Helpful Score: 2
As a reader of historical novels, Im often reminded how hard life was for those who lived in the 1800s New World. However, this novel shows on every page just how dicey life was for those who lived here in the 1680s.
This is not an easy book to read; although a readers attention is snagged quickly, the dangers of life in this area of New Mexico are almost overwhelming. Before the end of the second chapter, our heroine, Maria Espinosa, has cheated death on two occasions: She survived the 1679 cholera epidemic in Mexico City and was the only survivor after Apaches attacked a Santa Fe-bound caravan in which Maria was traveling.
It will be a long time before I forget this book; the nature of the difficult terrain and the brooding anger of the indigenous peoples against their oppressors blended together to create an almost impossibly inhospitable climate.
Young Diego has inherited the leadership role at the Masferrer hacienda. Eking a living from such a barren country is difficult in the best of times, but Diego is fighting drought and unrest amongst the Indian population. He does not understand the discontent because he sees himself as a benevolent father to his Indian children.
Cristobol is the illegitimate son of Diegos father and Diegos mothers Indian maid. Because he is Indian, Cristobol cannot inherit land or property from his white father. Diego is a few months older than his half-brother; the conflict between Diego and Cristobol is fascinating.
I was thankful that this book was only 270 pages; this book has so much emotion spilling off the pages that I was relieved when it ended. This is a remarkable story.
This is not an easy book to read; although a readers attention is snagged quickly, the dangers of life in this area of New Mexico are almost overwhelming. Before the end of the second chapter, our heroine, Maria Espinosa, has cheated death on two occasions: She survived the 1679 cholera epidemic in Mexico City and was the only survivor after Apaches attacked a Santa Fe-bound caravan in which Maria was traveling.
It will be a long time before I forget this book; the nature of the difficult terrain and the brooding anger of the indigenous peoples against their oppressors blended together to create an almost impossibly inhospitable climate.
Young Diego has inherited the leadership role at the Masferrer hacienda. Eking a living from such a barren country is difficult in the best of times, but Diego is fighting drought and unrest amongst the Indian population. He does not understand the discontent because he sees himself as a benevolent father to his Indian children.
Cristobol is the illegitimate son of Diegos father and Diegos mothers Indian maid. Because he is Indian, Cristobol cannot inherit land or property from his white father. Diego is a few months older than his half-brother; the conflict between Diego and Cristobol is fascinating.
I was thankful that this book was only 270 pages; this book has so much emotion spilling off the pages that I was relieved when it ended. This is a remarkable story.
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