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Lex Ramsay
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Southern Republic (The Downriver Trilogy Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Lex Ramsay (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 out of 5 stars 147 ratings
In a world where the South has won the Civil War…

It’s 1982. A hundred years have passed since the South emerged victorious in the War of Northern Aggression. From the ashes of the aftermath, the industrial North has evolved into the technical center of the modern world, while the agrarian South, now broken up into Protectorate territories overseen by Protectors, props up its culture with vicious oppression. But now the South is in dire economic straits. Their refusal to allow slaves to use technology in their work has made their system obsolete and unable to compete with the global economy. Something must be done.

Patrick Edgerton is the leader of the Railway Association, an underground network devoted to freeing slaves. When Patrick learns of the horrifying “final solution” to the South’s economic predicament, he teams up with Olivia Askew, a Southern Protector’s daughter. Now, it’s up to them to prevent the mass genocide the South is proposing.

Southern Republic brings to life vivid details about the dual nations created when the South succeeded in defending its way of life, and asks the question, ‘What would our world look like if the South had won the Civil War?’
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Downriver Trilogy
  2. Print length
    220 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    May 29, 2017
  6. File size
    423 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B071J7MGSJ
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 29, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 423 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 220 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Downriver Trilogy
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 147 ratings

About the author

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Lex Ramsay

Lex Ramsay

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Lex Ramsay is a recovering lawyer, an avid but not terribly talented pianist, a student of Portuguese, and escapee from Corporate America where she cleaned up after other peoples' messes and generally sold her soul. She's buying it back, one word at a time, while making plans to move to Brazil with her 1 husband, 2 dogs, 2 horses and 2 cats (last count), once the Portuguese lessons kick in. To learn more about Lex and her books, visit https://www.lexramsayauthor.com/.

Join her on Facebook for book giveaways, pre-release info, and more at https://www.facebook.com/Lex-Ramsay-Author-1794192250821027/?fref=ts

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
147 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's pacing engaging, particularly appreciating how it takes readers through "what if" scenarios. Moreover, the story receives positive feedback as a great take on an alternative twist on history, with one customer noting it keeps readers in suspense until the end. Additionally, customers praise the character development, with one mentioning they could visualize the characters and scenes. However, the writing quality receives mixed reviews, with some finding it very well written while others disagree.

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PacingStory qualityReadabilityCharacter developmentWriting quality
22 customers mention "Pacing"17 positive5 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book engaging, with its interesting concept and ability to take readers through what-if scenarios.

"...This book is well-written and provided a great story and what is terribly horrifying to even think about...." Read more

"Southern Republic is a very good read and quite provocative in its concept...." Read more

"It was interesting and different...." Read more

"Alternate history at its finest. This book takes you through what if scenarios that ring true in their positioning...." Read more

19 customers mention "Story quality"15 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, appreciating its alternative historical twist and underlying narrative, with one customer noting it keeps readers engaged until the end.

"...Great characters and an exceptional story line. I am looking forward to how the story evolves." Read more

"Alternate history at its finest. This book takes you through what if scenarios that ring true in their positioning...." Read more

"...It had some mystery but I personally think the author missed an opportunity to grab the reader and not let go." Read more

"Very well written. Keeps you in suspense till the end. A good cast of people . A good plot, easy to read" Read more

16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a surprisingly good read, with one customer noting it's a well-written action story.

"...I very much enjoyed the story though it is a horrifying thought to those who would still be slaves" Read more

"Southern Republic is a very good read and quite provocative in its concept...." Read more

"...A thoroughly enjoyable read." Read more

"But you are not doing it very well. This book is good...." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one mentioning they could visualize the characters and scenes.

"...Great characters and an exceptional story line. I am looking forward to how the story evolves." Read more

"...The pace is good and the characters are plausible. Reading this book feels like you are living with the characters. A thoroughly enjoyable read." Read more

"Very well written. Keeps you in suspense till the end. A good cast of people . A good plot, easy to read" Read more

"...I liked that the major characters were multi-dimensional, not just stock figures...." Read more

12 customers mention "Writing quality"7 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality of the book, with some finding it very well written and easy to read, while others disagree.

"I love alternative history - the what if factor. This book is well-written and provided a great story and what is terribly horrifying to even think..." Read more

"...It had some mystery but I personally think the author missed an opportunity to grab the reader and not let go." Read more

"...It is quite readable, but harry turtledove it is not. The message however is on point and quite applicable in todays society." Read more

"...living among educated people for so long and their language not improving was ridiculous...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Dr. Patricia Eroh
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great idea
    Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I love alternative history - the what if factor. This book is well-written and provided a great story and what is terribly horrifying to even think about. When I think of my niece's children and other Blacks in today's society and what it would mean, it makes me sad. I very much enjoyed the story though it is a horrifying thought to those who would still be slaves
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Provacative & Entertaining
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Southern Republic is a very good read and quite provocative in its concept. I must admit it took me a while to get my head around the fact that Slavery was still in existence 100 years post Civil War. Great characters and an exceptional story line. I am looking forward to how the story evolves.
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  • VonExcl😘
    3.0 out of 5 stars It was different
    Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    It was interesting and different. I guess this book speaks from the author's point of view of how America would've turned out if the South won the Civil War, so I can't knock that down; everyone has their own theory and conclusion. P.S. I despise Olivia, Olivia came off to me as nothing more than a privileged southern white Belle who could sleep with a black man all because "she can." No different than the average white woman back in the 17th-19th century who wanted a Mandingo or a white man who wanted a Bedwench. Enjoyed the book though, I'll be sure to check out part 2.
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  • Sheila G.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Alternate history at its finest. This book takes you through what if scenarios ...
    Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Alternate history at its finest. This book takes you through what if scenarios that ring true in their positioning. The pace is good and the characters are plausible. Reading this book feels like you are living with the characters. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
    Helpful
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  • matthew h.
    4.0 out of 5 stars I know what you are trying to do
    Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    But you are not doing it very well. This book is good. there is no two ways about that, this book and the sequal last class citizen need to be ordered together. The problem is this. As an alternate history book, it falls flat. A CSA, with no army, that has no guns, that runs slaves until the 1980's without any backstory or how we got here, with the exception of the Battle of Gettysburg? However, once I realized it was a social-economic statement book, ( and Last Class Citizen is even more so) then I began to understand what was going on. It is quite readable, but harry turtledove it is not. The message however is on point and quite applicable in todays society.
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  • Desert Mambo
    1.0 out of 5 stars Great ideas but the writing needed a ton of work
    Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Great idea for this book, but like another reviewer said, this was so not ready to be published. I generally avoid self-published books, but sometimes I can't tell if that's what I'm getting or not, as was the case here (if indeed, it is self-published, ie. published through amazon rather than a real publisher, with, you know, editors? Because this book seriously needed an editor.)

    Problems: info. dumps in the first few pages--supposedly the character is thinking through, or telling the whole history of the Southern Republic and the wars etc, etc. Actually, this was true of the book as far as I read, which was about six or seven chapters in. Mostly telling, very little showing. And also grammar/punctuation errors. Enough that I wanted to take a red pen to it, except you know, it's an e-book, and I'm not getting paid to do that.

    I rarely give up on books (and when I do, they get a one star, meaning either I couldn't force myself to finish the book, or I did and I regret that I bothered), but I had to give up on this one, especially because it was book one of a trilogy! I couldn't imagine finishing this one, let alone two more. Hence the one star. Might be useful for the author to get a good editor and also perhaps review the basic tenets of good fiction writing, because I was interested in the ideas for sure--I just couldn't force myself through the prose.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Ken
    3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting concept but not a grabber.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This is a book with an interesting concept. What might have happened if the South had won the Civil War? It just wasn't quite what I expected thus I was a bit disappointed. It had some mystery but I personally think the author missed an opportunity to grab the reader and not let go.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Thomas H. Jones Jr
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best novels i have read in a long time
    Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Very well written. Keeps you in suspense till the end. A good cast of people . A good plot, easy to read
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Seonaid
    3.0 out of 5 stars Different take on history
    Reviewed in Canada on October 23, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Interesting storyline -- enough to make me intend to read Book 2
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