Review on Reading is Believing ♥
"As the story opens, we find ourselves faced with three lion cubs full of energy and curiosity towards life: Jamila, the pack leader's daughter, Daren and Kenan. We're immediately in front of the much loved and hated love triangle. Daren has a crush on Jamila who can not stand him and opts for Kenan. Kenan, for his part, doesn't initially appreciate the attention of the girl, but then surrenders to his feelings for her.
At twelve years, however, the three are in that age when the feelings are still timid and friendship prevails on love and our protagonists spend their days among bickering and races. In the beautiful scenery of Africa and of the beautiful Tanzania, with pleasure we follow the stories of these lions that are growing.
The story complicates by the arrival of a group of poachers, led by a ruthless man named Mark Shelby, arrives in town with the goal of capturing just the lion cubs for a zoo. Without too much difficulty, Shelby can discover the secret of the pack, plans an ambush and manages to capture Kenan.
Daren promises to Jamila that he will not rest until he brings back the lost friend and, at this point, the story takes a leap forward nine years.
Things have changed a lot. Kenan, thanks to a trick, lives the life he always dreamed of, while the herd continues to look for him and the relationship between Jamila and Daren has evolved in unexpected ways. But when Shelby pretends that Kenan keeps the promise he made, the future of each of them will be in danger.
By the plot that Chiara provided to me when she proposed me the reading, I was expecting so much romance and little action. I find myself in front of a young adult novel that turns out to be a reading quite soft, but original thanks to the majesty of lions who were the protagonists. While reading, I had to change my mind though. The action has space and how! I found the whole thing is well-researched and balanced.
What in all honesty I was not convinced at all, was the final part of the book. I wished things had been more in-depth after the jump time, before the events took precedence over history.
I loved the characters so much that I found well characterized and also Chiara's writing, which allows us to get in touch with many of them closely.
The decision to create lions shapeshifter was very apt. I had never read of similar creatures and it was really nice to be able to imagine these beautiful animals through her words.
I recommend the reading to everyone who wants something different and who wants to take a leap into the lands of Africa to daydream."
