A clash of desire and hatred, of friendship and fear, of stark ambition and desperate survival.In 1607, three ships arrive on the coast of Virginia to establish Jamestown Colony. Their only hope of survival lies with the Powhatan tribe. John Smith knows this. He knows, too, that the Powhatans would rather see the English starve to death than yield their homeland to invaders. In the midst of this … the midst of this struggle, Pocahontas, the daughter of the great chief, forges an unlikely friendship with Smith. Their bond preserves a wary peace—but as each seeks to fulfill their own ambitions, their delicate truce begins to crack. Soon the colonists and Powhatans are locked in battle, and Pocahontas must choose between power and servitude—between self and sacrifice—for the sake of her people and her land.
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Tidewater, while historical fiction, manages to capture, and playoff some key points of this very important time in Virginia history. I loved the contrast between the palisade of early, strong-willed Jamestown and the territories of the graceful Native Americans. Not just where they lived in relation to each other, but the hardship of their relationship (or lack of). While we can never be sure of how it really was, Libbie Hawker does an awesome job of making it all seem very real, and very understandable. I feel like she really brought the characters back to life, and I found myself loving them, all of them.
This novel is beautiful, and dramatic, and expressive, and touching, and when you make to the end of this very long novel, it’s rewarding. You walk away wishing that the events, though they are often heartbreaking, really was what happened, because you experience a closeness with the story by the time you read the last page. To add to it all, there is an author’s note at the end of the novel that almost comes as a blessing. And after you read it, you’ll understand why.
Hawker’s words were a joy to read because, wow, her writing is brilliant; which always makes the story any author is telling that much more enjoyable, and rare. I look forward to reading more from Libbie Hawker and hope that she plans to write more about Jamestown, as its history didn’t end with Pocahontas and John Smith. I give this book five stars because it’s an all around awesome book.
Early 1600 Englishman John Smith, Powatans, Pocahontas, and Jamestown story retold in a very interesting way. The book was informative and kept my interest although towards the end it felt like too much information.
The book is 500 + pages. I am glad I read it and recommend it as an entertaining read.
What a fascinating (and very long) depiction of the Powhatan and Tidewater native people. So many long “Indian” names and terms — I gave up trying to pronounce them in my head.
The female narrator in the Whispersync portion was a bit robotic at first, but eventually I got used to her style, although I read more than listened to the majority of the book.
Interesting and disturbing history.
A different look at the mythical Disney Native American princess. Funnily, I enjoyed the historical note at the end very much and wish I had read it First! Mixed feelings, but good book.
Well researched, but slow and wordy. This is the story of the settlement of Jamestown in the early 1600’s with focus on Pocahontas, John Smith and their respective communities . I could give this story four stars for being well researched, but the writing merits three stars at best. Unfortunately, I think the author got caught up in trying to convey way too much sensual and emotional imagery. There were layers upon layers of it to the point that I would lose track (and interest) as to the original point the author was making. It made the story slow and plodding. Since this is a work of fiction, I think the author should have incorporated a few more high points to balance the low ones and give more depth to the characters. Instead it is the same old cliches of the American natives being portrayed as noble, welcoming, generous, good guys living in harmony with nature and the pevil English colonists portrayed at first as ignorant ungrateful guests and then later as self righteous invaders. I thought the historical detail, like housing construction, hairstyles, and clothing, were interesting, but the story itself fell flat for me.
This beautifully written historical novel tells a tale of what it was really like on the eastern seaboard when three English ships came to Virginia to claim the land for a new colony, Jamestown. Libble Hawker writes with incredible passion to take you into the depths of Virginia’s forests and rivers, of Native American’s beliefs and ways of living. Hawker’s natural gift of writing brings to life once again the peoples of the tribes, and the English sailors with a great depth of knowledge of both peoples that is breath-taking and so alive that you find yourself there with Amonute (the young Pocahontas) and John Smith, as their friendship deepens into a love that can never be.
Libbie Hawker is a hell of a writer – this time taking on the true story of Pocahontas. Lovely prose married to a fascinating tale.
I really wanted to like this book. While it was informative and more true to fact than many it tended to just creep along. Nothing to hold my interest other than to keep reading in hopes that it would get more interesting. It did not.
I learned a lot of historical information that I had not known about Pocahontas and John Smith ! It was a little of both heartwarming and heart wrenching. I learned how the tribes tried to help the the John Smith party !! I would recommend this book !
I love the historical ascepts of this novel. Although the author even remarks that certain portions are not historically accurate but mearly for th entertainment factor.
This was far more realistic than Disney’s Pocahontas. The author was very sensitive to the fact that both the Naturals and European settlers reacted to each other in the way one would expect tjem to. Their stories were, however, only the beggining.
I am Native. I have studied the changes of peoples of America.