J.M. NORTHUP

Spring House (Westward Sagas, Book 1) by David Bowles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Revolutionary War Historical Fiction

As a history buff and lover of historical fiction, I found this book a fast and entertaining read. A unique blend of academic rhetoric with warm storytelling, it was easy to get lost in this fact-based tale. It was also a new view of the American Revolutionary War, which made it more personal and less political.

What I liked was the community found among the Mitchell family and their friends. I was moved by their strength, passion, and most importantly, their compassion. Their ability to put aside politics and religion for the sake of humanity is something we all should do.

What I didn’t like was how the text was sometimes “telling.” There were moments when I felt very drawn into a scene only to have it turn into more of a narrative. It worked because the author wanted to stay true to facts, which I appreciate. However, there was potential for the writer to make the text emotionally more powerful had they fully embraced their creative liberties.

This story is well researched and presented. It was easy to connect with the characters and knowing they are real people, who actually lived through these events, just makes you care about them more. It adds another layer to America’s history.

I recommend this book. I’m looking forward to discovering more in this series as well as more works by David Bowles.

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