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hanabell's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
nightstand_reads's review against another edition
4.0
It's 1964 and Katie Barstow, a popular Hollywood actress and her new husband take their closest friends on an African safari.
They anticipate their trip to the Serengeti to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see animals and scenery they've never experienced before, instead it's a kidnapping gone wrong as a team of Russian mercenaries herd them into Land Rovers with guns to their heads.
Will they survive?
Why have they been targeted?
Everyone has to depend on themselves and do what they can against their captors as well as the threats from the wild animals around them and the unrelenting heat of the desert.
Told from several perspectives, three women and six men, sharing their own current life and death situation, as well as giving background to their lives that brought them to this trip. Each chapter starts with a short blurb from fan/tabloid magazines that also tie each character to their past.
Like every other Bohjalian book I've read, this is beautifully written and the rich descriptions of Africa and the well developed characters left me breathless more than once.
Quote from the book I love: "We all look forward, but how we see tomorrow is grounded so deeply in what we lived through just yesterday."
They anticipate their trip to the Serengeti to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see animals and scenery they've never experienced before, instead it's a kidnapping gone wrong as a team of Russian mercenaries herd them into Land Rovers with guns to their heads.
Will they survive?
Why have they been targeted?
Everyone has to depend on themselves and do what they can against their captors as well as the threats from the wild animals around them and the unrelenting heat of the desert.
Told from several perspectives, three women and six men, sharing their own current life and death situation, as well as giving background to their lives that brought them to this trip. Each chapter starts with a short blurb from fan/tabloid magazines that also tie each character to their past.
Like every other Bohjalian book I've read, this is beautifully written and the rich descriptions of Africa and the well developed characters left me breathless more than once.
Quote from the book I love: "We all look forward, but how we see tomorrow is grounded so deeply in what we lived through just yesterday."
wiserenniereads's review against another edition
3.0
Although I find Bohjalian's writing good and his storytelling exceptional, his overuse of explicit detail of violently bloody and gory scenes is often very off-putting. This was no exception.
imalwayswrite's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cassidys_bookshelf32's review against another edition
5.0
**4.5/5**
Incredibly bingeable but not for the squeamish.
Incredibly bingeable but not for the squeamish.
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I found a copy of this book at a library book sale.
"The Lioness" follows a group of friends on a safari trip in 1964 in Tanzania. Katie Barstow and David Hill have invited their close friends to accompany them on their honeymoon. Everything seems to be going perfectly, until they are attacked and taken hostage by strangers. Now the group has to fight for their lives and figure out who is holding them for ransom, and why.
I was initially intrigued by this book because I wanted to explore a historical fiction that took place in Africa. Although this novel is that I did not think we really got a robust view of 1964 Africa. This novel was much more focused on the Americans that were kidnapped and what implications that would have on them. Additionally, this was a group of celebrities, which is why there was such immediate action from people to save them. I think this book did what it set out to do, it was just not exactly what I wanted.
This novel was violent and highly descriptive in its violence. If you are someone who finds it difficult to read about torture and blood in detail, this novel is not for you.
There is a slight mystery because the group does not know why they are being targeted. The reveal of what is actually going on was interesting and I did not see it coming. I also did not suspect the connections that were ultimately made.
Overall, this book was very okay; I appreciated it for what it did, but I was not blown away by it either.
"The Lioness" follows a group of friends on a safari trip in 1964 in Tanzania. Katie Barstow and David Hill have invited their close friends to accompany them on their honeymoon. Everything seems to be going perfectly, until they are attacked and taken hostage by strangers. Now the group has to fight for their lives and figure out who is holding them for ransom, and why.
I was initially intrigued by this book because I wanted to explore a historical fiction that took place in Africa. Although this novel is that I did not think we really got a robust view of 1964 Africa. This novel was much more focused on the Americans that were kidnapped and what implications that would have on them. Additionally, this was a group of celebrities, which is why there was such immediate action from people to save them. I think this book did what it set out to do, it was just not exactly what I wanted.
This novel was violent and highly descriptive in its violence. If you are someone who finds it difficult to read about torture and blood in detail, this novel is not for you.
There is a slight mystery because the group does not know why they are being targeted. The reveal of what is actually going on was interesting and I did not see it coming. I also did not suspect the connections that were ultimately made.
Overall, this book was very okay; I appreciated it for what it did, but I was not blown away by it either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse and War
emkatec's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ariiiibaby916's review against another edition
3.0
This started off realllllly strong and I abso loved how the author wrote it with flashbacks and multiple POVs but it ended up being really slow and super action-y
Will still read more.
Will still read more.
sohare1981's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5