ABOUT THE BOOK:
Duncan, BC Canada: Award Winning Writer Rebecca Hazell Releases First Book in Trilogy of Historical Fiction Novels
Rebecca Hazell’s The Grip of God, the first novel in an epic historical trilogy, is available on amazon.com and its affiliates and by special order through your local bookstore. The saga’s heroine, Sofia, is a young princess of Kievan Rus. Clear eyed and intelligent, she recounts her capture in battle and life of slavery to a young army captain in the Mongol hordes that are flooding Europe. Not only is her life shattered, it is haunted by a prophecy that catalyzes bitter rivalries in her new master’s powerful family. She must learn to survive in a world of total war, always seeking the love she once took for granted.
Sofia’s story is based on actual historical events that determine her destiny. Readers will delight in this very personal and engaging tale from a time that set the stage for many of the conflicts of today’s world.
MY REVIEW:
Admittedly, I first decided to read Rebecca Hazell’s book because she’s from Canada. So am I. And, I love reading by authors from Canada. I love reading them even more when they are great.
This book IS great. Having never read about this period in history before, I became a complete sponge, soaking it all in, relishing in the new information for my history starved brain.
The book is graphic and often brutal in its telling, but such was life back then – and I’m glad Rebecca Hazell didn’t skimp on the details. To be truly immersed in a book, you must be privy to all the details, good and bad. Where some authors are less inclined to include the savage bits of history, Hazell jumps right in with both feet and tells it like it is. That’s not to say the entire book is like that. On the contrary. There are beautiful and stunning moments and they masterfully woven into the story of Sofia.
Speaking of Sofia, I adore her. She’s strong, kind, and intelligent and she survives everything that is thrown her way by sheer strength of will. All the characters in the book are well developed and unique. I love when an author spends time on people other than the main character(s). It gives the story so much more depth.
I cannot say enough great things about Rebecca Hazell. I can’t quite believe this is her first novel (Though she has previously published some children’s books). It reads like a book written by something with oodles of experience. If her debut is this wonderful, I can’t even imagine how the next one will be.
GIVEAWAY:
Hey, it’s your lucky day! If you have a Kindle, or a device capable of reading Kindle files, enter the giveaway for a copy of THE GRIP OF GOD! Leave your name and email address below so I can contact you if you win. Contest closes on March 13.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rebecca Hazell is a an award winning artist, author and educator. She has written, illustrated and published four non-fiction children’s books, created best selling educational filmstrips, designed educational craft kits for children and even created award winning needlepoint canvases.
She is a senior teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist lineage, and she holds an honours BA from the University of California at Santa Cruz in Russian and Chinese history.
Rebecca lived for many years in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1988 she and her family moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and in 2006 she and her husband moved to Vancouver Island. They live near their two adult children in the beautiful Cowichan Valley.
Visit Rebecca: Website | Goodreads | Facebook
BOOK TOUR:
Check out other stops on the blog tour by clicking the links below…
Tour Schedule:
Monday, February 17
Review at Must Read Faster
Tuesday, February 18
Guest post/giveaway at Must Read Faster
Friday, February 21
Interview at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Monday, February 24
Review/giveaway at Oh, For the Hook of a Book
Wednesday, February 26
Review at A Rose in the City
Thursday, February 27
Review/Giveaway at Book Drunkard
Friday, February 28
Guest Post at Book Drunkard
Monday, March 3
Review at She is Too Fond of Books
Thursday, March 6
Review at Celticlady’s Reviews
Friday, March 7
Review at Historical Fiction Obsession
Monday, March 10
Guest post/review at Lost in Books
Tuesday, March 11
Guest Post at The True Book Addict
Wednesday, March 12
Review/Giveaway at The True Book Addict
Thursday, March 13
Review/giveaway at Create with Joy
Friday, March 14
Guest post/giveaway at HF Book Muse- News
Guest post/giveaway/review at Le Vanity Victorienne
Book Drunkard 
February 27, 2014 at 9:47 am
Thank you so much for your glowing review! I hope you’ll enjoy the sequel, Solomon’s Bride, even more. It’s in the last stages of proofreading.
Thanks again, Rebecca Hazell
February 27, 2014 at 9:05 pm
Thank you for the giveaway. This book sounds great.Canadian authors rock! We need to promote them more.
Denise Duvall
denannduvall(at)gmail(dot)com
February 28, 2014 at 12:33 am
Excellent review, Martina! I am so glad you liked the book. Thanks for being on the tour and for your exciting praise of Rebecca. 🙂
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