This novel is an advanced copy that is being published by Algonquin books. Although its release date is not until January 2017, I couldn’t stop myself from reading this book at the earliest chance! And while this book won’t be available for a while, I strongly urge all of my readers to keep this novel on their TBR list because it is worth the wait!
When Major Gryffth Hockaday is called to the front lines of the Civil War, he has to leave his new, very young bride at his 300-acre farm. Placidia is only seventeen years old and has never been so far away from her family – not only does she have to run this farm but she is also to act as mother to her infant stepson. Through letters sent to loved ones and Placidia’s diary entries, we discover the struggles that she has to endure during these dark times – and how she finds herself in prison, responsible for the murder of a child she gave birth to.
One of the things I truly loved about this novel was the way in which it was written. The letters and diary entries gave it a very personal feeling, much more than even if the novel was written in the first-person narrative. It gave me a feel for the setting and the sentiments of everyone around Placidia (as well as Placidia herself, of course). The story itself was captivating, as it described her struggles as a new wife and young mother. I will say that the story jumped around a bit in terms of which character was speaking and what time point was being mentioned, but that just made it all the more intriguing! The final reveal was something that I definitely would not have been able to figure out and it made me love the character of Placidia even more! This is a great historical fiction that talks about the courage of a woman during the times of Civil War! Keep on the lookout for this one, because it is superb!
Happy reading ~
This sounds like a really great book! Haha, the release date is forever from now though. I really enjoy reading historical fiction – It’s incredibly interesting reading about experiences people have gone through in the past (even though it’s fiction), and historical fiction books always teach me something. This is a great review! 🙂
Yes, it was a really good read, and I think what made it even more interesting was the way in which it was written. It is so common these days to have novels written in first or third person narratives that to have it in the form of diary entries and letters just makes the whole experience more interesting!