’ve read a lot about the Revolutionary War, I feel like I learned a new layer of history when reading Deborah’s story and the deprivations the soldiers experienced throughout the war. Samson joins the army towards the end, around the time of Yorktown, the last major battle, but fighting continued for two more years.
Deborah gets injured, as does her general, and is found out. The situation and the solution are the only time I had to suspend disbelief. There’s a romance thrown in at the end of the book, which I wasn’t expecting, but could see coming. It didn’t detract from the story, but I wasn’t expecting romance after all the grit and grime of the war.
I’m glad I got to read Amy Harmon’s latest book, and look forward to other titles in her catalog. Highly recommend!
janulisk's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
has_book_will_travel's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
3.5
sgklrain's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
More than just fiction this book is based on a real person and was a fantastic read/listen. Deborah is spunky, full of heart, and tenacious.