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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Really liked this family epic - similar to Outlanders (and there's a Claire and Jamie shoutout!) but waayyy less violent and rapey.
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
I loved everything about the book except perhaps a part of the ending. If you loved Outlander book or The Last of the Mohicans film then read this book. It's a proper page-turner about settlers, trappers, Indians... also nature writing at it's very best.
adventurous
emotional
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Loved the two main characters. Didn't feel like 700+ pages.
This books was recommended to me because I read the Outlander series. I don't think it is as good as that series, but after getting through the pretty clunky romance-novel beginning, I enjoyed it.
While the author does indulge in way more stereotypes than Gabaldon does--all the native Americans are wise and speak in riddles, all the African-Americans are dignified, all the Scots are friendly drunks, and even the town racist is called "Moses Southern" (puleeez)--the characters are interesting and amusing and the dialogue is pretty good.
The heroine is not really all that believable as an 18th century Englishwoman, but is likable anyway. (She would be much more believable if she were a 20th century time traveler like Claire Fraser!)
Anyway, once you get past the first 50 pages or so, the book picks up a lot, and is a good summer read. I will be putting the rest of the series on my list for traveling.
While the author does indulge in way more stereotypes than Gabaldon does--all the native Americans are wise and speak in riddles, all the African-Americans are dignified, all the Scots are friendly drunks, and even the town racist is called "Moses Southern" (puleeez)--the characters are interesting and amusing and the dialogue is pretty good.
The heroine is not really all that believable as an 18th century Englishwoman, but is likable anyway. (She would be much more believable if she were a 20th century time traveler like Claire Fraser!)
Anyway, once you get past the first 50 pages or so, the book picks up a lot, and is a good summer read. I will be putting the rest of the series on my list for traveling.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So I enjoyed this. Good, likeable characters, some action, some romance. Will be reading the rest in the series.
I love historical fiction done well, especially with fierce women at the center, and this novel of the American wilderness, aka Stolen Land, in the late 1700s was really compelling and engrossing. I'm also grateful that Donati seems to have done her homework as far as the indigenous people and their oppression so that I was cringing at the bigoted a-holes who inevitably do populate the story, but was relieved by the inclusive attitudes of the main characters.
This does remind me of Outlander as far as its epic proportions and detailed tale of the lives of a handful of characters, and of course, the sex scenes are also similar. If you don't like Outlander, I doubt you would like this book. I'll be reading more of this series as it's an excellent escape from Shitshow 2020.
This does remind me of Outlander as far as its epic proportions and detailed tale of the lives of a handful of characters, and of course, the sex scenes are also similar. If you don't like Outlander, I doubt you would like this book. I'll be reading more of this series as it's an excellent escape from Shitshow 2020.
At one point in the middle you feel like you are in a bad horror movie version of the world's worst camping trip. There is an excess of villains. Even though colonialism issues are addressed head-on, supporting Native American and African American characters are unfortunately romanticized. However, the setting is fascinating and splendidly realized, the plot keeps you going for 800 pages, and the main characters are imperfect and complex. Recommended for fans of epic historical fiction adventure love stories.