A girl sold by her father into slavery as a child, the son of her owner who befriended her, and a world so against their love as they become adults that they’d kill…
The Prodigy Slave trilogy by Londyn Skye, already a recipient of the 1st-place Chantelaine book series award for romantic fiction via the Chanticleer International Book Awards, has collected another accolade. The Prodigy Slave: Journey to Winter Garden, a book that’s received over a hundred perfect reviews by OnlineBookClub.org, has now been chosen as the Book of the Month for January 2022!
The Prodigy Slave: Journey to Winter Garden is the first book in The Prodigy Slave trilogy, and while it’s certainly a romance novel, it’s also a dark look into just how horrifying slavery was. “This book is recommended for those who are seeking a very raw, real, deeply emotional, and cerebral story,” the Amazon description says. It continues, “It is a very long continuous turbulent saga and is, therefore, not recommended for those who are seeking a storyline with instant gratification.” In fact, the same Amazon description includes four(!) exclamation points after the words “Reader discretion is advised.”
Beth Jackson, OnlineBookClub.org’s director of book promotions, said that “Within moments of reaching out to Londyn Skye, it was clear she was a passionate, driven author who put a lot of thought and care into what she wrote. I was blown away by how in-depth Londyn got regarding her intentions and purpose with the trilogy. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with her, both on a personal and professional level. When I asked Londyn if she had any quotes or specific information she wanted to share, she dug deep and unearthed a wealth of insight and passion about her series.”
From here, I’ll let Londyn’s well-considered words take it away: “I wrote this story in honor of the sort of people who often end up etched in our history books, cemented in statues, and elegantly displayed on memorial sites. I noticed that there seems to be a very tiny percentage of human beings whose minds are impenetrable to indoctrination and who have the strength to withstand the weight of societal pressure. I noticed that the percentages shrink even more when considering the number of people who are also then willing to put their lives on the line to challenge the status quo. I have always felt that it is indeed quite rare that people will make such a grand sacrifice to fight back against what they view as sickening injustices against humanity. It seems even rarer still to hear of those who have fought back against the sort of injustices that do not even directly affect their own lives. So, this fictional series reflects the minds and lives of these rare, unique, and altruistic individuals who fall into that last category. And yes! it reflects the small percentage of white people who did not see black slaves as mere profitable property, but rather, as beautiful human beings who were worthy of their forbidden love. This master/slave relationship element of the story has been extraordinarily polarizing by the masses during this last past year since this trilogy has been released.
“‘Don’t judge a book by its cover!’ has been an age-old adage that some potential consumers have refused to abide by when coming across the covers of The Prodigy Slave trilogy. For some who have viewed the covers, the fact that the male (James) is a master and is white has compelled them to prematurely determine that he is guilty of a crime, that he is a monster who is violating a slave’s (Lily’s) bodily autonomy. After contemplating that prejudgment, I posed the following questions: Is such incomplete information about this white character enough to warrant immediate condemnation? Does it make a difference that James’s label of ‘master’ was not earned but was simply a birthright, a technicality of the fact that he was the progeny of slave owners? Is it right to condemn anyone based upon the life decisions made by their parents? Should James be condemned for a label and a race that were beyond his control, or should he be judged by his decisions, his life choices, his merit, and the labels that he earned for himself? If that specific question was posed directly to those who have judged this book by its cover, is there any doubt which they would, personally, choose to be judged on?
“Over the last year, it has become evident that The Prodigy Slave is a series that requires an open mind to read. It deeply examines the complexities of life, societal circumstances and laws, relationships, and human hearts and minds. It examines those who selflessly use their privilege for good, those who abuse their privilege, and those who, sadly, succumb to the weight of societal pressure. It is also a story that makes it evident that not everything is so black and white; there is almost always a gray area to examine. It is a story that will likely prove that underlying facts truly do matter before jumping to conclusions and that superficial and/or limited information is not always enough to determine what box something belongs in. And yes! that can even be true about the love story between a ‘master’ and a slave.
“I readily admit to being an extremely oddball person. In fact, I often affectionately call myself a ‘certified weirdo.’ I admit that I will probably be the first author to deter certain people from reading my book series, specifically those who have cemented, closed minds, those who are impatient readers seeking instant gratification, and those seeking a ‘roses and rainbows’ romance. This is my fair warning! This story is NOT for the faint at heart! It is sometimes heavy and dark! And those who cannot handle the graphic, sexually erotic, and violent mental imagery that will surely be evoked while reading this story, please do not open this book! This series is strictly for those with an open mind who are seeking a raw, real, turbulent, yet inspirational saga with characters that you will not soon forget! This is the story of a young slave master who innocently befriends a little slave girl when they are both nine years old. They both have a traumatic childhood and lean on each other in times of adversity as they grow into adults. Their secret friendship creates a beautiful bond that changes both of their lives and leads both of them to have an extraordinary life journey, especially after it is discovered that Lily, a slave, is a self-taught piano prodigy. If your mind is wide open to an emotional and inspirational journey then by all means jump on board the turbulent roller-coaster ride of the lives of James and Lily in The Prodigy Slave trilogy.”
The Prodigy Slave series in its entirety is freely available for Kindle Unlimited members.
OnlineBookClub.org itself, meanwhile, continues to celebrate over fifteen years of existence with over two million members. Members range from readers and reviewers to authors and publishers, all sharing a love of the written word. The forums on the website include book reviews, general discussions, deep-dives into specific books, and interviews with authors across genres. Membership is free, and reviewers can earn money and/or free books for their honest reviews. Authors and publishers, on the other hand, can discover a plethora of marketing tips and services as well.
Scott Hughes, owner and founder of OnlineBookClub.org, served as an elected member of the Manchester, CT Board of Education. Scott is also a poet, published author, and a proud father to two. He began OnlineBookClub.org when he was only 19, back in 2006, and continues to discover new ways to bring readers and writers together.
The OBC Reader app, released October 31st, 2021, is one of Scott’s most recent creations for book lovers, and it includes several free books. “I want to make reading fun again,” Scott commented when spoken with regarding his goals for the app.
Scott also announced a $10,000 poetry and art contest that’s free to enter and contains five different categories for various creatives to enter. The contest is themed after a poem Scott himself wrote — “Show Me Your Naked Pain” — and accepts entries through March 15th, 2022. All winners will have the chance to “have their work published in a major, highly publicized anthology,” according to the contest’s website.
Connect with Londyn Skye on social media:
● Facebook – @AuthorLondynSkye
● Twitter – @LondynSkyWriter
● View the trilogy’s YouTube trailer
● Purchase The Prodigy Slave: Journey to Winter Garden or The Prodigy Slave trilogy on Amazon
Connect with Scott Hughes on social media:
● Facebook – @ScottMichaelHughes
● Instagram – @Scott_Hughes
● Twitter – @ScottMHughes
Connect with OnlineBookClub.org on social media:
● Instagram – @onlinebookclub
● Facebook – @Onlinebookcluborg
● Twitter – @twbookclub
● MeWe – @onlinebookcluborg
● Minds – @OnlineBookClub
● LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/9484600/
