The Fire and the Ore
A Novel
Published on 1. October 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-1-5420-3707-5 (ISBN)
Description
Three spirited wives in nineteenth-century Utah. One husband. A compelling novel of family, sisterhood, and survival by the Washington Post bestselling author of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow.
1857. Three women-once strangers-come together in unpredictable Utah Territory. Hopeful, desperate, and willful, they'll allow nothing on Earth or in Heaven to stand in their way.
Following the call of their newfound Mormon faith, Tamar Loader and her family weather a brutal pilgrimage from England to Utah, where Tamar is united with her destined husband, Thomas Ricks. Clinging to a promise for the future, she abides an unexpected surprise: Thomas is already wedded to one woman-Tabitha, a local healer-and betrothed to still another.
Orphaned by tragedy and stranded in the Salt Lake Valley, Jane Shupe struggles to provide for herself and her younger sister. She is no member of the Mormon migration, yet Jane agrees to marry Thomas. Out of necessity, with no love lost, she too must bear the trials of a sister-wife.
But when the US Army's invasion brings the rebellious Mormon community to heel, Tamar, Jane, and Tabitha are forced to retreat into the hostile desert wilderness with little in common but the same man-and the resolve to keep themselves and their children alive. What they discover, as one, is redemption, a new definition of family, and a bond stronger than matrimony that is tested like never before.
1857. Three women-once strangers-come together in unpredictable Utah Territory. Hopeful, desperate, and willful, they'll allow nothing on Earth or in Heaven to stand in their way.
Following the call of their newfound Mormon faith, Tamar Loader and her family weather a brutal pilgrimage from England to Utah, where Tamar is united with her destined husband, Thomas Ricks. Clinging to a promise for the future, she abides an unexpected surprise: Thomas is already wedded to one woman-Tabitha, a local healer-and betrothed to still another.
Orphaned by tragedy and stranded in the Salt Lake Valley, Jane Shupe struggles to provide for herself and her younger sister. She is no member of the Mormon migration, yet Jane agrees to marry Thomas. Out of necessity, with no love lost, she too must bear the trials of a sister-wife.
But when the US Army's invasion brings the rebellious Mormon community to heel, Tamar, Jane, and Tabitha are forced to retreat into the hostile desert wilderness with little in common but the same man-and the resolve to keep themselves and their children alive. What they discover, as one, is redemption, a new definition of family, and a bond stronger than matrimony that is tested like never before.
Reviews / Votes
"An interesting and readable story, but what makes it more profound is that all these characters actually existed, with nearly unchanged backstories." -Booklist"A deeply moving novel that is so beautifully crafted you can't help but feel the sun beat down on your back or the snow bite into your skin. The evocative setting and well-researched history combined with nuanced characters make this novel one not to miss." -Historical Novels Review
"With The Fire and the Ore, Olivia Hawker delivers a compelling and epic novel that proves she is a master of her craft, a storyteller of supreme talent. This book is all heart. It's meticulously researched, brilliantly constructed, and rich with historical detail. On top of all that, it's a stunning and breathtaking page-turner...This is, quite simply, a beautiful book that readers will love and devour." -Julianne MacLean, USA Today bestselling author
"A beautiful and nuanced story about a little-known and little-understood period of history and three women who have every reason to dislike one another but, driven by different levels of faith, need, and ambition, find their way to a deep and lasting bond. The Fire and the Ore is a well-researched and deeply felt novel of tragedy, hope, and connection." -Megan Chance, bestselling author of A Splendid Ruin
"Based on real family history, this is the heartrending story of the trials endured by Mormon converts as they made their way across the American wilderness to their promised land and of the triumph of sisterhood over adversity. A must read for fans of Western history." -Rhys Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of The Venice Sketchbook
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Seattle
United States
Publishing group
Amazon Publishing
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 206 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
400 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5420-3707-5 (9781542037075)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Olivia Hawker is the Washington Post bestselling author of The Rise of Light; One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow, a finalist for the Washington State Book Award and the WILLA Literary Award for Historical Fiction; and The Ragged Edge of Night. Olivia resides in the San Juan Islands of Washington State with her husband and several naughty cats. For more information, visit www.hawkerbooks.com.