To say this story was incredible almost seems like an understatement. In fact, it’s hard to find the words at all to review a book that left me in such awe. From the earliest pages, I found myself speechless and glued to the journey unfolding before me. I’ve never read anything quite like this. The Wood’s Edge took storytelling to a whole new level for me. I can’t wait for the rest of this new series.
Readers aren’t just stepping into one character’s journey when they pick this book up. They’re stepping into a much larger world, sown together with remarkable detail and dialogue. There you’ll meet multiple characters and experience the story through their eyes. You’ll sweep over many years and stand witness to great love and great heartache too. The birth of faith in new believers was exceptionally touching. It’s an amazing story, let me tell you.
I felt so much for these characters. I felt their pain, their desperation, their fear, and their shame. But I also shared their hope, their curiosity, and their joy. I felt like I knew them. I could see them. I was one of them.
The pace and progression of the tale was very well done, I thought. It covered a lot of ground between the different cultures. The real-life events flowed smoothly around the fictitious. While there were a lot of different names and details, the emotional depth and strength of the plot never weakened.
The Wood’s Edge has to be one of my favorite historical fiction books to date. I felt honored just to read it. I came away from it freshly inspired, encouraged, and convicted with the struggles of my own path. I know it will bless and impact countless others too. This one’s a keeper, my friends. Don’t let it pass you by.
Thank you to WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group and the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
————————————————————————————————————————-
ABOUT THE BOOK:
At the wood’s edge cultures collide. Can two families survive the impact?
The 1757 New York frontier is home to the Oneida tribe and to British colonists, yet their feet rarely walk the same paths.
On the day Fort William Henry falls, Major Reginald Aubrey is beside himself with grief. His son, born that day, has died in the arms of his sleeping wife. When Reginald comes across an Oneida mother with newborn twins, one white, one brown, he makes a choice that will haunt the lives of all involved. He steals the white baby and leaves his own child behind. Reginald’s wife and foundling daughter, Anna, never suspect the truth about the boy they call William, but Reginald is wracked by regret that only intensifies with time, as his secret spreads its devastating ripples.
When the long buried truth comes to light, can an unlikely friendship forged at the wood’s edge provide a way forward? For a father tormented by fear of judgment, another by lust for vengeance. For a mother still grieving her lost child. For a brother who feels his twin’s absence, another unaware of his twin’s existence. And for Anna, who loves them both—Two Hawks, the mysterious Oneida boy she meets in secret, and William, her brother. As paths long divided collide, how will God direct the feet of those who follow Him?
————————————————————————————————————————-
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lori Benton was raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, surrounded by early American history going back three hundred years. Her novels transport readers to the eighteenth century, where she brings to life the Colonial and early Federal periods of American history. When she isn’t writing, reading, or researching, Lori enjoys exploring the Oregon wilderness with her husband. She is the author of Burning Sky, recipient of three Christy Awards, The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn, and The Wood’s Edge. For more, visit www.loribenton.com
————————————————————————————————————————-
Now I’m even more excited to read this one! I loved the cover from the first time I saw it! Bumping up on my “to read” list 🙂 Thanks!
I did too, Danielle. The cover is a great fit for the story. I hope you get to read it soon!