Forged in the Fire

By Reviewer Greta Marlow

Title: Forged in the Fire
Author: Ann Turnbull
Primary Audience/age group: Upper Young adult
Genre: historical fiction
# Of pages: 312
Year of Release: 2007
Part of a Series? Yes, 2 of 2
Rating: 2 (See Recommendation)
Recommend? Yes with reservation

Description: (from book jacket) “London, 1665. Cast out by his father for becoming a Quaker, Will travels to London to earn a living. He and Susanna wait patiently to be reunited and, at last, married. But when Will is thrown into jail for his beliefs, the lovers’ future becomes uncertain. With the plague spreading and the scent of smoke on the wind, will their love bring them together despite the most terrifying twists of fate; Will and Susanna’s romance continues in thes powerful sequel to No Shame, No Fear.”

Review: I was eager to see how the story turned out, and this sequel was certainly satisfying. While No Shame, No Fear seemed to be Susanna’s story, I thought Forged in the Fire was Will’s story. I was a little disappointed that the author missed an opportunity to explore Will’s commitment to his new religion in favor of emphasizing the love story. Again, I like the way the historical events were intertwined with the personal lives of these compelling characters.

Positive: Will is very concerned about being responsible and providing a living so he can take care of Susanna. He’s not willing to marry her until he is settled in a steady job.

Spiritual Elements: Although there is less emphasis on religion than in the first book, this book still shows especially Will’s efforts to be faithful to his faith.

Violence: Again, there is description of persecution. Will suffers greatly in prison for a single angry comment. Two major plot lines involved the black plague and the Great Fire of London, so there is some violence inherent in the story.

Language: Not much of an issue – there are some “earthy” terms.

Sexual Content: Will and Susanna have waited three years to marry. After a brief separation because of a misunderstanding, they are reunited and spend a night together (Susanna makes the decision to go find him, knowing full well what may happen). Although the situation is handled tastefully, it is more detailed than some will think appropriate. However, immediately after that scene, Will finds a home for them and they marry.

Other: Beer and ale are the major drinks (historical fact because of poor water quality).

Rating: Because of the one scene with premarital sex, I would give the book a 2.

Recommendation: Despite the premarital sex, I think the book is appropriate for older teens, especially when read in combination with No Shame, No Fear. Parents could talk to teens about the fact that Will realizes the great responsibility he has to Susanna once they’ve been together, in contrast to the “no consequences” attitude of much of the media geared toward teens.

Reviewer Greta Marlow is a speech teacher at a small, church-related college. She and her husband have been married 18 years and have two pre-teen children, a boy and a girl. She had a passion for children's literature, especially historical fiction for children.