Animals Divided

by David Bush

A.D.1378—the year of the Great Schism of the West, the Hundred Years’ War, the Great Famine, and the Black Death. The world is in turmoil, divided and polarised. A malinois family is rent asunder in the border’s conflict, all scattered and lost. Arnaud, an indomitable malinois, vows to reunite his dispersed family, but his efforts render the situation worse, not better. The harder he tries to progress in his noble quest, the more the chances of reunion regress. Can Arnaud bring his family together and live as it once was, thereby atoning for his role in begetting the family’s tragedy? “Animals Divided” is an anthropomorphic incident-packed adventure teeming with drama, action, and suspense. It is the second intriguing and fast-paced sequel of the multi-award-winning novel, “General Jack and the Battle of the Five Kingdoms.”
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166 pages, ebook

Published September 16, 2024

About the author

David Bush is a medical doctor specialized in haematology. He was born and bred in Malta but emigrated to the UK. He returned to his first home where he practices hospital medicine. He is also the co-founder of a support group for patients with blood cancers. As he has now given up his private practice, he has more time to spend with his two great nephews. He has many hobbies, including swimming, hiking, travelling but above all, he is a DIY enthusiast.He cherishes most the time he spends with his young nephews and these have provided the inspiration for him to write children's books. His only regret is that there are not enough hours in a day as there is so much more he would like to do.He is a regular contributor to a widely read political blog and have authored numerous peer reviewed papers in international medical journals. He is also a reviewer for selected scientific journals. Apart from a medical book, he has written two novels of the Jack trilogy. " General Jack and the Battle of the Five Kingdoms" is the second novel of the trilogy. The first is due to be published later this year.

Reviews

[Neena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bush’s latest installment in the General Jack and the Battle of the Five Kingdoms series plunges readers into a divided world where anthropomorphic animals wrestle with war, loyalty, and loss. Amid the chaos of 1378—marked by schism, war, famine, and plague—a noble malinois family is torn apart by border conflicts. Desperate to reunite his scattered kin, Arnaud embarks on a perilous journey that only deepens their plight. Can he overcome his past mistakes, or will he add to their shared tragedy?

Arnaud’s character carries the narrative’s weight with an intense, almost tragic sense of purpose. Bush expertly crafts this layered portrayal, embedding Arnaud's fierce determination within a broader philosophical exploration of how loyalty and honor can both heal and wound. The narrative’s allegorical layers shine through Bush’s detailed, immersive prose, with battle scenes that echo both historical epics and classic animal fables.

The distinct societies of Heartlandia and Brawnlandia serve as reflective mirrors of human divisions, making the stakes in Arnaud's journey resonate even deeper. The book’s pacing is swift, and the narrative layered. Both a tale of war and survival and a poignant meditation on family, forgiveness, and the delicate balance between unity and division, this is a page-turner.