Kingdom of Ends is a vivid recounting of the lives of a group of Americans living in central Africa at a moment fraught with tension and intrigue. The novel's main character, Sarah, is a relatable, idealistic young woman, trying to make sense of her new surroundings as well as the colorful cast of characters who become her friends and guides in her new life. A riveting read that captures a fascinating place and time and the challenges of making a life there.

- Annette Grimaldi

Author Jenny Sheridan has written an engrossing first novel, Kingdom of Ends: American Mission in Bongo. Set in 1980s central Africa, Sarah Sheffield, an idealistic graduate student, on the cusp of her adult life, embarks on a possible foreign service career in a confusing place.  The setting in the fictional country of Africa is rich in detail and the characters, especially Sarah, captivate the reader. I look forward to more from this talented writer. 

- Harriet Riley

Jenny Lynn Sheridan's debut novel Kingdom of Ends draws from her own time as a postgraduate student in the foreign service, transporting readers to Cold War-era Central Africa in the 1980s.Told from the perspectives of a diverse and interesting group of characters including protagonist Sarah Sheffield, we see a world vastly different from Sarah's own where she witnesses the U.S.'s complicated role in regional conflicts. Blending adventure, political intrigue and romance, Sheridan crafts an entertaining page-turner that provides an interesting window into this period of history.

- Julie Montgomery

Reading the novel Kingdom of Ends: American Mission in Bongo, I felt quickly  transported into a critical period of late cold war diplomacy, and gained insights into the characters and the types of  people in the US foreign service.  Upon reflection, the novel has many implications for today's international relations and current US foreign aid controversies.

- Ken Sperber

Kingdom's End is a fascinating and firsthand look inside the international aid community operating in Africa in the 1980s. This novel, which reflects the author's lived experiences, highlights the dedicated individuals truly devoted to the local populations they were there to serve while also providing an entertaining yet unflinching look at their all-too-human flaws and foibles. The protagonist and her colleagues are well-drawn and multi-dimensional, clearly idealistic and committed to their work yet equally likely to be driven by jealousy, selfishness, sexism, racism, and the like. And the exploration of the not-always-positive role played by the United States in the ethnic and nationalist conflicts that erupted in post-colonial Africa adds historical context and weight to this compelling work.    

- Charlotte Salomon