Bloodroot

IPNE (Independent Publishers of New England)  2022 FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR!2022 NEW YORK BIG BOOK AWARD: DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE in AMERICAN HISTORYSet against the stark and harrowing backdrop of America’s first settlement, Jamestown, Virginia, in 1609, this narrative transports readers to a time of profound struggle and transformation.Matthew, an Englishman, is skeptical of his friend Richard’s tales of a paradisiacal Jamestown, soon finds himself engulfed in the brutal reality of this so-called paradise. Arriving in Virginia, he is initially struck by the unspoiled beauty of the land, a stark contrast to the dark undercurrents of greed and conflict that soon emerge. The community, gripped by gold fever, grows increasingly hostile towards the native inhabitants, foreshadowing imminent bloodshed.As the narrative unfolds, Matthew’s journey becomes a gripping tale of survival against all odds. The harsh winter ushers in “the starving time,” a period marked by extreme deprivation and moral decay. Wracked with guilt over his transgressions against Richard and tormented by forbidden desires, Matthew teeters on the brink of despair.In his darkest hour, choosing death over a life sullied by depravity, Matthew finds unexpected salvation among the Powhatan, his erstwhile enemies. This twist of fate propels him into an entirely new existence, challenging his beliefs and loyalties. The story poses the question: what does this new life hold for Matthew, and can he endure amidst such tumultuous change?