There are moments in life that push the boundaries of love, loyalty, and bravery—moments when we have to choose who we are, and what we’re prepared to give up for someone we love. For Robyn Rowbotham, a third-year medical student with her plans set, it arrived in the form of a late-night phone call. It was more than a plea for assistance. It was a pivot, one that would lead her away from lecture rooms and hospital wards, deep into the belly of a conflict zone.
In Is It Ever Right to Kill? by James Myles, Robyn’s is a story of deep human connection—an intense, unshakable relationship that defies blood ties and borders. Her friend Kat, a refugee from Ukraine, had grown up with her in the UK. They were schoolmates, confidantes, practically sisters. So when Kat’s parents went missing during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Robyn didn’t hesitate. While others around her cautioned reason and restraint, she chose action. She chose to stand by her friend.
It’s easy to say “I’m here for you.” It’s harder to prove it with your life. Robyn did just that.
Leaving behind boyfriend, school, and the promise of a future in medicine, she set off into the unknown. Not with a grand vision, but with resilience, determination, and love as her guide. She enlisted in a humanitarian brigade and deployed to Ukraine, using expanding medical skills to heal the injured and aid those trapped in the maelstrom. It was not the type of life she had prepared for, but it became the type of life she was meant to live.
What makes her tale so compelling is how intensely personal it is. This is not about politics or fame. It’s about a young woman attempting to save the family her heart had accepted, not the one her blood had provided. It’s about being brave when it would be simpler to remain secure. About friendship being as powerful a force as kinship.
James Myles, in Is It Ever Right to Kill?, brings Robyn’s emotional conflict and inner strength alive with vivid honesty. Through Robyn, we experience the raw anguish of powerlessness, the bite of terror, and the quiet resilience of conviction. We also see how sometimes love can be a stronger force than logic—and still be right.
To some of us, Robyn’s choice may look odd. But for those who have known the narratorless, soul-deep love of a chosen family, it’s completely reasonable. Her story reminds us that family doesn’t always look like DNA. It looks like the people who appear when it matters most.
Robyn’s journey to a war zone began in fear, but concluded in love. By risking it all for Kat, she didn’t merely go looking for a lost family. She redefined what family is all about. And by doing that, she provided us with a reason to believe in the incredible strength of friendship.
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