This author keeps her readers on the edge

Would you consider the audio edition of Slave Again to be better than the print version?

The narrator's expressive reading style enhances this story very well. It was so well read, I sat spellbound and listened to the book being read in one sitting. If you have the opportunity to get this book on Audible, I highly recommend it. For me, it increased the pace of the story and held my attention longer than silent reading. But that's not unusual for me. I have always enjoyed oral readings; it seems to match my learning style very well.

What did you like best about this story?

What I like most about the author's writing style is that she writes in a brutally honest manner, not pulling her punches in the way she confidently displays the ugly reality of refugee life and the blatant trafficking that goes along with it. While this is written from a Christian viewpoint, you don't have to be a Christian to be swept in the poignancy of the story and tragic realities. I am looking forward to reading more books from this author.

Which character – as performed by Pamela Lorence – was your favorite?

This book is filled with danger, suspense, and gritty reality. The author's talents are crystal clear, as she keeps her readers on the edge all the way through. Our emotions are all over the place as we feel alternately repulsed and heart-broken by the ugly life the North Koreans face, the slavery they sometimes enter when reaching China, the indulgences of the Americans living in China, and the futility of everyone's efforts to right the wrongs, in contrast to the little bit of hope as we see Mee-Kyong's life transformed. There are plenty of surprises in this story, including the identity of a spy for the North Korean government in the Stern's home. Finding the identity of the agent only intensifies the suspense because it impacts the characters in the next story, Torn Asunder.

If you could rename Slave Again, what would you call it?

Desperation

Any additional comments?

The suspense and action in this book is tough as nails and somewhat graphic. The worst of it is implied, but our imaginations can easily fill in the details. This is not meant to be a feel good, tender read. The events portray the horrors of living in North Korea, how some try to cross the river into China out of desperation just to earn some money to send back to their starving families. The major thread follows Pang and Mee-Kyong after they have escaped Camp 22. They are about to cross over the border, guided by a sleezy, greedy border broker. Before crossing, Mee-Kyong gives birth to a dead baby; she is considerably weakened by the bleeding but crosses anyway. The broker sells her and another girl into a hotel that prostitutes them. Mee-Kyong adopts the young girl, Sun, and tries to protect her as best as she can.

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Another powerful story from Alana Terry!

An emotionally moving story, Slave Again is almost hard to listen to at times. It has its rather dark moments but it is ultimately a story of faith and hope.

Mee-Kyong lives a life so far removed from my own that sometimes it's hard to imagine and I kept turning the next page and the next. The choices she must make are beyond impossible and not only does she survive day after day but a tiny seed of compassion is kept alive. That tiny seed just might grow into something amazing.

Alana Terry has once again penned a story that transports readers and listeners to a land some might say has been forgotten by God, and yet it is so apparent that He is constantly moving in the lives of it's inhabitants.

I actually read Slave Again about a year ago but jumped at the chance to hear the words and characters come to life. The Audible audiobook was excellent! Alana Terry's great writing is highlighted by the narrator's voice. The spacing between chapters and scenes is very good, easy to follow. I even found myself slipping my Kindle and speaker into my bag wherever I went so that I could listen.

I would note that the book does deal with mature and tense situations so this would probably be a better novel for much older kids and adults. It is, however, not a story to be missed.

(I received a copy of this audiobook from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.)

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Suspenseful Story!

Slave Again was a wonderful book. I won’t attempt to write a long summary of the book this time because Alana did such a good job of it and I don’t want to reveal any more than I already have to in the review. Suffice it to say, human trafficking is a major theme in Slave Again, and the main character, Mee-Kyong and a few of the other characters are trapped and trying to escape from being trafficked in China and North Korea.

Slave Again kept me on my toes. Everything would be going fine or you thought you knew where the book was going, then BAM! something horrible or unexpected happened. I couldn’t even guess what would happen next. A little over halfway through the book, however, nerve-wracking occurrences calmed down a little bit. The characters were recovering and adjusting. There was a little suspense on account of the overheard phone calls between a government spy and his/her superiors. The ending was suspenseful, I was glad to note, but I won’t give it away.

The way Slave Again ended was more than satisfactory but disappointed me a little because there were so many loose ends. Several characters I had begun to care about were never heard from again within the book, and several instances. However, I assume that many of those loose ends will be taken care of in the next book, Torn Asunder, which is due to be released in December and which I will be reviewing and hosting the blog tour.

Alana Terry showed the characters’ faults in ways I do not usually think about. All the characters were selfish. Even the sweet missionary couple was portrayed as helping others partly only to get something from the situation; the husband helped Mee-Kyong in order to make his wife happy which in turn helped him be happy. This made me think deeply about whether my own motives about helping others are selfish. Also, the missionary woman was often mentioned as being naïve, which makes me wonder whether I too would be considered naïve in such a situation and whether I could still be effective as a missionary if I was naïve.

Slave Again helped open my eyes to the realities of human trafficking, particularly sex trafficking. The women and children who are trafficked suffer more than anyone should. I applaud anyone who helps stop the practice and hope to join the fight myself. I am quite certain that Alana Terry has information for anyone willing to help end human trafficking in the world if you ask her.

The audiobook was of good quality. The reader gave each character a distinct voice with good emotion and inflection. The narrated portions could have been more expressive, but overall, she did a very good job on it.

Because of the theme is human trafficking, the characters are desperate, and the genre suspense, the book was only relatively clean. Slave Again included non-gory, violent scenes and a few implied sex scenes.

Overall, I applaud Alan Terry for a well-written, informative, and suspense-filled novel.

I received a free copy of this Audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Loved the book while hated the issue.

I loved the book while hating that the issue is so real. Hopefully this book and others like it will bring the sex trade issue to light and something can be done. Another reviewer said this only happened in closed countries. Sadly, that is not the case. Anyway, the book was well developed. I liked reading the differing viewpoints of the different cultures and characters. I loved that one husband truly thought his wife gorgeous even though she was obese. I loved that the book kept surprising me, even to the identity of one of the agents. (that's pretty hard to do. I usually have mysteries figured out pretty quickly.) I can't wait for the next book!

I did win a free copy of this book from Alana Terry's website.

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Intense Impacting Incredible

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The audiobook version of Slave Again is very well done and will keep the listener enthralled.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Slave Again by Alana Terry is a fantastic read!! There aren’t enough words to express the incredible story within its pages. Although it is the book following The Beloved Daughter, it is a stand alone story.

Ms. Terry touches on the crucial roles of women even in oppressed societies. Through the stories of three women, she intertwines a tale of espionage, human trafficking, and rescue. In Slave Again, survival and strength are just among a few of the lessons.

Mee-Kyong has been through a nightmare of a life and now survival is her motivator. The man she has given her heart to has become not only her lover, but her enemy. She must decide between survival and loyalty to him. Although he rescued her from prison, he has in fact, imprisoned her again in a life with him. But Mee-Kyong has lived in the chasm between heaven and hell and she will do whatever it takes to survive…including murder.

Sun is a sweet, innocent girl who wants to help her family. She’s persuaded to find work but her persuader is an evil man with nothing good on his mind, especially for her. Taken from her simple but poor home life she is promised a better future and one that will help her family as well. Willingly, she accepts this promised future not realizing the danger she has placed herself in.

Roger and Juliette are Americans who have a heart for rescuing the improvised they see all around them. Without purpose, Juliette finds depression too close a companion. Determined to help spread the gospel, they work together to teach the people they rescue. Once they’ve completed their training they are sent out as lambs among wolves. Doing all they can to make a difference in the world, they willingly accept danger as part of their daily lives for the sake of the gospel.


Three very different stories that become intertwined in a tale so suspenseful, the reader will not want to put the book down. Alana Terry is a writer with not only great storytelling ability, but a heart for the innocent ones caught in a war and a world filled with devastation and destruction. Definitely a must read!

What about Pamela Lorence’s performance did you like?

Ms. Lorence does a great job of interpreting the story and making it come alive! She has great range of character voices and her inflection was well done.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Ms. Terry does an amazing job of making hard issues that people may hear about or read about come to life in a storyline.

Any additional comments?

A must read!!

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Fight Human Trafficking one victim at a time

I received a free copy of this book from Alana Terry, and I was asked to give an honest review. With that being said, I would have purchased the book anyway as I have been interested in fighting human trafficking for many years now, and the reality of this form of slavery happening in our society today is unfortunately continuing all over the world. Ms. Terry does a terrific job of portraying believable characters involved in this industry as well as victims and the reasons they become entrapped. This is the first book of Ms. Terry's that I have read, but it won't be the last. I challenge you to read/listen about the plight of those sold into slavery in this day and age, and to pray, hope and help in the recovery of those being rescued. Like the character of Juliette, helping these victims isn't an easy road, but with all of her failings, she sought to do what she could with what she had. We can too. This audible version brings to life the emotions of the characters. I recommend having both the e-book and the audible version in order to enable the Whispersync feature.

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Audible Compassion Ignited

What made the experience of listening to Slave Again the most enjoyable?

This is another wonderful tragedy (redeemed by God) tale from the talented story weaver, Alana Terry. If you read the first book in the series, Beloved Daughter, you will not be disappointed in this book. You do not need to read the first to get the full impact of this book. It is a stand alone as well as an enhancement to the first book.The book has heroes and victims, those who rise above and those who fall to the curses of the environment in which they exist.The innocence of children is clearly depicted as stolen away by slavery within the sex-traffiking industry or through the captivity for use by a dictatorship's military service. It was interesting to see the various forms of slavery contrasted and showing the results were similar in the ways they damaged the individuals caught up in such misuse of human potential.The danger involved in the rescue of the ones caught up in slavery requires special types of individuals. The burden of wanting a better life for the many involved against their will is tenderly portrayed. Another contrast is made between Christians from a western culture perspective and those who have grown up in great poverty void of religious training. The priorities of the two groups could not seem farther apart. Yet faith in Jesus and the forgiveness He makes possible is shown to overcome obstacles in cultural and economic realms. Transformation takes place over a long time frame like one grain of sand at a time moving through an hourglass. Change is hardly perceptive yet it eventually occurs. This made the book very realistic to me.This book is very beneficial for those who wish to in some way help the plights of those caught up in modern day slavery whether through financial or personal time commitment. You will view how the tragedy is turned for good by our loving God who knows that those who suffer will ultimately desire to help others who suffer similarily to themselves.I bought this Audible version of this book after I received the Kindle book from the author with a promise that I would read and review it. I was under no obligation to do a positive review. I have given my honest review of this book.

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Intense and Captivating

Where does Slave Again rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I haven't listened to many audio books so Slave Again at this point ranks highly.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Slave Again tells a story of a combination of characters but focuses mainly on a family living in China using their business as a cover, who take in refugees. As the story begins there are quite a few characters to follow, but the more you read, you are able to see how their lives intertwine with each other as God brings them together.

Mee-Kyong is a young woman who grew up in a prison camp, but was able to escape with her prison guard husband who "rescued" her. Yet... it is not the life she hoped for, and she soon finds herself once again fighting for survival the only way she knows how.

Sun is a young girl who is seeking to help her family by earning extra money. She is naive and soon falls prey to a young girls nightmare - trafficking.

There are various other characters in the book including, an undercover agent and spy, Sun's brother who seeks to find her no matter what the cost, and several secret seminary students who are soon to be sent on a dangerous mission to reach the lost in North Korea. Who will survive? Who will escape? Who will be caught?

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

One of the things I love about Alana is her passion for North Korean Christians, refugees, and others who are suffering there. Her goal is to draw attention to this possibly over looked, shoved under the table issue, and also stir up prayer for brothers and sisters in Christ suffering persecution.

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