The Orenda

A Novel

By: Joseph Boyden

Narrated by: Ali Ahn, Graham Rowat, Edoardo Ballerini

History reveals itself when, in the 17th century, a Jesuit missionary ventures into the Canadian wilderness in search of converts - the defining moment of first contact between radically different worlds. What unfolds over the next several years is truly epic, constantly illuminating and surprising, sometimes comic, always entrancing, and ultimately all too human in its tragic grandeur.

Christophe has been in the New World only a year when his native guides abandon him to flee their Iroquois pursuers. A Huron warrior and elder named Bird soon takes him prisoner, along with a young Iroquois girl, Snow Falls, whose family he has just killed, and holds them captive in his massive village. Champlain's Iron People have only recently begun trading with the Huron, who mistrust them as well as this Crow who has now trespassed on to their land; and her people, of course, have become the Huron's greatest enemy. Putting both to death would resolve the issue, but Bird sees Christophe as a potential envoy to those in New France, and Snow Falls as a replacement for his two daughters who were murdered by the Iroquois.

The relationships between these three are reshaped again and again as life comes at them relentlessly: A dangerous trading mission, friendly exchanges with allied tribes, shocking victories and defeats in battle, and sicknesses the likes of which no one has ever witnessed.

The Orenda traces a story of blood and hope, suspicion and trust, hatred and love, that comes to a head when Jesuit and Huron join together against the stupendous wrath of the Iroquois, when everything that any of them has ever known or believed faces nothing less than annihilation. A saga nearly 400 years old, it is also timeless and eternal.

©2013 Joseph Boyden (P)2014 Recorded Books

Survival in pre-historic French Canada

An amazing insight into the beginnings of how a part of North America lives in this tale of diverse spiritual forces, the Orenda required, to creatively shape and tame a people capable of surviving in pre-historic French Canada.

A slow read but compelling story

The Orenda is not for those looking for a fast-paced, high intensity read. The story is compelling, and while the readers are at first difficult to follow, it becomes clear shortly into the story that the cast gives a perfect reading and express the author's writing with exactly the right tone. Highly recommend this book!

Gripping and realistic tale of life the Huron

I really enjoyed listening to the alternate perspectives of the same occurrences. all characters had valid perceptions and opinions on the clash of European organized religion versus native population traditions and spiritual practices

indigenous spirituality meeting western history

If you could sum up The Orenda in three words, what would they be?

Ceremonial real-life exposed.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Huron leader's trusted friend is loyal and courageous, undaunted, a warrior.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

The voices of the three main characters are extremely well differentiated.

Who was the most memorable character of The Orenda and why?

The jesuit priest is so dogged in his missionary work, so disrespectful of the orenda, and his death is correspondingly marked with the respectfulness of his "sauvages".

Any additional comments?

Joseph Boyden brings to life that time in history (around the 16th century).

Fantastic. Unbelievable.

Absolutely worth it. Harrowing, but beautifully narrated and a terrifying picture of early canada. A must read for anyone curious about early Canadian history and the relationship between the native Canadians and the Jesuit priests who landed there.

A Compelling Read

Simultaneously beautiful and brutal . Well crafted and performed. The hours went quickly. Highly recommend.

Excellent, but very explicitly violent

Any additional comments?

I learned a lot listening to this book. It gave me a better understanding of this period of history in eastern Canada, and also helped me appreciate the Huron's deep connection to the natural world. The book is VERY explicitly violent, which I did not like, but the culture of the Iroquois and Hurons was very violent and the book just presents that reality. The author does a great job of character development. Naration is excellent.

Not always an easy listen

Beautifully written and tremendous insight into a period of history most of us know little about. I could have done with about 20 fewer graphic torture scenes.

Good story, but at times too modernized

There are several traits attributed to the Huron in this book that seem too European/westernized. For instance, the scenes around pregnancy and childbirth. Yes, they would be similarly amazed at the changes during pregnancy, and the birthing, the language describing it just seemed very 20th century western.

The book sure paints an awe full picture of the Jesuit Missionaries, and how single minded they were and therefore blind to the wondrous parts of the culture they were trying to kill off.

Gripping in its realism

Immersed in the world of colonialism and Huron-Iroquois warfare, the Orenda is vivid and intense in its telling of three paralel stories, offering rich point of views on all sides. Boyden is uncompromising when describing this at times violent and unforgiving period, while maintaining an immaculate sense of historical context. Not a light novel, it's simply fantastic in its realism as it immerses you in the great lakes region of the 16th century.