Author: T.M. Clark
ISBN: 9781489241184
RRP: $29.99
Publisher: Harlequin Mira
Copy: Courtesy of the Publisher
Child of Africa is another compelling read from Zimbabwean born T.M. Clark. It is a twisted tale of traditions and the sad state some species of animal find themselves in.
Clark writes beautiful characters, be they human or animal, and I love getting to know the animals in her stories.
Child of Africa is a story of national parks, animal conservation, tribal chieftanship and the corruption rife in the country.
Joss Brennan grew up in Zimbabwe but knew from an early age he wanted to be a British Marine, to head out and save the world far from home. He left behind a young elephant that he saved as a 10yr old boy, his best friend and her older sister, the local tribe and his parents. Years later he returns from Afghanistan a double amputee, too late to say goodbye to his parents or his best friend Courtney.
He is strong, he is determined and he isn’t quite sure what’s next. Joss is aiming to compete in a triathlon once he gets his fitness back and there are many improvements he wants to make to the lodge and surrounding villages, if the locals will learn to accept him.
Peta de Longe is a big game vet and the older sister of Courtney, she hasn’t forgiven Joss for not making it back to spend time with Courtney before she lost her battle with cancer but she doesn’t know the challenges he has faced; and either did Courtney. She lives a couple of hours away in a national park and spends her life trying to save the wildlife.
Bongani is a native man of many hats. He is the lodge manager, the chief’s heir and he is helping to nurse him in his final months. He has known the Brennan’s since Joss was a boy and is the last link Joss has to his parents. Bongani has a lot on his plate with running the lodge and looking after his father but he also has to look forward to the day that he takes over the chieftanship… and face his corrupt half-brother with an eye on the top job.
Clark has imbued her characters with a deep love of their homeland that stretches to the people and the animals. Her story depicts the plight of some majestic animals that are dying out at the hands of poachers who are doing a lot more damage than they need to.
Child of Africa is told on a dual timeline past and present with flashbacks scattered throughout the story. The flashbacks set the scene and let us get to know all of the characters and how they found themselves in their current situations.
All of the characters are colourful and all have their burdens to bear, they are well developed and well drawn. I grew to love the good guys and despise the bad guys. The baddest of the bad was a character that I wanted to see redeeming feautres, I wanted to see what made him the way he was but the more we learned the more it seemed that sometimes the bad is bone deep and he was actually just born that way.
My favourite character was Ndhlovy, the elephant Joss took in as a child. The elephant he was told it would be kinder to shoot and put out of her misery. Joss wouldn’t have a bar of it and took her home where they formed a bond that lasted a lifetime. I loved watching the interactions between the elephants and the humans. The insight we were given to the herd mind of the elephants and the intelligence in their majesty.
Once again Clark has painted a stark and vivid picture with her words of the people of Africa, and the plight of her animals. The corruption, the poaching and the old world magic still believed in tribal lands.
Child of Africa has two companion stories that I am seriously considering chasing up, if I ever find the time, in the picture book Slowly! Slowly! and the novella The Avoidable Orphan.
This is a story that is going to appeal to a wide audience, the setting and the characters are first rate but it is the suspense and the subtle slow burn romance that really make this a stand out for me. The always wondering what’s coming and what nefarious plots are being hatched.
Child of Africa is book #52 for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge 2017.
T.M. Clark can be found at TMClark.com.au, Facebook and Twitter.
Child of Africa is available now at Harlequin, Angus and Robertson Bookworld, Booktopia and where all good books are sold.
Thanks to Harlequin 20 of our Beauty and Lace club members will be reading Child of Africa so please be aware there may be spoilers in the comments below.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
What a wonderful read! I was so involved in the story that I read it in less than two days. The characters are well fleshed out so that I felt I knew them. I expect many people will get different things from the story; a sense of the very difficult times Zimbabweans lived through during that period, the wonder of African wildlife and the problems it faces…still, the plight of the young children and the workings of the tribal structure and traditions/beliefs.
the book transported me to the country and kept me spellbound. The chapters written from the elephant’s point of view were magical and added so very much to the atmosphere of the story.
There is plenty of drama and even action, but mostly, the book tells of love in every sense of the word and it survives even through the worst tragedies.
It’s beautifully written and fully engaging and leaves one feeling better for having read it.
This is the first of Ms Clark’s books I have read, but I now feel compelled to read her other works.
This is my first T.M Clark novel, it is a story of national parks, animal conservation, tribal chieftainship and the corruption rife in the country.
Child of Africa is told on a dual timeline past and present with flashbacks scattered throughout the story. The flashbacks set the scene and let us get to know all of the characters and how they found themselves in their current situations.
All of the characters are colourful and very well developed, so much that I loved the good guys and despised the baddies.
With a dose of romance a lot of suspense Clark has woven a wonderful tale and its hard to think of it as fiction when animals are still being poached.
A great read that makes you think past the text
Thank you Beauty & Lace and Harlequin Books.
I only just finished reading Child of Africa (this time of year gets in the way of my reading )
I had trouble getting into the story at first, about half way in I started to get a feel for it and enjoy the colourful characters. I found myself willing the good guys to win and the bad guy (evil actually) to lose.
I enjoyed the last few chapters and couldn’t put the book down in the end. I especially liked the fact vs fiction section in the back… I didn’t know any of the things I read there (clearly I’m in a Mum bubble atm).
Thank you T.M Clark for opening my eyes. Xo
Child Of Africa is a eye opener of the killings of people and animals in Africa.
A ex- British marine name Joss has no legs that dose not stop him from protecting the people from being hurt or the animals that the poachers are after to make money from.
I would like to recommended this book to read and also I a packet of tissue’s I found it to be a bit sad.
Child Of Africa is an eye opener to the killings of people and animals in Africa.
A ex-British marine man name Joss has a love for the people and the animals.
He has no time for poachers wanting to make a lot of money out of the killing of animals in Africa.
I would like to recommend this book to read also have a packet of tissue’s it is a bit sad. Child Of Africa T.M. Clark.
Child of Africa is an eye opener about the killings of people and animals in Africa.
A ex- British marine named Joss and his friends to take care of the people, animals away from the poachers.
I would like to recommend this book to read and make sure you have a packet of tissue’s it is a bit sad. T.W Clark Thankyou.
I was thrilled to receive Child of Africa to read and review for Beauty and Lace. A previous book by TM Clark – Tears of the Cheetah – has been on my ‘want to read’ list for awhile and is now right at the top as I thoroughly enjoyed Child of Africa.
The characters were well developed and a very interesting cast. I enjoyed how the various storylines – from Joss’ childhood, his time overseas, the romance and the traditional African society – were interweaved and complementary. Having spent time in Africa, I was particularly captivated by the game reserve aspects and the tribal dynamics. The Zimbabwean politics under Mugabe also touched on is fascinating, sad and intriguing.
A wonderful read set in an endlessly amazing continent which is dear to my heart. I highly recommend Child of Africa and can’t wait to read TM Clark’s other books now. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review, Beauty and Lace Book Club and Harlequin books!
Thank you for the opportunity to read ‘A child of Africa’ this book gave a good insight into how difficult the African people faced life in this time. The way the animals were described allowed the reader to actually be able to see the animals in all their beauty. The portrayal of the characters from Joss and how he grew up and when he returned from active duty injured and the issues he now faced in a country that was so dear to him. To face the losses of friends and past loves is clearly written so the reader can feel the pain of what is lost and can never be regained.
Tradition is seems never leaves a tribe and is only strengthened in many of the people of the tribe in times of turmoil and change. Tragedy often brings people together in many different ways. It was sad to read the poaching of animals and the horrors this brings and the changes that were trying to be implemented to protect a peaceful life for humans and animals alike.
The characters were written in a way that well suited the story and the compelling issues faced in Africa, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in something a little different from just a love story.
As a child I always dreamed of visiting Africa because I loved animals so much but having still not gone on a trip this was a great armchair travel read to get a real feel for Africa.
T.M. Clark takes you into the heart of Zimbabwe and weaves a story filled with characters you really grow to love (and hate). The story follows Joss Brennan who grew up in Africa but left to follow his dreams of becoming a British Marine. Back from war he’s now a double amputee and is too late to say goodbye to his parents and his best friend. Their are many wonderful other characters like his best friends sister Peta who is a big game vet and Bongani who is a native man who manages the lodge and is set to be the next chief. I also loved Joss’s Elephant friend that he raised when he was a child.
It’s a great read and give’s you an insight into the animal conservation world in Africa and the fight against poachers and corruption that we don’t really know so much about in the Western world.
Thanks so much Beauty and Lace and Harlequin for another awesome read..
The blurb for “Child of Africa” says it is “A thrilling novel of one man’s courageous flight to save the children of Africa”.
Yees it is, but it is so much more. Set in Zimbabwe, this book centres around the growing relationship of Joss an ex-marine and Peta s big game animal vet
Joss returns home to Zimbabwe both physically and emotionally scarred. A chance encounter with Peta changes life for them both.
This is a story full of contrasts. It deals with both the best and worst of humanity, traditional values and practices of village life and the horrid practices involved in animal poaching
This is a well written novel that is easy to read. It bounces back to Joss’s childhood where you learn where his live and respect of animals is born, to the future where he puts that love into practice
I would highly recommend this book for the armchair traveler who is after something light that touches on very serious issues
Thanks so much to Beauty and Lace and Harlequin Books for the opportunity to review such an enjoyable book