A Wounded Lion Roars Again

by Monique C. Philips

“Who is my father? Where is he? Do I have uncles or aunties?” My mother evaded all my questions, but I knew she lived in fear of someone or something. We moved across Nigeria to escape a threat she refused to speak about, and when she died in mysterious circumstances, I was alone and orphaned at only 12 years old. When a smiling lady appeared and claimed she had been my mother’s friend, I was grateful for her offer to care for me and give me a home. Naïve and trusting, I followed her—not to the loving home she promised—but into the dark hell of human trafficking. For more than a decade, I was a slave, forced to see, experience, and participate in acts of unimaginable depravity and evil. Death seemed to be the only way out, but death eluded me. My escape from that world was nothing less than a miracle, and it strengthened my faith in a God who never abandoned me, even at the darkest times. My late mother used to tell me, “A wounded lion is better than a dead lion. A wounded lion roars again.” My years in sexual slavery left me deeply wounded but not dead. By the grace of God, I am alive today. I am a wounded lion, but this book is my roar of triumph and deliverance.

Genres: Nonfiction

181 pages, Paperback

Published August 29, 2022

Reviews

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the hardest stories I've read, and yet it's one of the most amazing stories of God's redemption and power. I would especially recommend it if you work with refugees or women at risk.

[Heather Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This read felt… brutal. How can one experience so many horrid wrongs and yet choose to believe in the goodness of our God? Write on, Monique. Your voice is being heard! (Also, the book itself was cute and fun to hold. That alone deserves a gold star. 🙃😊)

[Lonita Shirk Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monique Philips's story of captivity is truly horrible, and her story of freedom is incredible. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in working with trafficking victims.

Tbh, the writing is elementary. I thought maybe it's because English isn't her first language, but it does happen to be the language of Nigeria, so I don't know... maybe she just needed an editor. I value the book for conveying her story, but it wasn't quality writing with a rambling style and typos. A few times, I was left confused as to what she was trying to explain.

CW: rape, prostitution, spiritual warfare, satanic rituals

[Joy Musselman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monique's story is beyond a horrific one. A tale of one devastating blow after another. Mind numbing pain heaped one after another upon that. And depraved demonic ritual fortifications sprinkled in among all the horrors. A life that is unfortunately not singular to Monique but should not be the story of any. Be warned, This is not a story for the faint of heart...

The literary quality of this book is perhaps not very stellar. The content is disorganized and sometimes confusing to follow but the story is unbelievably vulnerable and honest which makes it a very worthwhile read. To have survived the worst kind of evils and yet be able to tell a beautiful story that bears such incredible testimony to a loving gracious God can only be an act of God. May the King of kings continue to work mightily in Monique's story and may the prince of evil be weakened thru her testimony.

My heart is broken for the many innocents wounded by the enemy of peace and purity. But this story gives hope. May God avenge.

[Rebekah Barkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very hard for me to read, but Monique’s story of redemption is beautiful.

I echo with the Psalmist “how long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked be jubilant? They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. They crush your people, O LORD; they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless.” (Psalm 94:3-6)

Monique’s story is one that overcomes this evil through the power of the Gospel.

[Ashley Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible story of the Father's heart for redemption. Even as my heart was breaking, reading everything that Monique had to endure, there was a little spring of praise welling up in my heart too, knowing that the Father is working a grander story of restoration and hope. I am excited to see how He will continue to use Monique's story in the future.

This is definitely a book that is only for very mature readers, due to the heavy content of the book.

[Anna-Grace Strite · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful life story of freedom and redemption from the grips of satan… because of JESUS!!
“Three key things”
1. Don’t stay where you fall.
2. Don’t let the scar of your wounds hinder you.
3. Move forward in the light of GOD”

[Althea Graber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful story of redemption.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I’m just echoing past comments. But they are true for me as well. This was one of the hardest reads because of its brutality and horrors of the sex trafficking world. I’m astounded by her resilience and strength. I hope her story gets heard all around the world and that it changes lives. It definitely changed my life. It gave me specific things to pray for and brought to light some of the darkest corners of the world. I’m hoping for another book one day. I want to hear more of her story. Filled with even more hope and redemption. The fact she constantly turns her story back on God is a testimony of her closeness to God. Not only did it bring more awareness of the sex trafficking world, but it also brought me more awareness of the spiritual world. And how close it is to each one of us.

[Andrea Maendel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This felt like a particular powerful read for me as I read it shortly after personally spending some time with Monique and her son. Seeing redemption with my eyes and then reading about her story made it particularly impactful. Jesus is in the business of healing those from horrifically traumatic backgrounds, and Monique’s is an especially poignant example. Not an easy read and only for mature readers - but recommended if you want to understand the world of trafficking and refugees a little more deeply.

[Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true story of unfathomable darkness and incredible redemption.

[Kristi Horst · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-wrenching story. The reality of the excruciating evil that this woman faced is so sad and burdening. Yet the beauty of God redeeming her story is miraculous and faith building.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing is fairly repetitive and unorganized, but the honesty & the story is absolutely incredible.

[Marlee Friesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful story of redemption. The wounded lion, roaring, because it is still living. Monique escaped the satanic grip of her powerful South African trafficker, and lived to tell a tale so many never would. I have no words to describe the myriad of emotions I felt throughout this book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely heart-wrenching but so important to know stories like Monique’s.

[Louisa Friesen Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book may be quite disturbing because it is very graphic. However, the story is so necessary and so redemptive! This story had me in tears, asking the Lord "How long will wickedness prosper?", and beginning to formulate ideas on what my role is to bring life and hope and freedom to trafficked people.

Philips' story gave me a deeper confidence in the power of Jesus! We are not fighting in a fleshly war, but against spiritual powers.

Four stars because the story reads a little disjointedly.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonfiction, memoir

TW: very graphic descriptions of killings, rape, prostitution, witchcraft

Suitable for mature adults with the emotional strength to read a tough story.

This is the story of Monique, a Nigerian woman forced into the sex trade at age 12, and how she escapes. It is a brutal story, a sad story of a young girl forced to leave her childhood too soon. It is also a story of redemption, a story of a woman escaping to help other women escape. The story itself is very powerful; it's an amazing way to see how God protected Monique and brought her to a place of redemption.

While the story itself was very powerful, the writing takes away from that power. It definitely could have benefitted from the help of an editor to organize it a little better and strengthen the grammar. The descriptions were perhaps a bit too vivid for the average adult, but I know that those descriptions were part of Monique's goal of showing the power of witchcraft and prostitution.

I would not read again, due to the heavy nature of the topic. It did inspire me to make sure I am supporting women in need.

Brighter Winter challenges: published in 2022, book set during a journey

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will shatter your heart in a million pieces and at the same time fill you with unimaginable hope.
Every person should read this book.

[Teresa Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did several things for me. It opened my eyes to the power held by witchcraft and voodoo in Africa, specifically Nigeria, and how that power is often the underpinning of trafficking and the sex trade. More than that, it reaffirmed that the power of JESUS is far greater and binds the power of Satan. It is a story of redemption and hope. I struggled a little with what seemed like lack of editing (?), but the story line supercedes that. It not only describes the evil of trafficking, but specific ways to help people caught in it.

[Jenna Rotelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is an honor to hear Monique share her story. I give it 4.5 stars. The writing style was a bit disorganized and yet I loved that the voice was so authentic.
Monique has been subjected to some of the worst evils. Her life is a testimony to the power of the gospel and challenged me in my faith in God’s sovereignty over all.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monique shared her personal story of being trafficked for over 12 years. It is sobering and a hard read but it’s important to know what is happening all around us. I am thankful that she shared her story with the world.

[Diane Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was hard to read about the things that Monique experienced during her years being trafficked. But I'm glad her story ends on a positive note of redemption through Jesus. I wouldn't recommend this book to just anyone and it's definitely only for mature adult readers.

[Brianna Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to hear a testimony of the incredible power of God to heal, restore, and redeem, then this is the book for you.

[Amy Strain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazing story of redemption also portrays in horrifying reality, the truth of human trafficking. Definitely for mature readers, but worth the read.

[Alea Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is not for the faint of heart. Monique's story is so hard to read, but it is also a powerful story of God's mercy and redemption.

[Arianna Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not an easy read - Monique has lived through some unfathomable darkness & pain, but this is a powerful story of God’s redemptive work.

[Liz Nisly · Rating 5 out of 5]

😭😭 So heavy and so good. Stories like Monique’s need to be told.

[Sara Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

a difficult and necessary read. Full of darkness, overpowered by the light and hope of Jesus Christ.

[Heidi Sink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard read with explicit language. Very eye opening and informative.

[Bri Barrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful testimony to God’s goodness, the fire of an unconquerable spirit, and a relentless pursuit of freedom.