From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Leylah Attar, comes a compelling, emotionally resonant new novel, set against the lush backdrop of the Serengeti.Winner, 2017 Indie Reader Discovery Awards Once in Africa, I kissed a king… discovered the elusive magic I had only ever glimpsed between the pages of great love stories. It fluttered around me like a newborn butterfly and settled in a corner of my heart. I held my breath, afraid to exhale for fear it would slip out, never to be found again.”
When a bomb explodes in a mall in East Africa, its aftershocks send two strangers on a collision course that neither one sees coming.
Jack Warden, a divorced coffee farmer in Tanzania, loses his only daughter. An ocean away, in the English countryside, Rodel Emerson loses her only sibling.
Two ordinary people, bound by a tragic afternoon, set out to achieve the extraordinary, as they make three stops to rescue three children across the vast plains of the Serengeti—children who are worth more dead than alive.
But even if they beat the odds, another challenge looms at the end of the line. Can they survive yet another loss—this time of a love that’s bound to slip through their fingers, like the mists that dissipate in the light of the sun?
“Sometimes you come across a rainbow story—one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it or hold on to it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought.”
A blend of romance and women’s fiction, Mists of The Serengeti is inspired by true events and contains emotional triggers, including the death of a child. Not recommended for sensitive readers. Standalone, contemporary fiction.
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Oh, man. This is probably one of my favorite books of all time. I read Leylah’s prose and it’s so gorgeous, it makes me tremble. If you’re a fan of Mia Sheridan, Amy Harmon and Emma Scott, add this author to your list.
Exquisite writing, unique, rich setting, and compelling characters make for an incredible journey. I highly recommend this book.
The Most Amazing Book of Our Time.
‘Once in Africa, I kissed a king.’
Mists of the Serengeti is not just a book you read; it’s a book that leeches onto your heart and causes it to soar, constrict, thrum, hum; forever beating to a changed tune. This book WILL change you. It changed me. Attar’s writing style is beyond any I’ve had the pleasure to experience. Attar is the definition of literature. Attar is the future. Attar’s a frickin’ rock star.
I was Rodel in this story. I took every step she did. I stood in Africa. I was in the Serengeti. The mist blinded me. I could breathe the scents, feel the rain, reach out my hand and stroke each of the wild animals that roamed across vast and broad lands. I too wore a rainbow halo, and I felt Jack’s breath on my nape, his heartache pulsing through me, his torture bringing him undone. But then something shifted, and a glimmer of fight presented itself, one that wrapped me up with a sweet little bow and exploded the meaning of life in front of my eyes. I forgot to breathe so many times reading this book. Every chapter I’d lay down my kindle, and I’d mouth ‘WOW’ over and over again. I had to take stock of the brilliance written to these pages.
I was in awe. I still am. I’m also truly regretful that it has taken me so long to open the cover of this book. I’d been missing out on a journey/experience that can never be replaced. Mists of The Serengeti will NEVER leave me. So much beauty, the rawness, the exquisiteness, and the talent of Leylah Attar … A masterpiece that should be used as a historical form of documentation to mark this generation of literature forever.
Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack. It became the beat my heart took as I was escorted through these pages. It’s a beat I will always remember to whisper when times in my own life feel too much to bear.
All stories have a place in our world, but this story, the story of The Serengeti, will stay with you forever.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!
I know this book so popular because they said the story really good but I waiting the right time and once again I hate it why I took so long time to read this book T^T
It’s my first Leylah’s books and first time I read women’s fiction. I don’t know if I can review or describe this book. But I told you, if you want to find a book with super duper epic story you MUST read this book!
Seriously I adore this book so much, I don’t even imagine a tragedy brought them together and healing each other. Mists of The Serengeti is such an inspiring, beautiful and breathtaking book ever.
“Once in Africa, I kissed a king…”
This book has ruined me. When I read the blurb for the first time, I knew it would be a very heartbreaking and tear-jerking book. But you know me, I love books that are very emotional. Also Leylah Attar is one of my favorite authors, so I just had to read this book. She did such a phenomenal job with Mists of the Serengeti. The way she described everything, it was like I was actually in Africa living everything the characters were living. I was a part of them and felt every emotion as strongly as they did. When they cried I cried, when they laughed I laughed, when they were angry I was angry as well. I was completely in sync with them. This book was perfection.
“I want to take you like I hate you. Fiercely. Completely. Because you resurrected me, only to relinquish me.”
It wasn’t an easy book to read. So I highly recommend you to keep some tissues close by. This book wasn’t only heartbreaking but very heartwarming as well. The characters were one for one very important to the story. They played an huge role in creating such an amazing story. I don’t know how Leylah does it but she has magical writing skills. I was under her spell and couldn’t put the book down. She took me on a beautiful and dangerous adventure and I didn’t want it to end. She shed light on some horrific things that are happening in the world, and even though I was already aware of them, it still broke my heart to read about it. However I do think it is important to educate people on what is going on in certain places in the world, because knowledge is power and we are not alone on the planet and we should care about what happens to each other. I am sure that a lot of you won’t be able to read certain scenes without shedding some tears and having your heart broken.
“I could spend forever in the corners of her mind and never get bored. I could kiss her lips every morning and still not learn all the flavors of her soul.”
I love that the book was inspired by true events. I would not change anything about this book expect wish it never ended. I think it will be very difficult for any book to top this one in my favorite book of the year. It is already become one of my all time favorite, and it will always have a very special place in my heart. Visiting Tanzania is now on my bucket list and I hope I will be able to visit and experience that beautiful country. This book is perfect and I hope you guys will pick it up and go on a beautiful but also heartbreaking journey.
This story makes me want to go to Africa! A tragic tale turns into an epic love story between coffee farmer Jack and English school teacher, Rodel. Brought together by grief, their combined efforts to save albino children takes the reader on a journey which is both heartbreaking and hopeful. And it has the best epilogue ever!
4 1/2 Stars! A beautiful story.
We are all connected! The words look prettier in the African language but it remains true.
How insignificant a moment seems and in that same moment everything changes.
When the African Mall was under attack little did Jack know that going to his car at the moment he did saved his life. After the attack Jack lost his daughter and his world.
Rodel not answering her sister’s call didn’t seem to be a big deal. Until she realized her sister was in the Mall during the attack.
Both Jack & Rodel’s lives changed with the attack and they were brought together by Rodel’s need to fulfill her sister’s mission to help save the Albino Children.
Together Jack helps Rodel with her mission and along the way they both find healing and knowing we are all connected makes all the difference.
I listened to this story Through Audible!
Not only was this a Beautifully written story but it came to life with the Wonderful Narrators! I Definitely recommend this book & the Audible is an added icing on the perfection that is this Awesome story!
What an amazing story. I enjoyed it all and I especially loved that epilogue. I definitely recommend this book and this author.
Thank you Leylah Attar for writing this beautiful and soulful book. Also, thank you for filling my head with the tunes of Toto blessing the rains down in Africa and my incessant need to play that song on repeat ever since I’ve finished this book.
Seriously though, I loved this book. I don’t know what else I can add to my review that others haven’t said already… just that I’ve never wanted to actually travel to Africa until now to experience the wonders of the Serengeti and the serene beauty of the land.
Mists of The Serengeti is one of those books that slowly creeps up on you, sinks it’s hooks inside your heart and make you never want to let it go. It will create an addiction inside of you and you’ll feel the full force of the withdrawal when you reach the end. It’s one of those meaningful and breathtaking books that will transport you inside the story and make you feel like you are there to experience the full magnitude of the sights, the sounds, and all the feelings that encompass it.
This quote from the book sums up my feelings perfectly:
“Sometimes you come across a rainbow story—one that spans your heart. You might not be able to grasp it or hold on to it, but you can never be sorry for the color and magic it brought.”
This was definitely a rainbow story.
5+ STARS!!
I’ve postponed this book for far too long and then with dire anticipation, I read and listened at a snail’s pace – waiting for the devastation to jump out and knock me down. When I finally finished, I realized my imagination was far worse than the reality of the actual story. And then I read the epilogue!!!
Gorgeously descriptive, well-researched, and thoroughly plotted story. The definition of a perfect romantic women’s fiction novel.
Oh, and a fantastic narration via Audible.
Gem of a tale! Masterfully told!!
I absolutely loved this book. Seriously, loved this book! I was hooked, so lost in the story I found myself still thinking about it hours after putting it down. It is a phenomenal story line, rich with culture and the beauty that is the Serengeti. Who would think such incredible love and joy could come from such devastation. This is a beautiful story about the survival of the heart and the threads that bind us together. The main characters embark on a very raw and emotionally charged journey. The author’s skillful writing makes you feel like you are embroiled in the emotional struggle right along with them, it is gut wrenching, but so worth it!! Thank goodness for Goma and her wit! Well placed for comic relief! She is a hoot! This is a rare and beautiful gem of a love story! This is a must read!!! #fiction #book #mustread #romance #bestbook #jackjack #lovegoma #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookboyfriend #bookworm #readme #lovestory
This was really phenomenal. This story is pure emotion from beginning to end. The events and circumstances surrounding this story are tragic and horrific but the story is so much more. I love how this romance evolved. So seamlessly in the midst of the tragedy two people find their way. Truly one of the best I’ve read this year and that was BEFORE I read the epilogue! One of the best endings of any book this year.