This was a unique novel set during the Civil War from the Amish perspective.
The characters experience so much growth and change during this novel and that is why I liked it so far. In the beginning, all the characters are in the valleys of life and as they slowly learn to trust God's plan for their life, they experience healing.
Another noteworthy aspect of this novel was the historical part. It was well-researched and woven in throughout the story.
Rating: 4 Stars
Content: 5 Stars
*I received a copy of this novel through the RevellReads Blogging Program. A positive review was not required and all thoughts are my own. ( )

RTC

I received this as a free ARC from Library Thing in exchange for a review.

I have always been fascinated by the Amish way of life and this was a fun read in that genre. It was a bit predictable and some of the plot (girls married at 16 years old) was difficult despite the historical accuracy. The characters wrestled with some difficult life events, but they all wrapped up too neatly for real life. ( )

The Roll of the Drums by Jan Drexler is the second novel in The Amish of Weaver’s Creek series. I recommend reading The Sound of Distant Thunder before beginning The Roll of the Drums. I thought the story was well-written and it moved along at a thoughtful pace. The characters are realistic and developed. Ruby Weaver has lovely red hair which along with her age and unmarried state make her different from other females in her community. Ruby does not feel that marriage is necessary to be a happy and content individual. I like that Ruby is a resilient woman of strong faith. Gideon Fischer is relocating his family after the soldiers devastated his small Amish community. He wants to find a safe place for them to reside and Gideon is worried about his wife’s health. Lovinia, Gideon’s wife, knows her time is short. Lovinia believes Ruby is just what Gideon and her children will need once she is gone. She makes Ruby and Gideon promise to marry each other if she passes away. While each make the promise, they are both hoping they will not have to honor it but for differing reasons. There are good life lessons incorporated into the story. We get to see the characters go through some rough times. I like that the author does not give us a lighthearted feel good story (there are ups and downs just like real life). Gideon is at the lowest point of his life and we get to see how he will handle it. It can be hard to let go of our worries and rely on God, but it is necessary. The phrase from The Roll of the Drums that lingered with me is “Only the Good Lord knew the future. He will give you the strength you need”. Everything happens for a reason as we see in The Roll of the Drums. While the story focuses on Gideon and Ruby, we also catch up with Ruby’s sister, Elizabeth who married Reuben at such a young age. In addition, Levi Beiler is a bookworm who loves to devour theological books. His father constantly berates him and Levi wonders why. He overhears a conversation that soon puts things in perspective and leaves Levi with more questions. We see how a person’s experiences can influence how they look at others and situations. The Roll of the Drums is a sweeping historical Amish novel that has love, forgiveness, fear, redemption, joy, judgement and so much more. You will not be disappointed with this compelling story.

enjoyed this Amish story. I received it for free and I voluntarily chose to review it. This is during the later years of the civil war. You'll need to keep a tissue handy. This family had some real hardships, compounded by the Amish views of fighting. It just about broke my heart because I know many of the things probably did happen during the war. The story pulled me in and made it hard to put down. I've given this a 5* rating. Not sure the younger should be reading this. ( )