The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island

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Reviews for The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island:

Readers' Favorite Book Reviews (⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐)
The Prairies Book Review
Midwest Book Review (Highly Recommended)
BlueInk Review (⭐ Starred Review)
Jennie Reads
Lone Star Literary Life
Kirkus Reviews
IndieReader (⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐)
Book Reviews to Ponder
Reedsy Discovery
Hall Ways Blog
Julia Picks 1
The BookLife Prize - 2020 (⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐)

The summer of 1986. Central Texas. William and his friends should be having a blast. Instead, they are hounded by the Thousand Oaks Gang and their merciless leader, Bloody Billy. William found Billy’s backpack. And because of what it contains, Billy desperately wants it back, and he’ll do anything to get it. William hatches a plan for his friends to sneak away and hide in an abandoned lake house, except they become stranded on the lake’s desolate island without food or water. Will their time on the island devolve into chaos? Will the friends survive and be rescued?

The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island is Lord of the Flies meets The Body by Stephen King, the inspiration for the classic movie Stand By Me.

A gripping suspense story with adventure and danger, tinged with humorous banter between the four friends, the middle schoolers face certain death without adults to protect them from the unrelenting natural elements, as well as the wild creatures that lurk in the wilderness around the lake. With a backpack filled with money and marijuana they stole from the merciless gang leader, it’s only a matter of time before the high schoolers come looking for them, too.

From award-winning writer Scott Semegran, The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island is his eighth book. This novel is Semegran’s response to William Golding’s 1954 novel Lord of the Flies, which was Golding’s response to The Coral Island by R. M. Ballantyne, an adventure novel from 1858. All three novels tackle the premise of boys stranded on an island, with Semegran’s novel taking a decidedly modern view of a group of friends in Central Texas during the summer of 1986 working to survive in a situation filled with danger and desperation with only each other to rely on.

“It’s a delicate and masterful dance to create a world wherein hope and kindness have equal footing with danger and despair, but Semegran succeeds by lining his sentimentality with very real stakes. Semegran is already an accomplished writer, but this may be his preeminent effort.” — James Wade, Spur Award-winning author of All Things Left Wild and River, Sing Out

“Semegran has done it again with The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island, serving up everything I want from a story: adventure, mystery, humor, and plenty of pathos. This isn’t just a coming-of-age novel. Sometimes Island is a roller coaster thrill ride about the essential nature of friendship.” — Heather Harper Ellett, author of Ain't Nobody Nobody

Read an excerpt here.

Praise for The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island

“This well-crafted story will appeal to anyone who grew up in the '80s. Fans of Stand by Me will also enjoy this trip back in time. Although at times wistful, it’s not a purely nostalgic ode to growing up, but a genuine, moving and irresistible meditation on the value of friendship.” — BlueInk Review (Starred Review)

“A fantastic coming-of-age thriller that puts a positive spin on troubled adolescence.” — IndieReader (IR Approved)

“Scott Semegran stretches his literary muscles in this highly accomplished and well-crafted read... a modern classic.” — Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews. 5 stars.

“A page-turner. With his assured writing, tight plotting, and talent to fill a story with realistic details, Semegran has created another winner... a must read!” — The Prairies Book Review. 5 stars.

“Evocative and compelling... a highly recommended, superb example of psychological twists and interpersonal encounters gone awry.” — Midwest Book Review, D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer

“Sharply drawn characters in an engaging, suspenseful coming-of-age tale.” — Lone Star Literary Life

“[Semegran] puts the dynamics of adolescent friendships at the heart of his story... an absorbing, nostalgic, and polished story.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Semegran excels at crafting vivid, realistic characters through sharp and nuanced descriptions. The narrator's warmth, humor, and candor is a joy to read.” — The BookLife Prize. Quarter Finalist. Overall: 9.75 out of 10.