Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips
Published July 25th 2017 by Viking
288 pages | Goodreads Description: ❝The zoo is nearly empty as Joan and her four-year-old son soak up the last few moments of playtime. They are happy, and the day has been close to perfect. But what Joan sees as she hustles her son toward the exit gate minutes before closing time sends her sprinting back into the zoo, her child in her arms. And for the next three hours—the entire scope of the novel—she keeps on running.
Published July 25th 2017 by Viking
288 pages | Goodreads Description: ❝The zoo is nearly empty as Joan and her four-year-old son soak up the last few moments of playtime. They are happy, and the day has been close to perfect. But what Joan sees as she hustles her son toward the exit gate minutes before closing time sends her sprinting back into the zoo, her child in her arms. And for the next three hours—the entire scope of the novel—she keeps on running.
Joan’s intimate knowledge of her son and of the zoo itself—the hidden pathways and under-renovation exhibits, the best spots on the carousel and overstocked snack machines—is all that keeps them a step ahead of danger.
A masterful thrill ride and an exploration of motherhood itself—from its tender moments of grace to its savage power—Fierce Kingdom asks where the boundary is between our animal instinct to survive and our human duty to protect one another. For whom should a mother risk her life? ❞ (end of description)
MY RATING: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
REVIEW
This is a suspenseful novel that takes place entirely during a few hours of fear in the zoo.
The story is told from different points of view but the more prominent character we spend time with is the mother of a four-year old child. The novel was thrilling and well-written but I was disappointed by the ending.
Initially, I resisted reading the novel because the cover reminds me of a circus and circuses have always creeped me out. I’m not referring to the Cirque-Du-Soleil type of circus, I’m referring to the ones that traveled around with animals and force them to perform. In my childhood memories those poor animals always looked sad and underfed.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel but would have liked it more if the ending would have been different. Still, I recommend this book to readers of thrillers and contemporary fiction.