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One Hope in the Shadows
"We need those documents. We really do. I'm done suffering. This plan is our chance - our shot at money and freedom."
The world spins backward for Maduka. Shackled by fate, he's desperate to break free. Left without parents, burdened with raising his siblings, he sacrifices his university dreams for parental duty.
Desperate for freedom and driven by duty, Maduka's world is turned upside down when he discovers his mother has been kidnapped - and the mastermind is someone he trusts. As secrets unravel, Maduka's quest for truth ignites a deadly game of betrayal and survival. How far will he go to uncover the truth and claim his freedom?
The world spins backward for Maduka. Shackled by fate, he's desperate to break free. Left without parents, burdened with raising his siblings, he sacrifices his university dreams for parental duty.
Desperate for freedom and driven by duty, Maduka's world is turned upside down when he discovers his mother has been kidnapped - and the mastermind is someone he trusts. As secrets unravel, Maduka's quest for truth ignites a deadly game of betrayal and survival. How far will he go to uncover the truth and claim his freedom?
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 2, 2025
The characters names were difficult. I loved that the story focuses on a family of kids that had to make things work after losing their parents. The older brother, specifically, really gave up his future to be the stand-in parent to younger siblings. In that way, the book was very good.
I do feel like the story was a bit disjointed, which was my reason for the three stars.
I do feel like the story was a bit disjointed, which was my reason for the three stars.
November 10, 2025
what an awesome read. I was captivated from beginning to end. would definitely recommend!
October 29, 2025
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Half of the characters names are too hard for me to pronounce so I just shorten them! Luckily the men from the start of the book weren’t in the rest of it because Chin’s name? How do you even say that? Would have been nice to have a list of names before the story starts and how to pronounce them. Miracle, Testimony?! I feel like Miracle is becoming a name now but Testimony? Not sure how I feel about that one. Love her though! Miss Princess?! Marvellous?! I assume these are names found in Nigeria which is cool! I’m not hating on any names. They’re just unusual.
500k from a police officer? Yeah nah. Somethings wrong there. That’s like over $500 in Australian dollars. No officer here is that nice. Haha.
She’s supposed to be gone for six weeks and then it changes to two years?! What happened to Cynthia?! I feel like there’s so much missing from this story. Nothing in the end about the kidnapper getting caught for his actions?! What about Kosi at the end?! I have questions that aren’t answered.
“But if I see it all… I must suck it.” - Maduka saying this to Kosi was weird. It was crass. It gave me red flags from him and then the almost r*pe scene was creepy. I understand that he’s been through trauma and everything but Maduka, seriously?! You don’t need to turn into a bad person.
The dogs are guarding his mum. Why else would you need three of them?! Welp, I was wrong but it was a good guess in my opinion.
I actually quite loved this story! I was right about who kidnapped Cynthia! I knew it! It was my first guess as well. That explains a lot. I’m quite proud of myself for guessing correctly.
The first chapter was boring. It mentioned characters only in that chapter. I feel like it didn’t need to be there but as I kept reading I got more hooked.
I love Maduka’s siblings. They’re adorable. I imagine them to be super cute. Maduka? I was like yes I like him! No, I don’t! I hate him! I like him! It went up and down. lol
The ending felt unfinished to me. Did Manny do what he was going to do? Is Maduka okay?
This is just being picky but I would have loved to have read more about Nigeria since I know nothing about it. I know it doesn’t make sense for the story so I get it.
I enjoyed the storyline, the characters (mostly), and it had a twist that was easy to guess. I really enjoyed myself. I couldn’t stop reading. It’s one of those books where you don’t want to put it down.
Overall, I absolutely loved it and would definitely read it again.
I give this five stars.
P.S. I loved helping to find any errors in it. Being an editor seems fun but I have no idea how to use a semi colon so I would probably fail editing just because of that. Haha
Half of the characters names are too hard for me to pronounce so I just shorten them! Luckily the men from the start of the book weren’t in the rest of it because Chin’s name? How do you even say that? Would have been nice to have a list of names before the story starts and how to pronounce them. Miracle, Testimony?! I feel like Miracle is becoming a name now but Testimony? Not sure how I feel about that one. Love her though! Miss Princess?! Marvellous?! I assume these are names found in Nigeria which is cool! I’m not hating on any names. They’re just unusual.
500k from a police officer? Yeah nah. Somethings wrong there. That’s like over $500 in Australian dollars. No officer here is that nice. Haha.
She’s supposed to be gone for six weeks and then it changes to two years?! What happened to Cynthia?! I feel like there’s so much missing from this story. Nothing in the end about the kidnapper getting caught for his actions?! What about Kosi at the end?! I have questions that aren’t answered.
“But if I see it all… I must suck it.” - Maduka saying this to Kosi was weird. It was crass. It gave me red flags from him and then the almost r*pe scene was creepy. I understand that he’s been through trauma and everything but Maduka, seriously?! You don’t need to turn into a bad person.
The dogs are guarding his mum. Why else would you need three of them?! Welp, I was wrong but it was a good guess in my opinion.
I actually quite loved this story! I was right about who kidnapped Cynthia! I knew it! It was my first guess as well. That explains a lot. I’m quite proud of myself for guessing correctly.
The first chapter was boring. It mentioned characters only in that chapter. I feel like it didn’t need to be there but as I kept reading I got more hooked.
I love Maduka’s siblings. They’re adorable. I imagine them to be super cute. Maduka? I was like yes I like him! No, I don’t! I hate him! I like him! It went up and down. lol
The ending felt unfinished to me. Did Manny do what he was going to do? Is Maduka okay?
This is just being picky but I would have loved to have read more about Nigeria since I know nothing about it. I know it doesn’t make sense for the story so I get it.
I enjoyed the storyline, the characters (mostly), and it had a twist that was easy to guess. I really enjoyed myself. I couldn’t stop reading. It’s one of those books where you don’t want to put it down.
Overall, I absolutely loved it and would definitely read it again.
I give this five stars.
P.S. I loved helping to find any errors in it. Being an editor seems fun but I have no idea how to use a semi colon so I would probably fail editing just because of that. Haha
October 21, 2025
First and foremost, I think that it is amazing to see such a young writer put their work out for everyone to read.
Also, please note that this review is being written from someone who read the book as an ARC on a PDF file versus reading on a kindle. 2.5 stars rounded up.
The story takes place in current/recent time Nigeria. Interestingly enough, I have family who spent several years in Nigeria. This family member has told me a decent amount of stories that allow me a bit of background knowledge as to the Nigerian culture. Without this background or an author’s note with at least tidbits of cultural information, I feel like certain details will go either unappreciated or be found confusing to the reader.
I believe this story had so much potential, however it felt rushed and like the plot was a bit choppy. The scenes/chapters just didn’t feel like they flowed together nicely overall. And at some points it seemed as if there was a lot of fluff material that was not essential to the story.
Also, I believe there should be trigger warnings at the beginning of the story. I personally, was fine reading it, but know certain friends who would definitely need a heads up about depression, suicide and abuse and murder.
Also, please note that this review is being written from someone who read the book as an ARC on a PDF file versus reading on a kindle. 2.5 stars rounded up.
The story takes place in current/recent time Nigeria. Interestingly enough, I have family who spent several years in Nigeria. This family member has told me a decent amount of stories that allow me a bit of background knowledge as to the Nigerian culture. Without this background or an author’s note with at least tidbits of cultural information, I feel like certain details will go either unappreciated or be found confusing to the reader.
I believe this story had so much potential, however it felt rushed and like the plot was a bit choppy. The scenes/chapters just didn’t feel like they flowed together nicely overall. And at some points it seemed as if there was a lot of fluff material that was not essential to the story.
Also, I believe there should be trigger warnings at the beginning of the story. I personally, was fine reading it, but know certain friends who would definitely need a heads up about depression, suicide and abuse and murder.
November 10, 2025
This book takes you through many walks of life. The trials and tribulations of so many within the family. What one will do to help their family survive. People don’t reason what the burden of it all does to a person. I didn’t see a few of the plot twists coming. I felt so bad for Manduka & his siblings. He tried so hard to do right by them all.
February 20, 2026
First I do feel that the story should have had trigger warnings due to the nature of this story.
I did enjoy the story and was captivated by the family. They way they all loved and looked put for each other was heart warming. I did feel that some areas of the story needed just a bit more to hold things together and other areas were maybe just for filler. But overall it was a good story.
I did enjoy the story and was captivated by the family. They way they all loved and looked put for each other was heart warming. I did feel that some areas of the story needed just a bit more to hold things together and other areas were maybe just for filler. But overall it was a good story.
November 7, 2025
I was excited to get to read this book. I was invested the entire time. This kid had me rooting for him the entire book. The struggle for these kids was hard but real. By the end I was like noooo.
October 28, 2025
This was an awesome read, I was so captivated I forgot about my own responsibilities.
It was nail biting good!!!
It was nail biting good!!!
November 3, 2025
I was honored to receive an ARC. I truly enjoyed the story. It challenged me because it was different from what I typically read. Love the character development and story plot.
January 25, 2026
This was an interesting read. Overall this is a really good book. I struggled to figure out how to pronounce the names of the characters but I pushed through and got it!
This essentially focuses on a family of kids that has to make things work after losing their parents. I really liked that the older brother gave up his future to be the stand-in parent to younger siblings. I felt like that really resonated with me personally.
This essentially focuses on a family of kids that has to make things work after losing their parents. I really liked that the older brother gave up his future to be the stand-in parent to younger siblings. I felt like that really resonated with me personally.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews