Review: True Testimony of Love
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 21, 2014
Before I go on with my review, I would like to say the following things (based on both renditions):1.  I have read MarcoAntonio & Amaryllis twice.  Yet this copy does differ from the first version I was given.  In the first version, it had a brief overview of some of the characters that would play a factor in this work.  Yet in the updated copy, this component was missing.  I think the work was done a slight disservice with the overview taken out.  It provided a nice flow into the outer folds of the story.2.  In addition, I am NOT a fan of this cover.  The cover artist missed an opportunity to convey the beauty of this magnificent romance.  The symmetry of an amazing story does involve the successful implementation of a cover that makes it shine.  This one missed the mark in many ways.  The color scheme leaves me perturbed.  The hue of the brown is very depressing and reminds me of an outline of a gingerbread house rather than a balcony.  There are no elements of the passion between MarcoAntonio & Amaryllis nor anything in this cover to echo the phenomenal impact of Mother Haydie.  Hues of red (to invoke passion) as well as a lighter weathered tone (perhaps an antiqued cream) would have done wonders!  In addition, the font selected is displaced from script suggestive of medieval times.  The disconnect between cover and story is profound!Now with that being said, let me go on with my overall thoughts.Spoilers:  Hints of certain activity but nothing overly stated or full blown.I didn’t know what to expect when I acquired this for review.  All I knew was that the title was interesting as well as the first line in the introduction: Love is the result of ALL things conquered….It was such a strong statement, and I wanted to see how it would all play out.This work was set during the time frame of the Anglo-Spanish war in 1585.  Forbidden love: Spanish knight falls in love with an English lady.  I know you may be thinking, “Romeo and Juliet.”  You may even be ready to toss this aside, thinking this is some reincarnation of that particular work.  I say this to you, “Not so fast.”  It is so much deeper.The author does an excellent job at keeping the surroundings as well as the dialogue in step with the time frame she is writing about.  It can be a tricky task to try and stay the part without reverting back to everyday dialogue.  However, to do that, would take away from the authenticity of background as well as all the characters. I also love that there’s not just major emphasis on the backgrounds of the two main characters, MarcoAntonio and Amaryllis, but also about the goddess Mother Haydie, Rye, and Damian.  The presentation was well balanced.  It’s like looking at a good show, then reaching a commercial break.  The only difference is these other characters aren’t commercials you want to fast forward through.  Just think of them as Super Bowl commercials: where they are just as interesting, if not more so, than the half-time show or the game altogether.Then when things finally come into place, you are glad you didn’t sleep on any of them, for every characters’ purpose became intertwined and realized.  Even when there wasn’t fighting among the Spanish and the English or the torture of forbidden love between MarcoAntonio and Amaryllis, there was still lots of action to partake of.  Some of the incidents even served as comic relief.The resolution really stood out to me as well.  It had me wondering if the author ever felt any pressure to go with a different ending to satisfy the “feel good ambiance” of a powerfully told love story.  Instead, Y. Correa went with the ending that best suited the first line stated in this work.  To others, it may not be the expected ending, but it’s all about the purest ending that could be put with the story.  I applaud her for sticking with the authenticity rather that putting a Cinderella-esque type finish to this work, which would have done it a gross injustice.  Plus, it's a wonderful setup for a sequel.I highly recommend you check out MarcoAntonio and Amaryllis for its authenticity relative to the time frame, the careful and successful implementation and execution of interest in all the characters, the truthful resolution, and how delicately she interwoven everyone’s destinies.  Luckily the power of this author's style was enough to conquer the serious faux paus committed with this cover.  I will patiently await the sequel.