7 – 11 July 2017

AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN READERS BLOG ALLIANCE

Is Introducing

Lakwi’s Lament

By the Light Books 20 January 2017

by

Jeanette O’Hagan

Book Description:

A middle-grade to Young Adult short story set in the fantasy world of Nardva:

Lakwi would love to read the books in the Royal library, but girls aren’t allowed inside. Her passion for books attracts the attention of her dashing older brother, Prince Rokkan, and her suave cousin, Lord Haka. Will her drive for knowledge lead her into more trouble than she can handle?

Lakwi’s Lament originally appeared in Like a Girl Anthology and is related to The Herbalist’s Daughter and the Akrad’s Legacy series.

About the Author:

JEANETTE O’HAGAN first started spinning tales in the world of Nardva at the age of nine. She enjoys writing fiction, poetry, blogging and editing.

She is writing her Akrad’s Legacy Series—a Young Adult secondary world fantasy fiction with adventure, courtly intrigue and romantic elements. Her short stories and poems are published in a number of anthologies including Glimpses of Light, Another Time Another Place and Like a Girl. She has recently published her short novella, Heart of the Mountain and, in Mixed Blessings: Genrellly Speaking anthology, also a flash fiction ‘Space Junk’.

Jeanette has practised medicine, studied communication, history, theology and, more recently, a Master of Arts (writing). She is a member of several writers’ groups. She loves reading, painting, travel, catching up for coffee with friends and pondering the meaning of life.  Jeanette lives in Brisbane with her husband and children.

Sign up to Jeanette O’Hagan’s Newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bbLJKT

Website: jeanetteohagan.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JeanetteOHaganAuthorAndSpeaker
Twitter: @JeanetteOHagan
Instagram: @bythelightof2moons

My Review:

This is more an author’s note than a review.

I wrote ‘Lakwi’s Lament’ for the Like a Girl anthology, inspired by Mirren Hogan, to raise money for girl’s education across the world. Like a Girl is available on Amazon and includes stories and poems about girls and women overcoming difficulties, the sacrifices made and potential reached. Even in the 21st century girl’s equal access to education remains a significant issue and keeping girls at school during the teen years have much better outcomes for their health and the prevention of issues such as child marriage and abuse.

Set in Tamra, ‘Lakwi’s Lament’ occurs some years before the events of Akrad’s Children and its sequel, Rasel’s Song, but about ten years after ‘The Herbalist’s Daughter’. While in most Western countries, few would question that girls should have equal access to education to their brothers, this has not been the case throughout history—and indeed in many countries even today. A woman’s role may be seen as confined to wife and mother.

Lakwi’s Lament is a fun story, an adventure with (I think) an exciting finish.

I had fun with the cover design which includes two of Lakwi’s great loves—her puppy Butterbur and her love for books and stories.

You can check out some books reviews of Lakwi’s Lament on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32705336-lakwi-s-lament

I hope you enjoy her story.