Book: Blood Mines
Author: Lynelle Clark
Pages: 300
Self-published
E-book Created in 2017
ISBN: 978-0-620-78336-1(e-book)
Printed Book Created in 2017
ISBN: 978-1-928434-52-8
Tanya’s life was turned upside
down when her son, Steve was attacked by renegades and she had to dig deep
facing her worst fear to save them both.
It is the year 2048, 30 years
after a devastating quake had changed Gauteng’s geographic features. The effects
of the acid water, that covered most of the area, was visible to everyone but
the government. The silent death crawling closer leaving devastation in its
path. Nothing is excluded from the terror.
Tanya and Steve’s path of
survival meet up with the rebels in their search for clean water and she had to
face much more than just acid water to stay alive.
A thrilling story of courage
and survival.
Book links:
Paperback - Group
7 Printers
Kindle - Smashwords / Amazon
TBR List: Goodreads
Reviews:
Blood Mines is full of pain,
desperate hope and a need to survive. A blink of the reality of life currently
in South Africa combined with fiction and romance. It is definitely not for
sensitive readers for it is an eye-opener for reversed racism and the possible
outcome of it. Where current generations have to suffer for their forefather's
mistakes even if they want to live in harmony and peace. I have to say
Blood Mines had me in tears and in a desperate feeling to reach out. The author
had the ability to mirror the emotions and the physical pain up to a tee.
A must-read, but be prepared to be confronted with harsh reality and the imagination of the author's prospects for the future. Corri Badenhorst
The part that came across as
convincing was the love of a mother for her son. The plot twist that brings our
female to the pivotal farm or smallholding is interesting but not very
logical.
Unfortunately, the plot, though
not meant to also come across as insensitive to me, a native to this
country. Still, to broaden your pov. This is the ideal book to do it with. It
has a lot going for it, the Afrikaans culture and usage of terms to name but a
few. Wanda Hartzenberg
This story has an interesting
and potentially realistic premise. The region of Gauteng in South Africa is
heavily mined, with the threat of earthquakes due to the depths of said mines.
The author has taken this fact and written a post-apocalyptic nightmare. I
found myself completely hooked for most of the story. Told through the eyes of
Tanya, I did find some of the plots a little far fetched at times; especially
some of the scenes when the mutated animals appear, though this did get me
wondering if there was some radioactivity going on rather than just cyanide
poisoning, or other toxic chemicals causing the mutations. However, this is
only my personal opinion. Other readers may not have this response. Another
niggle I had with this story was how quickly the main protagonist trusted
complete strangers, as well as how quickly the love interest grew between
herself and Dirk. I can understand the instant attraction, but insta-love? Not so
much. Another pet peeve of mine is the use of terms of endearment like sweetie,
honey, or love (and many others) in a derogatory way. I don't know if this is
what the author intended when she wrote the story, but I found these terms to
be degrading and made me want to punch the characters for using these terms in
a sarcastic or patronizing way. Maybe it's just a colloquial language
difference. Who knows?
Lynn Worton
“Set in a post-apocalyptic
South Africa of 2048, where corruption, pollution, and vigilante militia are
rife, Tanya and son Steve is attacked on their rapidly deteriorating
farmstead. Water is scarce, contaminated by cyanide and other chemicals over
spilling from abandoned mining operations, exacerbated by earthquakes. She and
her son are rescued by a group of individuals known as The Phantoms (much like
Fremen in “Dune”, stockpiling underground lakes of freshwater). There are
unexpected plot twists and turns, as Tanya strives to help the Phantoms uncover
more water caches, but it quickly becomes clear that greed is a bigger driving
force than altruism, and no-one can be trusted. I share most of Lynn Worton’s
concerns about the book, especially the irritating terms of endearment, but
take my hat off to author Lynelle Clark for completing this story as part of a
challenge to write a 50k word story in 30 days. I read the entire story in
one sitting and enjoyed it, despite my aversion to this genre, and didn’t find
it a chore. So, all in all, a riveting read.”
Scott
Richards
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