The Soap Maker

By: Terrence Pershall
Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC
Publication Date: May 26, 2025
ISBN: 979-8890251459
Reviewed by: Lily Andrews
Review Date: March 26, 2025

In The Soap Maker by Terrence Pershall, the pressing need to make a decision, similar to an ant confronting a lion, initiates this intriguing narrative. Here, an innocent young man who becomes one of the Nazis' biggest adversaries is caught up in a quest for liberation that his nation sorely needs following the brutal deaths of his loved ones.

As a young boy of 13, Anton spent all of his free time with his favorite grandpa, Papy Philippe, watching him make soap. He would assist with tending the garden area where Papy cultivated the plants from which he extracted the oils that he used to make the soap because of their aroma and therapeutic properties. Over time, Anton mastered the technique and was thrilled when Papy complimented him on his efforts. Papy was troubled to see that the Germans, commanded by Hitler, were pushing into France, implying a future war that, as a veteran, he thought would be worse than the last one. Unfortunately, his fears soon came to pass when a Nazi officer killed his daughter, Anton's mother. With promptness but caution, Papy advised Anton to try to use his grief as a strength to fight against the people who had taken his mother away.

In the days that followed, he handed Anton "special soaps" to present to several "customers." Anton was astute enough to realize that Papy and his father were up to something, particularly after a bombing by a resistance group was reported on the news. Curfews were enforced, and Anton almost got arrested before being rescued by a young woman who was fleeing due to the Germans' cruel murder of her parents. With predictions of a large invasion circulating, his task became critical to the resistance group's covert plans. The worst happened, however, when a German soldier one day picked the "wrong" soap from his basket, followed by unthinkable personal tragedies striking close to home.

Pershall leads readers on a harrowing familial journey packed with grief and wounds caused by painful losses amid a tumultuous historical period. He conveys the main characters' tenacity, fortitude, and belief that liberation was achievable despite all the evidence to the contrary. He has given readers the opportunity to experience the grim political atmosphere as they become engrossed in the richly drawn locale and tense family dynamics amid alarming news and rumors.

Rays of optimism for victory over the enemy are briefly displayed before being swiftly and violently smashed, which heightens the plot's depth and intensity in a real war scenario where the unpredictable takes center stage. Themes of kidnapping, cold-blooded death of women and children, rape, barbaric treatment, and torture have been interwoven to accurately depict the antagonist's brutality. Notable are the protagonist's survival tactics and accomplishments, victories and tragedies, and his ability to emerge neither arrogant nor bitter.

This is a tale that teaches and amuses while exploring an unconventional approach to pursuing justice. It skillfully allows readers to draw their own assumptions before taking completely unexpected turns. Using characters that transform this historical narrative into a fantastically entertaining one, along with a dash of humor and affection, the Nazi Invasion and the Resistance efforts have been masterfully crafted. What is required to pursue justice against powerful officials and what it would take to shatter a strong heart are the central themes of the finale.

Quill says: The Soap Maker by Terrence Pershall is a one-of-a-kind historical book that seamlessly combines a contemporary narrative and a historical account. Each character is wonderfully depicted, with their own motivations and intricacies. Readers who value sophisticated weaving will find this story compelling and delightful.

For more information about The Soap Maker, please visit the publisher's website at: www.evolvedpub.com/books/the-soap-maker