This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
Wages of Empire by Michael J. Cooper follows multiple storylines that bisect, through chance, fate, or politicking, against the backdrop of WWI. Evan Sinclair, a young man from Utah, seeks adventure and naïvely joins the British Expeditionary Force during World War I. His father, Clive Sinclair, desperately tries to find him. Chaim Weizmann, a chemist and Zionist leader, contributes to the war effort and advocates for Jewish interests in the thick of diplomatic negotiations and scientific undertakings. Gunter von Wertheimer, an archaeologist in Jerusalem, protects his family and a secret related to the Temple Mount. Faisal bin Hussein, torn between loyalties, undertakes covert missions for the Arab revolt against Ottoman rule, guided by his father, Sharif Hussein, who jockeys through alliances and political maneuvers. Montagu Walker is staged to excavate the Temple Mount for German imperial ambitions, with Jerusalem as its capital, and the potential establishment of a Holy Roman Emperor.
Even though the main character of Wages of Empire is the hopeful Evan, who takes us through a series of mishaps that make him a combination of the unluckiest and luckiest person who ever lived, I felt that each individual was just as important and interesting as the next. Michael J. Cooper shows us the macro parts of WWI's lead-up, but his ability to do that with micro-moments is a testament to his skill as a storyteller. A husband is refused entry to his wife, who is suffering from smallpox, and given a heartbreaking directive; a father doggedly seeks out his son to pull him out of danger while others put their own where they could become martyrs; and an unlikely acquaintance made between two men from opposite ends of the world to comfort one another in a hospital—all are such deeply personal, very human moments that punctuate its bigger picture. The writing is comprehensive, articulate, and exhaustively researched. I even got to meet Lawrence of Arabia, which my grandmother will appreciate. Overall, this is a solid novel with promise for more to come, and I look forward to following the author as he progresses. Very highly recommended.