5 stars A gifted writer can evoke the emotions of the characters in her readers. Emma Castle is one such writer. I found myself, at turns, heartbroken, nervous, excited, and relieved. Tackling the work of Edgar Rice Burroughs by rewriting one of his most iconic stories, Tarzan of the Apes, takes guts. In this case, the gamble paid off spectacularly, as this story took on a life of its own and made all other retellings background noise. Bravo! Elements of spirituality add a magic to this tale that gives the reader hope during the darkest parts of the story. As with any romance, we expect an HEA, but knowing that Thorne and Eden are on the side of goodness in a battle for the heart of the jungle, knowing that the spirits of those who came before them are somehow helping them, gives the reader the fortitude to keep reading even when it seems that all hope is lost. There’s a reason the jungle is a frequent metaphor for difficulties in life, as in statements like, “it’s a jungle out there.” The jungle is harsh and unforgiving. It doesn’t allow for weakness. Emma Castle illuminates the harshness of the jungle, but also highlights its beauty. The research that must have gone into this book is readily evident as scenes are described in meticulous detail that engages all of the senses. Her love of this place is undeniable. The relationships between Thorne and the animals are realistic and precious. The instant connection between Thorne and Eden is also believable. Her acceptance by his “tribe” and her love for them because he loves them, is inevitable and inspiring. There are some tough scenes in this book—good people and good animals are killed. I had to remind myself it was fictional, but then I remembered, just because this story is fictional doesn’t mean the events described are not happening on a regular basis. People and animals are killed in the pursuit of wealth and power. Any story in which the “good guys” win is a story I want to read. If I wanted to see the “bad guys” win, I wouldn’t be reading fiction. As always, I discovered some quotes that were just too beautiful to allow them to be forgotten: “Life was ever a battle of clinging with desperation and letting go with longing.” “My heart has only one name carved upon it, and I will love her until there is no more breath in me.” There were also a couple of funny moments, lending a bit of comic relief to a very emotional and intense story. While trying to figure out who is the villain, Emma “imagined some super-powerful man in the shadows, an archvillain right out of a comic book, with a mustache he twirled while he bathed in a bathtub of stolen gold and ordered the deaths of anyone who stood in his way.” Then she realized how unrealistic that sounded and dialed it back a bit. Another scene that made me chuckle was this one: “Sorry I’m late. The curling iron and I are not friends.” She laughed, and the sound was sweeter than any music. He didn’t know who the curling iron was, but if they were not Eden’s friend, then they were Thorne’s enemy. But he would deal with them later.” My only complaint about the story was that Thorne seemed to adjust a little too quickly to modern life, even learning to speak fluently in a very short period of time. I think he would have been afraid the first time he rode in a car. He should have been terrified to fly in an airplane, especially since the last time he had, the plane had crashed. Yes, he was courageous in all other circumstances, so I understand how he could have been brave in those as well, but it felt like he was almost superhuman in his reactions and his ability to adjust to new events. There were just too many things which would have been completely new to him: eating with utensils, clothing, sitting on furniture, speaking to strangers, reading, etiquette, and the list goes on. This in NO WAY diminishes the impact of the story. Indeed, how could any author incorporate into a novel all of the ways in which Thorne had to adapt to contemporary life? The most salient points were addressed and the others were left to the reader’s imagination. Perhaps it was his connection with the spiritual world that enabled him to slide so smoothly into a new and different life. Regardless, this book is outstanding and memorable and I highly recommend it. September 23, 2020
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