​Ida Florence Little Shay is orphaned as a teen.  When she is sent to watch over young girls at a boarding school, Ida Florence is determined to make a better life for herself.  However, her decisions along with the current state of the world lead her right back into the situation she came from. Fawn Breen has only ever known the small mud hut that she and her father live in, raising goats and foraging nearby. Once Sidney Breen finds Fawn in the woods, Fawn life changes forever.  Harold Peavy can't catch a break since he made a decision in line with his morals.  Forced into a life he didn't choose, Harold tries to make the best of what he has been given in the small town of Prophetstown, North Dakota. 

True North follows the stories of three interconnected families living along the Canadian Border and the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota from the 1930's through the 1960's.  The time period and landscape offer a bleak landscape and outlook for the people of Prophetstown.  Poverty, racism, and war defined these time periods for the people of Prophetstown.  The writing carried a long story over several decades at a good pace.  Each family had their own method of survival and holding on to hope.  The characters were all bound together by tragedy and sorrow.  Some of them used this bond to overcome while some became stuck in their suffering.  Each character was written very real, raw and gritty.  I wanted to know their stories and was carried through their journeys with each misfortune, setback and trial that they faced.  

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

Fulgencio Ramirez is the son of Mexican immigrants living in a Texas border town in 1956.  Fulgencio wants the full American Dream and he sets his sights on Carolina Mendelssohn, the daughter of the local pharmacist.  Fulgencio decides that he too will become a pharmacist in order to give Carolina the life he wants.  Fulgencio gets a job at the pharmacy and gets himself into a better school.  Fulgencio and Carolina's romance flourished despite the racism that others have towards them.  However, Fulgencio's jealousy and rage that seems to carry through the men in his family wrecks what they have built.  Thirty years after Fulgencio and Carolina broke up, Carolina's husband dies and Fulgencio attempts to build back what they once had now that he has broken the curse that has affected his family for generations. 

The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez combines magical realism, historical fiction and romance to create a fairy tale-like experience.  The story bounces back and forth between Fulgencio in the 1980's and the 1950's.  At first, it seems like Fulgencio is  unhealthily obsessed, overconfident and arrogant.  While his determination in chasing the American dream is honorable, Fulgencio goes after it full force, thinking only about himself and not the consequences for those around him.  However, as Fulgencio's family curse was uncovered, I understood his position better and was intrigued by the ghosts and Fulgencio's interactions with them.  The most interesting parts of the story for me were the actions that Fulgencio had to take in order to break the curse and the measures he took to make it happen.  While doing this, Fulgencio changed into someone with fortitude who cared about others and the impact that his actions have.  One of my favorite characters throughout the process was Brother William, even when he was in spirit form.  With a series of surprising twists and turns near the end, Fulgencio and Carolina's characters become complex and relatable.  Overall, The Resurrection of Fulgencio Ramirez is a surprising story of an immigrant experience combined with magic and romance. 

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

​Bhark is a clan Chief along the shores of Lake Neith in 3300 BCE.  His time as Chief has been cut short, however as Bhark's rival, Shadrach claims that he is the rightful heir.  Shadrach takes Bhark's wife and daughter, kills his son and banishes Bhark to the  Similaun Mountain.  Bhark forms a plan to get his clan and family back when he encounters the soul hunter Creyak and seer MIko.  Creyak and Miko have other plans though and when Bhark dies in the mountain pass, his soul is trapped between the upper realm and the lower realms of Gehenna.  When Bhark's body is found in 1991 as the mummified Iceman named  Ötzi, Bhark must complete the quest through Gehenna in order to save his soul. 

Otzi's Odyssey is a metaphysical journey combining historical fiction, mythology and fantasy.  From the beginning, the writing pulled me into Bhark's world.  The point of view switched between Bhark's life in 3300 BCE and his soul as his body was found in 1991.  It was exciting to read Bhark's thoughts as he witnessed his body being found and examined. I loved the descriptions of Bhark's village, landscape and clan relationships.  It made the unknown time period come alive.  I was intrigued as Bhark learned of his mission through Gehenna and the different realms.  Bhark's character along with his daughter Amina and the seer Miko strengthened during this time.  The different realms and the souls  that Bhark encountered there were very interesting as he attempted to complete a mission he did not fully understand.  Many new twists and turns unraveled during Bhark's mission in Gehenna that created layers of suspense.  The ending wrapped up a little quickly for me, but was still satisfying.  It seems that Bhark's soul still has more of his mission ahead of him and I'm hoping to read more about Bhark and his family soon.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.