Forged from Shadows Review

Review for Forged from Shadows
By Ariel J Schaub

Shortly after I began reading this book I became convinced the author didn't much like her characters and didn't really know what to do with them. The main female was so bloodless she was more ghost than living, showing emotion only on three occasions, one of which was in mortal delirium. Her decission to marry an unlettered blackman, no matter her Union sympathies, should have been preceded by deep contemplation and statement of conviction. Instead it was more, "oh, ok I guess so." Her husband, despite being a free man, was way too agressive to survive the society he lived in. It would have taken so little effort for some white man to have him arrested or sold back into slavery; or hanged.

The Confederate officer, while slimey, was the most complex, too devious and controlling to settle for ownership by rape, he wanted body and mind. He was disliked by his peers and subordinates but there's no real explanation of why.

The Union officer is supposed to be sensitive and honorable, answering the call of duty; but comes across as afraid of committment and otherwise an emotional lightweight.

The rabidly Confederate aunt and plucky Irish-American corporal are stock.

The book should have read like Vivian Leigh's "As God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again!" Instead it was Ben Stein's "Bueller, Buller."

All in all it was a pretty ok book. I didn't find too many editing issues either. I would like to rate this book 4 stars.

I would be interested in reading more works by this author.