Father of One by Jani Anttola
Quick Summary:
Set against the brutal backdrop of the Bosnian War, Father of One is a haunting and deeply human historical fiction novel of survival, sacrifice, and a father’s relentless quest to reunite with his family. Through violence, wilderness, and unimaginable loss, Jani Anttola crafts a powerful narrative that lingers long after the final page.
Author Giveaway:
A randomly chosen winner will receive a $25 Amazon/BN GC.
A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.
Father of One by Jani Anttola ~ #LiteraryFiction #HistoricalFiction #SurvivalFiction #WarStories #GoddessFish #BookTour
Book Details
Father of One By Jani Anttola
Published by The Book Guild on July 25, 2023
Genres: Family, War Stories, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 320
Maka, a young Bosnian soldier, has survived three years under siege. When the enemy forces launch their final attack on his hometown, he must escape to the hills. But traversing the vast woods is a task against all odds: to stay alive, and to find his infant son and his wife, he is soon forced to make a desperate move.
Set against the harrowing background of raging guerrilla warfare and the genocide in Srebrenica, Father of One is, at heart, a story of deep humanity, compassion and love. It is the account of one man’s desire to reunite his family, separated by war, and of bonds unbroken by trauma, sustained by loyalty and tenacity.
Writing in a voice that rings with clarity and authenticity, the author lays open a dark moment in Europe’s recent history.
Source: Goddess Fish Promotions
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Excerpt from Father of One
This is it.
He would shoot some of them, then kill himself with the last one.
Maka counted his rounds. One in the chamber, four in the magazine. That was enough. And he had the grenade. He clipped off a cartridge and put it in his pocket. How many could he get? One? Two? More? He decided on three. A good number. He’d kill two on the road, then at least one more with the grenade when they stormed the house.
Three lives for his. It sounded like some sort of a deal.
He placed the muzzle of the automatic rifle into the rugged hole and took aim at the nearest soldier. He was about thirty metres away. Maka would drop him with a single slug. But when he looked at the man through the sights, over the blued metal of the gun, he felt bitter about dying this way.
He knew the man outside was there to kill him and his kin, but what if he, too, was somebody’s father? He was probably in his forties and distantly resembled a clerk who had worked in the post office in Srebrenica. This Chetnik also wore a šajkača, with its V-shaped top making his head look like a pig’s hoof. He had a messy stubble and a moustache that seemed to hang from his long, thin nose, as he stood under the sun with weary eyes.
So, you’re here to kill me?
It’s you who’s going to die now. But I don’t do this because I like it.
If there were a way to leave this situation without killing anybody, let alone himself, Maka would do so. Just it was too late. It was far too much, and nothing could get it undone. He positioned the sights in the middle of the man’s chest and calmed his breathing down. He took the slack out of the trigger, until he felt the tiny resistance of the firing mechanism in his fingertip.
Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.
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Purchase Links for Father of One
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My Thoughts on Father of One
Raw. Real. Unforgettable.
Some books don’t just tell a story, they grab hold of your heart and don’t let go. Father of One is exactly that kind of book. It pulled me in right away and kept me there, holding my breath through every page.
The early scenes are intense, brutally realistic, and deeply unsettling. The Bosnian War is portrayed with stark honesty, and Jani Anttola doesn't soften a single blow. And honestly? I respect that. This isn’t a war story that glosses over the horror. It dives straight into it, but with purpose.
At its core, this literary fiction novel is a story about love. Maka’s determination to find his wife and infant son is what drives everything forward. His journey through the wilderness is full of fear, grief, and impossible choices. But his love for his family never wavers. That’s what makes this book so powerful.
There were moments I had to pause and let my heart rate settle! It’s not an easy reading, feel-good story, far from it. But it’s the kind of story that stays with you. It shows just how far someone will go for the people they love, even when everything around them is falling apart.
If you enjoy fiction set during wartime that focuses on personal resilience, this book will resonate with you.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review represents my honest and unbiased opinion.
If you would like to read my interview with Jani Anttola, please click HERE.
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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!
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Jani Anttola is a Finnish novelist and a medical doctor. In the 1990s, he served in Rwanda with the French military and fought in Bosnia as a soldier of the Bosnian army. His works have been published in the United Kingdom and Finland. He has spent most of his adult life abroad, working in Africa, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific.About Jani Anttola
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Giveaway!
A randomly chosen winner will receive a $25 Amazon/BN GC.
Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for Father of One
Full Tour Schedule:
June 2: Novels Alive
June 2: Gina Rae Mitchell
June 9: The Avid Reader
June 9: Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
June 16: The Faerie Review
June 23: Sandra's Book Club
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You can find more of my historical and literary fiction reviews here.
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[…] Father of One by Jani Anttola […]
This looks very intriguing. Thanks for sharing.
This sounds really good.
The excerpt sounds good.
It’s an exceptional tale.
Sounds like a great read.
Let me know what you think of it, if you get a chance to read.
Sounds like a powerful read!