Every once
in a while I post a book review for a fellow author. I’m kind of picky about
these and will only write a review if I really enjoyed a book. (I know how
important reviews are as an authorJ)
The Collar and the Cavvarach by Annie Douglass Lima was one of
those books that I loved and wanted to share with the world. If I were a star giver, I would've been tempted to dole out 5 stars for this book!
It takes place in
a fictitious world and revolves around a slave boy, his sister and their
owners. The image of the slaves wearing a metal collar
left a power image in my mind that allowed me to feel the terrible captivity that
they experienced. Even after finishing the book, I found myself thinking about the
abhorrence that is slavery yet I didn’t feel Ms. Lima shoved the concept down
my throat. Bensin, the main character
was endearing both because he looked out for his little sister and tried everything
to free her. Another unique element of
this story was the martial arts slant. In order to try and free his sister, he tries
to win Martial arts competitions in a society where winners are revered even if
they are slaves. My favorite character
of all was Bensin’s new owner, often called Coach. I thought Ms. Lima did a wonderful job
letting us feel his moral conflict with his role as a slave owner.
Overall, I found the storyline to be
unique, which to be honest, is hard to come by.
After reading The Collar and the Cavvarach, I am excited to see what else
this talented author publishes. Kudo’s to you Ms. Lima.
Here's a little more about this lovely book.
About the Story:
Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is desperate to see his little sister freed. But only victory in the Krillonian Empire's most prestigious tournament will allow him to secretly arrange for Ellie's escape. Dangerous people are closing in on her, however, and Bensin is running out of time. With his one hope fading quickly away, how can Bensin save Ellie from a life of slavery and abuse?
What is the Collar for, and What is a Cavvarach?
The story is set in a world very much like our own, with just a few major differences. One is that slavery is legal there. Slaves must wear metal collars that lock around their neck, making their enslaved status obvious to everyone. Any slave attempting to escape faces the dilemma of how and where to illegally get their collar removed (a crime punishable by enslavement for the remover).
Another difference is the popularity of a martial art called cavvara shil. It is fought with a cavvarach (rhymes with "have a rack"), an unsharpened weapon similar to a sword but with a steel hook protruding from partway down its top edge. Competitors can strike at each other with their feet as well as with the blades. You win in one of two ways: disarming your opponent (hooking or knocking their cavvarach out of their hands) or pinning their shoulders to the mat for five seconds.
Want to Find out a Little More?
Click here to read a description of the setting and what life is like for slaves and others in that world.
About the Author:
Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and later graduated
from Biola University in Southern California. She and her husband Floyd
currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at Morrison Academy.
She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since her childhood, and
to date has published ten books (one YA action and adventure novel, four
fantasies, a puppet script, and four anthologies of her students’ poetry).
Besides writing, her hobbies include reading (especially fantasy and science
fiction), scrapbooking, and international travel.Connect with the Author Online:
Email: AnnieDouglassLima@gmail.com
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