A sweeping historical drama of resilience, hardship, and the unbreakable bonds of family.
Jacinto takes readers on a gripping historical odyssey filled with danger, heartache, and hope in his latest novel. Determined to carve out a place in its burgeoning new world, Thomas and Annie Wright arrive in America. Their journey takes them across treacherous rivers, vast plains, and towering mountains, each step fraught with peril. As the transcontinental railroad reshapes the nation, Tom’s skills become invaluable. But progress, as always, comes at a steep price.
Jacinto’s immersive, richly detailed narrative brings to life the perils of 19th-century immigration, bringing the suffocating confines of the ship, the claustrophobic tension among passengers of differing backgrounds, and the grueling reality of survival at sea to life. With its towering waves and snapping rigging pushing the crew to their limits, the hurricane aboard the Colorado is intense. Tom and Annie’s alternating perspectives add depth. Tom’s pragmatic determination contrasts beautifully with Annie’s quiet, unwavering strength. Their evolving relationship, punctuated by moments of tenderness and conflict, grounds the story in raw emotions.
The novel is at its best in its quieter moments. Annie’s need to connect and care for others, even at her own expense, gives the story its heart. Jacinto also weaves in sharp historical commentary, exploring capitalism, ambition, and the American dream through Tom’s shifting perspective. What sets the novel apart is its balance of brutality and beauty. Jacinto doesn’t romanticize hardship, but he finds meaning in it. Tom and Annie’s love isn’t perfect. It’s flawed, tested, and real, and that’s what sticks. It haunts with its tragedies, but ultimately, it’s a story of hope, hard-earned, but enduring. Fans of “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah or “The Last Crossing” by Guy Vanderhaeghe will want to take a look.
Pub date May 6, 2025
Meadow Vista Corporation
ISBN 979-8218497729
Price $26.00 Hardcover
Genre Historical Fiction, Fictional Biography
Page Count 400
