Cover Image: Moon Flower

Moon Flower

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Member Reviews

Moon Flower is the second book from author Neil Perry, and like the first book, A Cobbler’s Tale, this book brings historical fiction to technicolor life. Here’s what I said in my review of the first book, and I can say the same thing about Moon Flower, “the author is a born storyteller and readers will be captivated by all the colorful characters and the dangers, schemes and plots that abound.”

Moon Flower is a completely separate story, although as you read it, you will notice common themes. Moon Flower begins with the main character Lukas Pietersen introducing himself to us as an 18 year old living in New Amsterdam in the year 1675. Lukas is the son of Dutch Jews who have a business trading with the natives for beaver pelts. Lukas’ life takes a different turn, “I left home in late June of 1675 to become a warrior of the Pequawket Turtle Clan.” Becoming a warrior proves to be mystical and life changing for Lukas. “A warrior’s life is one of intent and purpose. A warrior acts out of love for others.”

With his superb story telling skills, the author takes warrior Lukas though many amazing adventures in the American colonies, as well as In Amsterdam and Africa. Lukas becomes a warrior for justice and human rights. “You are fighting an evil, men who do not honor the Great Spirit.” “The plight of the Jews was much like that of the native peoples I lived with.”

This book is packed with action and adventure and again shows us the meaningful word pictures that Author Gordon creates so well. This book will appeal to many readers-those who like to learn about different cultures and beliefs, and those who like vivid characters, action and adventure. I especially encourage YA readers to give this book a try. Thanks to the author for a review copy. This is my honest review.

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I enjoyed this book and will suggest it for purchase. Highly suggest purchasing for libraries and classrooms.

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Moon Fower by Neil Perry Gordon narrates the epic journey of Lucas, a young boy in Dutch-controlled territory New Amsterdam who happens to witness the murder of his father at a tender age. To seek solace from the grief of losing his father he befriends members of the native American tribe and begins his quest to become a warrior of the Pequawket tribe. Set in the year 1675, eighteen-year-old Lukas Pietersen encounters chiefs, shamans, warriors, and the English army. In his quest to seek a connection with the Great Spirit, Lucas consumes a ceremonial substance, known as Moon Flower. The potent seeds from this plant, as prepared and administered by a shaman, can cause Lukas to lose his memory but will bring him closer with the Great Spirit.

His journey takes him from the New World to the city of Amsterdam, down to the slave coast of West Africa, and across the Atlantic Ocean to the slave mart of Charles Town, Moon Flower tells the story of Lukas Pietersen's adventures and his battles with a fearsome evil spirit – the Wendigo.

This book has the perfect combination of Historical Fiction and Mystery with a dash of Fantasy in exactly the right proportions. I absolutely loved reading Lukas's tale and was very eager to find what happens next. The plot is very much unpredictable till the end of the climax and you can never know what is going to happen next. Though I felt that at times the story became quite stretchy and had way too many twist and turns which was quite tiring for me. But the author beautifully narrated the plights of native Americans, Jewish immigrants during the earliest European colonisation and how it affected the inhabitants of the countries throughout the journey of Lucas. For me, the best part of reading this book was that I came to know about the lives and customs of various Native American tribes which I was completely unaware of.

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