Reviewer: Alan Chin
Publisher: Bear Bones Books
Pages: 272
During the final days of the American Revolution, Drew, a
Herculean Yankee, is captured by a ragtag Confederate band. He is put in the
custody of Ian, a war-weary Southerner who has seen too much brutality
inflicted on prisoners by his commanding officer, who also happens to be Ian’s
uncle.
While on the run from the Yankees and being driven toward
Purgatory Mountain, Drew is made a martyr, whipped and beaten and humiliated for
all the sins of General Sheridan’s rampage and the frustration of the
Confederates’ realization that they are losing the war. But then the unexpected happens, Ian and
Drew—captor and captive—find themselves drawn together. As a fragile love
blossoms, Ian must find the courage to defy his uncle, and Ian and Drew must discovery
a way to save each other from catastrophe.
This is an exquisitely written story. Jeff Mann’s command of
prose is inspiring. He captures a voice that, line by line, is pure pleasure to
read, to reread, to wallow in.
This story is never rushed. It takes place within the span
of a week or two, and there is much packed into that timeframe. The pace is
slow, often at a snail’s gate, giving the protagonist much time for reflection,
and allowing plenty of time for a relationship to bud at a lifelike pace.
The tale is written in first person and present tense, which
gives it an intimacy much like reading a personal letter or diary. However, I was
not able to wrap my head around reading an historical account written in
present tense. It simply felt strange, and I was unable to fully immerse myself
in the story because of it.
For me, the book had two flaws. It took most of the story for
Ian to do what he knew was just, which admittedly gave him a beautiful arc. But
early on, I felt he was a coward, and I didn’t like him. By the time he finally
grew a spine, it was too late for me. Along that same theme, I did not find it at
all plausible that Drew could be so brutalized and dehumanized by his captors
while Ian stood by, and still find it in his heart to forgive Ian, which, of
course, was the point the entire story hung on.
Historical buffs will no doubt relish this story. Fans of
gay romance who can easily suspend belief regardless of how implausible the
story is will also enjoy this read.
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