Alice Hoffman is a gifted writer. The book was very atmospheric, making everyday things seem magical, or like there was something supernatural just under the surface. The portrayal of these women is based first on their relationships with each other and what they will do for love. There isn’t a lot of “witchy” stuff.

I give it 3 stars for beautiful, concise writing. I didn’t particularly enjoy the plot, since I’m not big into family dramas.

A friend told me about this one, and I also saw it featured on Modern Mrs. Darcy’s list of contempory women’s fiction. So given those accolades, I just had to read it, and yes, the story is great. It is truly amazing what Mary Ingles survived. However - the writing is just average. James Alexander Thom seems focused on the details of the environment (the sensory experience). I enjoyed his writing when describing the palisades, the salt lick, and the Shawnee town. However, I feel that you can only describe a dense forest in so many ways, and the story got bogged down by these details in the later half of the book. I have to admit, I skimmed through those parts. But there is one part I won’t ever forget, that comes toward the end. I read this late at night, and I can still hear the word, “MAAARRRYYYYYYY!!!” The book is also very violent in the beginning.

The story itself will stick with me. Mary’s dignity and strong will can be felt throughout the entire narrative. I kept thinking I would never have survived what she did.

I do have a few other minor gripes: the story doesn’t seem to hold up well today, and seems biased against the Shawnee. It doesn’t explain their position very well. I also didn’t like how the author envisioned Mary’s thoughts (romantic and sexual) about her husband or the chief who wanted to marry her. 3 stars for a great story.