Monday, October 08, 2012

Linda Rondeau's America II: The Reformation ~ Reviewed


America II: The Reformation
L. W. Rondeau
File Size: 452 KB
Print Length: 286 pages
Publisher: Trestle Press (June 17, 2012)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B008CGFVUI


Following unprecedented climatic changes, resultant pestilence and war brought the world into chaos. Eventually, each nation surrendered its sovereignty to form a global democracy, initially known as The Accord. However, the democratic government proved too weak and was soon replaced by a faux democratic rule.

 
The year is 2073, and current governor of Western America Province, Edwin Rowlands, is poised to become the Constitutional Government’s second president. Many fear that the sweeping reforms found in his proposed Preservation Act will set him up as a dictator. If enacted, defection both past and present would become a crime punishable by death, thus bringing all outlands into crushing subjection.
 
While most believe reform is critical, factions disagree on how to prevent the Preservation Act from becoming law. Ahmed Farid, second President, believes reform can be managed within the existing government. Leader of the Revolutionary Army, Jimmy Kinnear, trusts only in military intervention. However, Jacob Goodayle, Chairman of Western America’s illegal outland government, favors separatism.
 
As tensions rise, civil war seems imminent. Who will be the voice of reason in a world on the verge of a third dark age?


Review:

Halfway through “America II: The Reformation,” I kept asking, “So what’s going to happen?”

And that’s a great question for a writer to bring to life in the mind of a reader. L. W. Rondeau did this with masterful stroke after masterful stroke, and each chapter hooked me further and further into wanting to know the answer.

Rondeau created characters worth knowing and brought me the reader right inside their heads. Hearing the thoughts of Edwin Rowlands, the story’s resident bad guy, I understood how he manipulated people and situations to satisfy his lust for power and women.

Ahmed Farid, Rowlands second in command, is a delightful character who remains faithful to a repressive government. He’s a pagan at heart but constantly wrestles with faith questions. He is both wise and cunning.

Rondeau creates a future world and, through the power of story, addresses some controversial issues our world faces now and will face in the future. She does so from a clear Christian perspective but not in a preachy way. She crafts a story worth reading.

I look forward to the next installation of America II



Reviewed by: T. Neal Tarver

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