Tom and Ben live on the margins of society, surrounded by drugs, loneliness and abuse. After a failed robbery attempt, they are arrested together and sentenced to five years in prison. Soon, in Wandsworth Prison, the two become victims of physical and sexual violence at the hands of both other inmates and corrupt guards. Their suffering seems endless, while everyone else appears indifferent to what is happening within those walls… or at least until the arrival of the new director, Ancoll, who takes on her role with the intention of protecting them and exposing the network of corruption behind the acts of violence, which seems to extend beyond the prison walls… Flowers in the Storm is a powerful, raw and true novel that shows how solidarity, humanity and love can become a lifeline and a source of hope even in the darkest moments of life.
Miss S. Hidden’s desire to find herself and give voice to her true nature drove her, as a teenager, to create intricate maps, labyrinths made up of dreams, thoughts and feelings. However, it was only when she joined the Italian State Police that she was able to understand the true meaning of the word “service.”
Her novel, Flowers in the Storm, is an opportunity not only to share her thoughts but also to open the gates of her labyrinths in the hope that her discoveries and experiences may help her readers on their own journey.
matthe.iaco@gmail.com –
I have read the Italian draft of the book and I can say with certainty that it is not just a story, events intertwined in a thrilling crime novel, but above all it is the call of the soul to face what we are, without masks or superstructures. It is a special book that engages the reader, who enters the story themselves, who enters within themselves. The writer delicately infuses strong, intense emotions and images… Like a painting, like a film. Thank you to Europe Books for believing in what I consider to be a precious gem. I hope that many will read it and love it deeply. Enjoy the read. Matheus
Ertokuj –
I was able to read the original version. It is an emotional book. A compelling story and characters, each with their own unique and intense experiences, all protagonists alongside Tom and Ben, are all to be loved, yes loved, with tenderness and respect, because love is the energy that accompanies every reader as they venture into it. Read it with courage and you will discover the unstoppable and conflicting desire to devour it until the end. I really hope a film will be made of it.
Nunzio –
When you think that there are no more roads in life, that the world is a huge prison from which you can no longer escape, that darkness will obscure your days and your nights without end, here comes the hope of being able to free yourself from the chains of this prison to which you were resigned. This hope is called love, humanity, solidarity. These are the keys to opening the doors to the light, to finding new lifeblood, to believing that in life you must never give up. There is always love that overwhelms everything, everywhere and always. This is what enters you as you read this book, where the harshness of events gives way to rebirth, thanks to love, humanity, and solidarity. I offer my warmest compliments to the book’s author, Miss S. Hidden, who manages to involve the reader in a whirlwind of contrasting feelings, initially filled with sadness and anguish for the protagonists’ experiences, but then filled with optimism and strong emotions aroused by the sense of humanity, love, and solidarity that you breathe in this truly commendable book. A must-read.
isabella.dilelio1815@gmail.com –
I understand why the author’s dream was for the book to be published in English. English is really the language and soul of this book, thanks to the translation of Mrs Bertuccelli and the author’s captivating writing, the souls of the protagonists really come alive. A story which is captivating, emotional and sensitive like a flower but strong like wind. Get lost in the labyrinth of the author’s mind, follow her lead and enjoy