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Redemption: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer
Three men come together in the town of Redemption Colorado, each for his own purpose. Huck Finn is a famous lawman not afraid to use his gun to protect the weak. He has come to right a terrible wrong. After his wife’s death, Tom Sawyer does not want to live anymore; he has come to die. The third man, the Laramie Kid, a killer Huck and Tom befriended years earlier has come to kill a man. For these three men Death is a constant companion. For these three men it is their last chance for redemption.
203 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2013
57 people are currently reading
753 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Joyce
11 books43 followersAndrew Joyce left home at seventeen to hitchhike throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. He wouldn't return from his journey until years later when he decided to become a writer. Joyce has written seven books. His first novel, Redemption: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, was awarded the Editors' Choice Award for Best Western of 2013. A subsequent novel, Yellow Hair, received the Book of the Year award from Just Reviews and Best Historical Fiction of 2016 from Colleen's Book Reviews.
Joyce now lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Joyce now lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 16, 2023
Admire the ambition and the execution wasn't bad, but really hard to take an iconic author's creations and make them your own.
October 26, 2013
This was not my typical read. I am not always into Westerns but this book flowed very nicely. The characters were very well developed and interesting. The story spanned a rather long time period and had loads of twists and turns. It is a large task to take on Mark Twain and write a book using his beloved characters. MR Joyce does a great job of showing growth for Huck and Tom and taking us on their journey into adulthood.
I really enjoyed the story even though it is not my preferred genre!! Mr Joyce definitely has a voice and I think he has a rich future ahead of him!! This was a terrific first novel!
I really enjoyed the story even though it is not my preferred genre!! Mr Joyce definitely has a voice and I think he has a rich future ahead of him!! This was a terrific first novel!
August 10, 2014
A very enjoyable continuation of the adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. From young men to late in life. The author picks up where Mark Twain left off and continues with new adventures out west staying true to the characters that Mark Twain created. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Twain's books. Thanks mom for sending me the book!!!!
November 6, 2013
Please note: The review of this book (which was donated to The Magnolia Blossom Review for the sole purpose of a review) was completed by Glen Marcus based on the Rubric designed by the owner of The MBR, L. Avery Brown. If you would like to read the entire review which includes an in depth author interview – please visit The Magnolia Blossom Review’s site online today! Glen Marcus has given permission to L. Avery Brown to post the review here on Goodreads. Thank you.
And Now for the Review...
(Review prepared by Glen Marcus)
1. Book Title 5 of 5
For the Reviewer: Did it grab your attention right away? (5) Was it ho hum? (3) Would you glance at it and then forget it? (1) What do you think the author might consider for future book titles? (You should have plenty of space for each item on the form as I think I set it up for the boxes to 'grow'.)
When I see the word, "redemption", I think of the improved state of somebody or something saved from apparently irreversible decline. In that train of thought, after reading the book I believe the title of Mr. Joyce's work hits the mark. Granted, the name of the town that a good portion of the book takes place in is called Redemption Colorado, I believe the author goes for a double meaning and thus it works both times.
2. Book Cover 4 of 5
For the Reviewer: Did it grab your attention? (5) Was it ho hum? (3) Did it look like it was haphazardly thrown together? (1) What do you think the author might consider for future book covers? Did it help make the title more effective?
Being an avid reader of western novels, of course two men riding off into the sunset at a full gallop grabs my attention. For my taste, there was a bit too much text on the cover. "They are not boys anymore but men doing what men have to do", is something I would have inserted into the blurb and not the cover. The cover proudly states, "The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer." I think that would have sufficed for me.
3. First 500... 10 of 10
For the Reviewer: Thinking of the first 500 (usually about 2 pages) words of the book, do you think the author provided enough incentive to urge the reader to continue? What stood out to you the most? Were you captivated after a couple of paragraphs? Did the 1st sentence grab you? Did you get to around the 500 word mark and didn't have a clue where the story was going?
Raise your hand if you have ever read 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' or 'Huckleberry Finn'. Most all of us have our hands up now, so put them down as not to appear silly. Sure, Sam Clemens' works are considered "must reads" though I must admit, I was an older teen before I experienced those classics. Did you ever wonder what became of Tom, Huck, Becky and the rest of those beloved characters? You get a glimpse in the first few pages of this book. The story begins with Huck and Tom enlisting in the Civil War and being thrust into the battle of Manassas. That is just the beginning of many miles and the many years this book covers of their lives. It was a good start and whet my appetite for more.
4. Blurb 7 of 10
For the Reviewer: Now that you've finished the book, please take a moment to look back over the blurb. How effective do you think the blurb will be to potential readers? Did the author write a blurb that was enticing and went along with the story? (10) Was the blurb lacking? (5) Was it entirely too long or too short? (1) Do you have any suggestions for the author to make it more effective?
I reviewed the blurb given on Amazon's website. While the description given is an accurate view of the story, I was left wondering a couple of things. One, if the potential reader might have wanted to be "drawn in" by relying more on the angle of Tom and Huck's growth into manhood and further spirited romps. Secondly, I believe the blurb, while only a few sentences, disclosed a bit too much of the storyline for my taste. It might have been better to simply entice potential readers by promising bold adventures in the wild west by two of the most beloved Mark Twain characters and leave it at that.
5. Age Recommendation/Genre Classification 10 of 10
For the Reviewer: Age Recommendation - If the book is entirely too young/juvenile for the intended age group? Is it entirely too mature? (Please take into account swearing/sexual scenes/drug use, etc...) Genre Classification - Was the book listed as a thrill ride of a read but was more of a bumper car ride (sort of all over the place)? Was it listed as a mystery and you simply had to turn the page to find out 'who did it'? !
This book, not unlike the classics before, is suitable for all ages. There was not enough profanity or descriptive violence that would deter me from handing this to book to anyone craving a fine day of reading. The genre is western, plain and simple and it IS just that.
6. Presentation/Format 10 of 10
For the Reviewer: Did the 'innards' of the book follow a clear, concise, standard format throughout the book? Or did you have a hard time keeping up with paragraphs or dialogue? Were multiple fonts used? Were they distracting?
I read somewhere once that Mark Twain initially began work on a manuscript to take Tom and Huck through adulthood, but he ultimately abandoned the idea. While I would have loved to read that continuation, Andrew (pardon the pun) "shoots straight from the hip" and when the smoke clears, you'll have a hard time discerning between the two author's work. The book is mostly written as 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' was, in the first person vernacular of Huck. His colloquialisms and southern English make it a treat as you sift through his feelings and observations. There is a clear writing-style change you'll encounter, as Jed's storyline (the third main character) is being told and again with Tom's travels to Hawaii. These are handled nicely and fluidly with no distraction element.
7. Theme/Originality 8 of 10
For the Reviewer: Was this book something you'd never read? Or was it formulaic and a 'rehash' of a popular tale/current 'pop' genre? If it was a retelling - did the author make it feel fresh and just different enough that it kept you involved?
Being a devout Western reader, I can't say the "Redemption Colorado" section of this book was fresh to me. Not to say it wasn't an enjoyable read, but the bad guys wore black hats and the good guys got to fire the last round. The first half of the book set the stage for the "western" to break loose, so all-in-all the storylines meld to keep the theme in line.
8. Intrigue 9 of 10
Did you want to turn the next page because it was SO good? (10) Was it interesting but you didn't quite have an urge to keep reading? (5) Did you think 'I wonder if we have Twinkies in the pantry? Mmmmm, Twinkies' while you read? (1)
The intrigue level for me was actually more of an anticipation to see how the author progressed the characters of Tom and Huck. Sure, being set as a Western was a plus, but I enjoyed the book, just relishing the growth and maturity of the two wayward sons of St. Petersburg. One of my favorite "scenes" of the book was towards the end, where Tom and Huck are about to go into a showdown and are discussing how their views/ideals on life have been altered by time. These type insights made the book click for me, even though I knew the bad guys were inevitably doomed.
9. Description/Enhancement 10 of 10
For the Reviewer: Did the author use descriptive language and 'all those extra little things' to make it the best it could be? Did you feel it was too sparse in description? Did the author go OVER board with the description?As I said previously, the first person writing of Huckleberry Finn is used and to me, it was an excellent choice. You'll realize one reason why when you get to the final chapter, but I won't spoil that here. Seeing the action through the eyes of a well-seasoned adventurer such as Huck adds a flavor to the tale that old Samuel Clemens would have been proud of.
10. Grammar/Mechanics 10 of 10
Was the book pretty darn flawless? (10) Did you see more that 5 or 10 'jump out' at you mistakes in grammar or the actual mechanics (verb tense, noun/pronoun agreement, misued words) ? (5) Did you feel it was a chore to read because it was riddled with errors? (1)
I'd say the book is extremely sound in mechanics and grammar. I only found an editing flaw towards the end of the book, and that was only a space missing between two words.
11. Overall Impression 10 of 10
For the Reviewer: When all is said in done - did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it to others?
If I were to take on a project such as this, I would first want to consult a psychologist to have myself tested for sanity. To think, a renowned and time-tested series such as the "Tom Sawyer" books could be expanded, would lead me to believe I had lost all my marbles. But what I think has happened with 'Redemption', is Andrew Joyce has successfully channeled the spirit of Mark Twain into the twentieth-century. Through page after page, I read with amazement on how this could not be considered a companion to the Twain's 1876 and 1884's respective works. In a nutshell, they work together as a trilogy to complete the saga, from the imagination of two tremendous writers. Well done Mr. Joyce!
The Bestowing of the Blossoms...
Well there you have it folks - proof positive that the Western is alive and well thanks to writers like Andrew Joyce! Because trust me, that Glen Marcus - he does love Westerns and if he gives it a big ol' Texas seal of approval (and as he's from Texas - it's legit!) it must be good. Having said that, when all the points are totaled up...Redemption: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer has earned = 93 points! It's a true 'A' story that deserves all 5 of the Big Beautiful Blossoms it has earned. We at the Magnolia Blossom Review wish Andrew Joyce a bounty of sales as he's written a book that does the Twain and the characters he created, Finn and Sawyer, proud.
And Now for the Review...
(Review prepared by Glen Marcus)
1. Book Title 5 of 5
For the Reviewer: Did it grab your attention right away? (5) Was it ho hum? (3) Would you glance at it and then forget it? (1) What do you think the author might consider for future book titles? (You should have plenty of space for each item on the form as I think I set it up for the boxes to 'grow'.)
When I see the word, "redemption", I think of the improved state of somebody or something saved from apparently irreversible decline. In that train of thought, after reading the book I believe the title of Mr. Joyce's work hits the mark. Granted, the name of the town that a good portion of the book takes place in is called Redemption Colorado, I believe the author goes for a double meaning and thus it works both times.
2. Book Cover 4 of 5
For the Reviewer: Did it grab your attention? (5) Was it ho hum? (3) Did it look like it was haphazardly thrown together? (1) What do you think the author might consider for future book covers? Did it help make the title more effective?
Being an avid reader of western novels, of course two men riding off into the sunset at a full gallop grabs my attention. For my taste, there was a bit too much text on the cover. "They are not boys anymore but men doing what men have to do", is something I would have inserted into the blurb and not the cover. The cover proudly states, "The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer." I think that would have sufficed for me.
3. First 500... 10 of 10
For the Reviewer: Thinking of the first 500 (usually about 2 pages) words of the book, do you think the author provided enough incentive to urge the reader to continue? What stood out to you the most? Were you captivated after a couple of paragraphs? Did the 1st sentence grab you? Did you get to around the 500 word mark and didn't have a clue where the story was going?
Raise your hand if you have ever read 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' or 'Huckleberry Finn'. Most all of us have our hands up now, so put them down as not to appear silly. Sure, Sam Clemens' works are considered "must reads" though I must admit, I was an older teen before I experienced those classics. Did you ever wonder what became of Tom, Huck, Becky and the rest of those beloved characters? You get a glimpse in the first few pages of this book. The story begins with Huck and Tom enlisting in the Civil War and being thrust into the battle of Manassas. That is just the beginning of many miles and the many years this book covers of their lives. It was a good start and whet my appetite for more.
4. Blurb 7 of 10
For the Reviewer: Now that you've finished the book, please take a moment to look back over the blurb. How effective do you think the blurb will be to potential readers? Did the author write a blurb that was enticing and went along with the story? (10) Was the blurb lacking? (5) Was it entirely too long or too short? (1) Do you have any suggestions for the author to make it more effective?
I reviewed the blurb given on Amazon's website. While the description given is an accurate view of the story, I was left wondering a couple of things. One, if the potential reader might have wanted to be "drawn in" by relying more on the angle of Tom and Huck's growth into manhood and further spirited romps. Secondly, I believe the blurb, while only a few sentences, disclosed a bit too much of the storyline for my taste. It might have been better to simply entice potential readers by promising bold adventures in the wild west by two of the most beloved Mark Twain characters and leave it at that.
5. Age Recommendation/Genre Classification 10 of 10
For the Reviewer: Age Recommendation - If the book is entirely too young/juvenile for the intended age group? Is it entirely too mature? (Please take into account swearing/sexual scenes/drug use, etc...) Genre Classification - Was the book listed as a thrill ride of a read but was more of a bumper car ride (sort of all over the place)? Was it listed as a mystery and you simply had to turn the page to find out 'who did it'? !
This book, not unlike the classics before, is suitable for all ages. There was not enough profanity or descriptive violence that would deter me from handing this to book to anyone craving a fine day of reading. The genre is western, plain and simple and it IS just that.
6. Presentation/Format 10 of 10
For the Reviewer: Did the 'innards' of the book follow a clear, concise, standard format throughout the book? Or did you have a hard time keeping up with paragraphs or dialogue? Were multiple fonts used? Were they distracting?
I read somewhere once that Mark Twain initially began work on a manuscript to take Tom and Huck through adulthood, but he ultimately abandoned the idea. While I would have loved to read that continuation, Andrew (pardon the pun) "shoots straight from the hip" and when the smoke clears, you'll have a hard time discerning between the two author's work. The book is mostly written as 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' was, in the first person vernacular of Huck. His colloquialisms and southern English make it a treat as you sift through his feelings and observations. There is a clear writing-style change you'll encounter, as Jed's storyline (the third main character) is being told and again with Tom's travels to Hawaii. These are handled nicely and fluidly with no distraction element.
7. Theme/Originality 8 of 10
For the Reviewer: Was this book something you'd never read? Or was it formulaic and a 'rehash' of a popular tale/current 'pop' genre? If it was a retelling - did the author make it feel fresh and just different enough that it kept you involved?
Being a devout Western reader, I can't say the "Redemption Colorado" section of this book was fresh to me. Not to say it wasn't an enjoyable read, but the bad guys wore black hats and the good guys got to fire the last round. The first half of the book set the stage for the "western" to break loose, so all-in-all the storylines meld to keep the theme in line.
8. Intrigue 9 of 10
Did you want to turn the next page because it was SO good? (10) Was it interesting but you didn't quite have an urge to keep reading? (5) Did you think 'I wonder if we have Twinkies in the pantry? Mmmmm, Twinkies' while you read? (1)
The intrigue level for me was actually more of an anticipation to see how the author progressed the characters of Tom and Huck. Sure, being set as a Western was a plus, but I enjoyed the book, just relishing the growth and maturity of the two wayward sons of St. Petersburg. One of my favorite "scenes" of the book was towards the end, where Tom and Huck are about to go into a showdown and are discussing how their views/ideals on life have been altered by time. These type insights made the book click for me, even though I knew the bad guys were inevitably doomed.
9. Description/Enhancement 10 of 10
For the Reviewer: Did the author use descriptive language and 'all those extra little things' to make it the best it could be? Did you feel it was too sparse in description? Did the author go OVER board with the description?As I said previously, the first person writing of Huckleberry Finn is used and to me, it was an excellent choice. You'll realize one reason why when you get to the final chapter, but I won't spoil that here. Seeing the action through the eyes of a well-seasoned adventurer such as Huck adds a flavor to the tale that old Samuel Clemens would have been proud of.
10. Grammar/Mechanics 10 of 10
Was the book pretty darn flawless? (10) Did you see more that 5 or 10 'jump out' at you mistakes in grammar or the actual mechanics (verb tense, noun/pronoun agreement, misued words) ? (5) Did you feel it was a chore to read because it was riddled with errors? (1)
I'd say the book is extremely sound in mechanics and grammar. I only found an editing flaw towards the end of the book, and that was only a space missing between two words.
11. Overall Impression 10 of 10
For the Reviewer: When all is said in done - did you enjoy the book? Would you recommend it to others?
If I were to take on a project such as this, I would first want to consult a psychologist to have myself tested for sanity. To think, a renowned and time-tested series such as the "Tom Sawyer" books could be expanded, would lead me to believe I had lost all my marbles. But what I think has happened with 'Redemption', is Andrew Joyce has successfully channeled the spirit of Mark Twain into the twentieth-century. Through page after page, I read with amazement on how this could not be considered a companion to the Twain's 1876 and 1884's respective works. In a nutshell, they work together as a trilogy to complete the saga, from the imagination of two tremendous writers. Well done Mr. Joyce!
The Bestowing of the Blossoms...
Well there you have it folks - proof positive that the Western is alive and well thanks to writers like Andrew Joyce! Because trust me, that Glen Marcus - he does love Westerns and if he gives it a big ol' Texas seal of approval (and as he's from Texas - it's legit!) it must be good. Having said that, when all the points are totaled up...Redemption: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer has earned = 93 points! It's a true 'A' story that deserves all 5 of the Big Beautiful Blossoms it has earned. We at the Magnolia Blossom Review wish Andrew Joyce a bounty of sales as he's written a book that does the Twain and the characters he created, Finn and Sawyer, proud.
May 11, 2014
I accepted this book for review simply because I have an affinity for Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain is one of my favorite authors. I first read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in my junior English class. It was a big deal to be reading it in public school. My teacher, Deb Ostas, is an absolutely fantastic literary – and I think I fell in love with the book because of the way she taught it and made us dig into the book. I selected TAOHF for one of my literature papers in college. I found my junior English journal, with all of my notes to use and I stayed up and re-read TAOHF in one night – the night before the paper was due, of course. Needless to say, I have a slight bias toward this book…
This book was not what I expected, and in ways more than I expected. No, Andrew Joyce does not follow in the syntax and structure that Mark Twain used in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Before reading, I thought he would try to imitate that aspect of Twain’s writing, but I soon found out Joyce had no intention of doing so.
According to the Lakota, the four things that make a man a man are bravery, fortitude, generosity and wisdom.
The book starts off like this:
The last time you heard of me and Tom was in that book Sam Clemens wrote telling of when Jim and me flowed down the Mississippi and met up with the King and the Duke. Then Jim got captured and Tom and I had to set him free. Of course, Jim was already a feed man; Tom just neglected to mention that fact during the planning stage.
Well, we were twelve years of age when Sam wrote about that. Now Tom and I are a mite older and a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then…
The novel picks up a bit after Mark Twain’s two ended, with General Beauregard firing on Fort Sumter in the spring of 1860, when Huck and Tom are 24. Naturally, they signed up to fight the damn Yankees. War was not what they thought it would be, and after Tom gets shot and they see the horrors of the field doctors of the time, they hightail it back toward home.
Within seconds you couldn’t see the enemy for love nor money through the gun smoke. I was firing into a cloud of white smoke and reloading as fast as I could.
They stumble on some Southern hospitality, but soon three Yankee soldiers intrude and put up a fight right in the yard. Huck saves the day, and leaves one man alive: Jed Bevins, who is also central to the novel. Huck sees the fear in young 16-year old Jed, and sends him off to California with some of his treasure money. I thought that was the last I’d see of Jed Bevins, but he is destined to return…
After all is settled, Tom is determined to go to China, so the duo head to California. It takes a while for Tom to get signed on to a vessel bound for China, but he does so, and it was the last I thought we’d see of him, too. At this part, I was surprised and nostalgically upset that Tom and Huck would separate so easily in life and go their own ways. In my eyes, they were destined to grow old together in their cantankerous state.
It was a sight to behold, the Laramie Kid swirling around the jail office with Tom Sawyer in his arms.
The novel is told from Huck Finn’s perspective, in first person. Along the way, it deviates to Jed’s perspective, but in third person, and his life with the Lakota. Later, it deviates to Tom’s life after leaving California for China, and how he ended up coming back to the States to find Huck.
Tom and Jed have both had some trials in their lives. Through is normal devilish ways, Huck ends up the sheriff of a town, and later the marshal of Redemption. The Laramie Kid has been on the hunt and is rumored to kill the best gunman in every town he happens upon, and word is The Laramie Kid is looking for Huck Finn. This was a nice twist!
The book covers authentic pieces of history: the Civil War, Southern hospitality, traveling means, Native American culture, the Wild West, ranchers and nesters, homesteading, cattle ranges, cattle wars, law enforcement, small towns.
For most of the book, I had no idea where Joyce was leading, not until Redemption. Then I started catching on. For me, this facet didn’t bother me – I enjoyed it, probably due to all of the historical aspects this book encompassed. The Wild West, as I call it, is the culminating focus on the novel.
What I really liked was the ending. Huck explains briefly what happened after Redemption, where life took him, and what he’s done since then, and he gives little updates on many of the characters he met throughout the course of the book.
Tom and I are night on sixty years of age now. He tells me he’d like to retire and sit on the hotel porch for the rest of his days…
This is a great read about Tom and Huck, and their further adventures into the West as they grow older in life. The book covers their lives from 24 to nearly 60 and concludes in 1895. The last chapter Huck talks about the letters he receives from those he met, and it ends kind of like a letter, so I envision the novel as one long letter that Huck has written.
I wish the book didn’t have to come to an end, and as it neared the end I got the distinct feeling this will be a single, stand-alone novel and not a series. Just like I did the first time I read Huckleberry Finn, I fell in love with him all over again in Joyce’s novel.
This book was not what I expected, and in ways more than I expected. No, Andrew Joyce does not follow in the syntax and structure that Mark Twain used in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Before reading, I thought he would try to imitate that aspect of Twain’s writing, but I soon found out Joyce had no intention of doing so.
According to the Lakota, the four things that make a man a man are bravery, fortitude, generosity and wisdom.
The book starts off like this:
The last time you heard of me and Tom was in that book Sam Clemens wrote telling of when Jim and me flowed down the Mississippi and met up with the King and the Duke. Then Jim got captured and Tom and I had to set him free. Of course, Jim was already a feed man; Tom just neglected to mention that fact during the planning stage.
Well, we were twelve years of age when Sam wrote about that. Now Tom and I are a mite older and a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then…
The novel picks up a bit after Mark Twain’s two ended, with General Beauregard firing on Fort Sumter in the spring of 1860, when Huck and Tom are 24. Naturally, they signed up to fight the damn Yankees. War was not what they thought it would be, and after Tom gets shot and they see the horrors of the field doctors of the time, they hightail it back toward home.
Within seconds you couldn’t see the enemy for love nor money through the gun smoke. I was firing into a cloud of white smoke and reloading as fast as I could.
They stumble on some Southern hospitality, but soon three Yankee soldiers intrude and put up a fight right in the yard. Huck saves the day, and leaves one man alive: Jed Bevins, who is also central to the novel. Huck sees the fear in young 16-year old Jed, and sends him off to California with some of his treasure money. I thought that was the last I’d see of Jed Bevins, but he is destined to return…
After all is settled, Tom is determined to go to China, so the duo head to California. It takes a while for Tom to get signed on to a vessel bound for China, but he does so, and it was the last I thought we’d see of him, too. At this part, I was surprised and nostalgically upset that Tom and Huck would separate so easily in life and go their own ways. In my eyes, they were destined to grow old together in their cantankerous state.
It was a sight to behold, the Laramie Kid swirling around the jail office with Tom Sawyer in his arms.
The novel is told from Huck Finn’s perspective, in first person. Along the way, it deviates to Jed’s perspective, but in third person, and his life with the Lakota. Later, it deviates to Tom’s life after leaving California for China, and how he ended up coming back to the States to find Huck.
Tom and Jed have both had some trials in their lives. Through is normal devilish ways, Huck ends up the sheriff of a town, and later the marshal of Redemption. The Laramie Kid has been on the hunt and is rumored to kill the best gunman in every town he happens upon, and word is The Laramie Kid is looking for Huck Finn. This was a nice twist!
The book covers authentic pieces of history: the Civil War, Southern hospitality, traveling means, Native American culture, the Wild West, ranchers and nesters, homesteading, cattle ranges, cattle wars, law enforcement, small towns.
For most of the book, I had no idea where Joyce was leading, not until Redemption. Then I started catching on. For me, this facet didn’t bother me – I enjoyed it, probably due to all of the historical aspects this book encompassed. The Wild West, as I call it, is the culminating focus on the novel.
What I really liked was the ending. Huck explains briefly what happened after Redemption, where life took him, and what he’s done since then, and he gives little updates on many of the characters he met throughout the course of the book.
Tom and I are night on sixty years of age now. He tells me he’d like to retire and sit on the hotel porch for the rest of his days…
This is a great read about Tom and Huck, and their further adventures into the West as they grow older in life. The book covers their lives from 24 to nearly 60 and concludes in 1895. The last chapter Huck talks about the letters he receives from those he met, and it ends kind of like a letter, so I envision the novel as one long letter that Huck has written.
I wish the book didn’t have to come to an end, and as it neared the end I got the distinct feeling this will be a single, stand-alone novel and not a series. Just like I did the first time I read Huckleberry Finn, I fell in love with him all over again in Joyce’s novel.
October 15, 2013
WESTERN STORY TELLING AT ITS FINEST!
This book is exactly what I needed! A pleasant, refreshing change from my normal preferred genre and my attachment towards emotionally damaged characters finding love and restoring hope stories. Redemption brings you back to basics delivering the classical enjoyments of a western style tale about adventure, finding ones true self, good versus bad, friendship and the importance and value of a man’s word.
Redemption is a spin off story of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, characters from Mark Twain’s book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, taking place with Huck and Tom now as grown young men of the age twenty four. I was happy to discover that as a reader who hasn’t read the original Mark Twain book, it didn’t affect my appreciation of the story at all.
This story begins in 1861 in the middle of the civil war era and Huck and Tom have joined the war for an ‘adventure’. When Tom gets injured, Huck has to save him from a saw happy, limb chopping doctor and make the decision to turn his back on the war to get his friend to safety. Huck seeks refuge from a family who reside at a nearby farm and assist in nursing Tom back to health but during their stay trouble confronts this kind family, Huck and Tom. Huck saves this family and themselves from a tragedy waiting to happen but he also saves a life of a sixteen year old ‘yankee’ solider Jed Bevins, who in time becomes one of his best friends.
Huck, Tom and Jed spend some time together before they set out on their own individual adventures, looking to explore or maybe trying to find something - a direction in life? a sign? a reason to stay? a place to belong? And it’s not until twelve years later when their lives cross paths again in a town called Redemption, only to discover their paths all lead to the same person, but for very different reasons. They realize they are very different individuals compared to who they were twelve years ago. They now have very different pasts and stories to tell, but the one thing that didn’t change was their friendship and together they help each other seek the salvation they all need to move forward in the next stage of the lives.
Andrew Joyce has done an amazing job capturing the essence and authenticity of this era complete with old fashioned slang and heroics throughout the story that kept the reader engaged and very entertained.
What I loved about this book were the admirable morals and values of the main characters, they each had a real down to earth, genuine, true ‘good’ heroic nature about them. Witnessing their characters mature, grow and develop throughout the story was inspiring.
Redemption is an easy, quick read that makes an impact on the reader with simple but powerful messages. One such message that really stayed with me is what Huck quoted to Tom, “Life is all about change...People, time and places change too.” – So true Huck, so true!
I highly recommend Redemption to readers of all ages and genres as I am sure these characters will connect and inspire you. I am certain you will take away some simple yet powerful messages of your own – and if that doesn’t appeal to you, who doesn’t love a true adventure?
So give it a go, it might just be what you need at this time too!
This book is exactly what I needed! A pleasant, refreshing change from my normal preferred genre and my attachment towards emotionally damaged characters finding love and restoring hope stories. Redemption brings you back to basics delivering the classical enjoyments of a western style tale about adventure, finding ones true self, good versus bad, friendship and the importance and value of a man’s word.
Redemption is a spin off story of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, characters from Mark Twain’s book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, taking place with Huck and Tom now as grown young men of the age twenty four. I was happy to discover that as a reader who hasn’t read the original Mark Twain book, it didn’t affect my appreciation of the story at all.
This story begins in 1861 in the middle of the civil war era and Huck and Tom have joined the war for an ‘adventure’. When Tom gets injured, Huck has to save him from a saw happy, limb chopping doctor and make the decision to turn his back on the war to get his friend to safety. Huck seeks refuge from a family who reside at a nearby farm and assist in nursing Tom back to health but during their stay trouble confronts this kind family, Huck and Tom. Huck saves this family and themselves from a tragedy waiting to happen but he also saves a life of a sixteen year old ‘yankee’ solider Jed Bevins, who in time becomes one of his best friends.
Huck, Tom and Jed spend some time together before they set out on their own individual adventures, looking to explore or maybe trying to find something - a direction in life? a sign? a reason to stay? a place to belong? And it’s not until twelve years later when their lives cross paths again in a town called Redemption, only to discover their paths all lead to the same person, but for very different reasons. They realize they are very different individuals compared to who they were twelve years ago. They now have very different pasts and stories to tell, but the one thing that didn’t change was their friendship and together they help each other seek the salvation they all need to move forward in the next stage of the lives.
Andrew Joyce has done an amazing job capturing the essence and authenticity of this era complete with old fashioned slang and heroics throughout the story that kept the reader engaged and very entertained.
What I loved about this book were the admirable morals and values of the main characters, they each had a real down to earth, genuine, true ‘good’ heroic nature about them. Witnessing their characters mature, grow and develop throughout the story was inspiring.
Redemption is an easy, quick read that makes an impact on the reader with simple but powerful messages. One such message that really stayed with me is what Huck quoted to Tom, “Life is all about change...People, time and places change too.” – So true Huck, so true!
I highly recommend Redemption to readers of all ages and genres as I am sure these characters will connect and inspire you. I am certain you will take away some simple yet powerful messages of your own – and if that doesn’t appeal to you, who doesn’t love a true adventure?
So give it a go, it might just be what you need at this time too!
September 20, 2013
In this western novel, yes western, Huck and Tom are grown men now, in their mid-twenties. When the war breaks out, they join up for the adventure. Their first battle, Manassas, disabuses them of any glamour. Tom is seriously injured with a ball in him. Huck gets him away and they end up on a farm owned by a family named Lee, no relation to Robert E.
Three Union soldiers wander into the farm, two older men and a kid. When the two older make moves on the teenage daughter, Huck kills them. The kid, Jed Bevins, has a chance to shoot Mr. Lee and doesn't, a fact Huck notices and it saves his life.
His story is he didn't know the two men, but got hooked up with them in the battle. He didn't like the war, but had been marched down by his father and signed up. He becomes friends with our two heroes.
The three set out for Missouri where they split up. Jed wants to see the country. Tom has notions about taking a job on a sailing ship headed to China. Huck has notions of settling down, but accompanies Tom to San Francisco and sees him off.
It would be twelve years before the three men would see each other again in a small town called Redemption.
Huck becomes a town tamer, a job he falls into by accident when he knocks a bully unconscious in another small town. He takes the Marshal's job, then when the town is cleaned up he moves on. He gets a reputation and even a dime novel written by Ned Buntline. Which is where Tom learns about him.
Tom never makes it to China. The three week trip from San Francisco to the clipper's first stop in Hawaii is a journey in misery, seasickness most of the way. Tom decides to jump ship and hide out until it moves on, then book passage back to the States. But as often happens with young men, his head is turned by a pretty face and he becomes a fisherman with his father-in-law.
Young Jed Bevins takes a third turn. He rescues a young Pawnee boy found unconscious in the wake of a buffalo stampede and saves his life. He's found by the boy's father, a chief, and taken in, falling ill himself and nursed back to health. he lives with them for several years until the village is attacked by a greedy rancher who wants their land who wipes out the village, all sixty men, women, and children, then finds a piece of land he likes better. Jed survives only by accident, but vows revenge. It takes years as he prowls the town looking for braggers about the slaughter, then challenging them to a fight.
He becomes known as the gunslinger The Laramie Kid.
The three men arrive in Redemption within months of each other, Huck is the town Marshal, Jed having tracked the last man, the rancher Cantry who's still up to his old tricks, this time with white farmers who are on range land he claims(government owned). Tom merely shows up looking for his old friend Huck who he'd read about in that dime novel.
It's the trio against Cantry and his gunslicks.
Liked this one a lot.
Three Union soldiers wander into the farm, two older men and a kid. When the two older make moves on the teenage daughter, Huck kills them. The kid, Jed Bevins, has a chance to shoot Mr. Lee and doesn't, a fact Huck notices and it saves his life.
His story is he didn't know the two men, but got hooked up with them in the battle. He didn't like the war, but had been marched down by his father and signed up. He becomes friends with our two heroes.
The three set out for Missouri where they split up. Jed wants to see the country. Tom has notions about taking a job on a sailing ship headed to China. Huck has notions of settling down, but accompanies Tom to San Francisco and sees him off.
It would be twelve years before the three men would see each other again in a small town called Redemption.
Huck becomes a town tamer, a job he falls into by accident when he knocks a bully unconscious in another small town. He takes the Marshal's job, then when the town is cleaned up he moves on. He gets a reputation and even a dime novel written by Ned Buntline. Which is where Tom learns about him.
Tom never makes it to China. The three week trip from San Francisco to the clipper's first stop in Hawaii is a journey in misery, seasickness most of the way. Tom decides to jump ship and hide out until it moves on, then book passage back to the States. But as often happens with young men, his head is turned by a pretty face and he becomes a fisherman with his father-in-law.
Young Jed Bevins takes a third turn. He rescues a young Pawnee boy found unconscious in the wake of a buffalo stampede and saves his life. He's found by the boy's father, a chief, and taken in, falling ill himself and nursed back to health. he lives with them for several years until the village is attacked by a greedy rancher who wants their land who wipes out the village, all sixty men, women, and children, then finds a piece of land he likes better. Jed survives only by accident, but vows revenge. It takes years as he prowls the town looking for braggers about the slaughter, then challenging them to a fight.
He becomes known as the gunslinger The Laramie Kid.
The three men arrive in Redemption within months of each other, Huck is the town Marshal, Jed having tracked the last man, the rancher Cantry who's still up to his old tricks, this time with white farmers who are on range land he claims(government owned). Tom merely shows up looking for his old friend Huck who he'd read about in that dime novel.
It's the trio against Cantry and his gunslicks.
Liked this one a lot.
September 15, 2013
Move over Zane Grey and Louie L’Amour as Western authors
This story leaves no doubt about who the good guys and the bad guys are. And amazingly enough although it uses the same slang and old fashioned heroics, it is thoroughly entertaining. As older teenagers, Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer joined the Confederate army during the Civil War, and as they admitted, for adventure, not because they were abolitionists. Tom was shot in the arm and after Huck saw piles of amputated arms and legs as the doctors’ procedure for savings a life, Huck had read that a Frenchman said the wound had to be cleansed well to save the limb. Huck gave Tom a bottle of whiskey to drink, pried out the small lead ball in this arm, and then washed it out good. The young men were sick of army life and they hid out until Tom regained his strength and they could travel.
They decided to go West and spent a few days with a southern farmer and his family. While Tom was recuperating, three Union soldiers came to the farm house, the Sergeant was drunk, mean and decided to take the farmer’s wife and beautiful eighteen year old daughter to the barn to satiate his lust. But Huck was in the barn with Tom and Huck shot the Sergeant and then one of the privates who raised his gun. The other private raised his gun, but then lowered it. The southerners didn’t know what to do with the surviving private, but eventually they learned he was real young, his name was Jed Blevins and they released him.
Huck, Tom and Jed continued going West. Huck was going to Missouri; Tom wanted to go to China after hearing about it; and Jed decided to go to California. The story then splits between the escapades of each of these three men, adventures which matured them and gave them a philosophy by which to live. The book ends with the three of them meeting up again and joining forces to make life better for others.
Although it is doubtful that we would enjoy Samuel Clemons’ stories and colloquialisms today as much as we did when they were new, reading this story of these children/young men now well experienced heroes is truly entertaining, reads easily and actually becomes a page turner, making it a quick read. I loved it and I think many readers will also, no matter how sophisticated their usual reading literature is.
This story leaves no doubt about who the good guys and the bad guys are. And amazingly enough although it uses the same slang and old fashioned heroics, it is thoroughly entertaining. As older teenagers, Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer joined the Confederate army during the Civil War, and as they admitted, for adventure, not because they were abolitionists. Tom was shot in the arm and after Huck saw piles of amputated arms and legs as the doctors’ procedure for savings a life, Huck had read that a Frenchman said the wound had to be cleansed well to save the limb. Huck gave Tom a bottle of whiskey to drink, pried out the small lead ball in this arm, and then washed it out good. The young men were sick of army life and they hid out until Tom regained his strength and they could travel.
They decided to go West and spent a few days with a southern farmer and his family. While Tom was recuperating, three Union soldiers came to the farm house, the Sergeant was drunk, mean and decided to take the farmer’s wife and beautiful eighteen year old daughter to the barn to satiate his lust. But Huck was in the barn with Tom and Huck shot the Sergeant and then one of the privates who raised his gun. The other private raised his gun, but then lowered it. The southerners didn’t know what to do with the surviving private, but eventually they learned he was real young, his name was Jed Blevins and they released him.
Huck, Tom and Jed continued going West. Huck was going to Missouri; Tom wanted to go to China after hearing about it; and Jed decided to go to California. The story then splits between the escapades of each of these three men, adventures which matured them and gave them a philosophy by which to live. The book ends with the three of them meeting up again and joining forces to make life better for others.
Although it is doubtful that we would enjoy Samuel Clemons’ stories and colloquialisms today as much as we did when they were new, reading this story of these children/young men now well experienced heroes is truly entertaining, reads easily and actually becomes a page turner, making it a quick read. I loved it and I think many readers will also, no matter how sophisticated their usual reading literature is.
April 27, 2014
Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer are no longer the carefree boys met who had adventures in Missouri on the Mississippi. They are now old enough now where their adventures are truly life threatening, hence the reader reconnects with these old friends as they have “signed up to fight the Yankees” (p.9) in the Civil War.
Twelve years have passed since we last joined these friends, now we get to ride with them, more or less, for the next 36 years. In that period they travel to California, one boards a ship for China, the other rides south to Mexico are rejoined yet another 12 years later. In their reunion one has become a hardened law man, the other a broken hearted wanderer.
Both Huck and Tom discover life to be rewarding, confounding, joyous, heart-rending, surprising and mundane – the reader gets to listen – in on the fun parts, only glimpsing the ordinary elements. Mr. Joyce used familiar characters to write a rather good, pedestrian Western. Had Huck not been narrating the larger portion of this tale, the book probably would have gone unnoticed, as it is an indistinctive “horse opera.”
A noticeable absence in this narrative is that of Jim, the slave with whom Huck traveled the Mississippi. Becky Thatcher is mentioned only in a momentary aside, the story given her was fitting was the kind of moment that causes fiction to almost become fact. There have been other books that have “followed” these two famous characters whose stories were more original (The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Greg Matthews, Crown Publishers, 1988) but none were more fun. The author is able to generate excitement in the development of the story (Huck wakes a Grizzly, stares down outlaws; Tom suffers two hurricanes at sea, etc.) but does little to describe 1870’s Colorado beyond the typical vernacular. A few descriptions of the day-to-day world would go far to flesh out the world now inhabited by the boys from the Show-Me State.
It is nice to visit old friends like Tom and Huck again; who will be next to awaken other like friends from their slumber? Where are the Hardy boys now? Did Conway make it back to Shangri La? Was Boo Radley able to step into the world he only glimpsed through the window in his front door? Where did Ismael go after he was rescued by the Rachel?
Twelve years have passed since we last joined these friends, now we get to ride with them, more or less, for the next 36 years. In that period they travel to California, one boards a ship for China, the other rides south to Mexico are rejoined yet another 12 years later. In their reunion one has become a hardened law man, the other a broken hearted wanderer.
Both Huck and Tom discover life to be rewarding, confounding, joyous, heart-rending, surprising and mundane – the reader gets to listen – in on the fun parts, only glimpsing the ordinary elements. Mr. Joyce used familiar characters to write a rather good, pedestrian Western. Had Huck not been narrating the larger portion of this tale, the book probably would have gone unnoticed, as it is an indistinctive “horse opera.”
A noticeable absence in this narrative is that of Jim, the slave with whom Huck traveled the Mississippi. Becky Thatcher is mentioned only in a momentary aside, the story given her was fitting was the kind of moment that causes fiction to almost become fact. There have been other books that have “followed” these two famous characters whose stories were more original (The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Greg Matthews, Crown Publishers, 1988) but none were more fun. The author is able to generate excitement in the development of the story (Huck wakes a Grizzly, stares down outlaws; Tom suffers two hurricanes at sea, etc.) but does little to describe 1870’s Colorado beyond the typical vernacular. A few descriptions of the day-to-day world would go far to flesh out the world now inhabited by the boys from the Show-Me State.
It is nice to visit old friends like Tom and Huck again; who will be next to awaken other like friends from their slumber? Where are the Hardy boys now? Did Conway make it back to Shangri La? Was Boo Radley able to step into the world he only glimpsed through the window in his front door? Where did Ismael go after he was rescued by the Rachel?
December 23, 2013
3.5 stars. "Redemption" is the story of two of Mark Twain's most famous characters, Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. In this book, Tom and Huck have grown up but adventure still seems to keep finding them in many different forms. If you have ever wondered what happened to those two boys after their adventures on the Mississippi River, this book is a worthy look at where their stories may have gone after Twain's stories ended.
I loved both Tom and Huck in this book. Because they are familiar characters, you are already invested in their story off the bat. Although they are grown up in this book, there is still that sense of adventure that you had in Twain's books. As America is growing, Tom and Huck's new adventures take them much further than before. They fight in the Civil War. They go to Colorado. Tom even goes to Hawaii. Huck does time as a sheriff in a Wild West town. There is a lot of adventure packed into this book.
For the most part, the book is told from the perspective of Huck, which I really liked because it really allows you to see how he's really feeling about what is going on. There are a couple places where the narration changes from first to third person that gets a little bit confusing but overall, I really enjoyed this story and it is a good fit into the story that Twain has already told.
I loved both Tom and Huck in this book. Because they are familiar characters, you are already invested in their story off the bat. Although they are grown up in this book, there is still that sense of adventure that you had in Twain's books. As America is growing, Tom and Huck's new adventures take them much further than before. They fight in the Civil War. They go to Colorado. Tom even goes to Hawaii. Huck does time as a sheriff in a Wild West town. There is a lot of adventure packed into this book.
For the most part, the book is told from the perspective of Huck, which I really liked because it really allows you to see how he's really feeling about what is going on. There are a couple places where the narration changes from first to third person that gets a little bit confusing but overall, I really enjoyed this story and it is a good fit into the story that Twain has already told.
December 4, 2013
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read for me. I love westerns and was drawn to the cover for that reason and by the end of the book it delivered on what the cover promised. But for me, this story was more about Huck than anyone else. I enjoyed that a good portion of the book was told from his point of view. His easy way of speaking and his simple yet clear analysis of life was refreshing to read. I loved watching him make strong moral decisions in each difficult situation he found himself in. It was easy to see how his time as a young man with Jim on the river helped mold him into the man he had become.
I would have liked to have seen a little more character development of Tom. The author introduces a third character into the story and he does a great job connecting us to him, but unfortunately, I felt the story was more about the adventures Huck and Jed. The storyline surrounding Tom seemed a little forced and didn’t seem to fit as well into the big picture for me. This would be my only complaint of the novel.
The story really comes together when all three characters arrive in Redemption. My favorite part of the book was the showdown - it was pure western writing at its best. For that alone I would recommend this to lovers of the genre.
I would have liked to have seen a little more character development of Tom. The author introduces a third character into the story and he does a great job connecting us to him, but unfortunately, I felt the story was more about the adventures Huck and Jed. The storyline surrounding Tom seemed a little forced and didn’t seem to fit as well into the big picture for me. This would be my only complaint of the novel.
The story really comes together when all three characters arrive in Redemption. My favorite part of the book was the showdown - it was pure western writing at its best. For that alone I would recommend this to lovers of the genre.
November 20, 2013
I haven't read Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer since probably middle or high school. I keep telling myself I need to reread them. Redemption was a great way for me to remember how those two books were written. Andrew Joyce does a wonderful job writing in the style of Huck Finn's character in Mark Twain's novels. Joyce touches on many events that happened in Twain's books, and I found myself more and more wanting to reread both of them. I don't usually read Western novels, but this was one I found hard to put down. Reading this book was kind of like seeing a sequel to a movie you loved. I often want to see what happens to characters after the camera stops rolling or the book closes. Andrew Joyce did that very creatively with this book, and he stayed true to Mark Twain's characters. I will definitely keep an eye out for more books from Andrew Joyce.
November 15, 2013
If my husband was left behind on a desert Island, the one thing he would want to keep with him is his E-reader loaded with stories similar to the above.
We were on a long haul flight recently and I could not get a would of conversation from him ( most of the time,) I was to discover later that he had been reading REDEMPTION by Andrew Joyce. I was curious!
I never thought I would read anything other than books on photography, / fashion or National Geographic, I was wrong. My husband passed his E-rader over to me with REDEMPTION lined up and I have to admit now from beginning to end, my husband did not hear a word from me, I was totally engrossed in the story from page one to The end.
To the author, Andrew Joyce sir you have two new fans, roll out the next one please. Urgently waiting for your next book, wintry nights and a good book, lets have one more please.
Col Wood
May 16, 2015
Please note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was first drawn to this book when I saw that it featured Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. It has been years since I read their adventures, and I was intrigued by the idea of these two characters as adults. That being said, I’m not generally a fan of westerns. After reading Redemption, I can say that I may dabble a bit more in that genre. Told mainly from the point of view of Huck Finn, this is a fast-paced and easy read. There is action, intrigue, suspense, a hint of romance, and a few unexpected surprises. There were times when the story’s perspective changed, but this was necessary to tell the stories of the different characters. All in all, I enjoyed reading Redemption.
I was first drawn to this book when I saw that it featured Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. It has been years since I read their adventures, and I was intrigued by the idea of these two characters as adults. That being said, I’m not generally a fan of westerns. After reading Redemption, I can say that I may dabble a bit more in that genre. Told mainly from the point of view of Huck Finn, this is a fast-paced and easy read. There is action, intrigue, suspense, a hint of romance, and a few unexpected surprises. There were times when the story’s perspective changed, but this was necessary to tell the stories of the different characters. All in all, I enjoyed reading Redemption.
May 1, 2015
Twice Read, Twice The Fun
Stayed up all night last night reading Redemption for a second time. I finished Molly Lee recently and went back to Redemption only intending to clarify a few points between the two stories that I might have missed during the first run. I say run because that is what I find myself doing when the story gets exciting or tense, running through the passages, eager to discover how the situation is resolved or what possibly could happen next. And finding nuances that I might have overlooked during the first reading of the story is always a plus.. Needless to say, I had as much satisfaction from the story on the second time around as from the first time.
Stayed up all night last night reading Redemption for a second time. I finished Molly Lee recently and went back to Redemption only intending to clarify a few points between the two stories that I might have missed during the first run. I say run because that is what I find myself doing when the story gets exciting or tense, running through the passages, eager to discover how the situation is resolved or what possibly could happen next. And finding nuances that I might have overlooked during the first reading of the story is always a plus.. Needless to say, I had as much satisfaction from the story on the second time around as from the first time.
October 24, 2013
I began this book with a critical attitude because I studied and taught Huck Finn in school. I was looking for the author to keep to the original language and feel of that book. I was still looking, but the plot and the characters drew me in to enjoy the book in its own way. After a few chapters, I forgot about looking critically and began to be engaged with the characters and the story. Looking back, I think the author really did keep to the characters original intent, and I would recommend it to anyone.
November 12, 2013
Who would dare follow in Mark Twain's footsteps? Andrew Joyce did and he came through with flying colours! Redemption was a page-turner not because it's a thriller but because I was hooked before even finishing the first paragraph. I fell in love with the storyline - loved the good guys and loved to hate the bad guys. This is one of the books I wished would never end. Treat yourself and read this little masterpiece; it will leave you feeling so good!
July 20, 2016
Well, it certainly wasn't exactly what I expected, but I enjoyed it for what it was. It turned out to be a good Western, and I suppose if you're willing to stretch your imagination, you could see Huck and Tom in the roles they played. I think you could very easily create these characters without them being the 2 famous, beloved Twain boys. I would rather have seen them take different paths with their lives.
March 31, 2015
This was an entertaining story written as a western using two classic characters from my childhood. Tom and Huck are the main characters, but not necessarily the Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn that I remembered. It is difficult to write a sequel of very popular classic literature. I don't know if this achieved what the author was aiming for or not, but it was still an entertaining story and I would recommend it based on its entertainment value.
August 30, 2014
Growing up Finnish
Never can resist a bad pun. But I digress. Choosing to do a pastiche of a beloved classic by a beloved author is setting yourself a pretty high bar. I liked the story and I liked the characters of Huck and Tom. I would liked to have seen more of the boys in the men. A bit sad that ole Missouri is so left behind with nary a backward glance. A nice romp nonetheless.
Never can resist a bad pun. But I digress. Choosing to do a pastiche of a beloved classic by a beloved author is setting yourself a pretty high bar. I liked the story and I liked the characters of Huck and Tom. I would liked to have seen more of the boys in the men. A bit sad that ole Missouri is so left behind with nary a backward glance. A nice romp nonetheless.
October 13, 2013
Thoroughly enjoyed this little gem of a book. Huck is the narrator as we started with the boys adventure (or more accurately, misadventure) during the Civil War. Enjoyed the narration and how these two boys lives might have proceeded if Twain had written about them in their adulthood. Very, very enjoyable.
October 15, 2013
I liked the book. It was a good story, pretty well told. The thing I don't quite get is what it had to do with Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. I didn't get the sense while I was reading that, other than the names, these two characters had much if anything to do with their namesakes. But then maybe I'm revealing my ignorance about Mark Twain and his work.
April 21, 2014
Very imaginative--to pick up where Mark Twain left off. Turns out to be very enjoyable reading as well. The characters of Huck and Tom remain true to themselves and yet become appealing adult men. If you loved the characters when you read Huck and Tom in school, you probably will enjoy their adventures through the Civil War and into the old West.....
October 12, 2013
Great story all in the voice of Huck Finn. This was a book bub purchase for .99. Sure got my monies worth!
March 28, 2014
Nothing like a little Huck and Tom. Two of my fav literary charactets of all times. Felt the book did them justice
May 12, 2014
Good read
This was a really good Western. It would have been a good read even if the author did not make this a Buck Finn and Tom Sawyer book.
This was a really good Western. It would have been a good read even if the author did not make this a Buck Finn and Tom Sawyer book.
May 25, 2014
Well worth it.
This story picks up where Twain left off. Written in Twains' style. I found the book v very hard to stop reading, lest I missed something.
A must read.
This story picks up where Twain left off. Written in Twains' style. I found the book v very hard to stop reading, lest I missed something.
A must read.
August 13, 2023
With shows like Yellowstone, 1838, and 1923 all the rage, it shows how westerns are still fascinating to watch and read. Andrew Joyce picks up the story of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn and brings their story to the American west.
“Redemption” begins with Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer as fully grown men. The two have signed up to fight the Yankees during the Civil War… except neither of them enjoys being a soldier. They come to the rescue of a family terrorized by Yankee soldiers. Look for the mention of the character, Molly Lee. She ends up with her own story in another of Joyce’s books.
The one young Yankee soldier, Jed Bevins, has no more use for the war than Huck and Tom. He befriends the two men, intending to make his way to California. Tom and Huck send Jed on his way as they make their way west. Look for some amazing descriptions of the times spent in the company of a Native American tribe.
The men make it to California, and Tom boards a ship for China, as Huck rides south to Mexico. They are off to seek their way in the world.
After many years, the men find their way back to each other. This is a story of heartbreak, lost loves, and the search for redemption. Can these two beloved characters find peace in the wild, wild west?
I enjoyed this book as a continuation of Tom and Huck’s life. It has everything a genre western should offer. There are plenty of gunfights, and our boys often find themselves on the right side of the law. There’s plenty of sorrow, though. Tom’s story is so sad.
“Redemption” covers many elements of the old west through the characters. They talk about the wagon trains, cattle drives, Native American culture, and even feature a Chinese servant, no doubt left over from the building of the railroad.
I missed the voice of Jim, the slave who traveled with Huck on the Mississippi River. Yet, I felt his ghost, when Tom and Huck have a deep discussion about racism. The two come to the conclusion that:
“…it’s what’s in a man’s heart that counts…”
Joyce, Andrew. Redemption: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer: 10th Anniversary Revised Edition (p. 244). Andrew Joyce. Kindle Edition.
I couldn’t agree more. There are several profound revelations in the book. I think Mark Twain would have approved.
“Redemption” begins with Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer as fully grown men. The two have signed up to fight the Yankees during the Civil War… except neither of them enjoys being a soldier. They come to the rescue of a family terrorized by Yankee soldiers. Look for the mention of the character, Molly Lee. She ends up with her own story in another of Joyce’s books.
The one young Yankee soldier, Jed Bevins, has no more use for the war than Huck and Tom. He befriends the two men, intending to make his way to California. Tom and Huck send Jed on his way as they make their way west. Look for some amazing descriptions of the times spent in the company of a Native American tribe.
The men make it to California, and Tom boards a ship for China, as Huck rides south to Mexico. They are off to seek their way in the world.
After many years, the men find their way back to each other. This is a story of heartbreak, lost loves, and the search for redemption. Can these two beloved characters find peace in the wild, wild west?
I enjoyed this book as a continuation of Tom and Huck’s life. It has everything a genre western should offer. There are plenty of gunfights, and our boys often find themselves on the right side of the law. There’s plenty of sorrow, though. Tom’s story is so sad.
“Redemption” covers many elements of the old west through the characters. They talk about the wagon trains, cattle drives, Native American culture, and even feature a Chinese servant, no doubt left over from the building of the railroad.
I missed the voice of Jim, the slave who traveled with Huck on the Mississippi River. Yet, I felt his ghost, when Tom and Huck have a deep discussion about racism. The two come to the conclusion that:
“…it’s what’s in a man’s heart that counts…”
Joyce, Andrew. Redemption: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer: 10th Anniversary Revised Edition (p. 244). Andrew Joyce. Kindle Edition.
I couldn’t agree more. There are several profound revelations in the book. I think Mark Twain would have approved.
March 18, 2017
Andrew Joyce is a fabulous storyteller. After reading his second novel, Molly Lee, I knew I had to read the first. Serendipitously, I was gifted the book and was thoroughly entertained once again.
Action-packed, chock-full of adventure, and easy to read, Redemption is a book that the reader will find difficult to put down.
Huck Finn doesn’t seek notoriety, but from Missouri to Mexico to the Colorado Territory, he finds himself amidst situations that eventually give rise to fame. And even though he doesn’t fancy himself a lawman, destiny has a badge with his name on it that he wears for many years. Grit and an iron will provide him the fortitude necessary to establish order in many a lawless town. But he also has a kind and just heart that intermittently reveals itself without emphasis or fanfare.
Tom Sawyer has an unrelenting itch to sail to China. But when the journey proves longer and more arduous than anticipated, he jumps ship and ends up in Hawaii, where he falls in love and begins to settle down. But as it was for Huck, so it is for Tom; destiny has designated him a different fate. A series of misfortunes compels Tom to go stateside and once again partner with his old pal, Huck.
The two men team up with Jed Bevins, a young and now infamous man they’d met early on. Jed sets out to avenge the deaths of his adopted Pawnee tribe and, over time, garners fame as a gunslinger. However, the notoriety is ill-placed, because his intention is to kill only those who slaughtered his people. And, yes, destiny intervenes for Jed as well; the title “Laramie Kid” sticks and will not be dismissed.
These three men join forces to fight a corruptive and treacherous power in the town of Redemption. As tempers flare and bullets fly, farmers and ranchers find common ground, adding a sensational element to the spectacular showdown.
For those who enjoy a well-written adventure that trumpets the victory of good over evil, Redemption has it all. You won’t be disappointed.
Action-packed, chock-full of adventure, and easy to read, Redemption is a book that the reader will find difficult to put down.
Huck Finn doesn’t seek notoriety, but from Missouri to Mexico to the Colorado Territory, he finds himself amidst situations that eventually give rise to fame. And even though he doesn’t fancy himself a lawman, destiny has a badge with his name on it that he wears for many years. Grit and an iron will provide him the fortitude necessary to establish order in many a lawless town. But he also has a kind and just heart that intermittently reveals itself without emphasis or fanfare.
Tom Sawyer has an unrelenting itch to sail to China. But when the journey proves longer and more arduous than anticipated, he jumps ship and ends up in Hawaii, where he falls in love and begins to settle down. But as it was for Huck, so it is for Tom; destiny has designated him a different fate. A series of misfortunes compels Tom to go stateside and once again partner with his old pal, Huck.
The two men team up with Jed Bevins, a young and now infamous man they’d met early on. Jed sets out to avenge the deaths of his adopted Pawnee tribe and, over time, garners fame as a gunslinger. However, the notoriety is ill-placed, because his intention is to kill only those who slaughtered his people. And, yes, destiny intervenes for Jed as well; the title “Laramie Kid” sticks and will not be dismissed.
These three men join forces to fight a corruptive and treacherous power in the town of Redemption. As tempers flare and bullets fly, farmers and ranchers find common ground, adding a sensational element to the spectacular showdown.
For those who enjoy a well-written adventure that trumpets the victory of good over evil, Redemption has it all. You won’t be disappointed.
May 8, 2017
It's a risky move to take another author's cherished creations and pick up where they left off to tell tales such as this one attempts to do. Finn and Sawyer were who they were because of the era they grew up in and their experiences. To assume they would be identical as adults is to forget that so much more would have happened to them between the novels. That said, I feel the writing was solid and the western atmosphere felt authentic. I wasn't pulled in by the characters and felt they didn't live up to their names. Given different names I feel the novel would have easily earned four stars, but taken as it is served it just squeaks by with three. I wasn't thrilled with the dialogue, especially for the primary characters. It just felt forced and lacked originality or development. The plot thread was well crafted and held throughout the read. Overall, it's a decent western read with enough going for it to capture additional readers. I received an ARC through the author in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
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