A Goddess Among Men by Daniel Davidsohn {Book Review}

Disclosure: I received this book to review through iRead Book Tours, I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own.

From the primitive ruggedness of the Amazon rainforest to the privileged society of New York, three generations experience triumph and tragedy in this saga of loyalty, corruption, greed . . . but one woman has the power to change it all.

In 1907, Julian Welch and Alan Reid meet by chance in the jungles of the Amazon attracted by the riches of the rubber boom. Pioneers in an era of uncertainty, they form an unlikely alliance and establish the foundation for a successful empire, Reid & Welch. However, with Julian’s death, the empire is left to Alan, as is the responsibility for Julian’s newborn daughter, Christel.

Yet for Christel, there’s no growing up as a privileged heiress. Instead, Alan subjects her to a life few endure, much less overcome. Through her will to survive and being as uncompromising as she is beautiful, Christel puts the horrors of her past behind her and begins to build a seemingly bright future. But when the success built on corruption starts to crumble, Christel will be forced to address the past or pay for the sins of the fathers.

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Readers who enjoy literary-style writing, but with all the turns and twists of a full drama plot are certain to devour this lavish and exciting work by author Daniel Davidsohn. One of the most impressive elements for me was the character development of Christel herself, who could so easily have followed the tropes of a typical beautiful lead female, but has several layers of depth and emotional heartache that she works through as the novel unfolds. The plot is revealed at a great pace to maintain intrigue for the sins of the past, but it also has plenty of surprises and revealing interactions along the way that astute fans will pick up on. Overall, A Goddess Among Men is a very enjoyable work and is not to be missed by fans of high-quality writing and accomplished drama. – K.C. Finn, Author of The Mind’s Eye

A Goddess Among Men is a fascinating tale of derring-do in the untamed wilds of the Amazon rain forest. Daniel Davidsohn has a writing style that is smooth, fluid and compelling. I found this story impossible to put down and completed it in just one sitting. The author’s descriptive prose of especially the rainforest, its flora, and fauna, as well as its native peoples, transported me there. I was beside the two men as they fought against horrifying deprivation and local political corruption to establish themselves in an industry where a few made a fortune and the rest either perished or were paupers, struggling along trying to survive each day. I particularly enjoyed the strong female leads in the story, especially the women that would steal Julian’s heart. All the characters were flawed and yet the author was able to arouse the reader’s sympathy and empathy even for the thoroughly crooked and, at times, despicable Alan Reid. If you like stories of generational power and wealth, this one will be right up your alley. I thoroughly enjoyed A Goddess Among Men and can highly recommend it to a wide audience. – Grant Leishman, Author of Just A Drop in the Ocean

Family Saga Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction

Yep, that about sums it up. Roller coaster ride would also fit… romance (though not as a primary genre, maybe more as a side note.)

This book is outside what my “norm” is but I could not put the book down.

Initially, I was a little wary. Honestly, the entire first part (the book is broken into 3 parts) I was wary of if I would like it or not, but the shady main character left a bad taste in my mouth. I had to continue reading to see what would happen and how everything would play out. It was just a situation and a person that – while I understand the evil of some people – you just don’t really think someone could be so evil and conniving, but he was.

And it didn’t end with the first part of the book. His evil and conniving ways continued through it all.

Once the Goddess was introduced (I must warn you, this portion of the book is definitely a possible trigger as well as more of a PG13 rating. It is disturbing and sickening, but not detailed or graphic. Just the events that were occurring) I was hook, line, and sinker.

Sidenote: I totally did not understand the title of the book until closer to the end. The light bulb moment turned on and I was in awe because really, Christel is the Goddess among men. She was… everything. A survivor, a wife, a mother, a business woman, a billionaire, a strength to be reckoned with, smart, intelligent, business savvy, and best of all – she was a giver, a philanthropist.

Where women would struggle, Christel fought back.

Where men questioned, Christel pressed on and prevailed.

Christel was a woman to be idolized and in hindsight, the book is her story.

I highly recommend this read. It is long, but so well worth it!

About the Author
Born in 1969, Brazil, Daniel Davidsohn’s novels have been called exciting, gripping, and engrossing, garnering him praise and rave reviews. He is passionately attracted to unfamiliar things and enjoys taking readers off the beaten path. His books include From The Nile to The Euphrates (2009), Mare Crisium (2015), A Higher Power (2016), The Karma Code (2017), Leave Her Out, a 2018 Readers’ Favorite Book Award Finalist, and A Goddess Among Men (2020).