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I consider myself a storyteller. Usually, I come across an intriguing bit of information that triggers my interest. Then, like a spark igniting kindling, the question “I wonder what that would have been like?” takes over. Once the spark has taken hold, I find myself knee deep in research, diving down rabbit holes, chasing phantom characters until their places, times, and stories become real to me. My background is in History and Natural History, but nothing escapes my curiosity
Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite
Motivated by the memory of her mother dying in her arms, Esperanza resolved in her heart that she would one day walk the halls of the Scola Medica at Salerno and train to become a healer. Fate had brought Amika into her life and she had taken early steps in search of the knowledge that would fulfill her dream. Unfortunately for her, the death of the wife of a nobleman from misuse of a drug Esperanza provided forced her to flee Amika’s home and begin her journey. Cindy Burkart Maynard’s Esperanza’s Way reveals that during her adventure she would find the path to success littered with stumbling blocks, some more difficult to avoid than she expected.
Cindy Burkart Maynard shares a young woman’s struggle to achieve her dreams despite the setbacks she encounters. Europe in the Middle Ages is a curious choice for the setting of her story, but an interesting one nonetheless as the entertaining plot conforms to the historical accuracy of the era. The characters are well-developed and their conversations, though simplistic, maintain the depth I would expect from a story revolving around drama. The subplots involving romance, acceptance, and the gradual passing of the torch between generations are balanced and individually interesting, especially when considering how fluidly Maynard weaves all of them into one storyline. Esperanza’s Way provides immersive entertainment with a high degree of realism brought to life courtesy of Maynard’s engaging style of storytelling.
