The Amaranth Charter: A Novelette

by Nathaniel hc Kim

Reincarnation? Alternate Universe? Divination? Fate?
Charter Boat Captain Joshua Bartan Bishop of the Amara awakens one morning to find a beautiful and lovely young woman standing on the dock behind his boat and learns she wants to charter The Amara for three days and nights—alone. Surprised by the unusual request but in need of the business, Bartan agrees; and so begins an incredible journey that will lead the two of them into enigmatic battles of love, tragedy and timeless redemption.

167 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 26, 2025

Reviews

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 - 3.5 stars
The Amaranth Charter is a novelette, a short story at only 157 pages but Nathaniel H.C. Kim puts a lot in those pages.
Elena seeks out the man from her dreams and embarks on a 3-day cruise with him. All because she needs to know their connection. Is there something greater at work or is it just coincidence?
Joshua is taken a back by this mysterious woman who has a tall tale to tell, he doesn’t believe but as things become sketchy within the waves of the sea, he can’t deny that there is something more at work bringing them together.
Nathaniel weaves a tale that explores a more mystical side of mysterious phenomena like redemption, reincarnation, alternate universe, divination, and the ficklest of all Fate.
Join these two on a journey that will change their lives.

[Joanne Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amaranth Charter is a mysterious and evocative blend of romance, metaphysics, and destiny, penned with a poetic hand by Nathaniel H.C. Kim. At once a tale of seafaring solitude and a deep dive into the nature of love and fate, this novel reads like a dream you’re not entirely sure you’ve woken up from.

Captain Joshua Bartan Bishop lives a quiet, somewhat isolated life aboard his charter boat, The Amara, until the day a striking young woman appears on the dock with a curious request: she wants to charter his boat for three days and nights—alone. What begins as a simple business arrangement soon unfolds into a surreal, soul-stirring journey that challenges Bartan’s grip on reality and time itself.

Kim’s storytelling walks the fine line between the real and the unreal. Themes of reincarnation, alternate realities, and the cosmic forces of love and redemption are woven through a narrative that never quite lets you pin it down. Readers are left questioning what is memory, what is fate, and what it means to be truly connected to another soul—across lifetimes or parallel worlds.

The relationship between Bartan and his mysterious guest develops slowly but with a powerful emotional gravity. Their bond feels destined, yet fraught with a tragic undertone, as if they are players in a story that’s been written before—and may be written again. Kim doesn’t offer easy answers, instead inviting the reader to interpret the shifting realities and spiritual echoes for themselves.

Stylistically, the novel is lyrical, atmospheric, and meditative. It’s less about the action and more about the inner transformation of its characters. Readers who enjoy stories that delve into the metaphysical, that explore the deeper meanings behind chance encounters and the haunting possibility of eternal return, will find much to contemplate here.

The Amaranth Charter is a quiet, mysterious, and deeply emotional journey—part love story, part spiritual odyssey. If you’re drawn to books that feel like whispers from another world, this one just might be your next favourite read.

[Roxsanne Lesieur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain Joshua Barton Bishop is a man with a dream, a dream in which he is living, after losing family over the years, he changes the course of his life and becomes the Captain of his own fishing charter boat, the Amara, he has met some characters over that time, some great and some not so great, but he has friends and a life he is happy with.

One morning, he is woken from a doze by a beautiful young woman wanting to hire his boat, she is poised, confident and knows what she wants, so after a rocky start and a few questions, he agrees to her hiring him, but the fact that she wants to be alone with him for three days and nights is unusual, however, he needs the business, so he prepared his boat and they set sail for Moloka'i on still seas and cloudless skies.

As they sit down to a simple meal and a couple of glasses of wine, conversation flows between the two, but when she reveals that she has been dreaming of him, on and off for years, he is a bit taken back, however, as they speak more, the puzzle surrounding this slowly begins to piece together and amid the peaceful nature of the charter, something more begins to bloom.

This is where their adventure really begins as the beauty of the full moon, deep sea fishing and meaningful conversation create an atmosphere of charged tension. What will the two discover as they travel along on a journey bringing reincarnation, fate, divine natures and the possibility of alternate universes into play in this beautifully written tale of discovery, revelations and maybe even love?

[Santana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not at all what I was expecting. It had an element of realism and the genre was very “slice of life” which I am not into personally. Because of this, I didn’t thoroughly enjoy the book. Regardless, it was very well written. I do not rate books by my personal preference alone so I will be putting that aside.

Captain Joshua Bishop runs a fishing charter for hire. When a young and beautiful woman asks to charter the boat for 3 days and night, Joshua is shocked. It is an unusual request but he feels comfortable in the presence of this young lady so he decides to go for it.

Elena is a 23 year old woman who believes in possible reincarnation. She has been having dreams about the same man so she was surprised to see the man's face on a pamphlet for a charter boat. She decides to hire him for 3 days and nights to get to know him and find out why she sees him in her dreams.

After exposing her interior motives, Joshua is skeptical but open to the suggestion that something is connecting them to each other.

For a novelette, the author was able to fill the book with well thought out and detailed information about the two main characters and the boat they were on. The author is clearly very knowledgeable in sea life and also throws in a lot of local language and information. The author did an amazing job with this and I would love to recommend this book to people who are into this sort of thing!

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amaranth Charter is a story of two people on a boat. One believes that fate has brought them together, the other is just trying to do his job. It’s an exciting and unusual story that takes readers on a journey.

I love the amount of detail about the scenery and marine life that surround the story. It’s fascinating and helps make the story immersive. At times there’s perhaps too much detail - I don’t think I’m quite as interested in fishing equipment as the author is, but if you are you’ll enjoy this book!

The story is gripping, I struggled to put it down, and there’s a lot happening in a short novelette. There are a couple of storylines running concurrently, so at times you’re left on a bit of a cliffhanger as you wait to come back to that part of the story and find out what happens next.

This book gets four stars from me! I’d recommend it to readers looking for something a bit different, especially if you want to be transported to a fishing boat surrounded by beautiful seas and landscapes.

[Tausha Treadway · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amaranth Charter: A Novelette by Nathaniel H.C. Kim. This is a very different book from what I normally read but I really enjoyed it. Its the story of Fishing Charter Boat Captain Joshua and a young lady named Elena. Elena decides to book his charter for three days and three night which is not unusual but what is unusual is Elena is by herself. Usually there are couples or girls trip or guys trip never a single person especially a woman but since business is business Joshua books it. As they set sail they begin to get to know one another by talking and Elena finally tells Joshua that she had several dreams of a man that looks just like him so when she saw his picture on the Fishing Charter ad she had to book it. They being to discuss reincarnation and if they believe its possible. Elena strongly believes that she knew Joshua in a previous life and by the time the charter is over Joshua is believing it may be possible. They are both surprised at their feelings for one another that happened so quickly. Elena feels they are fated to be together. Such a fun, interesting read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amaranth Charter is the first book I’ve read by this author, or in this genre. I am not normally into alternate universe stories, but this book seemed interesting. I am glad I took the chance because I really enjoyed it. I was worried, because some of the reviews said it was hard to track the timelines, but I didn’t have that problem. The author is very descriptive and wrote an interesting story. I do wish he went into more detail on the fishing terminology, as I have zero knowledge in that. I found myself backing out of the book to look up things on several occasions. The story was short enough that it didn’t feel like it dragged on, and kept me engaged. I love the way he wrote the Hawaiian characters, and their mixing native words into their English. It made the story that much more authentic and I was able to envision the characters. I would read more by this author, if they were shorter like this. With his level to detail, I could see things getting out of hand in a longer story.

[Yvonne Derrig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Storyline & Storytelling But The End Has Left Me With So Many More Questions

The Amaranth Charter by Nathaniel H.C. Kim is listed as a mystery, and, while the ending is mysterious, I’m not sure there is much mystery, at least in my experience in the reading of such books. I will admit that I did not read the blurb (I usually don’t as I really enjoy making my own impressions), so there were no expectations set for this book, and yet I feel like all of my expectations were obliterated by Kim and this book. I found myself lost in this world created by Kim and drawn to Elena and Joshua in an inexplicable way. My only disappointment with this book is wanting more than the ending gave. This was creatively written and beautifully executed especially where the descriptions are concerned. I was also thoroughly intrigued by the reincarnation aspect of this story. This was easy to read and I was able to finish the book within a few hours. All in all, a well done story that I enjoyed reading.

[Ash Bash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a captivating read. The story was filled with a mystery that the beautiful young Elena kept from Joshua, the captain of the charter. The book was full of mystery but the story is also action packed. Elena sought out to review the paper and live her day as she normally would when she came across a face that she'd seen so many nights before. This captain Joshua was worth her time and money to discover this man that she feels she knows. Joshua meets her, and she is beautiful, but young, and he's doing his job as planned. On the charter she has ordered and paid for, Joshua teaches her how to fish and how to react in case of an emergency. Well as things go, an emergency hit them and a huge marlin comes aboard the ship and somehow Joshua is knocked out cold. The world is so much different after the incident, and though I was initially hesitant, I enjoyed weaving through the twists and turns of this book. I even shed a few tears while reading this book!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable and engaging novelette which kept me happily turning the pages. Boat Captain Joshua runs a Charter Boat, the Amara. Joshua agrees when Elena asks to charter the Amara for three days and nights alone, but thinks it’s an unusual request. When Elena reveals the real reason for her trip Joshua is skeptical at first, but as their journey together continues he starts to think differently. I was captivated by this fairly short story which has an intriguing storyline and fascinating characters. Whether they were brought together by fate or reincarnation, the feeling that Joshua and Elena were obviously meant to be together came across in the narrative. For such a quick read the author was able to make me feel fully immersed in the story and invested in Joshua and Elena’s relationship.

[Shannen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is new to me, so I was excited to pick up their book and dive in. The cover is absolutely beautiful, and the synopsis sounds incredibly intriguing. It’s a pretty quick read but the author still packed in plenty of marvelous details to fill the story. The characters are interesting and wonderfully developed as they charter a boat together. The connection between them is palpable and will definitely have you feeling that fate has intervened. This is definitely different from my normal reading, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. I am beyond pleased with the entire package! The flow of the story is flawless, the characters are unique yet relatable, and the vivid imagery transports you to a beautiful landscape all without leaving home. I’d recommend picking this up even if it may not sound like your cup of tea right away. You may be surprised with how you feel afterward!

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. It is a shorter book where the author did a great job of packing alot into the plot. I enjoyed how the characters pulled me into their journey and kept me engaged to the end. This is a well written story about what happens when a woman charters a boat for three days and nights. Their journey is one of romance and hardships. I enjoyed how connectable they are. They made their story easy to read and hard to put down. I enjoyed watching the growth of the plot as well as the characters throughout. I found this book to be fast paced and entertaining to read. I enjoyed this author and I look forward to seeing what is next for them. I highly recommend this book.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

The Amaranth Charter: A Novelette by Nathaniel H.C. Kim explores the possibility of reincarnation, alternate universe/s, divination, fate, and finding redemption.
A charter boat captain and his mysterious new passenger embark on a 3-day charter that turns into a bit of a journey of discovery- in more ways than one.
The story is both mysterious and at times a little suspenseful. And as this is such a short story- the author did a good job of fitting a lot into a small space- without making things feel too rushed or underdeveloped.
This is my first read from Mr. Kim, and I am curious to read some of his other books to see what else he can do.
Happy Reading…

Thank you, Nathaniel H.C. Kim!

[Tammy Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Amaranth Charter by Nathaniel H.C. Kim is a story of reincarnated soulmates. Elena Rosenstein charters a three-day fishing trip on The Amara captained by Joshua Bishop. It was an unusual charter for Joshua – a young woman alone on a three-day fishing – most of his charters were men or couples for a day trip, but he accepted the charter and off they went. On their first night on the boat, Elena shares with Joshua that she had been having repetitive dreams about a man who looks just like him and that when she saw an advertisement for his charter service, she sought him out. She then asked him if he believes in reincarnation. He then starts having the dreams as well. This book is well researched and extremely detailed. It’s a great novelette for a quick read.

[Heather Bass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read from this author and I’m now hooked. I have not read a male author in a while and I loved his writing style. He makes you feel like you are with the characters the whole time. This is a short story but it was packed with a punch. I can’t wait to read more of his books.

Joshua Bartan gives men and couples rides on his boat for a living. He enjoys the sea and his life. Josh thinks nothing of it when a mysterious woman comes into his boat with a three day fishing trip. He takes the lady on her trip. Josh gets to know Elena and some interesting things about her and her dreams. He is attracted to her but he doesn’t understand how you can fall for someone that fast. Is it fate that brought them together or something else more dangerous?

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amaranth Charter
By Nathaniel HC Kim

First of all, this is my first book by this author, and I was quite surprised how much I enjoyed reading it. I also like reading novelettes as you get some much of a story line in a short read. There is approximately 156 pages in this book which you will find a jam-packed plot. This book has been very well written, and I would be surprised if you are not eager to turn the page to see what happens next. I like how the characters came to life throughout the book, and you get a sense of knowing them. This book is about Joshua who has a charter boat and Elena who wants to hire him and the boat. Come along with Joshua and Elena as their journey takes us to islands which I imagined were quite pretty.

[Kerry carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a interesting short read. It was a fast paced read covering topics such as the possibilities of alternative universes, reincarnation, fate, and finding redemption in life. Even though this is a short read I felt that the author packed a load of content into the story and it was done in such a way that it didn't feel rushed or unfinished. I found it a really unique read.
When a beautiful young women turns up on the Amara, wanting to hire the boat for 3 days and 3 nights Captain Joshua isn't sure what to expect but not wanted to turn down the job he accepts. What happens next is a journey and of discovery that neither of them expected.
If you want a short read that is packed with content and a story that keeps you gripped then I recommend this book

[Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick and enjoyable read. More intrigue than mystery, but I really enjoyed the story of twin flames and the way they'll find each other again and again. The world building was so beautiful and easy to become immersed in and the ending came quickly.

Elena has dreamt of a man and is so invested in their connection and discovering more that she charters a 3 day boat trip with him. Captain Joshua is interested in her and her tale, but doesn't believe in the story she tells. However, as stressful situations at sea occur, he can't deny their connection and what seems to be fate drawing them together. He can't seem to explain it away.

A tale including reincarnation, a redemption arc, twin flames and fate. A beautiful journey to take.

[Anantha Rusum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a different kind of a read, I have watched movies like this before, and am familiar of such romances from mythology. Reincarnation tales and love spanning multiple lives is a very endearing concept in India.
The story revolves around the Fishing Charter Boat captain Joshua and a mysterious young woman Elena who books a charter with him for three days and three nights. Though initially awkward, after few conversations, Joshua begins to realize that there is a deeper connection. Elena finally reveals a mystery to Joshua which makes him believe in reincarnation and fate. A destined romance, they begin to feel like they have known each other for long. I really enjoyed this book.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stone of Destiny (Juniper Samoni Trilogy Book 1)By Nadine Travers
Stone of Destiny is the first book in the Juniper Samoni trilogy. It is also the first book I have read by this author, and may I say a lovely introduction to her wonderful writing. I didn’t have a favourite character in this book as they were all holding their own throughout the book. I also liked how the author were bringing different races together that I n the past had been forbidden . This book follows Juniper on her journey to find the Stone of destiny. Along the way she meets Drake who feels that he has found his mate in her, ever though the mere sight of him on times annoys Juniper. If you want a well written book, this is the book that you need to read.

[Jessica Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story follows fishing charter boat Joshua and a young woman named Elena. This is a first for Joshua, he normally charters guys or a day trip for couples and such. Elena books this charter for 3 days and 3 nights. So off they sail just the 2 of them. They begin talking and sharing bits of their lives with each other when Elena shares that a man who looks just like Joshua has been appearing in her dreams so when she saw his photo in the charter ad she had to book with him. They then begin to discuss their thoughts on reincarnation. Are they long lost soul mates meeting again in a new life? Or is this simply a huge coincidence? There's only pone way to find out.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story was really good. Although there were a few spots that I had to go back and read to make sure I hadn't missed anything. This was a good story on reincarnation. It had 2 storylines going concurrently so it was a little hard to keep track of what belonged to what timeline. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book! The 2 main characters covered a lot of interesting subjects that don't show up in other stories. What I loved most, was the detail. Others have said it becomes a little overwhelming, but I liked it. It made the story more real for me, and I could visualize the story better.

[Dawn Daughenbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars
The Amaranth Charter: A Novelette By Nathaniel HC Kim

The Amaranth Charter: A Novelette is a short story that will take you on quite the journey. The characters are developed, complex and pull you into the story with ease. I wasn’t real sure what to expect going in as this is a fairly new author to me but I’m glad I took the chance. This is a story about a nanny named Joshua who has a Charter boat and Elena she’s hired him for three days and nights. Follow along with these two on their journey you won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend reading and look forward to reading more from this Author.

[Jennifer P Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting quick read and from just reading the intro, I wanted to read more! As a Charter Boat captain, Joshua expects his usual customers to go out on fishing expeditions and back again on the same day but when he meets a mysterious woman, Elena, he is taken aback and even by her request. She wants to learn and charter the boat for 3 days and nights alone. Very unusual for a female and on top of it alone. Joshua takes her out on the boat only to find out things aren’t what they seem and neither is she. Their connection to one another starts to unravel and what you truly believe when something is destined, they have a way coming back to each other.

[Kerry Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a short, yet intriguing story that delves into redemption and the journey to get there. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I loved the insight into their writing style. They managed to pack so much into a short story and yet, it never felt rushed or half done.
I really enjoyed being able to go on the journey with these characters. They seemed to develop so much as the book went on and I connected with them really easily. This is not my usual kind of story but I through it was a great book. I am looking forward to discovering more from this author.

[Heather Rae Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed what this story is, I was just not a fan of how the story flowed, or the language that was used a lot in this book. I guess you need to be native to Hawaii and a charter fisherman to really enjoy this. I felt like the story fell flat for me in several areas. There was an attempt to have a present and past story as if it were a past life. I only knew when that happened when the story didn't make sense and different names were used. It needed to have some sort of acknowledgement of it being "another story" if that makes sense. The concept was there, but this one was hard to get through. Again, if you are a fisherman or know a lot of Hawaii's culture/language, this ones for you!

[Trina Bagley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captain Joshua Bishop can’t believe it when Elena Rosenstein shows up to hire his fishing charter boat. Elena tells him that she has dreamed of his face for the last 4 years and never knew who he was until she saw an ad for his charter services. He doesn’t really believe in reincarnation but does know that he feels very comfortable around her and Elena seems adamant that they must have known each other before.
This book is very detailed. There were some suspenseful moments and I felt it was well written.

[Amanda Lowery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you believe in reincarnation? If so then you should check out this short novella The Amaranth Curse by Nathaniel H.C. Kim. The MFC seems out the MMC after having several "dreams" about him by booking a 3 days and nights in his charter boat. The MMC is taken aback as the MFC confesses her true intentions the first night. The attention to detail surrounding this novella is impeccable. Also, there is two different timelines going on towards the end of this story. This isn't my normal read, but I do recommend it to others.

[Randi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short and interesting read. There was a lot of detail packed into a short story, and I enjoyed that, but would have liked to see a little more distinction between the duel storylines that were taking place. It was a little hard to track at times, but overall it all made sense in the end.
I've read a few books that featured reincarnation, and I love seeing the different versions and mythology authors use, and this story was no different. I really enjoyed it.
This was a new to me author, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more.

[Charlisa Wahtomy-Alba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charter Boat Captain Joshua Barton Bishop awakens to something odd. A lovely young woman is on the dock wanting to chater The Amara for three days and three nights on her own. It is an odd request but he badly needs the business and consents. What happens when one person on board is there to do a job and the other believes they were brought together by fate? I found this story rather unique and I enjoyed it. The past and present storyline was a bit confusing to follow at times however the story didn't seem to lose it's rhythm or flow. Overall it was an enjoyable story.