“Blood for Freedom: On a Mission among the Mayas by J. P. Piché is an astounding piece of historical fiction set in Guatemala, moving to the events of the new guerilla war in Central America of the late 1970s. Aiming to help the youth, Paul finds himself in challenging and even traumatic experiences that compel him to become more involved with the Mayan cause. Compendiously written with exquisite details, the book is a must-read for all ages. With every intense chapter comes, an even more captivating chapter follows, making it harder to stop. With Paul finding himself in a dumbfounding journey between life and death, is putting his life at risk for the people dear to him who are suffering under the hands of powerful men his true calling?“

“Though he is faced with hints of underlying societal problems upon his arrival in the city, Paul puts those aside when he reaches Concepción and begins his work with the teenagers of the village and assisting a medical student from the University of Quetzaltenango to establish a health clinic. As time passes, Paul settles into a routine and makes friends among the native villagers, learning their dialect and way of life. Soon, however, it becomes evident that unrest over the exploitation of the natives is growing, and that resistance factions and Guatemala’s military government are on a collision course. The author does a brilliant job of portraying the lifestyle and mindset of the native population, painting a picture of a life lived with very little hope of material improvement, and it is easy to understand Paul’s deep commitment to the cause of his new friends. This is one of those novels that reveals the darkness underneath the façade presented to tourists and visitors of third-world countries. It shows a mastery of storytelling.”

“I liked Blood for Freedom by J. P. Piché, a very talented and brilliant writer. This well-paced exciting story begins with Paul leaving for Guatemala and saying goodbye to his family. Paul is searching for a new chapter in his life and the story continues at a good pace bringing you in deeper as you read each page. This is not your usual story of typical struggles but the exact opposite as it brings out strong feelings of basic fairness and a basic love for humanity which is something current society desperately needs to fight off jaded feelings and callousness brought on with the volume of information in today’s news about the tremendous number of inhumane actions in the world. From the first page to the last, the author shows consideration, compassion, clarity, and very strong emotions for humanity. Highly recommended.”

“This book is very enlightening. It describes a history of an ancient civilization and exposes the reader to some of the present-day problems of the remaining ancestors of that civilization. I really enjoyed this story. I think by telling about the revolutionary escapades through the character of Paul, the author allows the reader to better connect with Guatemala and its people. What I enjoyed most about this book was how much I learned about a topic I really had no knowledge of before. The story moved at a fast pace and was easy to follow. Although it touches on serious topics, I think it was written in a way that will fascinate most readers. Overall, it is an interesting story with an important message. I would recommend it to fans of action or historical fiction novels.”