Review: Sendero

Sendero
by Max Tomlinson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sendero / B004TEYRZM

I think this is such a great example of an intense and frightening excerpt. The fear, frustration, and helplessness of the people is very tangible and overall the whole setting feels intensely oppressive and depressing. The subject matter is very original, and the narrative voice is so memorable. The characters are well-defined and well-characterized. I can't think of anything I've read in recent memory that read quite like this, and I would like to read so much more of this story.

The only thing that concerns me about the excerpt is that if the reader isn't familiar with the subject matter (and I know that I wasn't), then it does take a few pages to really acclimate to the political and social climate. I would have liked a little more backstory, maybe, or something to really bring home what exactly was going on. Then again, this is a story of a war told from the point of view of the victimized (so far, at least) so maybe it makes sense that the reader would be a little disoriented.

Overall, I love the subject matter and how it really comes to life in a very personal way in the characters and their daily struggle to survive.

NOTE: This review is based on a sample excerpt of this book provided through the ABNA contest.

~ Ana Mardoll

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