This is the story of Sirma voivode and her loyal Haiduk gang. Sirma didn’t start as a brave protector of her fellow Slavic villagers. As a young woman she was witness to an injustice that left her mourning her two best friends. Outraged at the collective apathy, Sirma felt compelled to take action. Stepping into the role of voivode, Sirma poses as a man to take control of a Haiduk gang looking to protect the weak. Seeking revenge for her friends helps keep Sirma focused when she feels vulnerable, and the loyalty of her voluntary soldiers keeps her inspired. Realizing that the account is based off of an actual historical figure from the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century, the story Sirma and her brave soldiers is riveting and educational.
“To achieve anything, one must sacrifice something. It was a natural law.” For Sirma, she gives up more than her traditional quiet life. Living as a leader is by necessity filled with sacrifices and this historical fiction novel brilliantly details what those costs were for the real-life Sirma. The text has some notable grammatical flaws that could be repaired with a good proofreading. However, the suspense and drama will keep readers immersed. The story is engrossing, filled with the history of a people not often fictionalized. In a period piece where women were frequently marginalized, Reni Stankova has done elegant justice telling the story of an important woman.
