Audio Book Review-A Girl Called Samson

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

About The Book

From New York Times bestselling author Amy Harmon comes the saga of a young woman who dares to chart her own destiny in life and love during the American Revolutionary War.

In 1760, Deborah Samson is born to Puritan parents in Plympton, Massachusetts. When her father abandons the family and her mother is unable to support them, Deborah is bound out as an indentured servant. From that moment on, she yearns for a life of liberation and adventure.

Twenty years later, as the American colonies begin to buckle in their battle for independence, Deborah, impassioned by the cause, disguises herself as a soldier and enlists in the Continental Army. Her impressive height and lanky build make her transformation a convincing one, and it isn’t long before she finds herself confronting the horrors of war head-on.

But as Deborah fights for her country’s freedom, she must contend with the secret of who she is—and, ultimately, a surprising love she can’t deny.

Many wonder what it is all for. I wonder what it is all for. And yet that truth, the truth of the ages, is that it is not for ourselves that we act. It is not our lives we are building, but the lives of generations that will come.

My Review

First Impressions

A Girl Called Samson is a standalone historical fiction novel by Amy Harmon. This is also a new to me author and I am completely speechless on this one. I know y’all have been trying to get me to read this author for what seems like years and I finally bit the bullet and picked this one up and it blew my mind! I personally want to say a thank you to Sophie @ Beward of the Reader because her beautiful review sold me on this one. I doubt I could bring this book justice but I am certainly going to do my best! Because this story deserves all the love and more. This book is a historical fiction set in the time of the revolutionary war. This is a story based on a young woman who forges her own path and finds faith, a path into freedom and love along the way when she least expects it…

Great miracles were wrought on their journey, but miracles do not make life easy. Most often, miracles just make the next step possible.

Summary

Its year 1760, and Deborah Samson was born in Massachusetts. When her father abandons them for a life on the seas, and her mother is not able to support her children, then Deborah is put into child servitude to a family but the family that becomes her own in a special unique way. Now its twenty years later, and the Colonies are fighting for their independence and freedom against the British. Deborah is determined to forge her own way and fight for independence along with so many others. She has a hunger to defend this land and her people and so she disguises herself as a teen soldier and makes a transformation that is fierce and strong. Where she finds her faith, her will of iron and her strong heart that is as loyal and fierce as the flag she fights for and a love worth fighting for…+

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,’” I began. He huffed under his breath, like I’d surprised him again, and I paused in my recitation. “You’ve memorized it?” he asked. “Yes, sir.” “Why?” “Because I believe in it.”

What I Loved

A Girl Called Samson was such a magical story and I am so grateful that I took the courage to actually pick this up. Its been so long since I read a historical fiction and I fell so hard for this one here. I am so happy that I was able to grab this one up here and indulge into this beautifully crafter story. This story is packed with so many elements that I fell in love with.

THE CHARACTERS
So we have so many wonderful characters that just steal your heart. The primary figure that we follow of course is Deborah/Samson. From the beginning you can see how loyal her heart is to America. Seeing her memorize the declaration of Independence (WOW I need to follow that example because I only have the first paragraph memorized haha) and her thirst for freedom and the way she incorporates faith into her well being was so resonating. She is such an inspirational character that we should all mold ourselves after. She has such strength and grace and love in her little body. The way she feels every moments and keeps going no matter what is so admirable.

In no place on earth can a man or woman who is born into certain circumstances ever hope to truly escape them. Our lots are cast from the moment we inhabit our mothers’ wombs, from the moment we draw breath. But perhaps that can change here, in this land.”

Then we have our hero of the story (and yes there is a delectable hero) General John Patterson is a man of honor and integrity and the way that he defends his men and will do whatever it takes to hold true to his promises just made me heart ache for this incredible historical figure. I just wanted so much for him to find his happy ending. But seeing his tenacity in the battle field and the way in which he fights for his soliders including our lovely Deb, was so epically portrayed. He is the perfect match for such a fierce spirit we have in Deborah. I not only loved him for how he is with her (before and after he finds out the truth about her identity) but also his own character and his personal struggle to finding purpose in this long war, a purpose that Deborah instills in him.

I had never considered it a privilege to be a woman. Not even once. I had struggled at the bit of my sex, at the reins of society, at the saddle of tradition. It had not occurred to me that men had their own burdens, that they were bridled too. It was not women who died on the battlefield. I had been denied and barred entry to a world I wanted to experience, but had I been barred because I was disdained or because I was valued? I suspected it was both. Even so, I was less inclined to complain about my lot

HISTORICAL CONTEXT
So this story was so rich and breathtaking in all the intricate details involving the Revolutionary War. This is a book so captivating in the little moments that it will literally take your breath away….and I am completely serious on it. I love the time of the revolutionary war, it means so much to me as a American and a Patriot. So to have this story written in such a way that emboldens the truth spirit of America and our history being so portrayed so well just left me humbled to the true struggled of those pioneers that fought with everything they had and gave up so much so that we could have the precious freedoms we take for granted way too much. Amy Harmon did an incredible job in really showcasing the truths of the Revolutionary War and the pains and hardship but also the fighting spirit against tyranny and being able to win against a machine that many other countries weren’t able to do.

THE ROMANCE
The relationship that builds between Deborah and John was so beautiful! I definitely feel like their story needs to be talked about. I would say that their actual story together is a bit of a Mulan retelling in a way. There was so many connections to the animated film in how these two come together that it was just so wonderful to see how the author took a creative license on this to bring these two together. These two compliment each other so well and seeing what they are willing to sacrifice for each other and their country was so endearing. I just was on board with their story from the moment they meet and those “letters” sigh just loved it. And I will say that there is very little steam in this book. Do not expect anything steamier than some good kissing haha but seeing these two in their silent moments together fascinated me so much. And even though their romance is a backstory, I loved every single second of it.

I am convinced nothing is so intimate as a kiss, not even the joining of flesh or the taking of vows. When mouths commune, there is little that can be hidden, and I had no desire to hide anything any longer. Not from him

I do think that what I loved so dearly about this book the most though is the way that the author portrayed the emotion and struggle of what these soldiers and families suffered. You feel it with every moment, every chapter and every tear and sweat and blood sacrificed. I am not sure how the author wrote this story but I guarantee you will feel the sacrifice in your heart and deepest parts of yourself.

What I Struggled With

Nothing!!!!! I mean it probably could have had a bit more romance (because I always think a story can have more romance), but I knew the romance was the backstory.

Overall View

I found A Girl Called Samson to be a delectable historical novel that brought together the beauty of the past, the essence of the American spirit and captivates the human soul in a satisfying read that will stay rent free in your heart for years…

“It is not for the man who has everything and wants more that we fight, but for the man that has nothing.”
“But as long as you draw breath, as long as your heart beats and the sun rises, you must stay in the fight.”

Title: A Girl Called Samson

Author: Amy Harmon

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: Audiobook

Source: Kindle Unlimited

Length: 13 Hours

Narrator: Tavia Gilbert

Book Links

Amazon| Barnes and Noble| Goodreads| LibraryThing| StoryGraph| Literal Club

About The Author

Amy Harmon is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and New York Times Bestselling author. Amy knew at an early age that writing was something she wanted to do, and she divided her time between writing songs and stories as she grew. Having grown up in the middle of wheat fields without a television, with only her books and her siblings to entertain her, she developed a strong sense of what made a good story. Her books are now being published in two dozen languages, truly a dream come true for a little country girl.

Amy Harmon has written eighteen novels including the USA Today Bestsellers, Making Faces and Running Barefoot, as well as The Law of Moses, Infinity + One and the New York Times Bestseller, A Different Blue. Her fantasy novel, The Bird and the Sword, was a Goodreads Book of the Year finalist. Her newest release, What the Wind Knows, is an Amazon charts and Wall Street Journal bestseller. For updates on upcoming book releases, author posts and more, join Amy at www.authoramyharmon.com