The Beloved Daughter

I have a strong interest in the persecuted church and persecuted Christians, so I found this fascinating. Although it is fiction, this story of a persecuted believer in North Korea demonstrates the strength of faith exhibited by so many Christians in places where to simply state your faith is to risk your life.

This book has given me joy, courage, clarity it was as if each chapter God himself was speaking to me. I can not tell you how appropriate in timing this book came and to think I was not going to buy it. I have never had so many conflicting feels from reading one book may God be always with you Alana may he continue to guide your path.

I just finished this book and it leaves me with a great sense of awe. It is so powerfully written that although I know nothing about Korean life I was engaged from page one to the end.

Alana writes a story of Christian witness that is honest, gripping and brutally honest. No soft soaping the walk of a Christian here. No platitudes, or piety wrapped in flowers and fluff. Sometimes Christian novels come across as a bit gooey but not this one!

If you want to enter into what martyrdom is really like, take a deep breath and grab this book. It will fill you with fear one moment and God's presence the next. Miracles happen but in surprising ways that are totally believable and from my own experience totally in line of how God has worked in my own life. No parting of the Red Sea but life changing nevertheless.

This book will deepen your faith and commitment to live your life with greater boldness for God.

The Beloved Daughter was not an easy book to read. It opens with North Korean officials arresting a father, mother, and, their twelve-year-old daughter, Chung-Cha, for their Christian faith. When a soldier slams the daughter's head into an iron stove and the father is ordered to renounce his belief in God, I cringed and searched my heart, wondering how I would react in similar circumstances.

And it only gets worse from there. After she is tortured while held in solitary confinement, Chung-Cha is told her father denied Jesus and hanged himself. Released into Camp 22 where the prisoners are even forbidden to supplement their meager food rations by hunting insects or rats, Chung-Cha questions her belief in God and embarks on a journey of survival.

After several years of a wretched existence, life gets worse when Chung-Cha is returned to solitary confinement. Yet, what men see as bad, God turns to good. Chung-Cha is befriended by a Christian woman in an unlikely turn of events. After years of deprivation, betrayal by friends, torture by her enemies, can Chung-Cha's faith be restored? And what will she do if it is?

This was a heart-breaking story that made my tears flow, not just in sympathy for the terrible trials the characters endured, but also for faith that triumphs in the most hellish of conditions.

The Beloved Daughter is a powerful book that is both riveting and heart wrenching-- a story that will never again let me take for granted the blessings we have in America.

(I received a free copy of the book.)

This book sounded like it would be something that might pique my interest, so I thought I would at least read it and see what I thought. I will say that this book was nothing like what I had expected.

Ms. Terry paints such a vivid picture of her characters and the pain that they endured. I've never read a story with such descriptions that truly made me feel like I was standing there inside the room as each story was played out.

Is this a "guy's" book? I would say that if you have but one to read this entire year, this book should be it. This book embodies great intrigue and suspense, this is one that should not be missed.

This is a harrowing account of a young girl in North Korea. When she is twelve years old Chung-Cha is tortured and placed in a concentration camp because of her father's open proclamation of his Christian faith. After being tortured for several weeks, Chung-Cha turns away from the God who seems so powerless to help her.

What I liked about this book was the attention is draws to the horrible conditions of people and Christians in North Korea. It is important not to forget them despite the media blackout. The descriptions of life seemed authentic.

I also appreciated that while brutality was described it was done in a measured way and some details were mercifully withheld making it far more readable.

The aspect that I found more difficult was the way the Christians in this had open resentment and were unforgiving. Also that the Moses character seemed to be trying to earn his salvation and had no conception of the grace of God or any assurance of salvation. Thus the Christian characters were either perfect (three of them) or were very far from God, even the ones who were risking their necks to save others.

Otherwise this is worth reading.

The Beloved Daughter is a thought provoking story of faith, loss, and God's redemption. This story is not for those with soft stomachs. Alana Terry delivers the gritty details of life in North Korea through the character of Chung-Cha. My eyes were opened to the reality of life in North Korean prison camps. Hopelessness and sorrow permeate the characters' lives in The Beloved Daughter. But how wonderful it is to read of Jesus' redemption even amidst the prison camps of North Korea!

Alana managed to keep a tight balance between overcast moments and moments when a glimpse of the sun shone through. This book was not all sorrow. Seeing the Christian church flourish among the barren wilderness of godlessness was encouraging and awe-inspiring. And Alana crafted a plot that– despite its serious tone– was engaging and interesting. Because of the heart-wrenching circumstances thrust upon Chung-Cha, I immediately rooted for her spiritual and physical deliverance. And a certain revelation about her father brought both joy and sorrow to my heart.

Reading this book allows a reader to truly count their blessings and pray more earnestly for our persecuted Brothers and Sisters. Chung-Cha's story is one filled with pain, hope, betrayal, love and sorrow. I was aching for a peaceful and joyful ending, yet, even in this, Alana remains true to the story. This book will take you out of your comfort zone, reveal a glimpse into the life of North Korea, and, God willing, leave you with thankfulness in your heart that you can freely know and serve Jesus Christ. I give this book 5 stars.

Another book I find hard to review. The introduction and opening chapters made it well on the way to a 5 star review. I only give 5 stars for Christian books that I consider of eternal significance because they inspire me to follow Jesus. The main character's father and the Old Woman did that for me. BUT like others I found some of the other characters (including the main character at points) rather discouraging. There were many points later in the novel where telling replaced showing. Like others mentioned, there were many places I didn't particularly want to be 'shown' and that was okay. But some places the telling glossed over. For example, the scene crossing the river was much too short. No feeling of being there.
This was the author's debut - an excellent debut (lovely cover) and important topic.
I was going to rate this a 3.5 but decided that the lack of emotion in the character fit the traumas she went through.

When I first started reading this book I wasn't sure I would be able to finish it because of the violence. But, it softened enough for me to be able to finish. It is a very sad story in all. But, it shows God's work in a non preachy way. You felt like you really knew the characters and how they thought and felt. This is also what made it hard to read. There are more books in the series. I will read the next one. It gives you a lot to think about and should, at the very least make you thankful for all we have.

The ending, I'm not so sure about. So as not to spoil the ending, I'll just say I'm not sure her plan would really work in the way it was executed. This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

The editing was great. That is a major thing for me. Hate books that are never edited for wording, punctuation and spelling.
Yes, I would recommend this book with the knowledge that it is NOT going to be an easy read. It feels way too real. I had to remind myself several times it was fiction.

The Beloved Daughter by Alana Terry is a compelling read. The first few chapters were hard to read as Chung-Cha, a 12-year old girl living in North Korea and her parents were arrested, abused to force the father to recant his Christian faith, and finally imprisoned. Soon I found myself listening to the novel well into the night and wishing that I could speed up the audiobook!
As a Christian in America, I didn’t quite comprehend what those imprisoned for their faith in Jesus endured around the world. Voice of the Martyrs had educated me somewhat as I had in the past used their prayer calendar. The Beloved Daughter pulled my fingers from my eyes and ears, telling of detainment and prison camp, hiding and running for one’s life, written in first-person as a woman for her infant daughter if she were unable to return to her. Chung-Cha, meaning Righteous Daughter, was the daughter of a Christian man who openly believed in Christ, a crime which was the reason for their arrest.
One thing I appreciated is the author’s inclusion of brief historical and cultural insights of the beautiful Korean peninsula, which helped this reader better understand the world in which Chung-Cha lived.
There are many twists and ironies in Chung Cha’s life, especially in relationships with her father, the Old Woman, the best friend in her early years in detention, Mr. Kim and his daughter, and her husband. Some of the plot twists are examples of the lies of the enemy – not enemies of flesh and blood, but satan and how he lies with just enough of hints of truth that our frail flesh reacts to from emotion rather than discernment. Based on the knowledge that Chung-Cha was given early in her imprisonment and lies told her, she gave up believing in God and did what was necessary for her survival in that dark place.
She had been betrayed many times. We see a young woman who eventually had to choose to return to the faith of her father, or remain bitter and adrift without anchor in the storm of unbelief. Her choice would lead to the monumental task given to her later by Moses.
As much as I grieved Chung-Cha’s turning her back on God in the early chapters, could I have done differently? Would I later have lived in her self-imposed cell of anxieties? Or like the Old Woman, would I praise and worship God in solitary confinement and exude the joy of my salvation? I fear that while I want to be like the Old Woman, I might have rejected the Lord for a season as Chung-Cha did.
This novel had great emotional impact on me – at times turning off the Audible player with an ache in my heart, or eagerly listening to chapter after chapter to see what would happen next, or receiving challenges to my outlook. Alana Terry has done a phenomenal literary work for her first novel. The characters are well-developed; there were many unexpected occurrences.
Today I remembered a small book distributed by Voice of the Martyrs several years ago about North Korea. That little book is now waiting to be read with new understanding; prayers for our suffering brothers and sisters will not be the same because of this author’s work.
Audio books are a great way to “read”! Whether you listen to relax, to learn, or to catch up with favorite authors’ books during windshield time, it is time well-spent. The Beloved Daughter was narrated by Kathy Garver, who did a most excellent job with a clear, fresh voice that changed to reflect the character who might be speaking.
I appreciated this book so much that this morning I purchased the Kindle version of the “Bonus Material” about The Beloved Daughter, and I eagerly await Ms. Terry’s next book. I have learned through this story to be incredibly grateful for the freedoms we still have to worship God openly. I highly recommend this book! Thank you, Alana Terry, Fred and Norma St. Laurent for making this available!
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

The Beloved Daughter is a book that is eye-opening to a world that we have no real concept of here in America. Even though it is fiction, it is very realistic to what we have heard of happening in that part of the world and brings those atrocities to our awareness. There is great persecution for Christians in the world and especially in places like North Korea… but as Americans it is hard for us to truly “know” the suffering and sacrifice that is required for persecuted Christians to stay faithful to Jesus Christ. The way that Alana Terry develops this story helps us to understand.

A beautiful, powerful story that puts persecution into perspective. It was hard to read in a sense because my heart broke over and over for Chung-Cha, who paid a terrible price for her father's bold stand for faith. With every line, I questioned my own determination to boldly proclaim His truth, and as I feared for Chung-Cha and cried with her, I felt my own resolve strengthened.

Most beautiful were the moments when God's providence subtly shone through, such as the time when Chung-Cha felt broken from the apparent lapse in her father's faith and discovered later his faith had endured.

I highly recommend this book. It will make you feel a greater urgency to spread God's word while you still have the freedom to do so.

"No matter how corrupt man becomes, he still can't tarnish the beauty of God's world. It is a constant reminder to us of our Creator's faithfulness and power, even inspite of the world's ever increasing wickedness."

Alana Terry brings to life the story of Song Chung-Cha in her debut Christian novel The Beloved Daughter. Set in North Korea Christians are considered enemies of the state. Chung-Cha and her parents are arrested, her father killed and her mother dies shortly after imprisonment and 11 year old Chung-Cha is destined to be imprisoned the rest of her life, all because they are Christians. Then one day a fire changes everything and Chung-Cha is on the path to fufill the destiny God has set for her.

Alana's use of words is amazing. At first you may think she is telling a story of things that happen to a woman while imprisoned - oh not so. Each is a stepping stone of incredible life events of a woman of which God is leading to an ultimate purpose. This a powerful story told from the persective of a mother writing a journal of her life for her daughter. It will leave you full of emotion especially when you realize that this could be the story of any of the Christian women held in north Korean prisons today.

I did recieve a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Open Doors has placed North Korea at the top of the list for worst persecutors of Christians for eleven consecutive years.

Alana has written this novel to highlight the plight of Christians in that country. The story centers around Chung-Cha. Her parents are Christians and are arrested when Chung-Cha is twelve years old. She is taken to prison where the conditions are so terrible it is even hard to imagine. Yet, even in the midst of the horror of persecution, God provides for Chung-Cha. Her physical persecution remains with inhuman conditions but God feeds her spirit through an older Christian woman.

The novel follows Chung-Cha's life of terror, persecution, and escape. Even when out of the prison, she lives under the threat of immediate arrest and return to prison.

What a novel. The conditions in the North Korea prison are unspeakable. Alana has created a vivid picture of what unfettered evil will do toward Christians. It certainly gives us pause to think of what we would do in similar situations. We also learn of the underground movement and the chances people take to help others on their way to freedom.

While this is a very well written novel, it is certainly more than mere entertainment. It is a challenge for western Christians to consider the fate of their brothers and sisters experiencing persecution around the globe. This is a hard novel to read because the subject matter is so intense. But it is a necessary novel to read. It gets us out of our comfort zone and forces us to confront the reality of Christian persecution.

Read this novel and be challenged.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author for the purpose of this review.

A winner by Alana Terry! One of the things I love best about Alana’s books is that each story creates a window in which God allows us to witness His plan as well as experiencing the tapestry of His love. However make no mistake these novels aren’t fairy tales. This is the most honest, grittiest of her books I have read so far. There are parts that leave you breathless in anticipation. She also takes you on a journey with her characters from doubting Christians to strong witnesses of the Lord’s Power to lift us out of darkness into His light.
This story is about the redemptive power of love to heal and minister to her beloved characters and ultimately to us, her readers. If Christian Fiction has the power to change lives and hearts then please look no further than Alana Terry, you won’t be disappointed!!

This could be an autobiography; the characters and events are portrayed in such realistic detail, all so believable, despite the almost unbelievable horrors depicted. It's better than an autobiography because the story is exquisitely crafted to tell a tale of spiritual darkness with shafts of light penetrating in the mysterious ways of Providence. I was enthralled by the riveting story and characters. In spite of the harsh environment of the book, I wanted to stay with the main character and watch her grow as a person of faith. I could see myself in so many of her struggles, not physically but spiritually--her doubts and self-absorption. Her story left me with hope for myself. It left me stunned by the faith of my brothers and sisters who have so little truth to cling to, and yet how they cling! This book is not one to overlook.

The author writes so well I was half way through the book before I realized it was a novel. Thank Goodness. I'm not crazy about fictionalized torture so had I known this was a novel I wouldn't have downloaded it. But it was a relief to know all the murder and misery described in the story didn't actually happen to anyone. Although the book does sound very similar to first person autobiographical books written by North Korean defectors there is a great deal more Christianity than I ever came across in an actual North Korean story. With so much real torture going on in North Korea I'm not sure why the author decided to make up further fictionalized torture regarding the country. Was there no other topic to write about? The book is well written, the story is well told but I'm just left with - why? Why this topic when there are so many real stories to tell?

It is books like this that humble me and remind me of how blessed I am to live where I do. All too often, American Christians (like me) forget how much Christians suffer for their faith in other parts of the world for practicing their faith. This book was extremely well-written, but it was immeasurably difficult to read at times. And I'm sure the author wrote a happier story than many Christians in North Korea experience. I was pleased with the stark honesty and pathos that enveloped the pages of this story. My heart was broken at so many points for the characters in the story, and I can only hope that the prophecy in the book is true (no spoilers--you need to read that for yourself).

Even though this is a Christian book, it never came across as preachy. The salvation message is beautifully woven into the fabric of the story, and the spiritual journey of our heroine is told with astonishing candor. There is no profanity within the book, and all sex scenes are implied and not detailed. The ending of the story makes me hope for a sequel, but it also made me question if I would have (could have) done that. Again, no spoilers--read the book yourself!

When I read the author's note at the end of the book, I was so pleased to see that five dollars of each book sale go to "Voice of the Martyrs." This makes me want to recommend the book to everyone! If you don't know of the organization, it puts the Word of the God in the hands of Christian nationals all over the world who have no access to the Bible. Yes, there are places in this world where the gospel is still restricted. May these restrictions end in the near future!

I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

This is a tremendously sobering book;
For many American Christians, putting God first simply means occasionally forgoing some form of pleasure or recreation for the sake of a healthy, happy God-relationship.
Jesus said, 'He that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.'
In The Beloved Daughter by Alana Terry this horror - the horror of being willing to sacrifice one's own child for the sake of God - is shown through the eyes of a young North Korean girl, as the consequences of her father's faith affect and mold her throughout her life.
Never has a book forced me to more honestly consider the true ramifications of Jesus' words. This book makes you wrestle with them in all their terrible strength.
The writing is great, and the characters are VERY believable. They have flaws, they make mistakes - sometimes BIG mistakes. Nothing is glossed over, and no punches are pulled, although everything is written tastefully. This is a difficult balance, and the author does an excellent job portraying the horrors without offending the reader.
I don't know a great deal about North Korea, but not once in the entire novel was the 'spell' broken. I did not notice anything that might clue the reader in to the fact that they were reading fiction, nor did I notice anything that would spoil the authenticity of the book. And I am VERY picky about such things - I cringe every time the word 'Stoically' is used in fantasy literature, for instance, since it conjures up (to me at least) the idea of ancient Greek philosophical schools.
The Beloved Daughter is a great book that will make you think.

I admit to a prevailing disappointment with Christian fiction novels. I haven't found a large number of Christian writers who captivate my interest ... so it was a refreshing surprise to discover Alana Terry and The Beloved Daughter.

The subject of the book captivated me instantly--the very real to life, excruciatingly brutal suffering and persecution of fellow believers in North Korean prison camps. I have often prayed for these believers in real life, but I've never personally known with clarity what their lives are like. Now I have a heartrending, vivid image of the terror, deprivation, and humiliation these brothers and sisters daily endure because of their faith in Jesus Christ. This reality is something Christians in America need to encounter up close. Terry's characters are authentic, struggling, scarred, sometimes weak, sometimes bold, everyday, heroes of faith. They are not pie-in-the-sky, artificial, cliche-speaking, super Christians. I could relate to these characters.

I will add, however, there were times when the characterization seemed a bit inconsistent and unbelievable. My thought is that Terry was attempting to show our tendency as believers to falter (to be inconsistent) in our human attempts at godliness. This is the only negative point about the book that I bring to this review, and the issue seemed minor. With her debut novel, Terry has won my respect. I look forward to see what she publishes next.

Oh, and I listened to the audio book version, and although I liked the narrator for the most part, I felt some of her male accents/voices were overdone, exaggerated, and somewhat annoying. Some were so gruff and gravely they were hard to understand.

(I received a copy of this book from the author when I used my free Audible download for the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review)

Confession: I gave up on Christian fiction years ago. I read a lot of speculative fiction (science fiction, paranormal, fantasy, urban fantasy) and love it-- I even find it believable, if it's done well. But Christian fiction usually seemed fake to me. Contrived. Filled with deus ex machina (literally... loving Jesus is all anyone needs to have the perfect life, gettin' saved SAVES THE DAY!). I'm a Christian, and I know very well that this is not how life works. I got sick of predictable messages and "everything will be fine if you just BELIEVE" messages.

I'm glad my biases didn't make me skip this book.

The Beloved Daughter is a story about faith. It's also a story about doubt, and fear, and love, and sacrifice. It's both beautiful and heartbreaking, and horrifyingly real. People get hurt. People make mistakes. People do vile, evil things, and even Christian characters make horrible judgements against one another, as they do in real life. This is a story about what's happening in North Korea, and it's an eye-opening one. It's also the story of one woman, and never gets preachy or comes off as a story that's pushing a message. Chung-Cha's story truly is inspirational.

I received a free copy of this book from The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

Chung-Cha (Righteous Daughter) is taken captive when her father is arrested for his faith in Christ. Her father's declaration is, "Chung-Cha belongs to Christ, even if you destroy me, God will still watch over my daughter." So begins her path of persecution, despair, suffering, and glory. Some of the aspects of her captivity include physical and sexual abuse. There are no explicit descriptions or profanity given though.

This book is set in North Korea and begins in 1998. The horrors that it recounts are things that I have never thought about. I've heard the statement that believers are persecuted in a many different countries, yet in my sheltered existence I've never tried to picture what that would really be like.

Alana Terry has taken great pains to tell a first person account of these horrors. I can't even begin to imagine the time and heartache she had to put into researching a country that I know so little about. Her account is very vivid and heart-wrenching.

A part of me wanted to only give this book 4 stars because of the type of story it is. Yet the writing is so well done that I realized that would not be giving Alana the credit she so richly deserves for the work that she put into creating such a well thought out story.

Chung-Cha's father was firm believer and advocate for God's Word but it was his outspokenness that had her family arrested and sent to the detention center, Camp 22. At only twelve years of age, Chung-Cha suffered horrific physical and mental abuse at the hands of the guards, nearly starved on the meager rations that she was given and, eventually, lost both parents. When she became an officers maid things finally seemed to be getting a little better, the beatings stopped and her rations increased but then she was betrayed by her best friend, Mee-Kyong, and sent back to the detention center. It was there that she met the Old Woman. The Old Woman had been in solitary confinement for twenty two years but, at the same time, she was feared by the guards. It was in their shared cell that Chung-Cha flourished and was reacquainted with God. Though many tragedies and heartaches followed, Chung-Cha remained strong and always kept a tiny bit of hope.

Follow her on her life's journey from imprisonment to freedom, from being a broken soul to having a heart full of hope. Follow her on a path from faithLESS to faithFUL. See how the beautiful story of this young girl unfolds.

This book evoked such feelings in me that I am not quite sure how to put them into words. It was told in the form of a letter from a mother (Chung-Cha) to her daughter (Ae-Cha). Chung-Cha describes the events of her life from the time she was twelve years-old and sent to a detention center called Camp 22. The horrific events she suffered, which included physical as well as metal abuse, go beyond what words I can use to describe them. From the constant beatings and humiliating acts performed by the detention guards to the acts of betrayal by the people she cared for most in the world. They abused her in every way Imaginable but they couldn't kill her strength and desire to live. The courage she displayed was awe inspiring. The one thing I noticed threaded throughout this story was the fact that each time she suffered through some devastating act or betrayal and was in her darkest hours, God brought her comfort and peace through the presence of people. Mee-Kyong, the Old Woman, Shin the detention officer that defected and helped Chung-Cha escape, So-Young, Kwan, Mr. Kim and Moses were all there for her when she needed them most. God can truly bring light into a dark world. I was constantly turning the page and was loathe to put the book down for any length of time. It definitely had twists and turns I was not expecting. When the truth was finally revealed about Moses I literally caught myself smiling from ear to ear, but it was that knowledge that only led to more tragedy. Alana's writing ability is remarkable and this is a story that I will carry with me for a long time. You can't read The Beloved Daughter and not be affected by it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it to anyone that loves stories filled with depth and emotion.

Disclaimer: I would like to thank Miss Alana providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. My review is honest and forthright and, other than a free copy of they book, I was in no way compensated for this review.

My movies taste is mostly American. I don't really watch say Mexican, Chinese etc..nothing wrong with them and I may get in one or two...it's just a preference. Having said that, after having read the Kennedy Stern series, I wasn't sure I'd enjoy reading The Beloved Daughter and others in the series because it was about Korea and I thought about having to read through all the different names and try to get them understood. Before I actual read it I had seen the names and there meaning at the front. I started the first or the first two pages then I was otherwise occupied. I don't think I had finished the other series yet, but when I did I wanted something to read desperately.I started reading the book and was enthralled. It was nothing like I expected. It was so much better. I have known of persecution in China and having to hide to share the gospel vaguely, but Alana opened my eyes to North Korea. I had no idea what was going on. She did a remarkable job. I couldn't stop reading, just like in my beloved Kennedy Stern series. :) A job well done.

Some stories - make you think of fairytales, some even though are real - make you believe are fiction, and some are written so horribly you are thankful they are just a product of someone’s imagination. This story on the other hand keeps such a balance that even though I was told it’s a fiction my mind still has it registered as truth. I know there are horrors in life; I know people’s inhumanity has overpassed our creative imagination. I have listened to too many testimonies of concentrating camps and Holocaust to disregard the harsh reality.
Righteous Daughter’s descriptive letter to her Beloved Daughter (which is the format in which this story is told) is so heart-breaking at some chapter’s and so hopeful in others. I was so angry at the situation and at God for the plight he allowed upon those poor innocent people when here we treat with civility the very cruel prisoners. This story shows that no matter how bleak our situation at the moment there is a bigger picture to it and an explanation that only God sees and some of us get the blessing to look back and realize what a beautiful result God carried out from all the pain they were inflicted.
Yesterday while listening to this book, it put me to mind that we are so so spoiled we never really had any inconveniencies in life. We complain about the wrong toppings on our pizza, we complain about tenderness of our steak while there are poor girls who stoop themselves into prostitution just to get another meal and by meal I mean a spoonful or two of some distasteful grab. We are blessed to live in US and we have become so comfortable with this blessing that we don’t even see it as a blessing anymore our ungratefulness if dangerous. How will we stand next to those that have gone through so much suffering and still try and claim our reward at the throne of God??
This story is written very well and clean. Even though it give you the insight to what is going on behind those prison walls there no detailed descriptions that would make you stop reading it.
I hope it has the same effect it had on me. And instead of making you bitter at the harshness of life, I hope it will make you grateful for all the blessings you are given in life. And if you ever fall prey to the pain I hope after reading this book it will be a comfort to you knowing there is always hope in the One who is above all.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this audio book from Book Club at [...] in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have to say that this book was really hard for me to read. (not in a bad way!)

It was beautifully written, exceptionally detailed, wonderfully planned and clearly heart felt. Alana Terry did an incredible job and definitely earned the award as a winner of the Women of Faith writing contest!

But it was hard to read because it hit so close to home (we are leaving as missionaries to west africa soon).

The persecuted church is real. This book puts into words how very real it is.

This book gives voice to the persecuted church.

A persecuted church I am about to move across the world to reach.

Although this book specifically talks about the persecuted church in North Korea, the reality applies to anywhere in the world where people are suffering for the gospel.

There is a persecuted people in numerous nations around our globe. People that are being beaten, imprisoned, murdered for their faith in God. People that because of their declaration that Jesus is the Son of God are being horribly treated and harmed.

If you read this book, it will open your eyes to just a few stories of lives impacted, changed and molded by the persecution they faced. It will open your eyes to what is happening daily in our world and cause you to fall to your knees in prayer for people who are being persecuted for their belief in God.

Get ready to be challenged and maybe even shed a tear or two as you open your heart to the cries of the persecuted church while reading the beautifully intricate story of one woman who learned to depend on God no matter what. I highly recommend reading this book!

Please note - the star rating is based off the book and content itself, while the below review focuses mainly on the audiobook version.

The author contacted me directly to review this title. According to Terry, the book is “a Christian suspense about a young girl sent to a North Korean prison camp for her father’s faith. It has won awards from The Book Club Network and Women of Faith. It also reached #5 in Christian suspense in the the store Kindle Store.”

The book follows Chung-Cha and her father, being a vocal and active Christian in the community. Based in North Korea, this presents issues within the community that places the family at risk of imprisonment. The book follows Chung-Cha from her family and into a prison camp, facing the horrors first-hand.

Kathy Garver, the narrator, has won four Audie Awards in her career as a narrator, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Motion Picture Council. Being aware of this, I stepped into the audiobook experience with high expectations. Having listened to Garver’s performance in this project, I can definitely understand her past awards she has received. Garver has passion, that much is evident. In this project, however, I do not feel her passion translated as perfectly as it could have.

Garver’s performance shows a high level of effort, no doubt, but I do not think this was the best selection for her. She carries on an excellent accent to give life to the characters, but the differences between the characters is difficult to establish. Additionally, the narrators speeds on at a faster pace, forcing listeners to keep careful note of the non-emphasized transitions and changes.

Well-versed audiobook enthusiasts will no doubt love the recording of this book, but newcomers to the world of audiobooks may find this title best read instead of listened. The story keeps in continuity with being a four or five star tale, but the performance of the audio is closer to three stars. If you are going to check out this title, then take a look at the written edition, either as an ebook or print book.

Disclosure: I was contracted to write an honest review in exchange for a reviewer copy of the product. The opinions stated in this review are solely my own.

At What Price? Redemption of Forsaken Souls (a review of The Beloved Daughter by Alana Terry)

Alana Terry has grasped onto the horrors of the persecuted church and the sufferings of individual Christians who would give their lives as martyrs so that others might know Jesus. The starkness combined with the grime of imprisonment in inhumane conditions is contrasted with the terrors of being an escaped prisoner in a foreign land that holds no sympathy or desire to give refuge. Each situation is just another form of imprisonment. Christ is the only true freedom known--not for the body but for the soul.

The love of the parent for the child is a major theme of this book, hence the title, The Beloved Daughter. Parents are shown to risk everything for the sake of their children having an opportunity for a better life than the parent has known. Those who believe they have dedicated their lives to Jesus are brought low when circumstances force them to choose between following Jesus or giving their child the better life. When God is neglected momentarily while the parent chases dreams for the better life for their their children, the characters are sorrowful over their inability to do what they consider to be right by God , God is merciful and makes a way for redemption just as He did for Peter after Peter's denial of relationship with Christ. As Peter was given additional opportunities to show his love for Jesus after denial, so are the characters in this book allowed to make correction to their paths and get back on board with Jesus.

Although this book may be a challenge to those who are just learning the basics of the Christian faith, there is much to glean concerning the depths of love, the heights of peril and the weights of sufferings of true believers. The Bible verse about the sufferings of the present time not being worthy to be compared to the glory received for eternity for those who are faithful to God is accurately portrayed in this book.

This is an excellent book that will take you to places and situations you wish did not exist on earth. You will be surprised to find God's light shines even in some of those darkest places. You may be inspired to move to action in some small or large way to help the persecuted church after reading this book. People do need to be aware of this type of treatment that occurs under certain forms of government. Also, this book will help you to know more about how to best pray for those under persecution.

Bookfun.org gave me a Kindle edition of this book in exchange for reading it and posting an honest review of the book.

The Beloved Daughter is written in a diary like format by a mother(Chung Cha) to her beloved daughter(Ae Cha) that shares her life and family history. This book is very well written and very well researched. Alana Terry writes with authority about North/Sought Korea and China, the politics of these places, the history, the prison camps, religions of the region, and life after prison camp. I learned a lot about these things while reading this book. The story is heart wrenching, the abuse and cruelty that the people endured in this prison camp was just horrible. This is a deep story that really touches your heart about Religious persecution that has happened and still does in places. I really enjoyed most of the characters in this book but my favorite was The Old Woman, Grandmother who took care of Chung Cha during part of her time at the prison camp. She was a strong, steadfast woman who loved God and didn't hide that. She did what she could to help Chung Cha see things and gave her love, something she desperately needed. I had a hard time putting this book down once I picked it up. As I read this story, I felt like I was there watching the events unfold from the descriptions and details. I definitely found myself crying in parts of this book. Very emotional read. I enjoyed the book tremendously and highly recommend it to anyone who reads Christian Fiction. You will not be disappointed. I look forward to reading more from Alana Terry! She is a must read author on my list. I give this book 5 STARS.

This fictitious memoir is written in the first person by a young North Korean woman named Chung-Cha (righteous daughter) to her daughter, Ae-Cha (beloved daughter). Each entry in this painful journal begins with related scripture, and follows with the details of Chung-Cha's life, arrest and imprisonment in one of the world's most notorious prison camps. Her journal begins in a village in North Korea in 1998 where Chung-Cha is the 12-year-old daughter of a Christian father whose faith endangered her entire family. Barely surviving in poverty is only the beginning of Chung-Cha's detailed description of her life after her arrest, imprisonment and persecution as the daughter of a Christian. The atrocities that were inflicted upon this young girl include lies, lack of food, abuse, torture, and being forced to live in her own filth amidst countless other prisoners. Life (if one can perceive it in that respect) under these conditions inflicted overwhelming physical, emotional and psychological effects.

This is a very difficult book to read, and difficult to find appropriate words to review. The content in this book is overwhelming to one who has never lived outside of freedom. My lack of understanding regarding the strength and courage it took for Chung Cha to survive the atrocities she suffered throughout her years of imprisonment restricts me. I cannot imagine the torture and horrifying conditions. Alana Terry's insight into the life of her characters is outstanding and meritorious! She has written a novel of epic proportions with tremendous impact, and without the use of graphic violence, language or description. An in-depth amount of research regarding the subject matter had to take place in order to create this intense and unforgettable memoir. This is an exceptionally well written narrative, one that I highly recommend and would award 5-plus stars!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

The Beloved Daughter was an awesome read, enticing me to read from beginning to end in a sitting. There was something for everyone, and as I read couldn't help but asking myself often, "What would I do? Could I stand up for my faith when faced with death, or torture to other family members? "

We are so spoiled here in North America that I for one am guilty of taking my Bible, my faith, too lightly sometimes. There are countries where, as in this story, stating your faith, owning a Bible are causes for death. But does that stop them? No, many have committed to heart not only Bible verses but full chapters. Wow!

Three people in one family and each one so different, and so many things not as they seem. A reminder that things are not always as they seem and not to make assumptions.

One of the big things that hit me was the hate Song Chung-Cha felt for her father and his God, and the shame and anger towards her mother, while feeling sorry for her boss and young friend whom lied and gave her up as scapegoat. For too many years this young girl-12 when first taken away, faced horrors we could never fathom: 12 hour work days, 300 calorie a day diet, solitary confinement, tormented daily verbally and physically, and so much more.

When all seems lost, God does what God does best....and you must read on to know the full story. But be prepared for action, intrigue, and so much more.

I love how each chapter begins with a Scripture verse, and makes the way for the story. And love how faith, prayer and following God will always bring us to exactly where He needs us to be.

Don't wait, pick up this wonderful book today and be forewarned, you will not be able to put it down.

Although this is a book, these kinds of atrocities are happening in too many prisons around the world. May this book be a reminder for us to lift up in prayer our brothers and sisters, whom we may not know this side of heaven, as well as their families.

Thank you to bookfun.org and Alana Terry for offering this book in exchange for an honest review. What a blessing, challenge and call to prayer!

The Beloved Daughter was written by Alana Terry and is sold by the store Digital Services, Inc. This well-written, suspenseful book was told from a first person point of view by the main character, Chung-Cha (Righteous daughter), who is living in North Korea in 1998 with her mom and dad who are believers. Her father, a strong Christian, was very outspoken and had a deep faith that the Lord would take care of him and his family. He did not want to compromise the Gospel just to make his own life on earth more comfortable. The mother believed that because of her reckless husband and his stubborn faith that his witness for his faith would be the death of them all.

One day the People’s Safety Agency stormed in their cabin and all three were taken to the inspection building. Her mother denied being a Christian and even went so far as to call Christians illiterate, unintelligent pigs. Read the book to find out if the father confessed the Lord as Savior and what happened to him and his family. If any of them survived, would they ever again experience real freedom or be plagued with bitterness, lack of trust, etc. If the daughter lives, will she ever marry?

Many Christians who live in America really do not have an idea of the extent to which Christians around the world still face discrimination, harassment, arrest, and death because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Can you imagine remaining strong in the faith in a country that would persecute you and your family for being a believer in Jesus Christ? Even though the book reminds me that in difficult trials I need to rely on God and trust that he always has my best interests in mind, I still question what I would do if I faced death, arrest, losing my daughter, etc. for confessing Christ.

I really thought The Beloved Daughter was a powerful, outstanding novel. Terry’s characters are well developed and the book held my interest from beginning to end.

About the Book:

In a small North Korean village, a young girl struggles to survive. But it is her father's faith, not the famine of North Hamyong Province, that most threatens Chung-Cha's well-being. Is Chung-Cha's father right to be such a vocal believer? Or is he a fool to bring danger on the head of his only daughter? Chung-Cha is only a girl of twelve and is too young to answer such questions. Yet she is not too young to face a life of imprisonment and forced labor. Her crime? Being the daughter of a political traitor. The Beloved Daughter follows Chung-Cha into one of the most notorious prison camps of the contemporary free world. Will Chung-Cha survive the horrors of Camp 22? And if she does survive, will her faith remain intact? "The Beloved Daughter" is Alana Terry's debut Christian novel and was a winner in the Women of Faith writing contest.

About the Author:

Alana is a homeschooling mother of three who loves to write, hates to cook, and enjoys reading a good book almost as much as she enjoys writing one.

My Review:

What would you do if you knew that you or your loved ones could be killed for spreading the gospel? Is that why in the Bible we are told to keep the word of God hidden in our hearts, because at some point it may very well come to that and we may be called to renounce our faith to the Almighty?

Famine begins to strike the Hasambong village and then not too soon after inspectors are sent door to door looking for traitors. Families were being ripped apart and separated and then sent to prison camps where eventually death would come upon them. Follow along in the story of The Beloved Daughter as you will soon learn of a young girl Chung-Cha and the future her life holds.

The author did an amazing job! The characters are very thorough and convincing with an extremely strong storyline. You will immediately be drawn in to this girls plight and will be silently cheering her on. Definitely a must read!

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from bookfun.org.

First, this is not a book for the lighthearted. This is not a book for someone looking for light reading. There were times I had to stop reading because the subject is very tough.

Second, it's not always easy for an author to take a brutal subject such as Chung-Cha's time in prison camp and make it palatable for readers. While the author wants to be as real as possible, there is such a thing as going too far. Alana Terry does a tasteful job of portraying what went on in the prison camps without being overly graphic, yet clearly evoking my emotions and the sense of injustice.

Following Chung-Cha's story was very difficult for me. As a Christian, I would like to think that my faith is strong enough to take me through anything, but I am only human. Alana Terry does a very good job of showing Chung-Cha's struggle to keep her faith and remain alive. I kept thinking to myself, "how much more does this poor girl have to endure?" And the story does evoke the reader to ask "Why, God, why?"

The story is written from Chung-Cha's point of view, and at the end, you realize she is writing a letter to her daughter. When I reached the end of the book, I was

Overall, the author does a great job of writing a poignant story, all the while weaving in a lesson we all need to learn: God has a plan for everything. He is in control, even when we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

pdf provided for free from Pump Up Your Book for purpose of review

In a small North Korean village, a young girl struggles to survive. Catastrophic floods have ravaged her countryside. But it is her father's faith, not the famine of North Hamyong Province, that most threatens Chung-Cha's well-being.

Is Chung-Cha's father right to be such a vocal believer? Or is he a fool to bring danger on the head of his only daughter?

Chung-Cha is only a girl of twelve and is too young to answer such questions. Yet she is not too young to face a life of imprisonment and forced labor. Her crime? Being the daughter of a political dissident.

"The Beloved Daughter" follows Chung-Cha into one of the most notorious prison camps of the contemporary free world. Will Chung-Cha survive the horrors of Camp 22?

And if she does survive, will her faith remain intact?

My Thoughts:
I loved this book and read the entire story in 24 hours. I could not lay aside the story because I had to know what would happen to Chung-Cha. To say I was absorbed in the story is an understatement.

My list of reasons for giving this story a 5 star review:

The characters, descriptions, mood, dialogue, plot, drew me in so that I felt a strong emotional investment. I had to stay with the story from start to finish.
When the story begins Chung-Cha is age twelve. Her home-life was part Christian and part communist belief-which is no belief. Would young Chung-Cha's Christian foundation be strong enough to help her during life in Camp-22? This was a question that I asked through most of the book, which is a big reason why I continued to read it.
Chung-Cha is a dimensional character. She is not depicted as good and perfect, nor as flawed and imperfect. I saw all angles of her character and appreciated her humanity. Through the story there were events that brought out her best, and others where she failed. I felt this was an example of all of us, no matter our culture or race.
Chung-Cha evolves and grows in age, personality, emotion, independence and spirit life.
I thought I knew about communist North Korea before reading this story, I was wrong. I've been given an education about the plight and horrors of the people that live there. It is especially fearful for the Christian. The story focused on a family where one parent is an outspoken Christian, the other parent does not have a belief. The North Korean government uses division in a family to their advantage. The government will use any means to: coerce, lie, blackmail, kidnap, torture, abuse, murder, in order to find out information.
The story made me face what I would do in the same circumstance. If I were persecuted to the extent that a North Korean Christian was punished, would I stay strong in my faith, or would I give-up and fall-away?
The author had a goal of bringing to light what life is like in North Korea, and further the persecution that exists for a Christian in North Korea. I feel her goal was accomplished. This story has left a deep impact in my life. The Beloved Daughter is a story I'll not forget.

This book, The Beloved Daughter, by Alana Terry is magnificently written in my opinion. I can't think of a harder subject to write about than what she wrote in this book. I can't imagine how much research it took to write about a place that we can't even travel to, North Korea. And the atrocities that take place in this story, they sound so true you would think this was a non-fiction book.
Chung-Cha is 12 when the story starts in their family home. Her father is her hero because he lives his Christian faith, and is not afraid to share it. But, still, he is careful not to get caught. Chung-Cha's last memory of her home is her parents fighting, then just an hour later the Inspectors came. They hauled Chung-Cha away to the precinct building. She saw her mother again later, and she was sure her father was there also in the prison camp, but was he. Were her feelings for her father justified?
Chung-Cha and her mother suffer unmentionable cruelty at the hands of the North Koreans, but she never forgets her father's faith, though sometimes not as well as others.
This story is so full of strength of God's love and cruelty of mankind. Every page will pull you in until the last page when you can breath again. You can't help but cry over many of the things that take place, I know this is fiction, but I have heard of how cruel these people can be to their enemies, and Christians were their enemies.
I would recommend this recommend this book to all adults. It is good to know how great we have it here in our country, to worship as we please, without the threat of imprisonment or death.
This book was given to me by Book Fun Club in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Beloved Daughter, by Alana Terry, opened my eyes, broke my heart and changed my life. It's the story of Song Chung-Cha, a 12 year old girl, held captive in a North Korean prison camp to suffer for the crimes of her father. Is he guilty? Yes.

His crime? Being a Christian.

I promise you, guarantee you, that Chung-Cha's story will grab hold of you from the first page- and it will not let go until the last page. Being punished- even killed- for loving the Lord. It's hard to even comprehend. While reading The Beloved Daughter, I found my mind racing at the diabolical acts of the prison guards and the sheer hate that flowed through their veins. The story affected me throughout the day as I pondered the plight of North Koreans. I started to pray for these precious people that are starving and living in fear. Many have never even seen a Bible. They are now a part of me. Yet, flickers of hope are present through the story empowering Chung-Cha. So often she's only able to endure through God's love. The words will anger you, sadden you, hopefully motivate you but ultimately they will make you take a good, hard look at yourself. Chung-Cha is a fictional character but her struggle is happening today and it's real. How blessed we are to be Christians in America! It's a true privilege, but we must try and help others who are not so fortunate.

Before receiving the book, I asked Alana Terry if I could read it with my daughter's, ages 10 and 15. Her answer was, "No, I wouldn't recommend it." And this is why. The scenes in this story are hard to read. They will haunt you and make you cry. But, they are words that need to be said. Like the Holocaust, you can't candy coat this story. It's a message of hope, but there's way too much violence for younger eyes to read. Alana Terry has done an amazing job of shining a light into a part of life I knew nothing about. I'm richer for having read her book and highly recommend that you read it, too.

I just finished the book "The Beloved Daughter by Alana Terry. I found this well written and the characters are so real that you feel you are their with them.

All I can stay is what a book this was. I could not put it down and there was times I felt like my breath was taken away by what this young girl went through. We are the price it cost some for their faith and confections. The story tells us how lucky we are to live in a land of

freedom. We are told about the young girl and the price she pays for her father's faith as a christian. He will not give up his faith, even when his daughter pays by being tortured and beaten. In the end he looses his live. We learn of he fear and horrible suffering people pay in many countries for their faith.

This story will tear your heart out and make you cry at times as we watch this young girl try to stay a live and what it cost her as a human at the hands of others.

Everyone should read this book. It will give you a better understand of what many people suffer for their believes, and make us appreciate the country we live in

The Beloved Daughter is profound. A story that will rock the reader to the core especially a lukewarm believer. Alana Terry's writing is beyond sensational and this story was so powerful. It challenges the reader to look beyond the label of Christian to the core of belief. This book begs the answer to the question of what sacrificial love really looks like. It tells a story of deep tragedy and the reality of North Korea's hidden world. However, it is done with such well written format that the reader is not dragged through unnecessary, horrific detail. Making it a book that is widely age appropriate from middle school through adulthood.
Although Chung-Cha is raised a believer, the only God she knows seems to have abandoned her at every critical turn. Will seeing other believers in action show her what God's love really is or will she harden her heart and cling to the torturous past? I cannot wait for the next book because I need to hear the end of the story.
A word of caution to the reader that once they know of the pain inside North Korean, to not act, is an act of cruelty. A quote from the book speaks to this "You must tell believers on the outside to prepare for the day when the prison walls that surround our nation finally collapse. There will be a flood of refugees who will require both practical and spiritual care. The body of Christ in both China and South Korea must be prepared to minister to the needs of these exiles. Pg. 193"
I received this book from the Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is one of those books that is so hard to keep reading, but you keep reading because it is just THAT good. This story never lost my interest. It almost gives the feel of reading a memoir, a good one.The writing was excellent.
This story also reminded me a little of "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung, also an excellent 5 star book for me. It had that same feel to it.

This is a story about Religious persecution, a father's strong Christian faith, years of torture in a Korean prison camp, and a young woman's struggle with her own faith. The torture she had to endure was almost too hard to read at times and I had to take breaks from reading. It was very sad and heartbreaking but also very exciting, hopeful , endearing and encouraging. This is definitely one of those books that makes you feel lucky for the life you have.

The character development is excellent. You get into the characters right away.
You definitely know that you are in N. Korea - the author gives great descriptions. I don't know that I have ever read a book that took place in N Korea so this may be a first for me.

This book got mostly 5 star reviews so this is one you don't want to miss.

As with any reminder of how cushy our life is in America, this reminder of how difficult it is for believers in other countries was hard to read. There is nothing comfortable about reading concerning the extreme suffering that Christians in other countries endure. Sometimes, I truly wanted to stop. It is not a book to read before bed. That being said, The Beloved Daughter is a story that every Christian should know. The tale takes place in North Korea, one of the most closed societies in the world. A family is arrested for the father's refusal to back down in his witness for Christ. The daughter is tortured in front of the father in an effort to get him to deny his faith. We then follow the life of the daughter, as at 12, she is left an orphan and a prisoner. We grieve for her as we see what she feels she has to do to survive prison as a young woman. Even after her release from prison, she continues to face betrayal from those she has come to trust. Through all this, Chung-Cha begins to make her father's faith her own.
When we comfortable believers read such tales, the question always comes to mind, "How would I respond?" That is an important question for Christians and this is an important book as well.
I received this book through The Book Club Network.

This is my first book by Alana Terry. I wasn't sure if this was going to be a book that I would like reading. However, once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. Ms. Terry describes the life of Chung-Cha from when we meet her as a young child of twelve until she is finally free about ten years later.

Chung-Cha lives in North Korea where her father is a Christian believer. Because of this, Chung-Cha and her family is arrested. She is sent to Camp-22 where she is kept in deplorable conditions and treated in even more deplorable ways. Finding later that she based her actions on a lie, Chung-Cha is able to survive her years. She is forced to do many things which a young person should not be.

After tasting a couple of years of freedom, Chung-Cha is forced to make even harder decisions after a surprising betrayal. Once again, the God that Chung-Cha learned of as a young girl, saves her. She is given many answers by a well revered source. Chung-Cha is free once again.

This book will have you crying and in disbelief that even in today's world these conditions can exist. I cannot wait until the sequel is released. I want to know what happens to Chung-Cha, Moses, and her daughter.

I received this book from TBCN for a fair and honest review.

The Beloved Daughter was written by Alana Terry and is sold by the store Digital Services, Inc. This well-written, suspenseful book was told from a first person point of view by the main character, Chung-Cha (Righteous daughter), who is living in North Korea in 1998 with her mom and dad who are believers. Her father, a strong Christian, was very outspoken and had a deep faith that the Lord would take care of him and his family. He did not want to compromise the Gospel just to make his own life on earth more comfortable. The mother believed that because of her reckless husband and his stubborn faith that his witness for his faith would be the death of them all.

One day the People’s Safety Agency stormed in their cabin and all three were taken to the inspection building. Her mother denied being a Christian and even went so far as to call Christians illiterate, unintelligent pigs. Read the book to find out if the father confessed the Lord as Savior and what happened to him and his family. If any of them survived, would they ever again experience real freedom or be plagued with bitterness, lack of trust, etc. If the daughter lives, will she ever marry?

Many Christians who live in America really do not have an idea of the extent to which Christians around the world still face discrimination, harassment, arrest, and death because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Can you imagine remaining strong in the faith in a country that would persecute you and your family for being a believer in Jesus Christ? Even though the book reminds me that in difficult trials I need to rely on God and trust that he always has my best interests in mind, I still question what I would do if I faced death, arrest, losing my daughter, etc. for confessing Christ.

I really thought The Beloved Daughter was a powerful, outstanding novel. Terry’s characters are well developed and the book held my interest from beginning to end.

About the Book:

In a small North Korean village, a young girl struggles to survive. But it is her father's faith, not the famine of North Hamyong Province, that most threatens Chung-Cha's well-being. Is Chung-Cha's father right to be such a vocal believer? Or is he a fool to bring danger on the head of his only daughter? Chung-Cha is only a girl of twelve and is too young to answer such questions. Yet she is not too young to face a life of imprisonment and forced labor. Her crime? Being the daughter of a political traitor. The Beloved Daughter follows Chung-Cha into one of the most notorious prison camps of the contemporary free world. Will Chung-Cha survive the horrors of Camp 22? And if she does survive, will her faith remain intact? "The Beloved Daughter" is Alana Terry's debut Christian novel and was a winner in the Women of Faith writing contest.

About the Author:

Alana is a homeschooling mother of three who loves to write, hates to cook, and enjoys reading a good book almost as much as she enjoys writing one.

My Review:

What would you do if you knew that you or your loved ones could be killed for spreading the gospel? Is that why in the Bible we are told to keep the word of God hidden in our hearts, because at some point it may very well come to that and we may be called to renounce our faith to the Almighty?

Famine begins to strike the Hasambong village and then not too soon after inspectors are sent door to door looking for traitors. Families were being ripped apart and separated and then sent to prison camps where eventually death would come upon them. Follow along in the story of The Beloved Daughter as you will soon learn of a young girl Chung-Cha and the future her life holds.

The author did an amazing job! The characters are very thorough and convincing with an extremely strong storyline. You will immediately be drawn in to this girls plight and will be silently cheering her on. Definitely a must read!

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from bookfun.org.

First, this is not a book for the lighthearted. This is not a book for someone looking for light reading. There were times I had to stop reading because the subject is very tough.

Second, it's not always easy for an author to take a brutal subject such as Chung-Cha's time in prison camp and make it palatable for readers. While the author wants to be as real as possible, there is such a thing as going too far. Alana Terry does a tasteful job of portraying what went on in the prison camps without being overly graphic, yet clearly evoking my emotions and the sense of injustice.

Following Chung-Cha's story was very difficult for me. As a Christian, I would like to think that my faith is strong enough to take me through anything, but I am only human. Alana Terry does a very good job of showing Chung-Cha's struggle to keep her faith and remain alive. I kept thinking to myself, "how much more does this poor girl have to endure?" And the story does evoke the reader to ask "Why, God, why?"

The story is written from Chung-Cha's point of view, and at the end, you realize she is writing a letter to her daughter. When I reached the end of the book, I was

Overall, the author does a great job of writing a poignant story, all the while weaving in a lesson we all need to learn: God has a plan for everything. He is in control, even when we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

pdf provided for free from Pump Up Your Book for purpose of review

In a small North Korean village, a young girl struggles to survive. Catastrophic floods have ravaged her countryside. But it is her father's faith, not the famine of North Hamyong Province, that most threatens Chung-Cha's well-being.

Is Chung-Cha's father right to be such a vocal believer? Or is he a fool to bring danger on the head of his only daughter?

Chung-Cha is only a girl of twelve and is too young to answer such questions. Yet she is not too young to face a life of imprisonment and forced labor. Her crime? Being the daughter of a political dissident.

"The Beloved Daughter" follows Chung-Cha into one of the most notorious prison camps of the contemporary free world. Will Chung-Cha survive the horrors of Camp 22?

And if she does survive, will her faith remain intact?

My Thoughts:
I loved this book and read the entire story in 24 hours. I could not lay aside the story because I had to know what would happen to Chung-Cha. To say I was absorbed in the story is an understatement.

My list of reasons for giving this story a 5 star review:

The characters, descriptions, mood, dialogue, plot, drew me in so that I felt a strong emotional investment. I had to stay with the story from start to finish.
When the story begins Chung-Cha is age twelve. Her home-life was part Christian and part communist belief-which is no belief. Would young Chung-Cha's Christian foundation be strong enough to help her during life in Camp-22? This was a question that I asked through most of the book, which is a big reason why I continued to read it.
Chung-Cha is a dimensional character. She is not depicted as good and perfect, nor as flawed and imperfect. I saw all angles of her character and appreciated her humanity. Through the story there were events that brought out her best, and others where she failed. I felt this was an example of all of us, no matter our culture or race.
Chung-Cha evolves and grows in age, personality, emotion, independence and spirit life.
I thought I knew about communist North Korea before reading this story, I was wrong. I've been given an education about the plight and horrors of the people that live there. It is especially fearful for the Christian. The story focused on a family where one parent is an outspoken Christian, the other parent does not have a belief. The North Korean government uses division in a family to their advantage. The government will use any means to: coerce, lie, blackmail, kidnap, torture, abuse, murder, in order to find out information.
The story made me face what I would do in the same circumstance. If I were persecuted to the extent that a North Korean Christian was punished, would I stay strong in my faith, or would I give-up and fall-away?
The author had a goal of bringing to light what life is like in North Korea, and further the persecution that exists for a Christian in North Korea. I feel her goal was accomplished. This story has left a deep impact in my life. The Beloved Daughter is a story I'll not forget.

This book, The Beloved Daughter, by Alana Terry is magnificently written in my opinion. I can't think of a harder subject to write about than what she wrote in this book. I can't imagine how much research it took to write about a place that we can't even travel to, North Korea. And the atrocities that take place in this story, they sound so true you would think this was a non-fiction book.
Chung-Cha is 12 when the story starts in their family home. Her father is her hero because he lives his Christian faith, and is not afraid to share it. But, still, he is careful not to get caught. Chung-Cha's last memory of her home is her parents fighting, then just an hour later the Inspectors came. They hauled Chung-Cha away to the precinct building. She saw her mother again later, and she was sure her father was there also in the prison camp, but was he. Were her feelings for her father justified?
Chung-Cha and her mother suffer unmentionable cruelty at the hands of the North Koreans, but she never forgets her father's faith, though sometimes not as well as others.
This story is so full of strength of God's love and cruelty of mankind. Every page will pull you in until the last page when you can breath again. You can't help but cry over many of the things that take place, I know this is fiction, but I have heard of how cruel these people can be to their enemies, and Christians were their enemies.
I would recommend this recommend this book to all adults. It is good to know how great we have it here in our country, to worship as we please, without the threat of imprisonment or death.
This book was given to me by Book Fun Club in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Beloved Daughter, by Alana Terry, opened my eyes, broke my heart and changed my life. It's the story of Song Chung-Cha, a 12 year old girl, held captive in a North Korean prison camp to suffer for the crimes of her father. Is he guilty? Yes.

His crime? Being a Christian.

I promise you, guarantee you, that Chung-Cha's story will grab hold of you from the first page- and it will not let go until the last page. Being punished- even killed- for loving the Lord. It's hard to even comprehend. While reading The Beloved Daughter, I found my mind racing at the diabolical acts of the prison guards and the sheer hate that flowed through their veins. The story affected me throughout the day as I pondered the plight of North Koreans. I started to pray for these precious people that are starving and living in fear. Many have never even seen a Bible. They are now a part of me. Yet, flickers of hope are present through the story empowering Chung-Cha. So often she's only able to endure through God's love. The words will anger you, sadden you, hopefully motivate you but ultimately they will make you take a good, hard look at yourself. Chung-Cha is a fictional character but her struggle is happening today and it's real. How blessed we are to be Christians in America! It's a true privilege, but we must try and help others who are not so fortunate.

Before receiving the book, I asked Alana Terry if I could read it with my daughter's, ages 10 and 15. Her answer was, "No, I wouldn't recommend it." And this is why. The scenes in this story are hard to read. They will haunt you and make you cry. But, they are words that need to be said. Like the Holocaust, you can't candy coat this story. It's a message of hope, but there's way too much violence for younger eyes to read. Alana Terry has done an amazing job of shining a light into a part of life I knew nothing about. I'm richer for having read her book and highly recommend that you read it, too.

I just finished the book "The Beloved Daughter by Alana Terry. I found this well written and the characters are so real that you feel you are their with them.

All I can stay is what a book this was. I could not put it down and there was times I felt like my breath was taken away by what this young girl went through. We are the price it cost some for their faith and confections. The story tells us how lucky we are to live in a land of

freedom. We are told about the young girl and the price she pays for her father's faith as a christian. He will not give up his faith, even when his daughter pays by being tortured and beaten. In the end he looses his live. We learn of he fear and horrible suffering people pay in many countries for their faith.

This story will tear your heart out and make you cry at times as we watch this young girl try to stay a live and what it cost her as a human at the hands of others.

Everyone should read this book. It will give you a better understand of what many people suffer for their believes, and make us appreciate the country we live in

I am glad that Alana has written books that expose the inhumanity to man in North Korea. Not only of christians but their own people. These stories expose wrong thoughts & motives of a system that exploits the poor & is a dictatorship where people have no rights! They are not allowed to think for themselves & are slaves. Much manipulation! I can't imagine how anyone except the elite can thrive in this country. Evil personified.

The Beloved Daughter is profound. A story that will rock the reader to the core especially a lukewarm believer. Alana Terry's writing is beyond sensational and this story was so powerful. It challenges the reader to look beyond the label of Christian to the core of belief. This book begs the answer to the question of what sacrificial love really looks like. It tells a story of deep tragedy and the reality of North Korea's hidden world. However, it is done with such well written format that the reader is not dragged through unnecessary, horrific detail. Making it a book that is widely age appropriate from middle school through adulthood.
Although Chung-Cha is raised a believer, the only God she knows seems to have abandoned her at every critical turn. Will seeing other believers in action show her what God's love really is or will she harden her heart and cling to the torturous past? I cannot wait for the next book because I need to hear the end of the story.
A word of caution to the reader that once they know of the pain inside North Korean, to not act, is an act of cruelty. A quote from the book speaks to this "You must tell believers on the outside to prepare for the day when the prison walls that surround our nation finally collapse. There will be a flood of refugees who will require both practical and spiritual care. The body of Christ in both China and South Korea must be prepared to minister to the needs of these exiles. Pg. 193"
I received this book from the Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is one of those books that is so hard to keep reading, but you keep reading because it is just THAT good. This story never lost my interest. It almost gives the feel of reading a memoir, a good one.The writing was excellent.
This story also reminded me a little of "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung, also an excellent 5 star book for me. It had that same feel to it.

This is a story about Religious persecution, a father's strong Christian faith, years of torture in a Korean prison camp, and a young woman's struggle with her own faith. The torture she had to endure was almost too hard to read at times and I had to take breaks from reading. It was very sad and heartbreaking but also very exciting, hopeful , endearing and encouraging. This is definitely one of those books that makes you feel lucky for the life you have.

The character development is excellent. You get into the characters right away.
You definitely know that you are in N. Korea - the author gives great descriptions. I don't know that I have ever read a book that took place in N Korea so this may be a first for me.

This book got mostly 5 star reviews so this is one you don't want to miss.

As with any reminder of how cushy our life is in America, this reminder of how difficult it is for believers in other countries was hard to read. There is nothing comfortable about reading concerning the extreme suffering that Christians in other countries endure. Sometimes, I truly wanted to stop. It is not a book to read before bed. That being said, The Beloved Daughter is a story that every Christian should know. The tale takes place in North Korea, one of the most closed societies in the world. A family is arrested for the father's refusal to back down in his witness for Christ. The daughter is tortured in front of the father in an effort to get him to deny his faith. We then follow the life of the daughter, as at 12, she is left an orphan and a prisoner. We grieve for her as we see what she feels she has to do to survive prison as a young woman. Even after her release from prison, she continues to face betrayal from those she has come to trust. Through all this, Chung-Cha begins to make her father's faith her own.
When we comfortable believers read such tales, the question always comes to mind, "How would I respond?" That is an important question for Christians and this is an important book as well.
I received this book through The Book Club Network.

This is my first book by Alana Terry. I wasn't sure if this was going to be a book that I would like reading. However, once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. Ms. Terry describes the life of Chung-Cha from when we meet her as a young child of twelve until she is finally free about ten years later.

Chung-Cha lives in North Korea where her father is a Christian believer. Because of this, Chung-Cha and her family is arrested. She is sent to Camp-22 where she is kept in deplorable conditions and treated in even more deplorable ways. Finding later that she based her actions on a lie, Chung-Cha is able to survive her years. She is forced to do many things which a young person should not be.

After tasting a couple of years of freedom, Chung-Cha is forced to make even harder decisions after a surprising betrayal. Once again, the God that Chung-Cha learned of as a young girl, saves her. She is given many answers by a well revered source. Chung-Cha is free once again.

This book will have you crying and in disbelief that even in today's world these conditions can exist. I cannot wait until the sequel is released. I want to know what happens to Chung-Cha, Moses, and her daughter.

I received this book from TBCN for a fair and honest review.

Rating: 4.5 stars
Worthy of rounding up

Could you proclaim your faith in a country where such a proclamation meant death?

Chung-Cha's upbringing was steeped in Christian faith. Her father refused to deny his beliefs. As a result, Chung-Cha ended up alone in a prison camp and faced many forms of abuse, not the least of which was betrayal.

One day she ends up sharing a cell with an old woman of tremendous faith, one even the guards are afraid of. A woman who holds the keys to Chung-Cha's survival. That is, if she can survive the atrocities of prison life.

One of the hardest parts about writing reviews is trying to convey how touching and memorable a story is without giving away too much. There's so much I'd like to say about this novel, but I don't want to spoil it for the reader. What I can share... it is heartbreaking. Chung-Cha's journey will touch you in many ways. The story is told with an intense honesty, and the author never shies away from her character's faults and failings.

I highly recommend this novel to readers who appreciate a flawed, but strong, female character. Chung-Cha's journey is one you won't soon forget.

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the opinions expressed are my own.

Not an easy read, excellent story-telling and plot weaving, this book feels like a memoir. Written in the first person point of view, the story is told as a letter written by Chung-Cha (meaning Righteous Daughter) to her daughter Ae-Cha (meaning Beloved Daughter). How Alana is able to bring the emotions to the forefront so that the reader feels them with her without having actually experienced the events as discribed and written in this book is totally awesome. My Mom got ahold of the book before I had time to read it and she read it in one day. It took me a little longer, but only because of responsibilities that could not be ignored! This book reminds me of Randy Alcorn's Safely Home, and readers of that novel will want to check this high suspense one out at their earliest convenience.
This is a deep book. Written about Korea. I wonder if my convictions are strong enough for what may be in my future? Will I beable to stand in that day when evil forces try to overwhelm me? My God is strong enough, but am I weak enough to rely completely on Him?

I received this book free from Fred at the Book Club Network and the author Alana Terry in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are my own.

To simply state that The Beloved Daughter is a phenomenal book grossly understates the magnificence of Alana Terry’s skill as a master storyteller. She rips you from the comfort of your living room straight into the life of Chung-Cha, a North Korean girl imprisoned for her father’s outspoken faith. I found myself gasping, crying, even waiting with tense shoulders through scenes. I was entranced from page one, and you will not want to stop until you have read the entire book. It is not just the harrowing tale of the plight of North Korean prisoners, or the seed of hope that blossoms in your heart despite the horrors Chung-Cha faces. Alana Terry captivates you with her writing style. She is able to paint a scene with such clarity and with an eloquence that is often missing in books these days. Often I was forced to backtrack and reread a bit or poetic prose that was sprouting along the sidewalk of this story. It will leave you feeling honored to have read such a wonderful tale.

This story is so heart-wrenching, but at the same time people need to read it. It is about Christian persecution in North Korea. A family is torn apart because of the father's Christian faith. He is shot, and the mother and young daughter are sent to prison. They are tortured, abused in various ways and beaten. The mother is not a believer and the daughter's faith is weak. After a short time the mother dies in prison. The daughter is left alone not knowing how to survive. She meets people in prison that help her to hang on to life. This story is so real to me that I cried and a few times laughed. It grabs you at the start and doesn't let you go til way after the end. There are so many people in different countries that are being persecuted for their beliefs and this is just one example, although it is fiction, but very believable. I highly recommend this story to any and all. Five star plus!!! I received this through Library Thing giveaways for an honest review.

“The Beloved Daughter” by Alana Terry is a gripping tale of life in a prison camp in North Korea. The main character is a young girl that experiences horrors no child or adult should have to endure, just because her father was a Christian. But the story is full of hope and love which keeps you reading til the end. It opens your eyes to harsh realities that still go on today in other countries over religious beliefs It is amazing what a human being can endure when given no choice and sad to think that children live a life that seems normal to them but horrifying to us. It is a story that needs to be told and read by all if we are to end this kind of persecution of people just because they believe in a God that others do not. As I read the story I had to examine my own Christian faith and wondered if I could ever hold to my faith through such persecution. Listening to this story as an audio book made it more compelling to me than just reading it. I received this audio book from bookfun.org in exchange for my honest review.

I am not sure what I expected from this book, but I did not expect it to be the gripping tale that it was. In Beloved daughter, the raw issues that faced North Korean believers are made very real. The emotional and physical abuse is described in detail, making this book one for adult reading, rather than teens, however, it would be good that if an older teen was reading, great for discussion.
I think this book would be great for a book club discussion group, as there are many facets that would cause deep thoughts.

I had not read much about the sufferings in North Korea, but what I found most interesting was the way that even the strongest Christians could turn on one another or be tempted to forsake their faith. The story is engaging, but does leave you on a bit of a cliff hanger, for which I really hope there is a second book in the making! This is not an easy, happy fiction read, but is more like a biographical story, written in easy to read language.

Thank you to Alana Terry for allowing me the chance to read and review this book!

Having read several books by NK defectors, I kept forgetting that this book was a novel. The scenes and the characters were very real. The overcoming faith necessary to survive in a cruel regime like NK is well-portrayed in this book. There are heart-breaking choices to be made, but also an awareness of the true joy of following the Lord. Throughout the story there is the constant reminder of how much we need to pray for the people of NK to be set free.

The Beloved Daughter
By Alana Terry

Chung-Cha's story is one that will quite literally tear at your heart. When she is 12 she is sent to Camp 22, a forced labor camp within North Korea. Her crime? Being the daughter of an outspoken Christian father.

Facing lies, torture, and a life of forced labor is the faith that she has strong enough to survive? And is God even there? After all where was God during the famine that has hurt her country? And where was God when her family was taken during the night? And how can her parents have different responses when her very life is threatened by the government agents?

The Beloved Daughter is a heart wrenching journey of faith and love. What would you sacrifice for your daughter? Would you deny your Savior or would you sacrifice your daughter? This is a question that haunts Chung-Cha and it is the premise of The Beloved Daughter.

I was provided a copy of this title by the author Alana Terry in exchange for my honest review.

I am shocked to learn that this is Alana Terry's debut novel as it is so incredibly well-written. This is a very emotional, compelling story. I have never read an account of anyone who had been imprisoned in Korea. I could feel the fear and anger in Chung-Cha. She had every right to feel afraid and certainly angry also. I also experienced my first audiobook with this story and I would rush through daily chores and duties to get back to the kindle to listen some more. I am pleased to give a 5 Star Rating to The Beloved Daughter and will happily recommend it to my friends. I received a copy of this book from The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked this book. Started reading it on Sunday afternoon and finished it on Monday afternoon. Reading this book makes me realize how much I take my religious freedoms and expression of faith for granted. I know Christians are persecuted for the their faith in other countries, but not to the degree as it is described in this book.
It is a powerful, and heartbreaking story set in North Korea. Filled with tragedy, betrayal, friendship,faith,love and more.

Well written. Like the way the story was told by Chung-Cha as a record of her life for her Beloved Daughter.

Received this book from bookfun.org for my honest opinion and review.
Donna McGinnis

I was so touched and even shaken by this story of life in the prisons of North Korea. I liked the author's style of writing and the characters seemed so real. I cared about the characters and wanted their pain to end. I knew their captors were driven by pure evil. I thought it would take me longer to read but only took a few days because I did not want to put it down.Though this book is fiction, it's heartbreaking to know that being tortured for faith in Christ is real and still exists. I will never forget this story and it reminds me just how much real people in North Korea need our prayers.
This book was given to me my the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Very frustrated. Main character had very little joy in her life. I kept hoping something would really change for her. The story seemed to get sadder for me as I read it. I do not like reading books that continue into another book. It feels very incomplete. The story did not end.

This book was a wonderful book to read. Yet as this is fiction it reads as if it was not. The brutalities that take place in this book really do take place in real life as well, not just to the people who worship god but for no reason at all. I loved the inner strength of Chung-Cha with all she had to endure. Though she wavered in her religion, as we all do at times, this character really is a true believer in putting god first by giving up he daughter to do what was necessary in fighting for religion above all else! AMEN...

First off I would like to say I chose five stars because it deserves it! This book is such a Heart-wrenching and eye opening book. Chung-Cha is a girl who is tortured in Camp 22 and who struggles with her belief in God. Through many trials and errors she finds the peace of salvation and the love of Jesus Christ. I really like this book for its eye opening experience for persecution of the Christians, It's so really today and this is only half or not even, what goes on in different countries.
I recommend this book to anyone who has a love for the Asian people (like myself) or who just needs encouragement to stand up for Christ. There will come a time in each of our lives that we will be questioned whether or not we are a believer. Will you say yes?
maybe this book can help you with your decision. Yes there are many sad points in the book but many happy ones too.
I applaud the author not only for her tender heart toawrds these people but for gettting the Word out.

I loved this novel! I read it in two sittings, didn't want to put it down. I was drawn to the characters and pulled along by the plot, eager to see where the conflict took Song Chung-Cha.

The story is the history of Song Chung-Cha as recorded by her for her daughter. It begins with her at twelve years old as her North Korean family is torn apart after they are arrested for their Christian faith. It follows her through the death of her parents, torture, captivity, and escape. She spends her freedom helping others escaping North Korea until she is married, and her family is again torn apart.

This is the most compelling Christian novel I have read yet. Alana Terry does a masterful job of telling a beautiful story of pain and triumph while weaving Scriptural explanation into the conflict that makes sense, and exposing some of the hardships of Christians living in North Korea (as well as the hardships of *everyone* in North Korea).

This was great, I look forward to reading more of Alana Terry's work.

(I purchased The Beloved Daughter on another account.)

I chosen this rating because of the information of my Christian brothers and sisters in another country. Thank you for bring unbearable news from around the world. I still sad and heartbroken of their struggles. But, I trust God, and know there is a beautiful ending. It'll be my greatest honor to meet these brothers and sisters in the Lord on the other shore. Praying thank you

This book was so sad to read yet it was very well written. This book really made me appreciate living in America and made me realize what I take for granted everyday. Alana Terry is a great author and she really knew how to engross the reader in her story. The persecution that Chung-Cha went through in the book is incomprehensible. I will definitely be reading more books by Alana Terry. I would recommend this book to everyone!

I received this book from bookfun for my honest opinion.

A gripping and moving story, written like a real story ( it was about the same as reading stories from Nazi concentration camps survivors) ...It was difficult to believe it was "just" a novel!
Knowing it was a fictional story gave me mixed feelings, because on one side I knew that the character wasn't real, so it was a relief the protagonist didn't suffer the atrocities described in the book ..But at the same time it was shocking and very sad to think that those same things did happen to real people, and are probably still happening right now in this moment.
There is a lot of suffering in this book, the beginning was really hard, but violence description is never gratuitous or too graphical, and luckily there is a lot of hope too.
In the end I felt the need to learn more about North Korea and people living there, and I appreciated living in a free country a lot more...We often forget how blessed we are

Much of the information that comes out of North Korea is from the persecuted or disenfranchised; however, if even a small portion of the atrocities occur that are described in this book, we all need to be better informed. Whether you are a believer or not, this is a compelling and riveting story of a young woman's struggle - a struggle to survive and to grapple with her faith through many life threatening ordeals.

Alana Terry pens "The Beloved Daughter" in a heart wrenching plot filled with the horror of what goes on in the North Korean labor camps. A incredibly beautiful, but not an easy book to read due to emotions running wild, I was totally captivated in the story line. Not recommended for YA but I highly recommended to all mature readers!

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.

I was in suspense the entire book. It was slow in parts, but as the story line continued, it needed to be so. I thought it was depicted in the 1800's until the main character said that one of the other characters had a cell phone. I would like to know if this is fiction based on historical times or was it totally fiction.

The tale of "beloved daughter " is exciting and unpredictable and causes you to question yourself what would I do if placed in the same position? This story brings to life the plight of a Christian in a communist country with no freedoms... like North Korea.

During a time when many are denying the wonder of America and all its citizens take for granted, this book makes you take a hard and honest look at how much we truly have to be grateful for especially our safety and our freedom. You will be forever changed by the final page.

This book was awesome. I felt like I was right there ad I could really see this as real I.stead of fiction. I am sure this kind of thing still happens in third world country's. Makes you look at your own faith and how strong would it be if real persecution came to America. Would it endure? Highly recommend this book!!!!

I really enjoyed this novel, which I wasn’t expecting, and I don’t normally read anything in this genre. It was really vivid in detail and very realistic, showing how much a Christian, or one that will eventually become a Christian, suffers in places like North Korea. The story kept me interested in wanting to know what happened next, including what happened to her when she felt the call to return to North Korea. This book was received free from the author for my honest review.

Whether your Christian or not, this beautiful book is such a great example of hope and faith. It will take you far into a not so distant past with characters that absolutely come to life with their trials and hope. I highly recommend this eye opening book, even tho I'm a typical book snob who only reads history!!!

This book was a wonderful book to read. Yet as this is fiction it reads as if it was not. The brutalities that take place in this book really do take place in real life as well, not just to the people who worship god but for no reason at all. I loved the inner strength of Chung-Cha with all she had to endure. Though she wavered in her religion, as we all do at times, this character really is a true believer in putting god first by giving up he daughter to do what was necessary in fighting for religion above all else! AMEN...

First off I would like to say I chose five stars because it deserves it! This book is such a Heart-wrenching and eye opening book. Chung-Cha is a girl who is tortured in Camp 22 and who struggles with her belief in God. Through many trials and errors she finds the peace of salvation and the love of Jesus Christ. I really like this book for its eye opening experience for persecution of the Christians, It's so really today and this is only half or not even, what goes on in different countries.
I recommend this book to anyone who has a love for the Asian people (like myself) or who just needs encouragement to stand up for Christ. There will come a time in each of our lives that we will be questioned whether or not we are a believer. Will you say yes?
maybe this book can help you with your decision. Yes there are many sad points in the book but many happy ones too.
I applaud the author not only for her tender heart toawrds these people but for gettting the Word out.

I loved this novel! I read it in two sittings, didn't want to put it down. I was drawn to the characters and pulled along by the plot, eager to see where the conflict took Song Chung-Cha.

The story is the history of Song Chung-Cha as recorded by her for her daughter. It begins with her at twelve years old as her North Korean family is torn apart after they are arrested for their Christian faith. It follows her through the death of her parents, torture, captivity, and escape. She spends her freedom helping others escaping North Korea until she is married, and her family is again torn apart.

This is the most compelling Christian novel I have read yet. Alana Terry does a masterful job of telling a beautiful story of pain and triumph while weaving Scriptural explanation into the conflict that makes sense, and exposing some of the hardships of Christians living in North Korea (as well as the hardships of *everyone* in North Korea).

This was great, I look forward to reading more of Alana Terry's work.

(I purchased The Beloved Daughter on another account.)

I chosen this rating because of the information of my Christian brothers and sisters in another country. Thank you for bring unbearable news from around the world. I still sad and heartbroken of their struggles. But, I trust God, and know there is a beautiful ending. It'll be my greatest honor to meet these brothers and sisters in the Lord on the other shore. Praying thank you

This book was so sad to read yet it was very well written. This book really made me appreciate living in America and made me realize what I take for granted everyday. Alana Terry is a great author and she really knew how to engross the reader in her story. The persecution that Chung-Cha went through in the book is incomprehensible. I will definitely be reading more books by Alana Terry. I would recommend this book to everyone!

I received this book from bookfun for my honest opinion.

A gripping and moving story, written like a real story ( it was about the same as reading stories from Nazi concentration camps survivors) ...It was difficult to believe it was "just" a novel!
Knowing it was a fictional story gave me mixed feelings, because on one side I knew that the character wasn't real, so it was a relief the protagonist didn't suffer the atrocities described in the book ..But at the same time it was shocking and very sad to think that those same things did happen to real people, and are probably still happening right now in this moment.
There is a lot of suffering in this book, the beginning was really hard, but violence description is never gratuitous or too graphical, and luckily there is a lot of hope too.
In the end I felt the need to learn more about North Korea and people living there, and I appreciated living in a free country a lot more...We often forget how blessed we are

Much of the information that comes out of North Korea is from the persecuted or disenfranchised; however, if even a small portion of the atrocities occur that are described in this book, we all need to be better informed. Whether you are a believer or not, this is a compelling and riveting story of a young woman's struggle - a struggle to survive and to grapple with her faith through many life threatening ordeals.

Alana Terry pens "The Beloved Daughter" in a heart wrenching plot filled with the horror of what goes on in the North Korean labor camps. A incredibly beautiful, but not an easy book to read due to emotions running wild, I was totally captivated in the story line. Not recommended for YA but I highly recommended to all mature readers!

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author which was provided for an honest review.

I was in suspense the entire book. It was slow in parts, but as the story line continued, it needed to be so. I thought it was depicted in the 1800's until the main character said that one of the other characters had a cell phone. I would like to know if this is fiction based on historical times or was it totally fiction.

The tale of "beloved daughter " is exciting and unpredictable and causes you to question yourself what would I do if placed in the same position? This story brings to life the plight of a Christian in a communist country with no freedoms... like North Korea.

During a time when many are denying the wonder of America and all its citizens take for granted, this book makes you take a hard and honest look at how much we truly have to be grateful for especially our safety and our freedom. You will be forever changed by the final page.

This book was awesome. I felt like I was right there ad I could really see this as real I.stead of fiction. I am sure this kind of thing still happens in third world country's. Makes you look at your own faith and how strong would it be if real persecution came to America. Would it endure? Highly recommend this book!!!!

I really enjoyed this novel, which I wasn’t expecting, and I don’t normally read anything in this genre. It was really vivid in detail and very realistic, showing how much a Christian, or one that will eventually become a Christian, suffers in places like North Korea. The story kept me interested in wanting to know what happened next, including what happened to her when she felt the call to return to North Korea. This book was received free from the author for my honest review.

Whether your Christian or not, this beautiful book is such a great example of hope and faith. It will take you far into a not so distant past with characters that absolutely come to life with their trials and hope. I highly recommend this eye opening book, even tho I'm a typical book snob who only reads history!!!

This book is so emotional. It can make you happy, sad, and angry all on the same page. It is very well written.The book tells the story of a girl raised in a prison camp in North Korea. The abuse the Christians suffered for their faith is well illustrated. This book is a must read for all Christians.
I recieved this book from the Book Club Network for my honest review.

An amazing story where one girl's journey to freedom is never alone. She goes through very difficult times, accompanied by God who guides her to freedom. A great book for anyone who believes. Highly recommended.

What can I say about Alana Terry's "The Beloved Daughter" that hasn't already been said? Nothing. Yes it's good, yes it's eye-opening, and yes you might need a tissue. This story drew me in from the very first page and kept me there until the last one. And to be honest, I don't normally read books of this nature..so for me, that says something.

When I first started this book I thought I was not going to like it. It was so different from what I usually like to read. Alana is a wonderful storyteller. This book tells the story of a lady who was imprisoned, beaten, abused and in the end still serves The Lord. Well worth reading!

At times in the book, I was giving it a 3-star at best--I felt it to be disjointed and a bit awkward. But something kept me hooked and a desire to keep coming back to follow the main character. And low and behold the ending made it all clear and the reason for the in-cohesiveness . I was drawn in until the very end...The work of a fine author (good job Ms Terry).
Yes, it rates a 5th star or 4.5 at the least. May God help the people of North Korea and end their suffering.

I still have a difficult time fathoming the way of life in North Korea & lack of religious freedom in parts of the world. I feel almost guilty in the daily things I take for granted here in the USA.
This was a good book.

I loved this book and can barely wait for Not Alone the promised sequel to Beloved Daughter! Reality if you serve JESUS, you will suffer persecution. If you think it can't happen in America, you are wrong and I'm praying for you!

This a a story of a young girl's lost childhood,freedom and faith. Life's hardships surrounds her as she is held prisoner at Camp 22 and through acknowledgment of God faith is restored. This is an eventful story and I had a hard time putting this book down.

This is a beautifully written story that will grip you from page 1. Alana Terry writes in a way that vividly draws you into the story and masterfully keeps you intrigued. I can't wait to read more from this author!

I loved this well told story of the deplorable conditions for those who have been persecuted for their faith. By hearing it told in first person you can feel the thoughts, desires, and faith firsthand.,,

This book was one of the most spiritual and heart wrenching things I've ever read. It kept me on the edge of my seat as I prayed for her safe travels and imprisonment. I pray for the people who have to go through trials such as this daily in North Korea.

The girl in this book went through so much, almost every day of her life. I don't know how she woke up the next day to go through the pain again. She learned a lot from the lies and the pain. Reading this book has taught me a lot. If I could, I would have rated it a 10.

This is an incredible book. It's an amazing story of a young girl in North Korea who went to a concentration camp at the age of 12 and was tortured all for the sake of her father's bold belief in Christ. You witness the events first hand and can almost smell the tragedy! It is heart wrenching and motivational all at the same time.

Usually I read more light hearted Christian romances like Janet Oke, Beverly Lewis and Karen Kingsbury, but this was one of the freebies I found on kindle and after reading the description, I was hooked.

At my church recently we had a visitor from the Voice of the Martyrs and he spoke of North Korea. I can't tell you enough how true this story is. I know it's a fiction book, but these things and much worse are happening RIGHT NOW! This book shines a light to their situation and causes you to be praying for people and countries you don't know and pray more desperately for your own loved ones! I hope the aftereffects last a long long time and leave a permanent impression on my life forever!

The morning after reading the section about how the guard was abusing CC (as I called her) and shoving things under her fingernails, I was washing dishes and I stabbed myself under my fingernail. I was in immense pain for the whole day. I had such compassion for CC and others like her to endure such treatments of brutality when I was barely hurt comparatively!

It is so well written it's like reading a personal letter from a loved one! I highly recommend this book! I suggest this book specifically for Christians young and old but also for others who may not yet understand the faith. The author uses verses that are not as familiar to introduce the chapters and this fact alone leads you back to read your own Bible!

I read this book as fast as I could once I started it; it was hard to put down. I love how the main character goes through these highs and lows; she sees and experiences God and feels strengthened but she forgets and reverts to weakness. This seems like real life to me.

My complaint: cliffhanger! Weeks after reading this book I am still thinking about certain characters and wondering what happened to/with them.

Side note: I neede Kleenex, especially toward the end so prepare yourself if you become emotionally involved in your reading.

This book is unlike any I've ever read before. It is a suspenseful story of a girl/woman and her very difficult life. At first, I wasn't sure that I was going to like it but I stuck with it and in a few more pages I was hooked. Definitely give this book a try.

The Beloved Daughter is a profoundly moving story of tragedy and redemption told through the eyes of a North Korean Christian. This is truly a heartbreaking tale of a young girl's faith nearly extinguished by the horrors of life in a North Korean prison camp.

What is the purpose of suffering? Can the unspeakable be forgiven? Will faith sustain, even when it seems God has forsaken us? What is our duty as believers? These are just a few of the weighty questions which call out to us from the pages of this heart wrenching novel.

This book will stir you, challenged you, break your heart, and then offer you the promise of faith and love in Christ.

I am glad that Alana has written books that expose the inhumanity to man in North Korea. Not only of christians but their own people. These stories expose wrong thoughts & motives of a system that exploits the poor & is a dictatorship where people have no rights! They are not allowed to think for themselves & are slaves. Much manipulation! I can't imagine how anyone except the elite can thrive in this country. Evil personified.

Riveting story! Powerful and faith strengthening. Page turner for sure. The story shows the price one man pays for his faith, and the torment thrust upon his family for that same faith. Years of torment thrust on a young girl in a North Korean prison camp because of her faith. Powerful portrayal of how God can bring you through anything. Well written and faith building book. Gives a new perspective as to what it is like in other countries being a Christian. Wonderful, heart wrenching, story that I am sure to revisit again and again.

A page turner. The storyline was indeed tragic, but what story of N. Korean refugees isn't? While fiction, the story was believable enough to be someone's memoir- I know, having read a handful of memoirs/true accounts. If you are Christian, you see God in the story - yes, such awful things occur, but you can see God at work sometimes in the story, and you learn of true trust and love for the Lord. I'll be reading the rest of the related books.

This story is about a family in North Korea. The father was a Christian and tried to instill God's word in their home. Then came a missionary named MOSES. This is a story of torture and starvation while being held prisoner. You cannot imagine the horrors people there endure just trying to get through each day. Reading this book will touch your heart. A truly amazing story. Pray for the people of North Korea..