The Lost Barge

The Lost Tribes Trilogy, Book 1

By: Michael Young

Narrated by: Cami Gubler

Length: 7 hrs

Publisher's summary

On the way to the promised land, one of the Jaredite barges takes an unplanned detour. Shipwrecked during a violent storm, the inhabitants of the barge find themselves on a strange shore without the company of the other 15 barges and no hope of rescue.

Separated from the rest of the survivors, Omer, the captain of the barge, finds that his wife and niece were not killed in the shipwreck, but taken hostage by the island's native inhabitants. The pround and industrious tribe have taken them both to be wives of their high priest, and the rest of Omer’s people are set to be brutally sacrificed to their sun god. With only days, Omer must save his people and figure out the incredible reason that there may be more than one promised land.

©2020 Michael D. Young (P)2023 Michael D. Young

Enjoyable, Clean and Uplifitng

This is a fun adventure and I look forward to the next installment. That being said, I would like to clarify a few things. Although it is listed in the Religious Fiction genre, it isn't clear in the synopsis that this is a fictional story based on events and stories found in "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ." This book falls under the category of "Mormon Fiction," which Amazon does not offer as a separate category. It is instantly recognizable as such by someone who is familiar with that book but would not be by someone who is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Let me be clear. That is not a negative against the book at all—just clarification. I can see someone unwittingly choosing this book and having a negative experience because the background is unfamiliar to them.

That being said, I am attempting to frame my review first as someone who is familiar with The Book of Mormon (I am) and second, as someone who is not.

So first, someone who is. You will immediately recognize the setting and clever spin-off from the stories told in the Book of Ether. You will also be comfortable with the language and how various religious principles are framed. The book will be immediately comfortable and enjoyable to you. The plot isn't complicated, and it makes for a fun, beach read that you know is clean and uplifting.

Second—someone who is not. You don't necessarily need to know the backstory in order to understand the book, but it would help. It takes place just after the Tower of Babel and describes a people saved from having their language changed and then sent by God to a promised land. You may at times find yourself a little lost by details the author assumes the reader already knows. The author also slips between casual dialog and scriptural voice. However, the scriptural voice is fairly unique to The Book of Mormon so it may feel unfamiliar to you, even if you have read the Bible or Talmud. Even the manner of prayer described in the book may seem awkward and unfamiliar to you. If you are okay with all of that up front, then I recommend that you go ahead and give the story a try. It's best to set your expectations up front so that you don't become frustrated.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read/listen.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author through Story Origin.

A captivating start to the Lost Tribes Trilogy!

"The Lost Barge" by Michael Young is a captivating start to the Lost Tribes Trilogy. Young's writing skillfully weaves a tale of survival, love, and mystery, keeping you engaged from start to finish. Cami Gubler's narration adds depth to the characters and their struggles, making this audiobook an immersive experience. If you love fantasy fiction with a touch of adventure and intrigue, don't miss this one.

Finding a promised land?

A group of faithfuls set out for the promised land on barges. They crashed onto an island. They fought for their lives against the sea. If they survived that, they fought beasts and priests. A star god, a moon god, and a sun god had control over this island. Can they survive them? How can they escape? Is their one true God better than their gods? Never a dull moment in this book.
The narration was expressive with many voices. I struggled with all the weird names . I should have written them down.