Friday 56 & #BookBeginnings: The Hangman's Replacement #RRSciFiMonth + Giveaway!

The bus ride from the village of Gwenzi to Harare takes fifteen hours. When it rains, massive swamps prevent vehicles from passing through. When it is dry, the sun bakes the earth into a rock-hard platform that consumes the barefooted like a candle lit from beneath.
- p. 13, PDF version

For Friday 56:
“So you walked away from those girls?”
“No, Vaida. I walked towards my dream job. I felt the same outrage that you feel right now. But what was I supposed to do? Exhaust my failing body by fighting off a dozen men? Abel Muranda only has enough strength to prevent such a nightmare from befalling one family. Winning this job will ensure that my daughters don’t end up like those girls. My children’s aspirations will not be strangled by the selfishness of any man’s sexual desires.”
- p. 56, PDF version


About The Hangman's Replacement: Sprout of Disruption by Taona Dumisani Chiveneko: 
Zimbabwe’s last hangman retired in 2004. As the nation drifted towards abolition, no determined effort was made to find a replacement. However, the discovery of carnivorous flame lilies at the Great Zimbabwe monument triggered a spirited search for a new executioner. Those who know why this discovery energized the recruitment effort refused to talk.

The frantic attempts to find a new hangman were impeded by the lack of suitable candidates. Well-placed sources confirmed that the fear of ‘ngozi’ was a deterrent. According to this traditional belief, the spirit of a murdered person torments the killer and his family for generations. However, this is only half the story. Several promising applicants did come forward. None met the minimum requirements for the job. The selection criteria were designed to exclude the mentally ill, the vindictive, and the sadistic. However, they did not rule out the desperate.

Giveaway! 

In honour of Sci-Fi November, the author is giving away
5 paperbacks and 5 ebooks! Open WORLDWIDE!

 

Buy This Book from Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

11 comments

  1. This sounds like a must read! I've entered myself in the giveaway!

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  2. Sounds like a dramatic story. The opening describes a horrible place, and the 56 excerpt makes me curious about exactly what is going on. She sounds desperate!
    My Friday post features THE 13 OF HEARTS.

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  3. Wow this sounds really interesting. I'd definitely like to find out more about this one. I like the narrator's voice in the 56.

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  4. This sounds like an absolutely amazing book! The cover is gorgeous, but it was the beginning that really swayed me It's a great description and then the F56 really brings some reality into it! Thanks for sharing :) Have a great weekend!
    My Friday Post
    Juli @ Universe in Words

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  5. Sounds like a really cool concept for a book! I have read very few books set in Africa. I entered your giveaway to win a copy, thanks for offering that!

    Here's my Friday 56: http://samannelizabeth.wordpress.com/2014/11/14/friday-56-14-nov-2014/

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  6. I like the look and sound of this one....thanks for sharing and enjoy! Here's mine: “THE TWILIGHT HOUR”

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  7. I love the cover, and it does seem to match with your beginning.

    ENJOY, and thanks for sharing.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Book Beginnings

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  8. Sounds like a heart-wrenching and powerful story.
    Happy weekend!

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  9. Lovely one , added to my tbr, btw how many will more be in the series ?

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  10. Sounds gut wrenching can't wait to read.

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© guiltless readingMaira Gall