The Song of the Lotus Flower by Lelita Baldock

                                             

Ebook:  392 pages                                                                         

Genre:  Adult Fiction, 20C Historical Fiction,

Publisher:  Storm Publishing August 2026

Source:  NetGalley

First Sentence:  Breaking through the thick foliage of the jungle, I spy the helicopter.

Review Quote: What a poignant and beautifully written book: Reader Review

Series:  Women War Reporters #1

My Opinion:

A new to me author, but I believe 'The Song of the Lotus Flower' is her eighth published novel.

It is a powerful dual timeline story set in war torn Vietnam in the fifties and sixties. The protagonist for the 1967 setting is American journalist Jude Murphy, who is fighting against all odds to report the truth. The earlier setting in the nineteen fifties is about Susan, a British woman who while working in Vietnam, starts to question what is really going on. The paths of these two strong women eventually cross as we learn more and more about the atrocities that occurred and the barriers these women came up against in trying to share the truth.

Some of the descriptions are very graphic and some readers may find them distressing, but they are necessary and the author portrays such scenes in a humane way.  Recommended to readers looking for compassionate historical fiction set in an unusual setting.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:

An epic tale of courage, love and heroism inspired by the true stories of women working as journalists during the Vietnam War.

1967. Jude Murphy has never taken no for an answer. When her editor refuses to send her to cover Vietnam, she books her own flight to Saigon – typewriter in her luggage, borrowed camera over her shoulder, and every intention of reporting the truth of a war her country would rather sanitise.

But on arrival, she clashes with the stubborn military officer who blocks women from frontline reporting. Determined to break through every barrier, Jude fights the authorities for her right to report. Then, while waiting to join a platoon, she meets a young American soldier whose warmth and idealism starkly contrast her growing cynicism about the war, opening her eyes – and her heart – in ways she never expected.

When she’s captured behind enemy lines, Jude faces an impossible choice between protecting the people who saved her and exposing the devastating truths her reporting has uncovered.

A moving and utterly breathtaking story of loss, love and the determination of women to fight for freedom in a time of war, this unforgettable story will captivate readers of The Rose Code, The Nightingale and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Perfect for anyone who loves:

Strong, independent women defying the odds
Rich period atmosphere
Forbidden love in a warzone
Stories inspired by real women in history
War fiction with emotional depth and moral complexity

Author Profile:

                                                      

                                                          

                                                Photo and Bio Courtesy of Goodreads

Lelita Baldock was born in Adelaide, Australia, she is an author of historical and literary fiction. 

Raised in Australia, living between the capital cities of Adelaide and Melbourne. In 2018 Lelita relocated to Surrey. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English Literature and History, and a Bachelor of Education, specialising in English.

As a secondary school English teacher, Lelita taught across multiple disciplines, including High Level International Baccalaureate English Literature and A Level English, in both Australia and the UK.

Lelita's novels focus on lesser-known aspects of history and the incredible everyday people who endure and overcome.

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Author Website.    Instagram Profile.   Facebook Profile.   Amazon Author Page

Goodreads Profile