Mother Feral's Love
by Lawrence Barker
Published by Swimming Kangaroo Books
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Reviewed by Lauretta Ali
Touching and remarkable is Lawrence Barker's exciting new sci-fi special, Mother Feral's Love! This action-packed love story takes place in the city of Vrantum, filled with ancient stone towers and black brick streets. Haunting this place is the Feral named Evrandal.
Now just her name alone can cause certain unrest: It either means, "flower in the wasteland" or "disgusting creature that spreads parasites." Here is a soul that hardly anyone wants to meet, let alone sympathize with. Yet, sympathy is what she deserves.
Evrandel gives birth to her only child who looks completely human! The child's origin must be kept a secret or she will live the life of a Taint (you will need to read the book to see what horror that can entail). So she gives her child to Damel the healer, who raises the child, keeping the secret of her true birthmother. Oh, but, a horrible murder takes place and Damel is blamed for it. This puts Evrandal's child in terrible danger and the Feral only has four days to find the real culprit. If she doesn't, then the fate of Damel and the Feral's child, Broglin, is one you can't even imagine!
I read each page once then twice. Not because it was a difficult read at all. Simply because I couldn't believe what this mother had to go through in her quest to save the one and only child she had. You must read this book to reinforce what is an age-old belief: There is nothing in this world or any like a mother's love!
Lawrence Barker has created a tour de force of amazing love and beauty with this book. I was completely captured by his vivid imagination. I almost believed that Vrantum exists and Evrandal lives. I wanted to help her, to save her time and time again, as she battled any and all forces necessary to save her child. But, will she be able to do that? That is the question I won't answer for you. Read this story of unshakable faith and love. A mother's unbending love. Mother Feral's Love!
Armchair Interviews says: Great story about mother's love.