Delighted to share my five star review for Against All Odds (Book 3 of the Crossroads Trilogy) byJacqui Murray
About the book
A million years of evolution made Xhosa tough but was it enough? She and her People finally reach their destination—a glorious land of tall grasses, few predators, and an abundance that seems limitless, but an enemy greater than any they have met so far threatens to end their dreams. If Xhosa can’t stop this one, she and her People must again flee.
The Crossroads trilogy is set 850,000 years ago, a time in prehistory when man populated most of Eurasia. He was a violent species, fully capable of addressing the many hardships that threatened his survival except for one: future man, a smarter version of himself, one destined to obliterate all those who came before.
From prehistoric fiction author Jacqui Murray comes the unforgettable saga of a courageous woman who questions assumptions, searches for truth, and does what she must despite daunting opposition. Read the final chapter of the People’s long search for freedom, safety, and a new home.
A perfect book for fans of Jean Auel and the Gears!
My review for the book 13th August 2020 – Five Stars
Another epic chapter in mankind’s history.
I have been looking forward to book 3 in this trilogy since I read the last page of The Quest for Home in September 2019. I was fascinated to discover how Xhosa, Wind, Pan-do, Seeker, Zvi, wolves and all the other characters I had become so invested in had fared as they sought a new permanent home.
We are dropped immediately into the action as the group comprising various peoples from East and South Africa, China, Indonesia and Spain find themselves in the perilous territory on the other side of the Pyrenees. Not only do they face new dangers from those who live in the lands they are crossing, but from their past enemies, intent on vengeance. Old friends thought long lost and new peoples cross their paths to join the migration, adding protection and their own specific skills that provide food, treasured salt, and safe shelters in the inhospitable region.
The pace is relentless, as is the onslaught of other human species and nature. You will find yourself breathless as you turn the pages. My respect for our ancestors has only increased further as I have followed this part of their journey. Billions of us today have genetic links to many of the peoples we meet in this story. Without their driving need to find a safe place to live, their ability to adapt and to assimilate with others, their courage and instinctive skills, we as modern mankind would have been diminished. We have a great deal to thank them for.
As with all the author’s books the research is immaculate and where fiction meets the research it is seamless. You forget that most of the language used between the characters is mostly non-verbal and you engage with each of their very distinct personalities, including the wolves that protect them.
I highly recommend that you read the first two books Survival of the Fittest and The Quest for Home first so that you get the most from this incredible trilogy, and I was delighted to see that there is a sequel planned for 2023. I can also recommend the Dawn of Humanity series by Jacqui Murray with book two released in 2021.
Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
Also by by Jacqui Murray
Jacqui Murray, Buy: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Jacqui: goodreads – Blog: Worddreams – Twitter: @WordDreams
About Jacqui Murray
Jacqui Murray is the webmaster for Worddreams, her blog about all things writing. She is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers, and the upcoming prehistoric fiction, Born in a Treacherous Time. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, webmaster for Ask a Tech Teacher an Amazon Vine Voice a columnist for TeachHUB, monthly contributor to Today’s Author, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics.
Thank you for dropping in today and I hope you have enjoyed the review… I can highly recommend the book.. thanks Sally.
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Thanks for the comprehensive review. I appreciate you don’t take shortcuts, Sally. It’s great to see all of the support Jacqui is receiving across the blogging world. I’ll get to book three eventually, but I want to read them in sequence.
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Thank you Pete and I am with you on the sequence it creates a wonderful flow especially with the characters..xx
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It is much appreciated, Pete. And thanks for reading!
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Excellent review, Sally! A big congratulations to Jacqui. *sharing*
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Thanks Liz..another terrific read from Jacqui..hugsx
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You’re welcome, Sally.
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Thank you so much, Liz. I appreciate the support!
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You’re most welcome, Jacqui!
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Wow, that was a fantastic review for Jacqui’s book. It’s already reeling in some great reviews! ❤
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Brilliant read, one of those that you don’t really want to finish…♥
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On my series bucket list. 🙂 ❤
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♥
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And has me walking on air all day!
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x
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Fantastic review, Sally. Isn’t it true we could all trace our root through Jacqui’s research and her book? It’s relevant to all of us. Congratulations, Jacqui, on your new release!
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Thanks Miriam.. I agree and it is uplifting to realise that we came from these such enterprising and courageous roots. xx
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We can actually trace our DNA (through something called mtDNA) back 100,000 years. This book deals with an older time than that but it’s intriguing nonetheless. A future series will deal with a time 70,000 years in the past. I can’t wait because that is traceable.
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My DNA as part of the Cambridge DNA project traced back to 20,000 years ago to female bones in a cave on the southern France Northern Spain border.. that was such an amazing thing to find out.
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Most of my in-law members had the DNL test done. Even my daughter had hers done. The findings are impressive. Of course they didn’t trace beyond the first results.
From my daughter’s, she has German, Norwegian, many European countries and the part of China far away from where my grandparents were.
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It is fascinating and I loved learning more about my DNA journey too Miriam. xx
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It’s fascinating and interesting, Sally. My in-laws siblings have diverse DNA results. Probably, like genes, some pass down directly, some indirectly. 💖
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A coming together of the survival of the fittest Miriam.. a challenging million years or so for many of them.xx
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Yes, exactly, Sally. ❤
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That is amazing, Sally–bones in a cave in southern France. Those could be from my People. I had a character die climbing the Pyrenees that I didn’t mention in the story.
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It was amazing and I have also done the ancestry DNA which showed the migration after that time which spread through France and Northern Europe as far as the Netherlands into most of east and central England far north into Scotland down through Wales and into Cornwall then across to Ireland where 25% of my DNA represents my mother’s father’s family.. It all matched up with my family tree on both sides which I managed to take back to the later 1490s. It really gave me a sense of connection with the past. x
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That is really interesting, Miriam. I haven’t done that, considered it. I’m reading Michael Connelly’s latest novel, Fair Warning, which is about those services. Pretty good read.
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Congratulations Jacqui, your book is rocking!
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Thanks Balroop..xx
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Thanks, Balroop. With the help of my friends!
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Congrats to Jacqui on a well deserved 5* review!
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Terrific read Jacquie..x
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And one that lit up my entire day!
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xx
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Great review, Sally. I will be finishing it up tonight. I’m attached to these characters:)
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I know I will miss them but looking forward to catching up with the other series next year. x
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She really knows how to make a gal smile.
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♥
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You have captured the essence, Sally. Thank you for such a thoughtful, complete review of the end of my story.
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My pleasure Jacquie they are books that I will revisit again.. along with Jean m Auel’s and Wilbur Smith. xx
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I love Jean Auel’s books. this sounds like a winner.
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I loved her books, too. She really brought those worlds to life.
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Definitely Barbara.. I am a fan of Jean Auel’s books and have read all of them twice. Jacqui’s books are definitely equally as memorable.
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I’ve heard a lot about these books, Sally. I’m going to download a sample of the first one. It sounds riveting.
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Great Elizabeth..I have become very engaged with the series..hugs
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That should give you a good taste for the book–the sample. Thanks for giving it a try!
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Great review. Great read.
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Thank you Sandra.. I have just enjoyed Silverhills and the review is going out next Tuesday. Enjoy the rest of the week. x
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Sandy has become one of my favored Western authors. She has a good way with that genre.
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She certainly does have enjoyed the two I have read so far..x
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Thanks, Sandy! I am amazed how much Sally got the themes of the story.
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Great review. I’m looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for sharing, Sally. Hugs x 🙂
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Thanks Harmony.. happy reading..hugsx
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Sally’s review makes me want to read it!
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Lol..xx
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A fantastic review, Sally. Jacqui’s new book sounds totally engrossing – a “must read.” Toni x
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Thanks Toni, it has been a wonderful series.. hugsxx
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I like your choice of words there, Toni–‘must read’. Sigh.
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