Title: Ascendancy
Author: Patrick Earl Dwyer
Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
ASIN: 978-1685151195
Pages: 382
Genre: Literature & Fiction
Reviewed by: Christina Avina
Hollywood Book Reviews
When one decides to look back at history, far more often than not the individual focuses more on grand scale events or historical figures that impacted a city, a state, or an entire nation. When looking at the history of WWII for instance, the studies often turn to figures like Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill, or the Battle of Normandy. However far less often are students, scholars, and interested readers ever treated to the history and its impact on the common, average family.
In author Patrick Earl Dwyer’s Ascendancy, the author decides to take readers on a journey into the lives of two families over the course of a century. Featuring two families who first meet in Ireland and soon after in the United States, the narrative focuses on how these immigrant families get caught up and involved in some of history’s most important societal issues and historical figures, including the fight against tyranny, the tragedy of slavery, religious overtones, and American Expansion to the west of the nation. This epic saga bridges the gap between two families and encompasses everything from historical fiction to action – and even romance.
The author did an incredible job of finding just the right balance between non-fiction history and the infusion of family history, and the literary fiction liberties that kept the narrative flowing smoothly and readers invested. The captivating world-building and infusion of history really drew me into the narrative personally, and having the story begin after the American Revolution was an inspired choice creatively. Seeing the impact the American Revolution had around the world was so unique to begin the story with, and from that point forward the action and drama that pushes these characters forward balance out with the intimacy and emotional development of the characters themselves.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy history, family drama, genealogy, and American Literature overall. As a fan of history and family memories and experiences, I was immediately invested in the narrative. The trials and events that brought these two families together were so reflective of the newly minted American Dream that so many families were drawn to in the years following the American Revolution.
Thought-provoking, captivating, and engaging, author Patrick Earl Dwyer’s Ascendency is a must-read historical fiction and family drama. The ways in which history, culture, and the American Dream play into the more personal family drama and action romance the narrative takes on was inspiring to read, and the passion and evolution of the writing itself really keeps the reader invested in the evolving story as time passes on. The perfect first novel in a planned duology or trilogy, be sure to grab your copy of this incredible story today!