When Mussolini’s forces invade Ethiopia in the 1930s, they
encounter a rebel army that is motivated but poorly equipped. How the Ethiopians prevail is the stuff of
myth, but this author proposes an explanation that is both believable and a
little wacky at the same time. However,
up until the shadow king appears about halfway through, this novel is as dull
as dirt. I get that the author has to
set the stage and introduce the characters, but pacing is an important aspect
of any novel, and I expect many readers have abandoned this one before it
really gets rolling. Hirut is a servant
in the household of Kidane and Aster, and her relationship with Aster is
strained by Aster’s jealousy. When the
war begins, however, the two women become uneasy partners in persuading Kidane,
who leads a band of civilian warriors, of their own military prowess, despite
their gender. Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia does not do his reputation or
his country any favors by running off to the English resort of Bath during the
war. His departure sounds remarkably
similar to that of Afghanistan’s President Ghani, who slipped out of the country
before the U.S.’s pullout and the Taliban’s takeover. The cowardice of both of these so-called
leaders is a reminder that power and leadership are two entirely different
qualities. On the opposing side of the
conflict is Carlo Fucelli, whose team has built a POW prison near where Kidane’s
army lurks, but Fucelli has other plans for his opponents that does not involve
keeping them alive. In his service is a
Jewish-Italian photographer, Ettore, whose role is to document Fucelli’s
malevolent deeds. Ettore follows
Fucelli’s orders, at the expense of his conscience, in an effort to save
himself from the horrific fate that Jews in Italy are suffering, including,
most likely, his family.
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