The Eye of An Eagle

The Eye of An Eagle
Author: Stan Allotey
Reviewed by Fran Lewis


How would you define success? Is it how much money you have and are able to spend? Is it the number and make of the most expensive cars that you could possibly own? Do you define success in knowing that you could buy designer clothing and spend money as if there was no tomorrow and debt is a word that you never considered? The road to true success is hard. In order to appreciate it you might have to bear many disappointments, overcome huge hurdles and deal with many setbacks before achieving your primary goal.

Stan Allotey in The Eye of An Eagle, a very inspiriting and thought provoking novel, brings to light many issues that people faced in the past and are still facing today.

Nii Ankara, an African student barely escapes with this life as he is caught in the middle of a Ghanaian Coup that erupts when the military decided to overthrow the government of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, in 1966 leaving Ghana in total chaos without the proper leadership and more. Before leaving he made a promise to the man who risked it all for him, his friend Osei that he would come back and help the bring freedom to the people of Ghana.

Winding up in California and meeting some amazing young men, Nii learns t not only the value of hard work and getting an education but the true meaning of friendship and loyalty. But, he learns many other lessons as well. Throughout this novel the author reminds the reader of the rich heritage and contributions of many Black People, the civil rights movement, the deaths and assassinations of many of our leaders and much more. Through the eyes of Nii, the reader learns about the many court decisions, movements in history and hardships that African Americans had to endure in the past and what they still need to have their voices made more powerful and heard in the future.

Nii’s way of life and culture is much different than ours. Becoming assimilated in the ways of the people in his new community, he learns the true meaning of hardship, defeat and prejudice. Stan Allotey reminds the reader of the many invaluable contributions to science, technology, medicine and education made by Black Americans. Nii embraces his newfound knowledge and learns about Rosa Parks who stood up for the right to sit where she wanted in a public bus. The deaths of Dr. King and Robert Kennedy made a strong impact on him. Our author reminds everyone of how far we have come and reminds us that we are not there yet. With countries around the world that have insurgents going against the rights of the people in their country, when civil unrest is still a thing of the present in many places, we need to be reminded of how lucky were are here in America and how we still need to help those who have do not have the same freedoms were have been afforded.


As Nii becomes more immersed in our culture and life, through his eyes the author takes us and Nii back in time to learn about the heritage of his people in order to help him understand where he came from and hopefully provide him with the tools and knowledge to understand where he needs to go to fulfill his promise to his friend.

Nii, is a bright young man with a great future ahead of him. Wanting to fit in and wanting companionship, he falls prey to the wiles of a young woman named Barbara Jackson. His marriage to her would be the beginning of his downfall and the end of his career and his life, as he knew which lands him on Skid Row the lowest a place a man of his intelligence and stature should never have wound up. But, on Skid Row he learns valuable lessons and the means to survive in a world in which he feels alienated and alone.

What does causes him to rise up and develop a new perspective on life? What causes him to return to school, handle the courses, deal with the costs and become independent, you will have to read for yourself in order to understand the determination of this young man.

Throughout the novel the author explains the major differences of the two groups of people within the Ghanaian community. But, these two groups are not any different than those in most communities where one group feels their net worth or their social status is based on their material things or material wealth. The other group called the Progressives, never wastes their money on high-end items and expensive material things. Theyiput their energies into their businesses and their education. You decide which one would define your goals and your status. You decide which type of life would bring you success and then read what does happen to many of Nii’s friends and to Nii as a result of the greed of others and the lack of understanding as to what is really important in life.

When Nii does return to Compton College and receives his degree, he finally attains a position of status. From that point on the road would not be easy but he would never take that same downward spiral again. Focusing on his tasks, remembering what he learned from each of his failures and the reasons that cost him many of his jobs, he developed a keen sense and strong instincts that would help him survive in a world where it is not so much what you know, but who!

The many changes in his community, in his college and in his life will help you to understand why this young man would not give up until he would fulfill the dream of Dr.Kwame Nkrumah the first President of Ghana and help the people of Ghana get their independence and create the United States of African. This was Dr. Nkrumah’s goal. This goal has yet to be realized.

Well-written, informative, drawn from many parts of the author’s life, Stan Allotey takes the reader on a journey that has many more chapters and many unsolved answers. But, one question does stand out and remains unanswered until today: When will people learn that everyone in the world should be afforded the same rights, liberties, education and privileges, jobs in every arena in life and more? Putting a lot of himself into this book Olympic Gold Medalist Stan Allotey gets the another Gold Medal for writing this inspiring true to life novel.

Keeping a promise to a friend is more precious and sacred than all of the money, power and wealth in the world. Nii vowed to help bring change to his people and go back to Ghana to set them free. How would he do this? What major changes in his life does he make? Where does he get help and whose help does he enlist? Is he successful or does he have more hurdles to overcome? Read this novel and see if Nii is true to his word.

One man’s journey, one man’s vision, one man who truly has the Eye of An Eagle to see things clearly. This novel will renew your faith in loyalty, friendship, hope, determination and more. Never give up on yourself: Nii Didn’t. Let the voices of these people be heard and hopefully the dream for freedom and independence will be a reality for all countries throughout the world.

I am honored to have been asked to review this novel and I hope the author will grant me the privilege of reviewing more of his work.

Fran Lewis: Reviewer
Author of Memories are Precious and the Bertha Series of Books

Chrysalis: Tribulations

Chrysalis: Tribulations

By M. L. Lacy

From the author of Chrysalis the Awakening comes the second in her series, Tribulations. In her first book we meet Bree, a young girl who, in order to save her clan, her family, she must enter into another dimension or world. Bree is part human and soon will crossover into the Magical Realm.

She is the last Chosen One, the one who is to become the most powerful person in the Magical realm. We soon learn in book two the obstacles she faced before are nothing compared to those she will face as this saga continues.

As the book unfolds, Bree is with her clan and they are discussing the various steps that she will have to encounter in order to keep her safe. However, there are many who would rather see her perish and not succeed.

New members that want entrance into a clan have to pass certain tests before being allowed to join that clan. Background checks, character checks and many other tests have to be passed before the new member is allowed to become part of the clan. But as four new members are given access into her clan, without having to go through the vetting process and against her wishes, this could prove dangerous to her and others in many respects

Bree has several other major obstacles and hurdles to contend with before crossing over to the magical world. First, she has to come to terms with her nightly dreams where she can crawl into the mind of her archenemy and leader of the Council, Esmeralda. Bree, can read her mind, enter her lair totally unnoticed and be able to find out what she plans with her minions in order to destroy Bree, take out her heart takes her blood in order for her to rule. But, can she escape her wrath and what she has planned for her?

She ventures ahead and learns that there are members of her own clan who want to cause her hardship and Bree realizes she has some hard choices to make. Madalyn, who showed her true colors in book one as being a definite adversary for Bree, has her designs on taking over as the Alpha Female and will go to extraordinary lengths to make sure that she overtakes Bree’s role and rules the clan. When Madalyn enlists the help of two other members of the clan and decides to take on all of her clan, the end result will surprise you and endear you to Bree even more.

The author created a character that has intelligence, wit and one you can identify. Not succumbing to the will of others and standing her ground, she will go to any lengths to protect her clan and teach Madelyn a lesson that she hopes she will never forget.

Through the guidance of Odessa, Bree’s guardian, she continues to develop in her destiny. But Odessa is only her guardian, not her teacher and with the appearance of an older wizard, Bree begins to learn her magic in very unusual ways. Aunt Beth, as Bree has now dubbed her, begins the arduous task in teaching a mortal magic. Bree must learn that she has the power to do much more if she draws on her strength and intelligence and reacts wisely.

With Esmeralda at her heels with a new accomplice whose help she has enlisted, and Thomas, her trusty aid, no one knows what the outcome will be or who will survive. Attack from demons come on out of nowhere and Bree’s first husband comes back to haunt and torment her, but with the help of her four men and her protectors she begins to feel safe, but not completely. But, the threat is not over and Esmeralda and more will try to destroy her before all is said and done.

Events occur that forces Bree to stand up to the rest of the clan and make her position as the Alpha and Chosen One stronger and heard. Against their wishes and by breaking the spells her protectors placed on her home to keep her protected inside, she fights and protects those she loves and proves that she has the power needed to lead.

Will she be able to stop Marcus and Esmeralda? Will she be able to undo the damage they have caused? That remains to be seen.

A tribulation is an experience that tests one’s endurance, patience and faith. Bree has to deal with some serious issues and problems and the trials and tribulations that she faces in this novel and in her new life as a Magical will only make her stronger and able to lead her clan. But, whom can she trust and which one of the new members of her clan are a plant and really a spy?

The events that unfold help you to understand the ties that bind families and those that tear them apart. Who is innocent? Who will pay for their crimes? Who will be the one to inflict the justice on those that deserve it? You will have to read for yourself. Many new characters that join the clan and many of her true and dear friends and family to support and tighten the their circle of protection in order to make sure that Bree is safe. 


With the guidance of Odessa, her grandmother and her inner strength, Bree takes on those who oppose her and shows everyone that she is a total force to be reckoned with. But, can she succeed in saving her clan and saving someone she loves. Just whom does she risk it all for and what does she do at the end to prove that no one wants to mess with her and she rules? You need to read it for yourself to understand how far someone will go to right the wrongs inflicted on a family, her family, and her clan.

Once again, Madonna Lacy has transported the reader into a world of vampires, werewolves, Magicals, humans and people of many different races and reminded us that her fantasy world is not that different from our real one today. Friendships that bind those together are tighter than the golden ropes used to imprison those that are evil. Those that want power do not always deserve it and those that have the power need to understand how to use it. What will happen next? Will Bree overtake Esmeralda and eliminate her and her minions? Will she ever find true peace and safety? You will have to wait for book three and the sequel to find out.

I give this book Five Perfect Crystals and Five Magic Wands for Bree to Use to protect those she loves.

Fran Lewis: reviewer and author of the Bertha Series of Books and Memories are Precious.