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Out Front the Following Sea
Out Front the Following Sea is a historical epic of one woman's survival in a time when the wilderness is still wild, heresy is publicly punishable, and being independent is worse than scorned—it is a death sentence. At the onset of King William's War between French and English settlers in 1689 New England, Ruth Miner is accused of witchcraft for the murder of her parents and must flee the brutality of her town. She stows away on the ship of the only other person who knows her an audacious sailor—Owen—bound to her by years of attraction, friendship, and shared secrets. But when Owen's French ancestry finds him at odds with a violent English commander, the turmoil becomes life-or-death for the sailor, the headstrong Ruth, and the cast of Quakers, Pequot Indians, soldiers, highwaymen, and townsfolk dragged into the fray. Now Ruth must choose between sending Owen to the gallows or keeping her own neck from the noose.
334 pages, ebook
First published January 11, 2022
About the author
Leah Angstman
18 books149 followersLeah Angstman is a researcher, transplanted Michigander living in Boulder, and executive editor of Alternating Current Press and The Coil magazine. She is the author of OUT FRONT THE FOLLOWING SEA (Regal House, 2022), SHOOT THE HORSES FIRST (Kernpunkt Press, 2023), and FALCON IN THE DIVE (Regal House, 2024), and her writing can be found in Publishers Weekly, Los Angeles Review of Books, The Nashville Review, and elsewhere. You can find her at leahangstman.com and on social media as @leahangstman.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
January 11, 2022
NOW AVAILABLE!!!
it's always a treat when a book that has clearly been thoroughly researched doesn't read like something that has been thoroughly researched, and instead—as they say—Brings History Alive with alla the vibrancy of intrigue, adventure, action, and romance.
and this one's a magnificent historical debut—an epic tale of survival in colonial new england, whose brutal wilderness and changing political tides inflict numerous dangers upon those eking out an existence on society's fringes; individuals whose lives could be ruined—or ended—by baseless accusations of witchcraft, treason, or heresy.
ruth miner is a headstrong and independent female, and 1689 new england is not a great place to be a lady with ideas. or to be a lady who wears her hair down, head scandalously uncovered. an orphan living with her dementia-addled grandmother, ruth lost both her parents in a fire for which she, despite being only six at the time, was blamed. she was branded a witch by the colony's women—quite literally, with two 'Ws" scarring her inner thighs, and now, at sixteen, she's become a relative outcast in the village. “feral and unbound,” she's scorned, bullied, and denied the community's succor, saved from outright persecution by their lingering respect for her grandmother, who had been married to the colony's first selectmen and herself been one of its founding members.
however, grandmothers don't live forever, and after a particularly bitter winter, ruth loses the small protection she had. more vulnerable than ever, she knows it's only a matter of time before her god-fearing neighbors turn on her; an unmarried woman alone in the world being the perfect finger-pointy target for any hardship.
witches get stitches.
fortunately she's prepared for this eventuality and long ago hatched an escape plan with owen townsend: childhood friend and son of the captain of the Primrose, now twenty-one and grown into a flirtatious, adventure-seeking sailor who has promised to take her away from this small-minded community, given that he owes her a really big favor. for reasons.
but owen's dragging his feet, making her wait one more season, one more run, until his half-french ancestry suddenly puts him in jeopardy as working-from-home king william wages war between french and english settlers. ruth's association with owen drags her deeper into danger, forcing her to choose between self-interest and loyalty, risking the small safety she's managed to claw for herself through strategic necessity.
i usually blah blah the romance parts of books, but i'm much more attentive to them when the dramatic complications are legitimate, and while "gallows" is a pretty legit relationship hurdle, it's not the only one plonking itself down between this couple and their romantic happiness. it is an emotional roller coaster that even yr stonehearted girl over here became invested in.
when i was a tiny munchkin growing up in little rhody, i loved The Witch of Blackbird Pond, in which a sixteen-year-old orphan finds herself accused of witchcraft in 1687 new england because she doesn't assimilate gracefully into the puritanical community; befriending quakers and other outsider-types, including a friend/love interest who is a sailor and captain's son.
this is almost like a grown-up version of that story—it's grittier and denser, occasionally a little stolid with historical detail, but still highly engaging. it also reads a bit like a western, with its guns and horsies, its themes of justice and retribution, ruth's relationship with the pequot indians (which, refreshingly, is more transactional than disneyfied), ragtag bands of highwaymen congregating by campfires, and the escalating conflicts arising between the french and native forces against the british-american colonies.
unlike a western, there are plenty of high seas adventures and the cold is...intense. ruth's wintry hard times—i felt those descriptions in my bones, friends.
all in all, a fantastic debut about perseverance and sacrifice in a tumultuous world, conscientiously researched and vividly realized.
more like this, please!!!
come to my blog!
it's always a treat when a book that has clearly been thoroughly researched doesn't read like something that has been thoroughly researched, and instead—as they say—Brings History Alive with alla the vibrancy of intrigue, adventure, action, and romance.
and this one's a magnificent historical debut—an epic tale of survival in colonial new england, whose brutal wilderness and changing political tides inflict numerous dangers upon those eking out an existence on society's fringes; individuals whose lives could be ruined—or ended—by baseless accusations of witchcraft, treason, or heresy.
ruth miner is a headstrong and independent female, and 1689 new england is not a great place to be a lady with ideas. or to be a lady who wears her hair down, head scandalously uncovered. an orphan living with her dementia-addled grandmother, ruth lost both her parents in a fire for which she, despite being only six at the time, was blamed. she was branded a witch by the colony's women—quite literally, with two 'Ws" scarring her inner thighs, and now, at sixteen, she's become a relative outcast in the village. “feral and unbound,” she's scorned, bullied, and denied the community's succor, saved from outright persecution by their lingering respect for her grandmother, who had been married to the colony's first selectmen and herself been one of its founding members.
however, grandmothers don't live forever, and after a particularly bitter winter, ruth loses the small protection she had. more vulnerable than ever, she knows it's only a matter of time before her god-fearing neighbors turn on her; an unmarried woman alone in the world being the perfect finger-pointy target for any hardship.
They'd come with torches and muskets and stones and appled faces. Would they hang her? Drown her? Tie her to a chair and lower her into the ocean? Lock her in the stocks or force her into the pillory? She feared her fate would likely be worse: they'd burn her alive in her own cabin.
witches get stitches.
fortunately she's prepared for this eventuality and long ago hatched an escape plan with owen townsend: childhood friend and son of the captain of the Primrose, now twenty-one and grown into a flirtatious, adventure-seeking sailor who has promised to take her away from this small-minded community, given that he owes her a really big favor. for reasons.
but owen's dragging his feet, making her wait one more season, one more run, until his half-french ancestry suddenly puts him in jeopardy as working-from-home king william wages war between french and english settlers. ruth's association with owen drags her deeper into danger, forcing her to choose between self-interest and loyalty, risking the small safety she's managed to claw for herself through strategic necessity.
i usually blah blah the romance parts of books, but i'm much more attentive to them when the dramatic complications are legitimate, and while "gallows" is a pretty legit relationship hurdle, it's not the only one plonking itself down between this couple and their romantic happiness. it is an emotional roller coaster that even yr stonehearted girl over here became invested in.
when i was a tiny munchkin growing up in little rhody, i loved The Witch of Blackbird Pond, in which a sixteen-year-old orphan finds herself accused of witchcraft in 1687 new england because she doesn't assimilate gracefully into the puritanical community; befriending quakers and other outsider-types, including a friend/love interest who is a sailor and captain's son.
this is almost like a grown-up version of that story—it's grittier and denser, occasionally a little stolid with historical detail, but still highly engaging. it also reads a bit like a western, with its guns and horsies, its themes of justice and retribution, ruth's relationship with the pequot indians (which, refreshingly, is more transactional than disneyfied), ragtag bands of highwaymen congregating by campfires, and the escalating conflicts arising between the french and native forces against the british-american colonies.
unlike a western, there are plenty of high seas adventures and the cold is...intense. ruth's wintry hard times—i felt those descriptions in my bones, friends.
all in all, a fantastic debut about perseverance and sacrifice in a tumultuous world, conscientiously researched and vividly realized.
more like this, please!!!
come to my blog!
September 20, 2021
What interested me to this story was the time period of 17th century America and a strong female character. However, due to the style of writing I struggled to connect with the storyline and its heroine from the very beginning. The story is driven by plot, which is overwhelming in its scope. I appreciate stories rich in historical background, but this ambitious story seems to be out of balance with engagement. At some points, there is also a lot of dialogue and some of it is not progressing the story forward.
Keep in mind, I like character-driven stories with less rather than more dialogue, and dialogue that serves the purpose and moves the story forward. If you like plot-driven stories, then I recommend looking at other reviews.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Keep in mind, I like character-driven stories with less rather than more dialogue, and dialogue that serves the purpose and moves the story forward. If you like plot-driven stories, then I recommend looking at other reviews.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 13, 2022
Happy #BookBirthday, Leah! Need a read? Need it to build and burn and drench and freeze and scare the bejabbers outta you? Rip-snortin' #HistoricalRomance plus #thriller (that STORM!) gets my 4* #BookReview at Expendable Mudge Muses Aloud: https://tinyurl.com/5n87err9
***
Silly, silly Author Angstman...fell into my Twitter trap...
Leah Angstman | Preorder #FollowingSea!
If you don't want to murder everyone by the end of my books, then you're doing it wrong, lol.
ExpendableMudge (He/him)
Not *everyone* but certainly a plurality of the cast was in danger of grievous biblio-body harm at some point.
Leah Angstman | Preorder #FollowingSea!
Most of them at least deserve a hard slap at some point in the book, I agree. Don't worry, I'll make them all pay in the sequel!
***
Y'all heard it here first.
***
Silly, silly Author Angstman...fell into my Twitter trap...
Leah Angstman | Preorder #FollowingSea!
If you don't want to murder everyone by the end of my books, then you're doing it wrong, lol.
ExpendableMudge (He/him)
Not *everyone* but certainly a plurality of the cast was in danger of grievous biblio-body harm at some point.
Leah Angstman | Preorder #FollowingSea!
Most of them at least deserve a hard slap at some point in the book, I agree. Don't worry, I'll make them all pay in the sequel!
***
Y'all heard it here first.
April 18, 2022
This is the story of Ruth Miner and her journey of survival in 17th-century New England. Accused of witchcraft after her parents’ deaths, she stows away on the ship of her friend Owen, who feels responsible for all her misfortune. However, they both soon find themselves fighting for their lives as the war between England and France in 1689, known as King William’s War, begins. Ruth’s strength and independence make her a target in this patriarchal society, and Owen, who has French ancestry, is treated as a suspect by the English. After Owen and Ruth find love, a harsh and domineering man tries to destroy them both.
What a wonderful and authentic work of historical fiction! The dialogue is completely true to the period, and there is a helpful list of non-English phrases at the end of the book. The descriptions of the people and their prejudices are completely realistic. The reader is shown how the absolute oppression of women includes death to any woman who seeks to be different, and how the accusation of witchcraft is a convenient excuse. The superstitions of the time are fascinating and well-researched. The wildness of the New World and the cruelty of those in power against anyone who disagrees with them are splashed in blood across the pages of this realistic and no-holds-barred novel. Out Front the Following Sea is an odyssey in an untamed country that will one day be America. Those interested in American history will want to explore this oft-forgotten period in her past.
I received a free copy of this book via Historical Novels Review magazine. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
What a wonderful and authentic work of historical fiction! The dialogue is completely true to the period, and there is a helpful list of non-English phrases at the end of the book. The descriptions of the people and their prejudices are completely realistic. The reader is shown how the absolute oppression of women includes death to any woman who seeks to be different, and how the accusation of witchcraft is a convenient excuse. The superstitions of the time are fascinating and well-researched. The wildness of the New World and the cruelty of those in power against anyone who disagrees with them are splashed in blood across the pages of this realistic and no-holds-barred novel. Out Front the Following Sea is an odyssey in an untamed country that will one day be America. Those interested in American history will want to explore this oft-forgotten period in her past.
I received a free copy of this book via Historical Novels Review magazine. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
May 10, 2021
I wrote the book, so I'm totally biased, but holy smokes do I love this little demon.
June 20, 2021
Out Front the Following Sea is a historical novel that follows Ruth Miner as she fights to survive in 17th century New England. This book moved me in ways that I didn’t expect. I don’t know if it is because the story takes place in New England where I’ve lived for my entire life, or if it’s because of the strong female protagonist whose story is so unbelievably compelling, or if it is because of the rich imagery and history, but I fell in love with this unique and engrossing story.
Ruth Miner is a survivor – brave, strong, fierce, and fearless. An unconventional girl in a world that thrives on conformity is never safe, as Ruth knows too well. She is a woman ahead of her time with desires that are forbidden in a strict, patriarchal society that demands submission, especially among females. No matter what happens, Ruth never gives up, and I admire her perseverance and fighting spirit, especially considering the insurmountable obstacles she faces.
Heartbreaking and yet hopeful, the story reveals the brutal and harsh realities of 17th century New England. As a life-long resident of New England, I found the rich history of the story fascinating. The deeply researched and historically authentic world is vivid and immersive, and it captivated me from the first pages. New England is on the cusp of war, and the characters are on different sides of it. I like that the story offers perspectives from different sides of the multitude of conflicts going on at this time, as it provides a well-rounded view of Ruth’s world and the people who inhabit it.
The book also highlights the lack of options for women during this time and how devalued people were because of their gender and race. This is particularly evident as Ruth makes unlikely friends who prove more honorable and just than the townspeople who tout these qualities. It’s an interesting juxtaposition, as many of the people Ruth should be able to trust are hypocrites and are often less trustworthy and more vicious than those who are shunned from society.
Few people understand and accept Ruth, though she does make several allies throughout her journey. However, Owen, a young man that has known Ruth since childhood, accepts her unequivocally. Owen suffers as much as Ruth throughout the story, yet his loyalty to her remains. His character, as well as many of the other characters in the novel, is well-layered, dynamically developed, and compelling.
And the romance? I loved it! It’s heartbreaking and uplifting and devastating and hopeful. It’s everything! Two people bound by tragedy find home with each other, yet they are repeatedly torn apart. This couple went on an epic journey (both together and apart) riddled with obstacles, and I couldn’t get enough of their story. I must admit, they broke my heart on more than one occasion, and I so wanted them to find some happiness together. Their deep and profound love story isn’t always pretty, but it is honest, complex, breathtaking, and absolutely epic!
An amazing story of love, perseverance, and survival, Out Front the Following Sea is both dark and hopeful. A wonderful mix of action, suspense, history, and romance, this is a story that will stay with you a long time after finishing it. I’m so thankful to Leah Angstman, Regal House Publishing, and Lori Hettler at TNBBC for a copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest review.
Ruth Miner is a survivor – brave, strong, fierce, and fearless. An unconventional girl in a world that thrives on conformity is never safe, as Ruth knows too well. She is a woman ahead of her time with desires that are forbidden in a strict, patriarchal society that demands submission, especially among females. No matter what happens, Ruth never gives up, and I admire her perseverance and fighting spirit, especially considering the insurmountable obstacles she faces.
Heartbreaking and yet hopeful, the story reveals the brutal and harsh realities of 17th century New England. As a life-long resident of New England, I found the rich history of the story fascinating. The deeply researched and historically authentic world is vivid and immersive, and it captivated me from the first pages. New England is on the cusp of war, and the characters are on different sides of it. I like that the story offers perspectives from different sides of the multitude of conflicts going on at this time, as it provides a well-rounded view of Ruth’s world and the people who inhabit it.
The book also highlights the lack of options for women during this time and how devalued people were because of their gender and race. This is particularly evident as Ruth makes unlikely friends who prove more honorable and just than the townspeople who tout these qualities. It’s an interesting juxtaposition, as many of the people Ruth should be able to trust are hypocrites and are often less trustworthy and more vicious than those who are shunned from society.
Few people understand and accept Ruth, though she does make several allies throughout her journey. However, Owen, a young man that has known Ruth since childhood, accepts her unequivocally. Owen suffers as much as Ruth throughout the story, yet his loyalty to her remains. His character, as well as many of the other characters in the novel, is well-layered, dynamically developed, and compelling.
And the romance? I loved it! It’s heartbreaking and uplifting and devastating and hopeful. It’s everything! Two people bound by tragedy find home with each other, yet they are repeatedly torn apart. This couple went on an epic journey (both together and apart) riddled with obstacles, and I couldn’t get enough of their story. I must admit, they broke my heart on more than one occasion, and I so wanted them to find some happiness together. Their deep and profound love story isn’t always pretty, but it is honest, complex, breathtaking, and absolutely epic!
An amazing story of love, perseverance, and survival, Out Front the Following Sea is both dark and hopeful. A wonderful mix of action, suspense, history, and romance, this is a story that will stay with you a long time after finishing it. I’m so thankful to Leah Angstman, Regal House Publishing, and Lori Hettler at TNBBC for a copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest review.
May 10, 2021
I was lucky enough to be an early reader of this novel, and I absolutely LOVED it:
"With Out Front the Following Sea, Leah Angstman reveals herself as a brave new voice in historical fiction. With staggering authenticity, Angstman gives us a story of America before it was America—an era rife with witch hunts and colonial intrigue and New World battles all but forgotten in our history books and popular culture. This is historical fiction that speaks to the present, recalling the bold spirits and cultural upheavals of a nation yet to be born."
"With Out Front the Following Sea, Leah Angstman reveals herself as a brave new voice in historical fiction. With staggering authenticity, Angstman gives us a story of America before it was America—an era rife with witch hunts and colonial intrigue and New World battles all but forgotten in our history books and popular culture. This is historical fiction that speaks to the present, recalling the bold spirits and cultural upheavals of a nation yet to be born."
January 11, 2022
Wow, just wow! I had no idea that this was going to be so, so unforgettable! I was only looking for a good historical romance and this ended up being so much more. And I loved the cover!
A well paced telling of the times with a beautifully written descriptions of the landscape and characters.
It was during the pre-America times in history. Which was brutal, with often unfair religious rebuke and political punishments. Not to mention that starvation, infection and war brought a regular death sentence. How wondered during my reading how anyone survived this.
I loved the heroine. She was determined and strong, never giving up. And I cherish the love story. It was…well I haven’t the words to do it justice. But I have to say that at 70% I just wanted to throw this novel across the room and scream! I felt so many things. Mad, sad, and really speechless. These feelings kept me rooted in my spot. It made me determined to finish it. I had to know how this would end. Gaaaahhh!
This felt similar to the outlander books. So many themes of tragedy and love and so well done. And I will say as I try to end this review that I loved the ending. And I hope this will tempt you to read this great novel. It was really, really good!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A well paced telling of the times with a beautifully written descriptions of the landscape and characters.
It was during the pre-America times in history. Which was brutal, with often unfair religious rebuke and political punishments. Not to mention that starvation, infection and war brought a regular death sentence. How wondered during my reading how anyone survived this.
I loved the heroine. She was determined and strong, never giving up. And I cherish the love story. It was…well I haven’t the words to do it justice. But I have to say that at 70% I just wanted to throw this novel across the room and scream! I felt so many things. Mad, sad, and really speechless. These feelings kept me rooted in my spot. It made me determined to finish it. I had to know how this would end. Gaaaahhh!
This felt similar to the outlander books. So many themes of tragedy and love and so well done. And I will say as I try to end this review that I loved the ending. And I hope this will tempt you to read this great novel. It was really, really good!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 10, 2021
Man, oh man! What a wild ride! This was such a good book! There wasn’t a dull moment as Ruth and Owen found themselves in one calamitous situation after another. The story was so engaging and absorbing and honestly I read the most of it in one sitting as I just needed to know what happened to Ruth and Owen and even Val and Askook. The characters were so well done in a story rich with history and a plot that drew me in with not a little anxiety as Ruth was faced with some very dire situations but had the kind of character that when faced with dire situations leaned in with courage and fortitude ( I’m a sucker for that kind of character) and let’s face it, those are exactly the kinds of qualities that get a girl into very hot water during a time of puritanical beliefs and punishments. While the story was very plot driven with characters I really came to care about, there was also a lot to be said about the hypocrisy that was rampant during that time period. So much attention paid to perceived sins by the leaders of the communities, exacting horrible punishments while being completely blinded to their own moral abyss of inhumanity. There is a part in the book where theft is confronted by one of the characters as being something worthy of great punishment yet there is no understanding that he himself is guilty to a greater degree by the land that was taken from the people first living there. All in all, a great read and one that I highly recommend.
October 24, 2021
I love a detailed and accurate historical novel that has strong believable characters with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure. Out Front the Following Sea has this and more!
The novel is set in 17th century New England. It is a time of puritanical religious sects, strict moral codes, distrust and fear. Fear walks daily with the town’s people; The fear of a wrathful God and a dangerous devil, fear of Indian or French attacks. People are superstitious. To be condemned as a witch often requires nothing more then an accusation. Any woman who is alone, independent or outspoken is in real danger of being accused.
The novel centers around Ruth Miner a 16 year old young woman who is a pariah in her hometown. She stands accused of murder after a fire she accepted responsibility for kills both her parents. At the same time in an unrelated incident several sheep take ill and die. This is all that is needed for her to be accused of witchcraft. Before what promises to be be a brutal winter Ruth begs her only friend, First Mate Owen Townsend of The Primrose ship to take her and her gran away. He refuses feeling he’s not ready yet.. Ruth suffers much hardship alone that winter as Her grandmother dies and the town’s people turn a deaf ear to her pleas for help. Ruth’s response is to publicly curse the town. Ruth must now flee at first thaw or face their wrath. Ruth accomplishes this by purchasing a freight ticket on the Primrose and stowing away. The ship lands at Stonington,Ct where Ruth disembarks to begin her new life. Will she be able to outrun her past and build a life while staying out of trouble and not creating enemies? Will the war between the French and British spill into her new town? Will she and Owen ever figure out their feelings for each other and is there any future for them? These questions and many more remain to be seen.
This novel is nicely written. Tension builds slowly from the very first page then gathers speed and doesn’t let up! Characters are well drawn fully formed and for the most part act according to the time period. From what I can gather the author is a historian and it shows. Little details are not overlooked and add much depth and authenticity to the story.
There are a couple of minor flaws that I feel I should mention. First the use of many French and Pequot words necessitate looking up in the provided glossary. This takes away from the rhythm and flow of the work. The same is true for the frequent use of archaic and seldom used modern words. My second issue is the occasional use of modern sayings. For example when Ruth makes a poor joke where upon no one laughs she sarcastically responds “it was a joke”. Really a 16 y/o girl would use a modern saying and sarcasm In puritanical New England? These really are minor issues and should not stop one from reading the booK!
Recommended for those who love detailed historical novels with great story lines.
I received an ARC of this book from Regal House Publishing and net galley. This fact in no way influenced my review.
The novel is set in 17th century New England. It is a time of puritanical religious sects, strict moral codes, distrust and fear. Fear walks daily with the town’s people; The fear of a wrathful God and a dangerous devil, fear of Indian or French attacks. People are superstitious. To be condemned as a witch often requires nothing more then an accusation. Any woman who is alone, independent or outspoken is in real danger of being accused.
The novel centers around Ruth Miner a 16 year old young woman who is a pariah in her hometown. She stands accused of murder after a fire she accepted responsibility for kills both her parents. At the same time in an unrelated incident several sheep take ill and die. This is all that is needed for her to be accused of witchcraft. Before what promises to be be a brutal winter Ruth begs her only friend, First Mate Owen Townsend of The Primrose ship to take her and her gran away. He refuses feeling he’s not ready yet.. Ruth suffers much hardship alone that winter as Her grandmother dies and the town’s people turn a deaf ear to her pleas for help. Ruth’s response is to publicly curse the town. Ruth must now flee at first thaw or face their wrath. Ruth accomplishes this by purchasing a freight ticket on the Primrose and stowing away. The ship lands at Stonington,Ct where Ruth disembarks to begin her new life. Will she be able to outrun her past and build a life while staying out of trouble and not creating enemies? Will the war between the French and British spill into her new town? Will she and Owen ever figure out their feelings for each other and is there any future for them? These questions and many more remain to be seen.
This novel is nicely written. Tension builds slowly from the very first page then gathers speed and doesn’t let up! Characters are well drawn fully formed and for the most part act according to the time period. From what I can gather the author is a historian and it shows. Little details are not overlooked and add much depth and authenticity to the story.
There are a couple of minor flaws that I feel I should mention. First the use of many French and Pequot words necessitate looking up in the provided glossary. This takes away from the rhythm and flow of the work. The same is true for the frequent use of archaic and seldom used modern words. My second issue is the occasional use of modern sayings. For example when Ruth makes a poor joke where upon no one laughs she sarcastically responds “it was a joke”. Really a 16 y/o girl would use a modern saying and sarcasm In puritanical New England? These really are minor issues and should not stop one from reading the booK!
Recommended for those who love detailed historical novels with great story lines.
I received an ARC of this book from Regal House Publishing and net galley. This fact in no way influenced my review.
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May 10, 2021I am beyond thrilled to be taking the reigns on the publicity for Leah's debut novel! This book has it all... it's femme and feisty and not at all your mama's bodice ripper!
We're seeking reviewers and interviewers, coverage of all and any sorts. Reach out to me via DM here if you'd like a review copy!
We're seeking reviewers and interviewers, coverage of all and any sorts. Reach out to me via DM here if you'd like a review copy!
August 12, 2021
Wow! What a stunning book this is, I had to have a little break before writing this review because I was totally blown away by this novel. Angstman likes to go beyond what a lot of authors will do, some will create characters that will break your heart….with Angstman it feels like she has reached into your chest to remove your heart and breaks it in front of you. I can’t remember the last time I got so stressed by what was happening to my favourite characters and also by what WASN’T happening to the one character I truly hated.
I am a huge fan of maps in books, I love using the map to follow the route taken in the story, another instance of Angstman going that extra mile is the map of the ship featured in the book, it was brilliant to be able to follow the characters around the ship. The characters were well developed and were easy to fall for too, Ruth, our main character, is a women way ahead of her time, likes to read, believes in science and always has an opinion (obvious witch hehe). Owen balances that line between sailor and pirate, he has a real swagger that makes you smile at times and he almost has the feel of being a bit of a Heathcliff….Then we have Samuel, has there ever been a bigger arse in literature? I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to punch a character so much.
The book is based in 1689 the war between the French and English is mostly in the background but is constantly influencing the characters and their lives. Angstman has captured the brutality of the time perfectly, it doesn’t matter who you are or what your beliefs are, there are a million ways to die and one of them is gonna get you eventually, it’s all down to how much punishment you can handle on the way. I have to admit the most violent scenes were the best, a storm on the ship left me breathless, it went on for so long and was incredible. There is a large battle that Ruth gets caught in the middle of and the chaos even has the reader spinning in circles with action going on on all sides. It all felt very life like.
I’m sure I’ve said this about other books this year but this one is definitely in the running for my book of the year, such an enjoyable read and Angstman is a very talented story teller. The research seems spot on too, I had to google a few things to get more information and it all was correct in the book. 100% this is a book you’ve gotta read…now all I’ve gotta do is wait for it to be made into a film.
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2021...
I am a huge fan of maps in books, I love using the map to follow the route taken in the story, another instance of Angstman going that extra mile is the map of the ship featured in the book, it was brilliant to be able to follow the characters around the ship. The characters were well developed and were easy to fall for too, Ruth, our main character, is a women way ahead of her time, likes to read, believes in science and always has an opinion (obvious witch hehe). Owen balances that line between sailor and pirate, he has a real swagger that makes you smile at times and he almost has the feel of being a bit of a Heathcliff….Then we have Samuel, has there ever been a bigger arse in literature? I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to punch a character so much.
The book is based in 1689 the war between the French and English is mostly in the background but is constantly influencing the characters and their lives. Angstman has captured the brutality of the time perfectly, it doesn’t matter who you are or what your beliefs are, there are a million ways to die and one of them is gonna get you eventually, it’s all down to how much punishment you can handle on the way. I have to admit the most violent scenes were the best, a storm on the ship left me breathless, it went on for so long and was incredible. There is a large battle that Ruth gets caught in the middle of and the chaos even has the reader spinning in circles with action going on on all sides. It all felt very life like.
I’m sure I’ve said this about other books this year but this one is definitely in the running for my book of the year, such an enjoyable read and Angstman is a very talented story teller. The research seems spot on too, I had to google a few things to get more information and it all was correct in the book. 100% this is a book you’ve gotta read…now all I’ve gotta do is wait for it to be made into a film.
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2021...
April 18, 2022
⭐⭐⭐
I've been trying to get my thoughts in order to write a review for this one for a couple of days. I SO wanted to like this one more than I did. Props definitely go to the (debut) author for her writing ability. This book was often raw, vivid, and violent. You can tell the author did her research to make this book as historically accurate as possible. Ruth was a strong female protagonist, and I loved that. I also loved the use of local dialects and Native American languages. All that being said, this book was so bogged down with details and descriptions at times I struggled to stay engaged. The pacing was all over the place as well, and because of these issues, I had a difficult time connecting with any of these characters.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
I've been trying to get my thoughts in order to write a review for this one for a couple of days. I SO wanted to like this one more than I did. Props definitely go to the (debut) author for her writing ability. This book was often raw, vivid, and violent. You can tell the author did her research to make this book as historically accurate as possible. Ruth was a strong female protagonist, and I loved that. I also loved the use of local dialects and Native American languages. All that being said, this book was so bogged down with details and descriptions at times I struggled to stay engaged. The pacing was all over the place as well, and because of these issues, I had a difficult time connecting with any of these characters.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
September 3, 2021
Wow! This book is amazing! It is gripping, heart-wrenching, adventurous, romantic, hopeful, and so much more! Whenever I picked up “Out Front the Following Sea”, I was whisked back in time to the 17th century, and went on such an emotional journey with this story.
This is the first book I have read by Leah Angstman, and it certainly will not be my last. Her writing style is so visceral and vivid that I often forgot that I was sitting at home reading the book, and actually felt I was right there with the characters. I can only imagine the amount of research that she must have done, as the past seemed to jump right off of the page before my eyes, and so much history is held within this book’s pages. Furthermore, the people Ms. Angstman brings to life as her characters all feel so incredibly real, and I could envision every single one. She truly paints a portrait of a past time, and I could not put this book down.
Ruth is an incredibly brave, strong, and intelligent woman. She lives at a time when these qualities in a woman are seen as very negative, and she is placed in a terrifying position of needing to run. Owen, a man she has known since childhood, however, truly appreciates Ruth for who she is. These two, throughout the book, endure so much heartbreak and hardship in the struggle to survive, and I truly found myself wanting them to be each other’s happily ever after.
This book is often extremely brutal, and at times difficult to read due to what occurs. And yet, there is so much hope at other times throughout the novel. This book brings to life a time in history that is not often written about, and I was hooked from the very first page to the last. I do not want to spoil anything in this review, so, I will simply say, this book is a must-read.
If you enjoy historical fiction novels, I highly recommend this book. It kept me turning chapter after chapter, page after page, and moment after moment to see what would happen next, and I was often on the edge of my seat. I am eager to read what Leah Angstman writes next.
Thank you so much to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, Leah Angstman, and Regal House Publishing for the ARC of this book, it is incredible. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is the first book I have read by Leah Angstman, and it certainly will not be my last. Her writing style is so visceral and vivid that I often forgot that I was sitting at home reading the book, and actually felt I was right there with the characters. I can only imagine the amount of research that she must have done, as the past seemed to jump right off of the page before my eyes, and so much history is held within this book’s pages. Furthermore, the people Ms. Angstman brings to life as her characters all feel so incredibly real, and I could envision every single one. She truly paints a portrait of a past time, and I could not put this book down.
Ruth is an incredibly brave, strong, and intelligent woman. She lives at a time when these qualities in a woman are seen as very negative, and she is placed in a terrifying position of needing to run. Owen, a man she has known since childhood, however, truly appreciates Ruth for who she is. These two, throughout the book, endure so much heartbreak and hardship in the struggle to survive, and I truly found myself wanting them to be each other’s happily ever after.
This book is often extremely brutal, and at times difficult to read due to what occurs. And yet, there is so much hope at other times throughout the novel. This book brings to life a time in history that is not often written about, and I was hooked from the very first page to the last. I do not want to spoil anything in this review, so, I will simply say, this book is a must-read.
If you enjoy historical fiction novels, I highly recommend this book. It kept me turning chapter after chapter, page after page, and moment after moment to see what would happen next, and I was often on the edge of my seat. I am eager to read what Leah Angstman writes next.
Thank you so much to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, Leah Angstman, and Regal House Publishing for the ARC of this book, it is incredible. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 25, 2021
Thanks Booksirens! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a novel that have everyting that I like in a romance. Adventure, History, a good love story and a strong main character. It was fascinationg to know more about the pre-America, the war between english and french, the indians. Asakook is one of my favorite characters, I love his friendship with Ruth.
Owen is other character that I really love. A man that lives with the guilt for hurt her friend, that he always desire to have. Also he is half french, a traidor for the colonies. Samuel is the great villian, a conservative man that will do everyting to get the birds lovers apart. Ruth is a free spirit, loves Owen but dont want to wait for him. When there is a time she have to choose between her survival and her lover, she chooses herself.
"Out front the following sea" is a wonderful book, full of Copernicus and Newton references that will made you go in a journey into lands and seas.
This is a novel that have everyting that I like in a romance. Adventure, History, a good love story and a strong main character. It was fascinationg to know more about the pre-America, the war between english and french, the indians. Asakook is one of my favorite characters, I love his friendship with Ruth.
Owen is other character that I really love. A man that lives with the guilt for hurt her friend, that he always desire to have. Also he is half french, a traidor for the colonies. Samuel is the great villian, a conservative man that will do everyting to get the birds lovers apart. Ruth is a free spirit, loves Owen but dont want to wait for him. When there is a time she have to choose between her survival and her lover, she chooses herself.
"Out front the following sea" is a wonderful book, full of Copernicus and Newton references that will made you go in a journey into lands and seas.
February 26, 2022
Set in the late 17th century, war is brewing between French and English settlers in New England town. The protagonist, Ruth Miner, is an independent thinker, subjects her to accusations of being a witchcraft and of killing her parents. When her grandmother dies too, she flees her hometown as the villagers come for her, barely able to find passage stowing away on a ship where her only true friend Owen is first mate. As an unaccompanied woman on a ship of men, she draws unwanted attention, but is protected by Owen causing hostilities. Their tryst in the stables prefaces her swift departure when landfall is made in Stonington, where manages to secure a job building a stone wall. Working in the fields makes her strong, and her stamina impresses a local Pequot warrior (Ashook) and they become allies. Meanwhile Owen heads out to sea, unsure whether he will be gone for a year or more, leaving Ruth alone. While the book was well researched and likely historically accurate, the slow and uneven pacing made connecting with the characters a challenge, even Ruth whose character was often unstable. 3.5 stars, rounded down.
May 11, 2021
Leah Angstman is a gifted storyteller with a poet’s sense of both beauty and darkness, and her stunning historical novel, Out Front the Following Sea, establishes her as one of the most exciting young novelists in the country. Angstman plunges the reader into a brilliantly realized historical milieu peopled by characters real enough to touch. And in Ruth Miner, we are introduced to one of the most compelling protagonists in contemporary literature, a penetratingly intelligent, headstrong woman who is trying to survive on her wits alone in a Colonial America that you won’t find in the history books. A compulsive, vivid read that will change the way you look at the origins of our country, Out Front the Following Sea announces the arrival of a preternatural talent.
May 20, 2022
I'm in awe of Angstman's research and historical knowledge, and thoroughly enjoyed the hidden history of New England. (Who knew the Quaker's were persecuted? I didn't.) Also very much appreciated the twists and the feminist angle and the realistic depiction of what life was like in 1689. As one of the characters says, in a favorite line from the book: "What is a woman's purpose, son, but to encourage the wicked ways of another woman against all of man's laws and conventions?" I look forward to her next book.
May 10, 2021
Lapidary in its research and lively in its voice, Out Front the Following Sea by Leah Angstman is a rollicking story, racing along with wind in its sails. Though her tale unfolds hundreds of years in America’s past, Ruth Miner is the kind of high-spirited heroine whose high adventures haul you in and hold you fast.
March 12, 2022
Out Front the Following Sea is nothing if not entertaining. It reminds me of the old swashbuckling movies starring a handsome Errol Flynn and a young Olivia de Havilland. It has the romance, adventure and a lot of action! Pistols, arson, sword fights, mobs, ships, horse chases, French and English military, and native Americans are included.
From the back cover of the paperback, Taylor Brown wrote: “With staggering authenticity, Angstman gives us a story of America before it was America — an era rife with witch hunts and colonial intrigue and New World battles all but forgotten in our history books.”
Other than saying that all of the action revolves around a bold and seemingly fearless young woman accused of witchcraft and heresy, I won’t give away the plot of the novel here.
Interesting to those who live in or had ancestors in New York and Connecticut, it is filled with local history. It also pays some respect to the Pequot natives and their language. If you speak some French, it might also help in your understanding of some of the dialogue — although I don’t think it is necessary to understanding the novel generally.
I read this for my book club. Four solidly earned stars.
From the back cover of the paperback, Taylor Brown wrote: “With staggering authenticity, Angstman gives us a story of America before it was America — an era rife with witch hunts and colonial intrigue and New World battles all but forgotten in our history books.”
Other than saying that all of the action revolves around a bold and seemingly fearless young woman accused of witchcraft and heresy, I won’t give away the plot of the novel here.
Interesting to those who live in or had ancestors in New York and Connecticut, it is filled with local history. It also pays some respect to the Pequot natives and their language. If you speak some French, it might also help in your understanding of some of the dialogue — although I don’t think it is necessary to understanding the novel generally.
I read this for my book club. Four solidly earned stars.
September 24, 2021
Out Front the Following Sea follows Ruth Miner, a curious young woman, as she struggles to survive in the New England of 1689. Ruth's story is heartbreaking, as she deals with being accused of her parents' murder and witchcraft in a town that does not want to see her survive at all and she has to find her way in a terribly lonely world.
I did not enjoy reading most of this book. The reason I'm giving it two stars instead of one is that it did get better in the last few chapters, and that I enjoyed the ending. The story itself was good and it seemed like a great concept (especially knowing the research that went into this book), but the execution did not deliver for me.
The characters were developed weirdly if at all, strong feelings kept constantly appearing out of nowhere (I'm pretty sure the protagonist has deep attachment issues), and it felt like the plot just happened to them, rather than characters having any agency. Ruth seemed like an interesting character at first, and she was, but it felt like she made no progress during the story, as she herself says "the haste from which she could never seem to learn, never seem to untangle from her nature". The only development I would say we see from her is learning to be more hopeful, which is quite something for a 17th century woman, but I don't think it's enough for a protagonist. The rest of the characters, mainly Askook and Owen, are intriguing, but most don't get enough story time for us to really get to understand them, and there are so many terrible people along the book that it was sometimes disheartening.
As I said before, I did think the story was good. The events were nicely interconnected and there weren't any plot holes or particularly improbable parts. However, the writing style kept pulling me out of it. The mix between modern and "ancient" speech and the written portrayal of (often inintelligible) accents were incredibly distracting, and I couldn't figure out what the tone of the story was supposed to be. In the middle of serious scenes the main character would go and say something that tried to be funny but did not land, while other times actions that I believe were supposed to be taken seriously felt like bad jokes. Ruth literally asks if she can be friends with someone she met two sentences ago and who has shown absolutely no indication of wanting to be friends, just because they are both women. Maybe it's supposed to say something about her naivety, but I also don't think we're supposed to read this resourceful young woman as naive.
All in all, I wouldn't recommed this book to just anyone. If you're a fan of historically accurate novels set during real, important events then I think you'd enjoy this story, as despite the flaws mentioned the historical aspects are well done. I personally did enjoy learning more about this time period, the disputes, political and religious, and the way people got by, but it didn't really make it worth the effort of getting through the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I did not enjoy reading most of this book. The reason I'm giving it two stars instead of one is that it did get better in the last few chapters, and that I enjoyed the ending. The story itself was good and it seemed like a great concept (especially knowing the research that went into this book), but the execution did not deliver for me.
The characters were developed weirdly if at all, strong feelings kept constantly appearing out of nowhere (I'm pretty sure the protagonist has deep attachment issues), and it felt like the plot just happened to them, rather than characters having any agency. Ruth seemed like an interesting character at first, and she was, but it felt like she made no progress during the story, as she herself says "the haste from which she could never seem to learn, never seem to untangle from her nature". The only development I would say we see from her is learning to be more hopeful, which is quite something for a 17th century woman, but I don't think it's enough for a protagonist. The rest of the characters, mainly Askook and Owen, are intriguing, but most don't get enough story time for us to really get to understand them, and there are so many terrible people along the book that it was sometimes disheartening.
As I said before, I did think the story was good. The events were nicely interconnected and there weren't any plot holes or particularly improbable parts. However, the writing style kept pulling me out of it. The mix between modern and "ancient" speech and the written portrayal of (often inintelligible) accents were incredibly distracting, and I couldn't figure out what the tone of the story was supposed to be. In the middle of serious scenes the main character would go and say something that tried to be funny but did not land, while other times actions that I believe were supposed to be taken seriously felt like bad jokes. Ruth literally asks if she can be friends with someone she met two sentences ago and who has shown absolutely no indication of wanting to be friends, just because they are both women. Maybe it's supposed to say something about her naivety, but I also don't think we're supposed to read this resourceful young woman as naive.
All in all, I wouldn't recommed this book to just anyone. If you're a fan of historically accurate novels set during real, important events then I think you'd enjoy this story, as despite the flaws mentioned the historical aspects are well done. I personally did enjoy learning more about this time period, the disputes, political and religious, and the way people got by, but it didn't really make it worth the effort of getting through the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.
January 2, 2022
Out Front the Following Sea By @leahangstman is a story about America before there was any America.
The story is set in 1983 during the war between French and English. The author has perfectly described the brutality and violence of this time. We get to know about a strong and intelligent woman named Ruth during a time when these qualities were not appreciated in women. However, Owen is a man who appreciates these qualities and they have known each other since childhood. What these two go through in the book and the hardship they go through to survive, is heartbreaking.
This was a wild ride for me this was a plot-driven story with perfectly developed characters, I really couldn’t stop reading it because I wanted to know what happened to Ruth and Owen. I had anxiety reading this book because I wanted to know what was going to happen to different characters.
The story is set in 1983 during the war between French and English. The author has perfectly described the brutality and violence of this time. We get to know about a strong and intelligent woman named Ruth during a time when these qualities were not appreciated in women. However, Owen is a man who appreciates these qualities and they have known each other since childhood. What these two go through in the book and the hardship they go through to survive, is heartbreaking.
This was a wild ride for me this was a plot-driven story with perfectly developed characters, I really couldn’t stop reading it because I wanted to know what happened to Ruth and Owen. I had anxiety reading this book because I wanted to know what was going to happen to different characters.
July 4, 2023
Ruth refuses to be bound. She has known nothing but heartache, loss and sorrow in her short life. She suffers constant cruelties, both petty and large, in her struggles to feed and clothe she and her elderly grandmother. Orphaned at a young age and branded as a witch, the townsfolk show her no mercy or kindness, but instead constantly demonize and chastise her.
Ruth is resilient. Though she rails at the injustice of her situation, she finds solace in her friendship with Owen. He brings her cherished books from his sea travels, and they expand her world and her mind. He becomes her port in the storm when she narrowly escapes death.
This book was raw and emotional and unforgettable.
A full review, with excerpt and author interview, can be found on my blog on Jan. 10.
Ruth is resilient. Though she rails at the injustice of her situation, she finds solace in her friendship with Owen. He brings her cherished books from his sea travels, and they expand her world and her mind. He becomes her port in the storm when she narrowly escapes death.
This book was raw and emotional and unforgettable.
A full review, with excerpt and author interview, can be found on my blog on Jan. 10.
May 10, 2021
I was lucky to be an early reader of this fantastic novel! Leah Angstman has written the historical novel that I didn’t know I needed to read. Out Front the Following Sea is set in an oft-forgotten time in the brutal wilds of pre-America that is so vividly and authentically drawn, with characters that are so alive and relevant, and a narrative so masterfully paced and plotted, that Angstman has performed the miracle of layering the tumultuous past over our troubled present to gift us a sparkling new reality.
May 11, 2021
Out Front the Following Sea is a meticulously researched novel that mixes history, love story, and suspense. Watching Angstman’s willful protagonist, Ruth Miner, openly challenge the brutal world of 17th-Century New England, with its limiting ideas about gender, race, and science, was a delight. Get ready to be fully immersed in a world of adventure.
January 10, 2022
After her parents die in a terrible fire and a nearby farmer's sheep die, Ruth Miner is branded a witch. When her grandmother dies during a brutally harsh winter, no one in town will help Ruth and she curses them. Ruth knows she must escape before the townspeople come to burn her as well. Ruth stows away on the Primrose, heading to Stonington, Connecticut in the New World. Working aboard the Primrose is first mate Owen Townsend, the only person who knows Ruth's full past. Once in Stonington, Ruth has a new start; however, things are not necessarily easier. Ruth finds friends in an elderly couple that she boards with, another young woman in town as well as a Pequot, Askook. Ruth learns that the land has been taken from them and wants to set things right. The French and English are beginning to fight in the New World and Owen's French heritage brands him a traitor. Ruth fights to save herself, Owen and the Pequot that she has befriended, but what will it cost her?
Masterfully written, Out Front the Following Sea is a historical fiction novel exploring the hardships, prejudices and power struggles within the newly settled colonies in 1689. The characters were all very well written with distinct personalities, struggles and secrets. I was pulled into the story through Ruth's strength and fortitude in her daily life as she struggled as an outsider that no one would help. Ruth and Owen's relationship is complex and their secret is slowly teased out. Owen's passion and loyalty shone through; although, I consistently wondered why he didn't step up to help Ruth sooner. Askook, the Pequot was an interesting addition for me and a good reminder of the blood and stolen land that the United States was built on. The plot slowly builds as secrets come out and tensions rise for continuous action throughout the story. The writing also offered a good sense of place and time as safety and security could never be taken for granted and war and death always loomed on the horizon. While the story is fictional, the author has incorporated research of skirmishes of King William's War and first hand accounts of real people who lived in the area at the time to create a well rounded story of the people at this time.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Masterfully written, Out Front the Following Sea is a historical fiction novel exploring the hardships, prejudices and power struggles within the newly settled colonies in 1689. The characters were all very well written with distinct personalities, struggles and secrets. I was pulled into the story through Ruth's strength and fortitude in her daily life as she struggled as an outsider that no one would help. Ruth and Owen's relationship is complex and their secret is slowly teased out. Owen's passion and loyalty shone through; although, I consistently wondered why he didn't step up to help Ruth sooner. Askook, the Pequot was an interesting addition for me and a good reminder of the blood and stolen land that the United States was built on. The plot slowly builds as secrets come out and tensions rise for continuous action throughout the story. The writing also offered a good sense of place and time as safety and security could never be taken for granted and war and death always loomed on the horizon. While the story is fictional, the author has incorporated research of skirmishes of King William's War and first hand accounts of real people who lived in the area at the time to create a well rounded story of the people at this time.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
February 4, 2022
I don't always immediately wish a novel I've been reading to be made into a Major Motion Picture, or even a minor one, but when I do, I really, really do! Such is the case here: Leah Angstman's debut novel, Out Front the Following Sea, set in an America so early they're still bickering over the borders of the 13 colonies, has everything anyone would want from a fun historical romp: kissing, fighting, accusations of witchcraft, more fighting, desperate battles against nature at her worst, bravery and more kissing!
Furthermore, I demand that Julia Garner dye her hair auburn red and be cast immediately as Angstman's amazing heroine, Ruth Miner, and I swear it's not totally because Garner has achieved fame playing another character named Ruth, that's just a coincidence. But if you love Ruth Langmore in Ozark, imagine her in an adventurous historical romance that up until now we've just had to re-read Louis L'Amour's Sackett and Chantry novels to get -- and in which she is absolutely the hero of the tale.
I'm serious. To call Ruth Miner plucky would be to sell her short. She could go toe to toe with anybody from the Aubrey/Maturin books (though this is set about a century before Jack and Stephen take to the seas), with anybody from the Sackett novels, and very possibly not even get singed, because even the officers in His Majesty's Royal Navy were still pretty superstitious, except for Maturin. Maturin would just fall in love with her, though. Diana who?
As our story begins to unfold, 16-year-old Ruth Miner is living on the bitter edge of starvation or freezing to death, for all that once upon a time her family was respected in the small Dutch-settled coast of what would become New Jersey. Her parents are dead (we don't find out how or why until much later) and she is desperately trying to keep herself and an ailing grandmother alive with less than no help from the community in which she grew up, because they all think she's a witch. No fool, she, she winds up trading on this reputation to get passage on a cargo ship that's soon to make a stop where she's lived her whole life -- by threatening to call down the mother of all curses on the customs officer who is not willing to let her book herself as freight (because passenger berths are way beyond her means).
No sooner is she on board ship than she is causing trouble there, too; the first mate is an old family friend who feels an unspecified sense of obligation to her and also may have a crush; ruthlessly (wink) she uses his feelings against him to keep her safe on a ship full of filthy louts who seem to think that an unmarried woman on board ship is basically community property. The first mate, Owen Townsend, while charming and handsome as the dickens, is barely tolerated on board himself because he is half-French at a time when the mother nations of England and France are at war and their conflicts threaten to spill over into their colonies; even knowing a few words of the French language or possessing books written in French is kind of against the law. Childhood friends who are well aware of the liabilities they pose to one another, they nonetheless team up in the struggle to survive the outbreak of what we know as the French and Indian War.
Along the way, Ruth bullies the local land office in the Connecticut village where she debarks into letting her have an unpromising piece of marsh land abutting the property of the kindly old couple who take her in and have her toiling to fence out, stone by stone. Soon she's not only getting the fence built but also building a house for herself, growing a few crops in her marsh, and has begun a tentative but promising friendship with a semi-outcast member of the remnants of the Pequod nation, whose land the white settlers have, of course, appropriated from them at gunpoint.
It all sounds a bit far-fetched and Mary Sue-ish, doesn't it? But trust me, you're not going to care. This book gallops along at a breathtaking pace and it's all fascinating and fun. Plus, Angstrom, whom I believe is a professional historian by trade, knows her way around a Dutch-style fluyt and writes a mean combat scene aboard one:
He leaped onto the3 fallen foremast and felt the throb in his thigh, then swooped from above with his dagger downward, driving it between a pirate's shoulderblades.* The pirate went down without seeing what hit him. Own retracted the blade and swiped it across the neck of the next advancing attacker, before stepping to thte side of the man's descending sword, leaving the falling edge to lodge itself into the planks of the deck. the opponent fell forward, his throat opening like a sluice gate, a stream of crimson onto the floorboards.
I mean, who doesn't want to see that on the big screen? Or at least your big TV in the rumpus room?
Seriously, it's been a while since I had this much plain old fun reading a novel. And there's room for a sequel, right? Right??? Please?
I mean, how many freaking Sackett novels got cranked out over the years? And the women were mostly just trophies in those. In the Ruth and Owen adventures, both of them get to be badasses.
*Of course there are pirates.
Furthermore, I demand that Julia Garner dye her hair auburn red and be cast immediately as Angstman's amazing heroine, Ruth Miner, and I swear it's not totally because Garner has achieved fame playing another character named Ruth, that's just a coincidence. But if you love Ruth Langmore in Ozark, imagine her in an adventurous historical romance that up until now we've just had to re-read Louis L'Amour's Sackett and Chantry novels to get -- and in which she is absolutely the hero of the tale.
I'm serious. To call Ruth Miner plucky would be to sell her short. She could go toe to toe with anybody from the Aubrey/Maturin books (though this is set about a century before Jack and Stephen take to the seas), with anybody from the Sackett novels, and very possibly not even get singed, because even the officers in His Majesty's Royal Navy were still pretty superstitious, except for Maturin. Maturin would just fall in love with her, though. Diana who?
As our story begins to unfold, 16-year-old Ruth Miner is living on the bitter edge of starvation or freezing to death, for all that once upon a time her family was respected in the small Dutch-settled coast of what would become New Jersey. Her parents are dead (we don't find out how or why until much later) and she is desperately trying to keep herself and an ailing grandmother alive with less than no help from the community in which she grew up, because they all think she's a witch. No fool, she, she winds up trading on this reputation to get passage on a cargo ship that's soon to make a stop where she's lived her whole life -- by threatening to call down the mother of all curses on the customs officer who is not willing to let her book herself as freight (because passenger berths are way beyond her means).
No sooner is she on board ship than she is causing trouble there, too; the first mate is an old family friend who feels an unspecified sense of obligation to her and also may have a crush; ruthlessly (wink) she uses his feelings against him to keep her safe on a ship full of filthy louts who seem to think that an unmarried woman on board ship is basically community property. The first mate, Owen Townsend, while charming and handsome as the dickens, is barely tolerated on board himself because he is half-French at a time when the mother nations of England and France are at war and their conflicts threaten to spill over into their colonies; even knowing a few words of the French language or possessing books written in French is kind of against the law. Childhood friends who are well aware of the liabilities they pose to one another, they nonetheless team up in the struggle to survive the outbreak of what we know as the French and Indian War.
Along the way, Ruth bullies the local land office in the Connecticut village where she debarks into letting her have an unpromising piece of marsh land abutting the property of the kindly old couple who take her in and have her toiling to fence out, stone by stone. Soon she's not only getting the fence built but also building a house for herself, growing a few crops in her marsh, and has begun a tentative but promising friendship with a semi-outcast member of the remnants of the Pequod nation, whose land the white settlers have, of course, appropriated from them at gunpoint.
It all sounds a bit far-fetched and Mary Sue-ish, doesn't it? But trust me, you're not going to care. This book gallops along at a breathtaking pace and it's all fascinating and fun. Plus, Angstrom, whom I believe is a professional historian by trade, knows her way around a Dutch-style fluyt and writes a mean combat scene aboard one:
He leaped onto the3 fallen foremast and felt the throb in his thigh, then swooped from above with his dagger downward, driving it between a pirate's shoulderblades.* The pirate went down without seeing what hit him. Own retracted the blade and swiped it across the neck of the next advancing attacker, before stepping to thte side of the man's descending sword, leaving the falling edge to lodge itself into the planks of the deck. the opponent fell forward, his throat opening like a sluice gate, a stream of crimson onto the floorboards.
I mean, who doesn't want to see that on the big screen? Or at least your big TV in the rumpus room?
Seriously, it's been a while since I had this much plain old fun reading a novel. And there's room for a sequel, right? Right??? Please?
I mean, how many freaking Sackett novels got cranked out over the years? And the women were mostly just trophies in those. In the Ruth and Owen adventures, both of them get to be badasses.
*Of course there are pirates.
August 4, 2021
Simply brilliant — a remarkable and elegant page-turner built on deep historical research that pulls the reader deep into the adventures of dashing, brave women and seafaring men in 17th-century America. Angstman is a master of historical fiction, and her singular attention to detail, and to the motions of the human heart, have yielded one of my favorite novels I've read all year.
January 25, 2022
Oh my goodness. Review to follow
September 25, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley and Regal House Publishing for the eARC. This, a first novel for Leah Angstrom, is brilliant. Ruth Miner is an uppity woman in 17th century North America during King Williams War. Smart, independent and just a tad bit cocky for the time, she makes few friends in a mostly puritanical society. I'm not going to discuss plot or characters or retell anything that isn't already in the book's description.
This is an adventure story, a romance, and a social commentary of the time all rolled into one and at the hands of this adept writer it doesn't fall into any of the pitfalls that so many others in this genre can get caught up in. The writing is exquisite, the study and thoughtfulness that goes into the Pequot language and their world is so respectful and also reminiscent of Eliot Pattinson's Bone Rattler series. The characters are well drawn and knowable.
There is a bleakness in this story that permeates throughout, but it was a bleak period. Life was hard, very hard. Science was shameful, religion and superstition ruled, war and fear were daily issues, women and others were chattel. This is not the North America of history where playful, cheery Pilgrims sit and have a nosh with the natives and Leah Angstrom does a very good job in this aspect.
This is a long yet rollicking read and if I have one hope it's that I have the distinct feeling that I've been set up for a new series.
This is an adventure story, a romance, and a social commentary of the time all rolled into one and at the hands of this adept writer it doesn't fall into any of the pitfalls that so many others in this genre can get caught up in. The writing is exquisite, the study and thoughtfulness that goes into the Pequot language and their world is so respectful and also reminiscent of Eliot Pattinson's Bone Rattler series. The characters are well drawn and knowable.
There is a bleakness in this story that permeates throughout, but it was a bleak period. Life was hard, very hard. Science was shameful, religion and superstition ruled, war and fear were daily issues, women and others were chattel. This is not the North America of history where playful, cheery Pilgrims sit and have a nosh with the natives and Leah Angstrom does a very good job in this aspect.
This is a long yet rollicking read and if I have one hope it's that I have the distinct feeling that I've been set up for a new series.
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