A Home in the Wilderness

A Country for Castoffs

By: Amanda M. Cetas

Narrated by: Daniel Kay

"The children were screaming, as I picked them up in both arms and ran towards the doorway. I thrust them outside just as the burning roof collapsed on top of me."

It is June 10, 1663 and Etienne is running through a field of wild pasture, startling a flock of grouse into the air amid a frenzy of feathers and squawking, as he heads toward a double wedding in town. He has no idea that the ceremony will be interrupted with the news of a Native American attack on the Dutch settlement up north, the consequences of which will turn his world upside down threatening his family, community, and Lenape friends. He must choose–protect his new friends or defend his community. Both choices demand great sacrifice and risk the lives of those he loves.

Etienne Gayneau doesn’t understand why the native peoples and colonists can’t get along in this land of abundant resources and opportunity. As war erupts between his Old World religious community and his New World friends, Etienne must find a way to end the violence, while protecting those he loves on both sides of the dispute. Etienne must learn to survive in this dangerous, exotic new world. He will learn new skills from his Native American friends and establish new friendships with old enemies. But just as everything seems to be going so well, conflict threatens to destroy it all! Will Etienne find a way to save his friends and fulfill his own destiny?

©2021, 2023 Amanda M. Cetas (P)2023 Amanda M. Cetas

Critic reviews

“The author’s historical research is admirably rigorous in her meticulous presentation of the inflammatory hostility that existed between settlers and Native peoples in the mid-17th century.” – Kirkus Reviews

Makes you feel like you understand the times

The relationship the MC has with his native friends is very relatable for anyone who has been 12 years old. The plot shows historical tensions between colonial peoples and native tribes in a fairly even handed way and it shows the difficult path that centrists ideologies attempt to tread in a polarized world.

Good Story

I did enjoy this book. However, I didn't realize it was book 2 from a 3 book series. That's why the beginning felt like I was missing something and the ending didn't really end. I'll have to read the other two books to grasp the whole meaning, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. It's always hard to read how the Native American's were treated back then and how so much was taken from them. Etienne's story was captivating. Based on true events, kept my interest even more. It wasn't until the end that I realize Etienne was only 12 years old. Everything was so different back in the 1600s. Fascinating what people had to go through back then. I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator was fantastic. I loved his voice and his accents.

A wonderful history lesson.

Dutch immigrants and the native Americans in 1663. Will they; can they, get along?
A wonderfully exciting story of the way of life and the struggles of our early ancestors. Lots of history. Lots of life lessons. Religion. Morals. Hard work.

I was gifted an Audible version of this book from the author through Story Origin. The narrator has a wonderful narrating voice, but I struggled with some of his accents. I also struggled with keeping track of each character as their names were very unusual. Would have been easier seeing them in writing. 4 stars for the narration.