Review on La tana di una booklover ♥
"This novel's story has an unmistakable touch of magic: Jamila, Kenan and Daren are three shapeshifter, humans that have the ability to turn into lions. They live in Tanzania with their families and are very attached to each other. Early in the story the three have only twelve years old, and of course they have fun like kids should be doing. The friendship between the three is strong, but immediatly we see the huge characters differences between the three: Kenan is dark and charming, Jamila is sweet and sensitive, but also very instinctive, while Daren is the nicest of the bunch, and the most awkward and clumsy. The latter is in love with Jamila from time immemorial, while the girl has feelings for Kenan, who returns them while not wanting to admit.
Through their eyes we know the life of the flock of shapeshifters, who lives in lion form only at night, while during the day they are forced to take on human form. This, however, does not prevent the three protagonists to break the rules sometimes and continue to enjoy undisturbed during the long, hot African days.
Their life goes quiet until a danger on the horizon is revealed, and the herd is likely to be destroyed by poachers in search of lion cubs for the zoo in San Diego.
Rashid, the leader of the pack, he believes that it will be simple fool them and not to reveal the true nature of the members of the herd, but it will not. The leader of the poachers, Mark Sherlby, is much more clever, arrogant and devious than anyone had imagined. Not a bad fascinating man, he is just a bad and obnoxious man.
The command of poachers succeeds in the mission, despite the efforts of Rashid and the herd, and eventually manage to capture Kenan.
At this point we are transported quickly over time, up to nine years after the capture of Kenan. The dark shape-shifter, contrary to what we would expect all, is not dead and not a prisoner, indeed, seems to have realized his dream: he went away from the herd, he lives in New England in the luxurious home of Shelby, has become the best friend of the latter's son, Will, and attends Yale University.
But the beautiful days of Cainan have a price, and he will soon lead Shelby to the source of the power of shape-shifting, ie the Emerald which gave the gift to turn into lions to the first generation of these; but it's not limited to this: the Emerald is a huge source of power, and those who possess it shall be capable of dominating men.
In the years since, however, the herd has never stopped looking for Kenan and all hope of finding him sooner or later, but in the meantime the relationship between Daren and Jamila has changed, transformed from a simple friendship on a strong and passioned love.
Kenan is convinced that once returned to Tanzania will find Jamila waiting for him, believing that she still loves him, but his return will only cause a great stir, particularly in light of his apparent betrayal...
When I finished reading the last page of the novel, I told myself that it is a must. No doubt The Lion's Promise is really a book that I loved, because it is full of passion and strong emotions.
The life and feelings seen through the eyes of three protagonists have no uncertain terms, everything is taken to the extreme, everything is strong enough to leave you breathless.
And then in addition to the love and to the triangle that created between Daren, Jamila and Kenan, there's all an adventure to live, dangers to avoid and secrets to discover.
It's a book that can be read in a short time, but not so much because it is short, but rather out of curiosity to find out what will happen to the three main characters and how their lives intertwine again and how they will react to the events that always take an unexpected course.
It's an exciting novel in a few words and really, I can not find it no fault because there are all the right ingredients to keep glued to the pages.
I'm in love with Daren (by now you understand that it takes me a little to fall in love with fictional characters) but I was also fascinated by Kenan, despite my desire to strangle him while I was reading some points of the book.
In conclusion, I think it's definitely a book to read if you want to fall in love, get excited, cry (yes, I confess that there was some tear), break your heart and then smile, get angry and be shocked."
Rated 4½ out of 5 stars
