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Martha's Mirror
"Martha's Sequel to Martha's Vine" "Martha's Mirror" is the highly anticipated sequel to "Martha's Vine," a post-apocalyptic saga set in
Alberta, Canada, and written by Edmonton author, Sheree Zielke. A WORLD WITHOUT POWER A WORLD WHERE THE CRUELLEST REIGN A WORLD WHERE WOMEN ARE SOLD LIKE CATTLE A pallor of death has settled over the Canadian province of Alberta--a post-apocalyptic world
sagging under a total loss of electricity. The necessities of life are fuel, food, ammunition. But the Gatekeeper's people
struggle on. They have lost many men in a battle with a biker king, "The Man." Worse, their
women and children have been taken hostage, and are destined for eastern Canada--to be sold as
"clean" women to the Mafia. The "Gatekeeper, Matthew," is plagued by guilt over faulty decisions he made in the defense of his
compound. His wife, "Martha," takes a bullet to her chest--shot by "Brad"--in an attempt to free the
captives--including her daughters and grandchildren. Matthew vows to make amends, but an
early winter and a record snowfall get in his way. Meanwhile, Brad, a traitor and a murderer...has plans of his own--cruel plans that will forever
change the lives of Martha and her adult daughters, "Ruth and Elizabeth." No one knows about the evil that awaits them in "Drumheller"--a city nestled in the southern
Alberta Badlands--home to mystical hoodoos and the world's largest dinosaur. For some, the ancient Badlands will mean...revenge and retribution. But for others, Drumheller
will mean...extinction. "Brad, Ruth thought. She swiped at an angry tear. She clenched her teeth and re-shouldered her
long gun. I can handle a few hours of this. A seed of hope began to grow. Then Mom can take over. " But she didn't know that a new hell was coming... And it was going to last for months. ""A scared woman is capable of a great deal...very capable.""
Alberta, Canada, and written by Edmonton author, Sheree Zielke. A WORLD WITHOUT POWER A WORLD WHERE THE CRUELLEST REIGN A WORLD WHERE WOMEN ARE SOLD LIKE CATTLE A pallor of death has settled over the Canadian province of Alberta--a post-apocalyptic world
sagging under a total loss of electricity. The necessities of life are fuel, food, ammunition. But the Gatekeeper's people
struggle on. They have lost many men in a battle with a biker king, "The Man." Worse, their
women and children have been taken hostage, and are destined for eastern Canada--to be sold as
"clean" women to the Mafia. The "Gatekeeper, Matthew," is plagued by guilt over faulty decisions he made in the defense of his
compound. His wife, "Martha," takes a bullet to her chest--shot by "Brad"--in an attempt to free the
captives--including her daughters and grandchildren. Matthew vows to make amends, but an
early winter and a record snowfall get in his way. Meanwhile, Brad, a traitor and a murderer...has plans of his own--cruel plans that will forever
change the lives of Martha and her adult daughters, "Ruth and Elizabeth." No one knows about the evil that awaits them in "Drumheller"--a city nestled in the southern
Alberta Badlands--home to mystical hoodoos and the world's largest dinosaur. For some, the ancient Badlands will mean...revenge and retribution. But for others, Drumheller
will mean...extinction. "Brad, Ruth thought. She swiped at an angry tear. She clenched her teeth and re-shouldered her
long gun. I can handle a few hours of this. A seed of hope began to grow. Then Mom can take over. " But she didn't know that a new hell was coming... And it was going to last for months. ""A scared woman is capable of a great deal...very capable.""
542 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2011
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 30, 2011
Martha's Vine was a fantastic read for first-time novelist Sheree Zielke, but the sequel, Martha's Mirror, was even better. Continuing where Martha's Vine left off, the story moved immediately, propelling me deeper into Martha's world after the Change (the loss of all modern conveniences after the grid went down two years prior).
Martha's Mirror is easily as compelling as part one, as it pulls us along in the adventures and danger of Martha and, even more than in part one, of Martha's daughters, Ruth and Elizabeth. In her daughters we see Martha's strong will to survive and protect, her need to be loved and be part of a family, her determination and skill, her faults and weaknesses. Martha's daughters are her mirrors, but they are their own women as well. In a reality that not only demeans and degrades women, but ultimately treats them as cattle to be traded or sold at will, Martha and Ruth and Elizabeth stand up and refuse to be shepherded and sold and abused. Their strong wills draw the reader in and compel you to follow them through the story as if you were their companion. The world after the Change is dangerous and dark and sometimes hopeless, but as you follow these women and experience their struggles, you see that the light hasn't been extinguished. There is always hope in faith and in trusting one's own abilities.
This book is visceral. It's not nice and neat and wrapped in a pretty bow. Characters you love will die in the telling. But that's what makes the book so believable and so much fun to read. It's like life really is; you can hope for the best, but things don't always work out the way you want them to. By the same token, you can lose all hope in salvation, but suddenly find a wall knocked down or find a hand reaching into the darkness to pull you free.
Martha's Mirror, like Martha's Vine, is a compelling read that you won't be able to put down. I wanted to keep reading from chapter to chapter to see what would happen next. I wasn't disappointed in the least. My only hope upon finishing Martha's Mirror is that Sheree writes another book to round out the trilogy.
Martha's Mirror is easily as compelling as part one, as it pulls us along in the adventures and danger of Martha and, even more than in part one, of Martha's daughters, Ruth and Elizabeth. In her daughters we see Martha's strong will to survive and protect, her need to be loved and be part of a family, her determination and skill, her faults and weaknesses. Martha's daughters are her mirrors, but they are their own women as well. In a reality that not only demeans and degrades women, but ultimately treats them as cattle to be traded or sold at will, Martha and Ruth and Elizabeth stand up and refuse to be shepherded and sold and abused. Their strong wills draw the reader in and compel you to follow them through the story as if you were their companion. The world after the Change is dangerous and dark and sometimes hopeless, but as you follow these women and experience their struggles, you see that the light hasn't been extinguished. There is always hope in faith and in trusting one's own abilities.
This book is visceral. It's not nice and neat and wrapped in a pretty bow. Characters you love will die in the telling. But that's what makes the book so believable and so much fun to read. It's like life really is; you can hope for the best, but things don't always work out the way you want them to. By the same token, you can lose all hope in salvation, but suddenly find a wall knocked down or find a hand reaching into the darkness to pull you free.
Martha's Mirror, like Martha's Vine, is a compelling read that you won't be able to put down. I wanted to keep reading from chapter to chapter to see what would happen next. I wasn't disappointed in the least. My only hope upon finishing Martha's Mirror is that Sheree writes another book to round out the trilogy.
Displaying 1 of 1 review