Out Front the Following Sea

⭐⭐⭐

I've been trying to get my thoughts in order to write a review for this one for a couple of days. I SO wanted to like this one more than I did. Props definitely go to the (debut) author for her writing ability. This book was often raw, vivid, and violent. You can tell the author did her research to make this book as historically accurate as possible. Ruth was a strong female protagonist, and I loved that. I also loved the use of local dialects and Native American languages. All that being said, this book was so bogged down with details and descriptions at times I struggled to stay engaged. The pacing was all over the place as well, and because of these issues, I had a difficult time connecting with any of these characters.

ARC Via NetGalley

The first half of this book I found to be promising historical fiction. The heroine is spirited and educated and I enjoyed the use of the archaic language, it felt authentic. If you are looking for something with a breakneck pace and a cast of thousands, this might be for you.

However, as the plot was so intense I found that the book sacrificed on the emotional intensity. Ruth goes through a variety of horrific events but they scarcely register before Ruth moves on to the next horrific event. What should be devastating flies by without much feeling. The villain of the piece is also unredeemably bad, and personally I prefer my villains with a bit of nuance! I was also not a fan of the ending, but that goes down to personal taste.

I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.