"In the Shadow of Lions" by Ginger Garrett is a
historical Christian fiction novel that highlights the relationship of Anne
Boleyn and Henry VIII in a completely new way. Anne is portrayed as a seductive
woman that is not a seductress. She is portrayed as a woman who had to seize
her opportunities, not an opportunist. Most of all, she was portrayed as a
devout Catholic girl, not an evil temptress bent on stealing the crown and
ruining England. Ginger Garrett had her work cut out for her in trying to
portray one of the most despised characters in European history as the girl she
was before the gossip likely ruined her name for all time.
In all respects, "In the Shadow of Lions" is a
page-turner. Ginger Garrett incorporates three different stories into one novel
and weaves them in a way that you never want to skip past one plot line to get
to one that is more interesting. Her main characters are three females who are
protected by the same angel. The first is a woman from modern times who is
writing the story of the other two for an angel she calls "The
Scribe." The second is a woman of the street whose only wish is that her
son found his place in Heaven when he died in infancy. The third is Anne
Boleyn, a young woman who is trying to save herself and her family from the
whims of a King and an unsympathetic court. All of these characters and their
stories are engaging.
Historical characters that Ginger Garrett weaves into "In
the Shadow of Lions" include King Henry VIII, Queen Catherine, Anne Boleyn
and Thomas More. What is interesting about her approach to these characters is
that she keeps their known characteristics and sympathizes where history has
not. On the other hand, she is unsympathetic where history has been kind. In
other words, she gives readers who are familiar with these characters a new
perspective on their possible motives. In the case of Thomas More, she leaves
the man that history loves and reminds the reader of his faults, of which there
are many.
While the Catholic religion runs deep in "In the Shadow
of Lions", readers of any faith (or lack thereof) can appreciate the
intrigue, innocence, darkness, madness and politics that Garrett has woven into
the plot. It is a story of how faith can save a person or drive them to cruel
extremes. This is fact, regardless of whether god is real or not. As for the
history involved in this book, whether you know it or not, Ginger's version
will capture your attention. A lot of it will be recognized by history buffs.
Deep down, we all know that history has smeared the names of some while
uplifting those of others without regard to fact. That fact is we all are all
human. No one is perfect and very few are truly evil. "In the Shadow of
Lions" highlights that fact in a wonderful way.
It has to be said that Ginger Garrett really knows how to
tell a story. This novel is brilliant. This is historical fiction the way it
was meant to be. A canvas of factual history painted with the brush of a
thoughtful storyteller.
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