The Author
Lawrence was raised across from a hill shadowing Black Rapids Creek in Ottawa, Canada. The towering toboggan hill fed an early appetite for challenge, tall tales and doing the impossible. The black forested river valley set his dreams.
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• A haunting, mystical tale that draws the reader into a lingering tale of sadness and loss. There is something in the American wilderness that is timeless, overshadowing the human inhabitants and even the animals.
• (O’Brien) displays an innate, instinctive understanding of the grandness of nature.
• O’Brien’s strength is his ability to throw himself into a number of character viewpoints, each as compelling as the last.
• (Thoughts of each person) never overdone and add depth to the storyline, as does the authenticity of the dialogue.
• The wildness of nature, the myths and legends and the human struggle all merge to create an incredible and haunting story that will keep the reader guessing.
• Unputdownable.”
—The Historical Fiction Company
• The powerful imagery of the harsh, wild landscapes the characters traverse, along with the tension that fills the air in every chapter, kept readers on the edge of their seats.
• The balance the author found between the violent supernatural events of the story and the need for survival that takes center stage in the narrative made this novel soar.
• Narrative (was) compelling and thought-provoking. It was the powerful themes of this book that stood out.”
—Author Anthony Avina
• Major themes explored ... freedom vs. servitude, nature vs. spirit, and supernatural justice.
• O'Brien's mix of perspectives—animal, human, and supernatural—creates a mystical, intimate, and holistic picture of early America’s moral landscape.
• O'Brien cinematically reveals how the quest for liberty often comes at the cost of others—and how nature, in its memory and consciousness, responds."
—Literary Book Reviews
