Originally published and courtesy of Armchairreviews.com.
Molly Lake, by Samuel Endicott
Set mainly in Canada in the midst of the French and Indian war, Molly Lake is a historical novel of epic proportions. After her mother is kidnapped and her younger brother is murdered in a French raid of her home, Molly Lake sets upon a journey that is ripe with adventure. From serving as a powder monkey aboard a naval ship to attending to the medical needs of a powerful general, Molly is a tough and intelligent young woman who impresses everyone she meets--even her enemies.
This book is very exciting and well written. Part of the appeal of the novel is that it has something for everyone. There is romance, rivalry, humor, and adventure that will touch anyone's heart. Several story lines intertwine seamlessly to form a cohesive novel.
The only thing that rubbed me the wrong way is how wonderful Molly was. Anyone and everyone who came across her loved her dearly or at least deeply respected her. It would have been nice to have a respectable character who genuinely didn't like her. Not even Molly Lake is that perfect!
The author does an outstanding job of incorporating just enough history. From my United States citizen perspective, I didn't know much about the French and Indian War, let alone what happened in Canada during this time period. The author educates you about the circumstances in an entertaining way. You get enough history to understand the life and times, even inspire more independent research, without too many potentially boring historical details that can detract from the excitement.
Armchair Interviews says: Molly Lake is a novel that is an entertaining and educational read that a wide range of readers will enjoy for generations.
