Poignant historical novel with a focus on South Carolina from the start of the 20th century.
Set in the South Carolina Lowcountry, this story follows Eliza Pinckney Rivers across two pivotal eras. In 1988, Eliza is 88 years old and is fighting to protect her family's ancestral estate, Mayfield, and the surrounding ACE Basin from her greedy son's development pans. As she recounts her life to her niece and granddaughter, the narrative shifts back to 1908 and details her childhood as a nature-loving free spirit. She navigates family loss, WWI, and societal pressure. This is a sweeping tale of resilience, a woman's lifelong bond with the land, and a tale of the importance of conservation.
This lovely novel was a joy to read with the way the author fully develops and delivers multidimensional characters while also putting them into a place undergoing many societal changes including racial issues and women's rights. Eliza is a fierce matriarch whose personal growth mirrors the changing Southern landscape around her. There are vivid descriptions of the land that help the reader understand Eliza's passion to preserve it.
Since this is marketed as a duology with the second book still a year out in 2027, there are some unresolved issues and story arcs. This is indeed a captivating exploration of legacy, female agency, and ecological stewardship.
I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book. The narrators, Jenna Lamia and Cassandra Campbell, delivered a fantastic performance. The accents, the cadence, and their dramatic flair added so much to bring this story to life and created a truly immersive reading experience. Highly recommended.
This is the first in a duology that should be read in order.
Genre and tags: sweeping family saga, book club fiction, historical fiction, 1900s South Carolina, women's rights, racial issues, conservation, nature
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