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A review by cctblog
Between Two Shores by Jocelyn Green
4.0
Set in Canada during the French & Indian War, Between Two Shores is the story of Catherine Duval, a mixed-race woman trying to straddle the line between being Mohawk and French. While the novel is about war, it's also about Catherine's family: her French father who abandoned the family; her sister Bright Star, who chose to remain with the Mohawk after their mother's death; her brother Joseph Many Feathers, a Mohawk warrior; and Thankful, a young English girl she ransomed after an Indian raid.
This story absolutely did not go where I expected it to, and I think it's much better for it. Still, I think it's worth noting that this is not a romance. I expected it to be, though that's a conclusion I jumped to on my own, as it's categorized as historical fiction. I think I would've enjoyed the book more had I not been expecting it to take a turn towards the romantic all the way through. The story that Green does tell, one of forgiveness and familial love, is truly beautiful.
I did get bogged down at the beginning of the book—I felt like the story dragged on without any real plot advancement for a while—but when I truly became engaged with the novel about 50% of the way through, I flew through the remaining chapters.
I absolutely adored the way Green chose to end the novel, giving the reader a glimpse into what the future holds for Catherine, Thankful, and Bright Star. Though I didn't realize it when I picked the book up, those three women are truly the heart of the novel.
Disclosure of material connection: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.
This story absolutely did not go where I expected it to, and I think it's much better for it. Still, I think it's worth noting that this is not a romance. I expected it to be, though that's a conclusion I jumped to on my own, as it's categorized as historical fiction. I think I would've enjoyed the book more had I not been expecting it to take a turn towards the romantic all the way through. The story that Green does tell, one of forgiveness and familial love, is truly beautiful.
I did get bogged down at the beginning of the book—I felt like the story dragged on without any real plot advancement for a while—but when I truly became engaged with the novel about 50% of the way through, I flew through the remaining chapters.
I absolutely adored the way Green chose to end the novel, giving the reader a glimpse into what the future holds for Catherine, Thankful, and Bright Star. Though I didn't realize it when I picked the book up, those three women are truly the heart of the novel.
Disclosure of material connection: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.