Overview
Born into tragedy but gifted with a powerful connection to the natural world, a resilient young woman comes of age amid the wild beauty of early-1800s Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas in this incandescent, hauntingly moving epic about home, horses, human connection, and the transcendent awe of nature for readers of Go As a River and The Giver of Stars.
Alabama, 1813: In the midst of the battle and massacre at Fort Mims, a baby is born. It’s a portentous beginning for Emilie McCain, who has inherited the Sight—visions that come in dreams guided by an owl. Owl is Emilie’s steadfast companion, a welcome balance to her mother’s neglect. Along with the Sight, Emilie possesses an innate talent for communicating with horses. In an era when a woman legally belongs to her husband, such gifts may be the only things that are hers to keep.
The family makes a perilous move to Arkansas Territory, where Emilie becomes a master horse trainer and leatherworker. For all her skill with horses, Emilie sometimes fails to see the dark truth about the people she encounters. Other dangers, even when predicted, may be impossible to defend against—yellow fever, greed, vengeance, and the unforgiving land itself.
Through love, marriage, heartache, and hardship, Emilie gains strength and resilience. After years of avoiding emotional entanglements, she meets a man who presents her with a horse to be trained and an offer of friendship she could sorely use. But with his arrival come other tests of her will and her judgement. Finally, a shocking revelation inspires an act beyond her imagining—and may set her free to find the place she truly belongs . . .
Review
Well! India Hayford has done it again. I loved The Song of the Blue Bottle Tree. And her second book is almost as good as her first.
Emilie and her family make a perilous move to Arkansas Territory, where Emilie becomes a master horse trainer and leatherworker. For all her skill with horses, Emilie sometimes fails to see the dark truth about the people she encounters. Other dangers, even when predicted, may be impossible to defend against—yellow fever, greed, vengeance, and the unforgiving land itself.
Emilie is a woman who does not let anything stop her, including husbands. And she makes some bad decisions in that department. But she overcomes so much to become her own person.
This does have a bit of a slow start but the history and the story surrounding Emilie and her beginnings just kept me moving along.
Yall! There were several places in this book that I had to pause the narration. I had to catch my breath. This story is powerful. It is emotional. It is very well researched and very well written.
This is narrated by Zura Johnson, Laura Jennings and Matt Godfrey. I cannot imagine a better team to narrate this book.
Need a story that just might make you cry, scream and throw something…THIS IS IT. Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
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