Maron Anrow

Laika is a live-in tutor to the Needanier children. She likes her job but this wasn’t the future she imagined. She has always had a love of history, especially that of neighbouring Lisan. Lisani citizens needed approval to leave their country and foreign visitors were severely limited. So when Laika is offered the opportunity to work at the new Lisani University she is excited to start on her dream of studying the Lisani way of life. Laika’s time in Lisan goes from bad to worse when she discovers the Trean officials have other, more deadly, plans for her.

I really enjoyed reading Laika’s story. There was a great mix of politics, romance and suspense to keep the reader captivated.
Laika was headstrong and opinionated but, rightly so, still came across as naïve in the ways of the world. She was torn between what her heart told her and what her brian told her was the right thing to do. She was an idealist and a thinker, it wasn’t all black and white for her.
There was a strong capitalism v communism feel which gave the reader a lot to think about. Should those that have the means, sit back while others are suffering?
These dilemmas and situations are current today which gives the background of the story a lot of credence

There is some language and sex if you’re sensitive to this.
Would make a good book club discussion book.… (més)

In Laika in Lisan by Maron Anrow, the author has built a fictional world apparently inspired by North Korea. Lisan is a country with closed borders, a leader who has manipulated his people to make them worship him, and a son of the leader who is biding his time to gain the power his father enjoys.

While the accuracy of what we know about such a closed off country will always be in doubt, Anrow has created her own world where conjecture and imagination are not only allowed, but probably bring us closer to truth than any list of facts ever could. Also, the villains (both individuals and governments) of Anrow's novel aren't entirely evil and the heroes aren't without their own flaws. This alone brings a truth that can't be found in most news articles.

Lakia is a young woman who lives in the democratic country of Trea, but has always been fascinated by the neighboring country of Lisan. She is also fluent in their language, which apparently is not common among the people of Trea. When Lord Hamin, the autocratic leader of Lisan, decides to open a new university, Laika jumps at the opportunity to become a visiting scholar. Her decision forces her to leave her position as a tutor for the children of a wealthy family and to disappoint her family, especially her father who had fought in a war between the two countries and is still bitter about the experience.

At times I felt Anrow's writing lacked detail, causing the plot to move too quickly and some important scenes to lack credibility. I also thought Anrow told too much of what her characters were feeling rather than allowing her readers to discover their feelings through their actions. One area where this criticism was not true was in Lakia's relation with Rodya, a young man she encounters after she and her guides are attacked on their way to the Holy City. The relationship between Lakia and Rodya grows slowly with twists and turns that are fascinating to read.

Laika in Lisan is a story about making important decisions in a world that isn't black and white. Laika is put in positions she isn't prepared to handle and as a result is consumed by doubt. This is what makes Anrow's characters real and what makes her novel an interesting read.

Steve Lindahl – author of White Horse Regressions and Motherless Soul… (més)