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Zululand

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“Frederic Augustus Thesiger, 2nd Baron of Chelmsford and Major General of Her Majesty’s Royal Army, accepts a commission in the Cape Colony after the tragic death of his wife and child.
Princess Nkosazane kaMpande, daughter of Zulu King Cetshwayo, flees Ulundi to the Buffalo River rather than endure a forced marriage to her father’s half-brother.
The pair discover a historic connection on the plains of Africa, much to scandal, disgust and outrage from Cape Town to Ulundi. It’s not long before plotters on both sides conspire to usurp their bond.”

“Zululand” is a BWWM romance set in 1880’s colonial South Africa.
73,000 words long
Approximately 215 pages

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 11, 2022

8 people are currently reading
49 people want to read

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Oliver Strong

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Profile Image for Bookworm86 .
2,017 reviews140 followers
January 19, 2023
BOOK REVIEW 




Review for 'Zululand' by Oliver Strong. 




Read and reviewed for Oliver Strong. 




Publication date 11th December 2022.




This is the third book I have read by this author. I have also read Frank Midgette's Case Files: The Dead Pan which and 'The School Of Hard Knocks' which I would also highly recommend!! 



This novel consists of 10 chapters. 



This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Frederic Augustus Thesiger and Princess Nkosazane kaMpande. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. 



This book did take me a little while to get into but once it started picking up in speed I just could not put it down!! It is filled with romance, war, regency, history, tension, suspense, heartbreak and love. It is a unique storyline and I loved discovering more about the Zulus and Zululand. It was fascinating discovering the different ways they do things. I love that we get to see from both Frédéric and Nkosazane's points of views as we get to see everything that is going on. I'm always a bit dubious with books based historically as I worry about not being able to 'deal' with the language used but I absolutely love how Oliver has written his book. The language used is perfectly suited to the era whilst being easy to read. The atmosphere and descriptions were perfect. The fact that Oliver has done his research absolutely shines through. There's not much worse than reading a book littered in errors as the author hasn't done their research in the area they are writing about but you don't have to worry about that with this book. It is heartbreaking how hard it is just to be able to marry the person that you love and it definitely makes me realise how lucky I am not to live in an era, area or in royalty where it is so complicated. I love how Oliver would describe the characters as animals such as Nkosazane being a springbok, Cetshwayo as a hippo and Frédéric as a lion as they described them perfectly. 


The characters are all strong and realistic and Oliver's descriptions really bring them to life. I love how Nkosazane is such a strong female protagonist. She does not stand and is so unapologetic, a true female role model!! She fights throughout the book to live the life that she wants and be with the man she wants to be with. I also loved Frédéric and how passionate he was about Nkosazane. I could not stand several of the characters such as Nkosazane's father Zuku King Cetshwayo who treated his daughter as an object for trade, the Zulu Nkosazane was meant to marry Dabulamanzi who also treated Nkosazane as nothing but an object as well as the way he spoke to her, Soepenberg who treated Nkosazane and others as nothing but a way to earn money and Sarah who was jealous of Nkosazane and who wanted Frédéric to herself. I absolutely loved the witch doctor Xhegu who made me laugh a few times with his attitude. Regardless of whether you love or hate them these characters come together perfectly to make an absolutely fascinating storyline. 

 

Congratulations Oliver on yet another fantastic book!! Here's to your next success 🥂 


Overall a fascinating historical romance filled with romance, war, hate, love, Zulus and a witch doctor that will keep you up until you have finished. 



Genres covered in this book include Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, Victorian Historical Romance, Romance Fiction and Multicultural Romances amongst others. 



252 pages



This book is just £4.89 to purchase on kindle, free on kindle unlimited and £9.78 in paperback via Amazon at time of review which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!! 




Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook. 




Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews 




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Profile Image for Shay.
260 reviews57 followers
June 5, 2023
Zululand
By: Oliver Strong

Oh where to start? This was the first historical romance I read that had a large amount of military background. I was extremely impressed with the amount of information Strong added to this 215 paged book. That was the first thing I noticed. The next was that Strong put a lot of time and research into the story. Which made my little history nerd heart extremely happy.
I enjoyed the world that Strong created. Including the two main characters Frederic Augestus Thesiger, and Princess Nkosazane. After witnessing their first meeting, where we get a good idea of both characters, and their problem solving. We quickly find ourselves leaving one country to see another. The descriptions and details for both areas. Strong definitely put in a lot of work to paint the best picture of each area, without overloading the reader.
The side characters also really helped push the story along. Each one adding to the story instead of taking from it. There was even one character that was written so well. That I actually wanted to slap her. It didn’t help that we then have to deal with the thing that causes Ndkosazane to be forced back to her tribe. And back to the horrible husband to be that she ran from!
The love story between Frederic and Nkosazane really made the story what it was, well that and the intimate scenes. Watching the characters fight for what they wanted and felt. Quickly had me cheering on the side lines. I couldn’t help but hope that they got the happy ending they had earned. And in my case I desperately wanted them to have.
Though I will not give away the ending. I will say Strong threw in a final twist that really made the story. And because of that Twist, it receives a strong 8/10 rating from us. After reading this story, I look forward to exploring what else Strong has to offer us. After all this was only one of the twelve books he had written!
Thank you Oliver for sharing with me “Zululand”, so that I could review it.
If you are looking for a good historical romance with a great amount of detail. Then you have to check out “Zululand”.
#haveyoureadreviews
Profile Image for L.L. Graham.
Author 1 book32 followers
January 12, 2023
have you ever read a historical romance with..

- A confident female MC who knows and takes what she wants unapolagetically , doesnt play hard to get or struggle to make up her mind?

-a witch doctor

-war

if you havnt then your missing out 😍 I particularly loved the the 2nd half of the book which is from nkosazanes POV

chelmsford and Nkozazane compliment eachother beautifully.
The characters are so well rounded it felt like a true story.
so glad I stumbled upon this gem of a read

“Why shouldn’t a Zulu woman be permitted a husband of her own? That is why couples fled kwazulu to kwanatal living a life of monogamous love, in banishment on the buffalo river. Nkosazane fled there to escape marriage and in doing so stumbled into love.”

fascinating take on the forbidden love trope. it has a terrifying barrier or racism. Throughout the story we are fighting for this epic love story of two forbidden souls to finally live a happy ever after but the journey is filled with suspense and tension, characters so determined you won’t want to put the book down.
Profile Image for Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader).
1,487 reviews48 followers
March 13, 2023
It has been 3 years since Lord Frederic Augustus Thesiger, 2nd Baron of Chelmsford, lost his wife on what was to be a most joyous day, the birth of their firstborn. Instead, he became a widower and now prefers to escape society's invitations to banquets and balls. Thankfully, the opportunity is infrequent as the 2nd Baron is a Major General of Queen Victoria's Royal Army in colonial Africa. However, Frederic's life takes a dramatic turn, beginning when he meets Princess Nkosazane, fleeing from an arranged marriage by her father, King Cetshwayo kaMpande of KwaZulu.

The novel is one of the most beautifully written books with evocative prose I have ever read. The reader is immediately ensconced in the late 1870s. Each scene has its vivid beauty, and the reading experience is richer as the language elicits imagery and the words lift off the page to awaken the senses and emotions.

Two of my favorites are:
"Her nostrils selected a distinct aroma from the environment, a light citrus, its pleasant scent brushed against her senses, causing her nose to swell open as a child’s eyes on seeing snow for the first time in its life."

"As a goblet of wine might be filled at the banquet table, his words of comfort filled a void of doubt."
I highly recommend this BWWM historical romance.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
214 reviews3 followers
August 23, 2023
I received a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Zululand is a tale between an African Zulu Princess and an English Colonizer. The story is marketed as a historical romance but it is told more as a historical fireside tale crafted by an extremely talented wordsmith. The author went through great pains to paint a realistic picture of the events and culture, but in doing so, made it more of an educational read than a romantic story.

Despite the amalgam of words that Mr. Strong was able to weave together for his audience, the overuse of "sable springbok" and "white lion" was unfortunate considering that both of the main characters were much more than their looks. The Princess was an extremely educated young woman; yet as the tale unfolded, she is revealed to be a cunning force to be reckoned with. Lord Chelmsford is supposedly a staunch widower but is quickly seduced by the exotic (to him) Nkosazane.

There really isn't any romance as much as there is instantaneous lust from both sides. The framework of the tale is fairly straightforward. Damsel in distress, heroic man emerges, seduction, nefarious kidnapping plot, successful kidnapping, war, and then of course, the hero emerges victorious as they ride off into the African sunset.

If you're looking for a tale about a Princess and her "knight" told by way of a storyteller, then this book is what you're looking for. If you're looking for an actual historical romance, this is unfortunately not what you'd be expecting (in my humble opinion).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Andrew Hamilton.
70 reviews1 follower
March 29, 2023
Zululand tells the story of lord Chelmsford, serving the queen Victoria army alongside his companion Bartle, where he discovers the beautiful princess Nkosazane, fleeing an arranged marriage set by her farther the king. When Chelmsford falls for our beautiful princess, the two become united, and Nkosazane and Chelmsford become engaged to marry with her joining Chelmsford.

But when our princess is taken against her will back to Africa, ulandi, and both her dictator king farther and her arranged husband, Chelmsford has no option but to fight for her return and save her. However once in Ulandi, despite a failed attempt at peace, it becomes clear that he must battle to win back the hand of his princess, with great characters, masterfully written and planned out, and with great detail and explanations to Zulu traditions, Zululand was a fantastic read.

Congratulations Oliver in a fantastic book.
Profile Image for Parinati Deshmukh.
54 reviews1 follower
May 28, 2025
Zululand is the compelling second installment following Griqueland, where readers were first introduced to a deeply human story set against the backdrop of colonial Africa. This time, the spotlight shifts to two powerful new characters whose lives collide in the most unexpected way.

We meet Chemsford, a British military officer hardened by duty and loss. After the death of his wife three years ago, he has buried himself in service—first helping conquer India, and now stationed in the unforgiving heat of Africa.

Then comes Nkosazane, a fiercely intelligent and resilient African princess. Once nearly sold into slavery by the Soepenberg, she speaks her native tongue, French, and English with striking fluency. Her strength and presence quickly capture Chemsford’s attention, setting the stage for a story rich in tension, culture, and forbidden connection.

What unfolds is a powerful tale of identity, resilience, and the bonds that form despite the brutal complexities of war and colonization.

There’s so much more to be discovered, but I’ll stop here—Zululand is a story best experienced page by page.
Happy reading!
Profile Image for Savannah.
Author 4 books41 followers
August 23, 2023
Zululand is a historical fiction romance novel set during the 1880's in colonial South Africa. It centers around the forming bond between Frederic Augustus Thesiger and Princess Nkosazane kaMpande, as well as the various obstacles they must surmount to be together.

The history portion of the novel was exceptionally well done. It is apparent that Oliver took a great deal of care in his research. He did an excellent job setting the atmosphere and setting of the book. I could picture the environment and the characters perfectly. The characters are vivid and lifelife. I liked that the relationship was built on mutual affection and was believable. And that ending! This was an all around well done, enjoyable book!
Profile Image for Mum With A Book.
219 reviews10 followers
March 1, 2023
The detail of history, knowledge of war, and proverbs in different languages and then translated are all very impressive. In the mix of all this is a blossoming love, that is forbidden, which is heartbreaking but love wins, and always does and this story brought hope. The characters whether you love or hate them blend in well to tell this historical story of what it was like in this era. Women are treated as objects and experiencing racial abuse. The MC stands her ground and is a very courageous woman. I really enjoyed this book, it was a different style of writing which I absolutely love. I highly recommend it!
Profile Image for Ivana Latinović.
2 reviews
August 17, 2023
Zululand is a historical romance novel set in Africa. This is a love story between Baron of Chelmsford and Zulu princess Nkosazane. It is a short read but tells a lot.

Book starts with a lot of descriptions and uses rather mouthful sentences (this impression might be due to my reading in English which is not my first language). But more you read, story warms up to you. Getting used to the language, amazing descriptions with so many details come through which just make sense .

I would say that it might not be a “binge book” but it is very satisfying read. It has very nice storyline and good ending.
218 reviews1 follower
May 11, 2023
If you like historical romance, I can recommend this book. I liked that it was detailed and I could imagine the story. I really loved that FMC was a strong woman with opinion for her self.
Profile Image for Danielle Breeze.
Author 1 book3 followers
June 5, 2024
I was hooked! I was rooting for the princess and the general the entire time, and this book had a way of captivating my attention to where I didn’t even realize I was also getting a bit of a history lesson. The ending had me on edge, but I loved it!
Profile Image for Jessica Werner.
13 reviews
February 18, 2024
Eloquently written, Strong spins a tale of lust and desire between twounlikely sources. An African Princess in the company of an English Lord. Whatever will the townsfolk think?!
This historical romance set in the time of English reign intricately threads together two souls, will their love prevail?!

**SPOILER** 😍🥵🔥

"The noble gentleman pressed upon her, black and white, ying and yang, two opposites coming together, parts of a puzzle, one piece inside the other forming a whole, symmetry from two broken souls. A pair of shattered spirits did discover safe harbour in the other, forming a complete entity."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Theenrichmentoffiction1 .
195 reviews9 followers
January 25, 2024
I'm so glad to have been asked to read this wonderful book. I enjoyed this historical romance set in Africa in the 1800s. It was hard to put down! Nkosazne is a strong and confident woman who gives her heart to Lord chelmsford. The gods brought them together as one. even through battle their love saved them. Not caring how other people judged them. They stayed strong for each other and conquered the evil that wanted to keep them apart forever. In the end love did conquer all!
Profile Image for Euodia.
36 reviews
July 6, 2025
3.25 ⭐️

I was given a copy of this book to review a few years ago and finally got to it in 2025.


This was a very interesting book set in 19th century South Africa. Back when it was still being colonized by the British. 
The story is told in 3rd person but we closely follow Princess Nkosazane of Ulundi (Zululand) and Baron Chelmsford as the miraculously fall deeply in love with one another over the span of a few weeks and choose one another inspite of race and culture since they share a love for Christianity and Christian values. 

However both characters seem to pick and choose which components of Christianity they love and disregard other Christian values to satisfy their own lusts, wants and desires. 

Nkosazane is a fearless, strong-willed,  intelligent woman who speaks her mind and fears no one. Characteristics she inherited from her mother and father. 

Chelmsford is a strong, intelligent, and highly respected man who climbed up the ranks to become a Baron in the British colony. 

I liked the way the story was written and most of the lengthy  descriptions, but sometimes that hindered the impact of highly tense scenes. 

I was also not a fan of the main characters constantly being referred to as white lion and obedient impala or wild springbok, though it is explained I think it sometimes dehumanized the characters though, I understand the intent was not to. 

Overall I enjoyed the ride this book took me on and it was really interesting to see how different South African ethnic groups such as the Xhosa and Zulu may have interacted with the Afrikaans boers and British colonizers in the 1870's. 

Content Warnings ⚠️

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Colonisation, War

Moderate: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Stalking



Spice level: 🌶🌶🌶.5 

(Pages containing sex scenes)

Page 106 - half of 122 is a sex scene between Nkosazane and Chelmsford

The last paragraph of Page 126 - the second last paragraph of page 128 is another sexual tension to sex scene
17 reviews3 followers
January 9, 2023
The story follows Frederic Augustus Thesiger, 2nd Baron of Chelmsford and Major General of Her Majesty's Royal Army, and Princess Nkosazane kaMpande, the daughter of Zulu King Cetshwayo.
When Princess Nkosazane is forced into an arranged marriage with her father's half-brother she runs away only to be caught by a slave trader.
While on a mission Frederic catches Soepenberg, the trader, and frees everyone when Nkosazane takes her chance and asks for political asylum and so ends up under the wing of the 3-year widower, Frederic.
I didn't know what to expect since I rarely read historical books and lean more toward the darker, spicier stories but it was a nice read. The beginning was a little slower and harder to get through since it started with a lot of information and names but once that was out of the way it was enjoyable.
I liked that for foreign words or phrases the translation was right afterwards so that I didn't have to always go back to the front of the book or translate it with my phone.
I liked that we got to see their relationship developing, the respect and trust they both had for each other but also just them walking around and him showing her off and bringing her to events.
Towards the end of the book was probably my favourite part, from him letting everyone know that she is his to losing her and trying to get her back, to starting a war just to get her back.
Not having fade-to-black scenes was also a plus since I hate those!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for acozyhermit.
51 reviews13 followers
July 16, 2023
I’m going to start this review off by saying, I do not typically read/enjoy historical fiction books. It took a-little bit for me to get into it at first, but once it picked up I started enjoying it. The book was very researched and you can tell the author knew exactly what he was writing about. Sometimes, I felt like there was just too much information for me (in a good way). I’m a very imaginative reader, meaning I like to be able to vividly see pictures in my head. This book made it so easy with the amount of detail written into it.

Each character had a significant role in the book that kept the storyline going. I was happy to see more of a love connection between the two characters, Frederic and Nkosazane instead of just a lust relationship.

The only other thing I want to say in this review is, I love books that throw you for a loop. If you enjoy that… you’re going to love the ending of this book.

I want to thank Oliver for sending this book to me and letting me experience everything!
Profile Image for Hania.
9 reviews
February 19, 2023
A short review:

Frederic, a 2nd Baron of Chelmsford, was appointed as a commissioner in the Cape Colony. Nkosazane, the only daughter of the Zulu King Cetshway, fled from KwaZulu instead of marrying (forcefully) her father’s half-brother, Dabulamanzi. Frederic was lonely after the tragic death of his wife and child when he met this young and beautiful African princess on a mission.
It is a story of love, hate, and war, set in the 1800s. It is the story of Frederic and Nkosazane falling in love and fighting for their love.

It took me a while to get into it, but overall, I really enjoyed reading it and loved it. I found the writing style different and poetic. It's Oliver Strong's first historical romance fiction novel, and It was my first book by him. And... He nailed it! ❤️ ❤️

Umm, one thing is still bothering me, so can I ask what did happen to Sarah? How did karma hit her? I mean, I know she couldn’t succeed in her plan, but I want detail, please. Lol
Profile Image for TheKnottyMillennialReader.
85 reviews2 followers
June 17, 2023
The author had reached out to me to review his book. I found it to be an overall good love story. The female main character is strong, intelligent, and resilient despite how many viewed her. The author does a great job at fully engrossing you into the time period and the views of that time as well. Although admittedly realizing how people had some of these views was a little hard for me to swallow from time to time. However, it doesn't change the fact that it existed. You can tell the author took great care in researching and added historical context to the writing to broaden the understanding of certain scenes in the book. If you enjoy learning about this time period, war tactics, and some historical plot points surrounding a romance that many at the time didn't understand, you may enjoy this book.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
101 reviews4 followers
August 10, 2023
Wow.. this book was really something. It took a bit of time for me to get into and wrap my head around but it was incredible when I did. You can tell just from the writing style alone that a lot of time and thought went into this book as odd as it may seem to describe it this way. I found this book very insightful and I personally felt I learnt a lot from it that I did not know myself. I’ve never been a fan of history books but this book is definitely worth the read if you want something a bit different. Would definitely recommend again. I’ve never sat and read a book so much and so quickly in one go. 🫶🏻
Profile Image for Sammi Freeland.
11 reviews8 followers
February 4, 2023
✨Book Review✨

I love this book. And I am 100% glad I was given the chance to read and review it. Historical fiction is not usually a genre I gravitate towards but after reading this book I would definitely pick up another.

I loved the romance and the action and the learning experience through the characters. I would definitely read again.

It did take me a couple chapters to get into it but so glad I was able to.

Congratulations to Oliver for an amazing book. 🥂

Thank you for this opportunity
Profile Image for Mybookmemories.
220 reviews7 followers
October 17, 2023
This was an enjoyable read. I don’t usually read much in this genre, so it took a while for me to get into this book. However, once I did, I was hooked until the end. There were lots of elements and variety to the story, and I really enjoyed the author’s writing style. The characters were well written also. A great historical romance, and I can’t wait to check out more from this author!
Profile Image for Mona.
5 reviews1 follower
March 16, 2023
The plot had a lot of potential but I personally would have enjoyed the book more if it had only concentrated on the part where the main character fell in love with each other. Now it happend in the blink of an eye and I was left a little disappointed.

Anyway, I did like the milieu in this book very much and I was facinated by the many details we got of Zululand and the African cultures.

I also liked how easy this book was to read. Somehow the language rolled very effortlessly on my tongue.
Profile Image for Jacquelyn Parnell.
132 reviews3 followers
August 11, 2023
Zululand is a historical fiction novel that follows the story of Lord Frederic Augustus Thesiger, 2nd Baron of Chelmsford in the British Army and Princess Nkosazane of KwaZulu. The princess seeks asylum so that she may avoid her impending arranged marriage.

Lord Fredric is intrigued by the Princess and begins to feel again, after the death of his wife three years prior.

I really loved this story. There is so much detail about the British army and tribal politics in this relatively short novel. This was also the first time that I had read a spicy scene by a male author and, my word, it was superb 🌶️🌶️🌶️

This is the first of Oliver’s books that I have read - I will definitely be reading more of his work in the future.
Profile Image for Brooke Auckerman.
43 reviews
January 21, 2023
I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. Zululand is a historical fiction romance novel. This is the first time that I read a book by Oliver Strong and it sure will not be the last. Every time that I turned the page on my iPad I could not put the book down, The story will instantly intrigue you and pull you in. If you’re into historical fiction this is definitely the book for you.
Profile Image for Chelsea  Moreton.
59 reviews
January 24, 2023
This book was #gifted in exchange for an honest review!

"Peace is the rain that makes the grass grow...and war the wind dries out"
.
From the begining I had a bit of trouble getting into the book, I wasn't to sure if I was going to like it, if I could follow the story and just generally enjoy it, but as I got more into the book, I couldn't put it down!
I love that the main character is a strong female and is does what she wants!
Throughout the book we are fighting for an wonderful love story of two forbidden souls to finally live a 'happily ever after' abut this whole journey is filled with suspense, tension and determination which made it so I couldn't put the book down!
I would recommend this book to others, It was something a normally read but I'm so glad I did! It's a great book!!
Profile Image for Galadriel (Galady).
97 reviews
June 10, 2023
⚠️ THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS⚠️

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Zululand by Oliver Strong is a historical romance set in Cape Colony during colonization by the British Empire. Frederic Chelmsford, a Major General of the Royal Army, is described as rigid, stoic, and disciplined. He falls in love with Nkosazane, an African princess, who is desperately trying to forge her own path in life and love.

What I liked:
❤️ Detailed descriptions of African tribe culture, the history of colonization of South Africa by the British Empire, and the exploration of British military.
❤️ Giving Sara Forbes Bonetta vibes! For reference, Sara Forbes Bonetta was an African Princess who was orphaned by war and given as a gift (Yes, I said gift- it is a disturbing history) to Captain Frederik Forbes of the British Royal Navy during colonization of West Africa. She later became the goddaughter of Queen Victoria. (Google her!)
❤ ️ Biracial love- Yes to diversity! 

Things I didn't like:
💔 Language use of "my Master" from MFC to MMC. This was off-putting and made me uncomfortable. 
💔 Inconsistent female lead. Nkosazane is introduced as bold, fierce, and brave for taking her future into her own hands even though the odds are stacked against her (LOVE THIS!). After the MMC and MFC "do the deed" (*wink wink*), she presents as submissive and naive. Then, she's bold, fierce, and brave again. I'm not sure if this was Strong's way of showing our leading lady struggling to straddle two cultures for love, but I had a hard time getting a good read on her personality.
💔 Little to no actual romance. There is only 1 major romantic scene (TW: includes light choking). I'm a huge fan of sexual tension build-up in my romance novels. This could have been a forbidden love trope! I kept waiting for more spice to surface.

All in all, I did enjoy this book for its intriguing references to British military history! It was a slow start for me because of the lengthy descriptions, but I appreciated Strong setting the scene fully. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I went into it thinking it would be historical fiction rather than historical romance. Thank you to Oliver Strong for gifting me a copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jessica Blackman.
123 reviews52 followers
February 15, 2023
I was asked by the Author to give an honest review.

I got 40% into it and I somewhat struggled to get to that point so I finally gave up on it.

It wasn't a terrible read but it just had some moments that weren't my taste. Specifically the names for body parts (fyi there are a couple of smutty scenes). It just threw me off is all. It did have some promise though and could have been better written as a dual point of view since there were parts that confused me about who we were focusing on. Otherwise, the story was very well executed and quite interesting. It was just difficult for me personally to finish. I did enjoy all of the details about things as far as being very descriptive which I didn't think I would like in a book given it was my first being that descriptive but it did surprisingly grow on me. Maybe at a later date, I will pick it back up to finish but as of right now I'm DNFing.

If you enjoy historical romance and want something different than the usual read, I do highly recommend giving it a chance.

Thank you to the Author for asking me to read and review. I do not regret it one bit just wish I could have finished it.
Profile Image for Heather Burt.
153 reviews3 followers
January 25, 2023
Zuzuland was captivating. It took a couple chapters to get into it. But once the book hit speed it was really good! I love the history and geography the author added to the book. Having war, romance, suspense, mystery and history all in one book made me so happy! Oliver Strong definitely put all of the different elements together in a great well thought out novel.

Having a female in this century being so head strong and independent made me love the book even more. If you haven't read it, it will keep you wanting more you won't want to put it down. I highly recommend this book.

Baron was lonely after the loss of his wife and child, and decided to join the military. As date would have it he found a young beautiful woman in South Africa. They gave their heart to each other. But the biggest question was if society would accept their love and marriage??

Zuzuland was my first Oliver Strong novel and this is his first romance novel and he nailed it!
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295 reviews9 followers
February 23, 2023
I was asked to read/review this book and I'm glad I did. It's a historical fiction book set in Africa in the late 1800s with a romance between a British officer and a Zulu princess and the time leading up to the war between the Zulus and the Brits. It's written in 3rd person, which was an effective way to tell the story and allow the reader to see the big picture of the romance and its effect on history.

I love historical fiction and the opportunity to learn about different times in history that I am less familiar with.
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