Review: WELL-WRITTEN AND THOROUGHLY ENGAGING!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 2, 2014
Billabong Ghost by Ryn Shell is the first book in the Dreaming Billabong series. This beautifully crafted story set in the 1950’s Australian outback is a tragic tale of love and mystery surrounding the lead character Charlotte. Populated by a rich landscape of interesting and memorable characters, including settlers and aborigines, Ryn Shell weaves a magic spell that leaves one basking in the beauty of a story that is original in content and style.At the heart of the story is Charlotte, who is brought to life through the mind’s eyes of Cattle King, Alan Fife, and whose undying love for her paves the way for him to communicate with her by the billabong, an ox-bow river or watering hole. The story alternates between the 1880s and mid-1940 as Alan, now in his sunset years, ponders over a life that has been lived. How well he lived his life is up to the readers to decide as well as to discover who Charlotte was. Suffice to Alan has fond memories, of a loved one who was killed during the 1880s.You are certain to enjoy this Australian saga Billabong Ghost by Ryn Shell if you enjoyed the movie Australia. The author has painstakingly compiled a dictionary of Australian English words to help those who are unfamiliar with Australian language. The family tree showing several generations of Woggan-Wandong , Fife, Buckram and Mawson children, Jarrah, Harry, Emily and Charlotte is truly helpful. It is an impressive story that will delight many readers.