Deep in a New England forest, an ancient tree stands at the center of a tale passed down through the generations. So much so, that the residents of Ansel-by-the-Sea, Maine, no longer know what is truth and what is fable. A woman fleeing in the night, rumors of treason, revolution, retribution . . .When Savannah Mae Thorpe, born and raised near the golden sands of the South, arrives with a version … arrives with a version of the story unlike any heard before, she finds herself the unlikely leader of an expedition into the woods to discover the truth. With help from local lumberjack Alastair Bliss, who holds a shadowed past of his own, her search to discover the truth of the Atonement Tree may have unexpected ramifications on her life–and the lives of those around her.
A tale of origins, this novella is a story complete on its own but also an invitation to discover the legacy that came before the story of Robert Bliss, the fisherman-poet who changed the tide of a nation with his unsuspecting words in Amanda’s full-length novel, Whose Waves These Are.
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“Life was simple and happy up from the sea, away out here in the woods.”
Amanda Dykes has some of the most beautiful descriptions that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. This novella is quite a full story, full of whimsy and yet deeply touching. Savannah Mae Thorpe grew up in Georgia, and though Maine is the home of her beloved mother, for a southern farm girl, the adjustment feels unforgiving. Living with her aunt and uncle after her mother’s death, she doesn’t seem to fit into their life of ease. Her uncle, a wealthy man, interested only in more money, gives her an ultimatum – find something of value on her land, or he’s selling. This isn’t the heart of the story, though. Rather that’s the be found in the lost “castle in the woods,” the legend of perished Red Coats, and one woman’s deep regret. As a prequel, it sets the stage nicely for the full length novel, Whose Waves These Are, but it’s also a completely captivating story all it’s own. This delightful story is also free on Kindle.
This is actually a prequil, a novella, for some time before Whose Waves These Are.
I recommend both this and the novel which follows
Such a charming, magical, endearing story of the beginning of Savannah and Alastair and the start of their future legacy. Just before reading this novella I had just finished “Whose Waves These Are,” which tells the story of Savannah and Alastair‘s sons Rob and Roy. I am so happy that Ms Dykes chose to tell us this prequel story. I look forward to, hopefully, many many more stories by Amanda Dykes.
I’ll be honest – I wasn’t too interested in Whose Waves These Are by Amanda Dykes at first. It just didn’t look like my “cup of tea”. I saw Up From the Sea for free on kindle and decided to download it just in case.
Well, on a whim, I had some time to kill and decided to give it a go. Am I ever glad I did!! I don’t think I stopped reading until I was done with the book. This story takes us back over 100 years ago to a time when things were still undiscovered. Amanda Dykes inserts enough history to keep it interesting and make me want to google while reading. The characters she creates are fabulous, and the storyline has me coming back for more! I can’t wait to read Whose Waves These Are next!
I’ve been hearing how amazing Whose Waves These Are is, so I thought I’d give the free prequel novella a try. Wow, what a breathtakingly beautiful story! You can be sure that the full length book has moved up on my wishlist! I was swept away to the past and didn’t want to leave. The vivid descriptions and lyrical prose brought this story to life. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
What a wonderful combination of folklore mixed in with fact to take you on a journey that sets up the novel, Whose Waves These Are. I was intrigued from the get go and had to read all in one setting. The written word makes me want to visit that cabin and touch the hand stitched pieces. Beautifully done.
Up from the Sea is a fascinating prequel novella that introduces the reader to the setting and some background history for the full length novel, Whose Waves These Are.
I was absolutely captivated by the beautiful storytelling style of the author. Savannah and Alistair were characters that I liked immediately and I loved the journey of discovery that they went on to unearth what was true and what was myth. I’m looking forward to reading Whose Waves These Are soon!
(4.5 stars)
FASCINATING!
This novella by Amanda Dykes is truly FASCINATING! Dykes weaves this novella in the most beautiful way. My favorite quote is:
“ … the good Lord knows what He’s about. His number of days for us might not be what we thought, or even what we hoped. But nothing can stamp out His great purpose in every last one of those days.”
As you read the final words, you will be left wondering “What’s next?” and be so thankful that Dykes finishes finishes this beautiful story in her full length novel WHOSE WAVES THESE ARE.
I absolutely loved this novella! I can’t wait to read Whose Waves These Are! I was blown away by Amanda Dykes’s writing
What a wonderful novella! The story is rich and captivating; full of adventure, mystery, and just a little bit of romance. I’m so looking forward to Whose Waves These Are!
Up from the Sea is a wonderful prequel to Whose Waves These Are, the author’s debut novel. Her writing style and amazing descriptions show Amanda Dykes’ gift as a storyteller and enable the reader to “see” the people and places in Ansel-by-the-Sea in Maine. The characters could come to life at any second, the tale of the girl in the forest is intriguing, and what Savannah, Alistair, and her cousins find is stunning. If Whose Waves are These is even half this good, it will be fabulous!
The year is 1925. Both of her parents have passed, and Savannah leaves Georgia for her uncle and aunt’s home in Maine. She inherits all that had belonged to her mother on the property, including the huge home her relatives now allow her to live in with them, an impressive expanse of forest, and tales her mother told her when a child. This includes a map that should lead to a castle and a special old tree in the forest where a young woman hid a treasure 151 years earlier. The folks in this part of Maine are mostly city people who amassed funds to build summer mansions.
When Savannah abandons a dance at the club to go to the forest, she meets Alistair Bliss, a lumberjack who prefers living in the forest to being around the beautiful people. When her cousins come to take her back, Alistair finds it hard to forget her. She relates the story she learned about the long-ago young woman, who with a prayer buried the treasure box, and it is a different version than what anyone here has heard before. Her cousins, somewhat bored and adventurous, put together a hike to the mountain and look for what is known as the Atonement Tree.
Savannah wanted to look for the castle and tree, but not with this group. The land would be hers in two years when she was of age, and she had plenty of time to explore on her own. As the cousins prepare to leave, her uncle tells Savannah that he has investigated doing with her inheritance what his wife, Savannah’s mother’s sister, did with her portion of the inheritance. He has legal right to oversee it as he sees fit until she is of age, and he wants to sell it to purchase stock on margin. He sends her with her cousins, telling her that if she finds one good monetary reason to keep it, he will not sell her land. Savannah hires Alistair to lead the group. They might not find what they expect, but they will discover all that the Lord wants them to – beyond what they might imagine! I highly recommend it to those who appreciate adventure, intrigue, and US history.