Author: Shaman Elizabeth Herrera
Publisher: Blue Gator Inc
Pages: 268
Publisher: Blue Gator Inc
Pages: 268
Release Date: May 18th, 2014
Source: Received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Shaman Elizabeth Herrera’s personal experiences deeply influenced this poignant adventure featuring a group of shamans, a fallen angel and indigenous peoples who use supernatural powers to save the planet from mankind’s greed, corruption and indifference. Inspired by current events, Earth Sentinels leads you through the world’s most pressing issues, offering amazing insights while instilling hope.
“Riveting! A must read!” — Dennis Nighthawk, healer and spiritual leader, retired military, and member of the White Laurel Band of Cherokee
“A succulent portion of cold, hard truth played out with characters you share affinity with, understand and love.” — Mark Champion, founder of OurHealingMatters.com
While this book has a beautiful cover, and some great goals, I don't feel I was quite as taken to it as other readers. While I consider myself eco-conscious, much of the story felt very heavy handed dealing with these hot environmental issues. The politicians were always bad guys, out to steal the indigenous peoples land, and anyone who supported oil or nuclear power did so for their own selfish reasons. People were all dumb and ignorant, oblivious to what was going on. It had a very black and white stance on the environment, and what we should do to protect it. But I found that a little hard to stomach as a reader because the issues are always bigger than that.
I disliked that the books answer to saving the earth was to pretty much kill anyone that stood in their way. Innocent workers of these companies were swallowed alive by the earth, killed by wild animals, and killed by lightning. It just seemed a bit harsh to me. Why did the answer this book promoted have to be violence? Hopelessness? It acted like Native Americans were the only one who cared at all about the earth, and even the news stations treated them as the enemy. Personally, I'd just like to feel like we've come further than that... I wanted pictures of the scroll to do something, to sway people. I wanted to see individuals fighting for the earth, not just at the end. There are a lot of people actively fighting to be greener, eco-friendly, and to make the earth a healthier place. I just feel like this book diminishes their efforts.
This felt like a book written in anger, which makes it difficult to really enjoy for me. The romance felt forced, the characters regret for their actions just seemed temporary because there was no lasting consequences for answering violence with violence. This book just negates the battle people are already having to make a more eco-friendly environment. In the end, I'm just not a fan. This was just a very dark story, and it wasn't my cup of tea.
I just stumbled on this review, and was really taken back. I mean no disrespect for the reviewer, and I hope this reviewer wakes up too, just like the rest of the world needs too, and understands the real meaning of what is going on in our world.
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading this book, and I do mean I read it! It's literary realism. As for dark.... well this sheds light on the reality of what is happening right now in our world, and believe you me, wasn't dark enough to point the real issues out so that people wake up to what's really happening.
Its fiction for heaven's sake... And the story is told differently than most books do. There's no main character... but it's meant for all of us, and what are we going to do to make the changes needed as the old way of doing things just doesn't work.
I'd have to think the reviewer must of just skimmed through the book to just write a review and completely missed the whole point, as I hate to think that they are this naive. The whole point of the book does indeed point out that there's no need to fight violence with violence and that people can change things in better ways and that everyone needs to band together and they must stand up and make their voices heard.
Its a beginning... and for Earth's sake I hope everyone gets the real message here, because something needs to be done and it needs to start now!
Read the book and figure it out for your own self.... And pray that apathy goes away with people and they start caring about what is really going on, and aren't afraid of standing up for what it is right and start doing the right things. We can make a difference if we start believing we can.
Hi Real Intent,
DeleteThanks for taking the time to comment! I think the problem here is every reader gets something different from a book, and as I mentioned, I personally just didn't get the message perhaps the author was trying to say. I get that there are messages of banding together, standing up to make our voices heard, etc. But the primary message that was coming through for me personally was the anger, and a sensation of hopelessness.
I live in an area where going green and making better changes for the environment is on the forefront of a lot of people's thoughts. But there is no right answer to some of those changes. There are farmers whose livelihood depend on GMOs, because the public demand for a single variety of plant takes away the pesticide-resistant benefits having multiple crops would have. There is always a bigger story. Eliminating GMOs outright would destroy family farms, put families out of their homes. If you eliminate GMOs, then pesticides come back... Solar powered energy may be greener than some forms of electricity, but the process to create those energies still involves fossil fuels. We have placed ourselves in a difficult place to return from.
To me, the book focused on the big issues: fracking contaminating water, oil spills killing wildlife, nuclear power having meltdowns. But there was no emphasis on the fights already happening in those areas, and the reasons these things haven't changed. Sometimes there is ignorance, but sometimes there is no simple answer to doing something better. Sometimes, people really don't care. But sometimes, there just isn't a better option.
It is a work of fiction, but to me, some of the issues are very big, and very real, but I don't think there is a magical answer to them. I do applaud the author for giving a strong voice to these issues and weaving a story that helps people want to make changes. And I think every reader will have a different response.