Amity

by Nathan Harris

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Sweetness of Water comes a gripping story about a brother and sister, emancipated from slavery but still searching for true freedom, and their odyssey across the deserts of Mexico to escape a former master still intent on their bondage.

New Orleans, 1866. The Civil War might be over, but formerly enslaved Coleman and June have yet to find the freedom they’ve been promised. Two years ago, the siblings were separated when their old master, Mr. Harper, took June away to Mexico, where he hoped to escape the new reality of the postbellum South. Coleman stayed behind in Louisiana to serve the Harper family, clinging to the hope that one day June would return.
 
When an unexpected letter from Mr. Harper arrives, summoning Coleman to Mexico, Coleman thinks that finally his prayers have been answered. What Coleman cannot know is the tangled truth of June’s tribulations under Mr. Harper out on the frontier. And when disaster strikes Coleman’s journey, he is forced on the run with Mr. Harper's daughter, Florence. Together, they venture into the Mexican desert to find June, all the while evading two crooked brothers who'll stop at nothing to capture Coleman and Florence and collect the money they're owed. As Coleman and June separately navigate a perilous, parched landscape, the siblings learn quickly that freedom isn't always given—sometimes, it must be taken by force.
 
As in his New York Times bestselling debut The Sweetness of Water, Nathan Harris delves into the critical years of the Civil War’s aftermath to deliver an intimate and epic tale of what freedom means in a society still determined to return its Black citizens to bondage. Populated with unforgettable characters, Amity is a vital addition to the literature of emancipation.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, African American, Literary Fiction, Civil War, Race

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 2, 2025

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Orleans 1866
The Civil War has ended, slaves have been emancipated…but June and her brother Coleman have lived their entire life with their owner Wyatt Harper and his family. They can’t think of anywhere to go or how to survive if they leave.
Wyatt decides to leave for Mexico.. thinking he will strike it rich building railroads and mining for silver… he takes only June with him, as he wants her above all else.
Leaving behind his wife and grown daughter. Coleman is now alone without June.
So this story becomes a real adventure..first a ship accident as Coleman and Mrs Harris and daughter Florence leave for Mexico.
Then it becomes as a dangerous western as it goes back and forth from Wyatt and June in Mexico… to Coleman’s journey with Florence through Mexico to reunite the siblings.
Loved this as much as the author’s first book The Sweetness of Water!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Available soon!

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A book that chose me... and came with a little NetGalley confession.

Confession time: I snagged this from Camp NetGalley partly out a little publishing pettiness. This publisher used to approve me and now I’m stuck in auto-decline purgatory.
Seriously—why??

So when Amity popped up, I snatched it, read it, and now I’m reviewing it and hoping to no longer be a ghost from the past.

Then I realized it was by the same author as The Sweetness of Water, which I still haven’t read (yet), but this one instantly nudged it higher on my TBR. I'm a sucker for slow, carefully written, haunting stories especially those with an atmosphere that soaks into your bones.

What Lit my mood
The haunting quiet tone that lingered over every page
The setting in New Orleans, 1866. The Civil War is over, but formerly enslaved Coleman and June have yet to find the freedom they’ve been promised.
The unforgettable bond and quiet ache for each other between siblings Coleman and June, torn apart when their former master, Mr. Harper fled to Mexico with June. Coleman is left behind in Louisiana to serve Mrs. Harper and her daughter Florence, now on a journey to Mexico after being summoned by Mr Harper.

Where my Mood Flickered
This story asks you to sit in the hush and just feel and at times I did that but the pacing felt off. Just as something would catch my attention, it would slow again, and I’d find my focus would flicker, breaking the spell.

Witchy Mood Meter Rating
🕷️ Almost Aligned -The vibes were there, but my energy was too restless to fully settle into the story’s quiet spell.

My recommendation
Add it to your altar if you crave quiet, poetic prose and aching, character-driven storytelling. So summon it when your energy is calm, and you're ready to sit with sorrow, longing, and the ghosts of history.

I received a copy from the Camp NetGalley selection.

[Robert Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nathan Harris proves once again that he is one of the greatest literary minds of our generation. The appropriately titled Amity is a mightily engrossing tale, filled with magnificently realized and unforgettable characters in a world that is so thoroughly imagined. Harris employs such careful, balanced storytelling, crafting a novel that is at once harrowing and gentle, dangerous but romantic. Readers will find that for every sorrow there is a joy and for every fool there is a lesson. And it is all woven together with such impeccable prose. Amity is a deeply adventurous and astonishingly beautiful book.

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A gripping story about a brother and sister, emancipated from slavery but still searching for true freedom, and their odyssey across the deserts of Mexico to finally reunite, all while escaping a former master still intent on their bondage."

It is just after the Civil War when Coleman leaves with New Orleans with his master's daughter and wife to find his master and sister, June. Although emancipated, they find their harrowing journey proof that they must take their freedom in hopes of being reunited. June's experience is expertly threaded in with Coleman's adventure.

The writing is absolutely exquisite with perfect pacing, and I found this to be a riveting, vital read. What could have been a boring travelogue through the Mexican desert is a captivating and essential addition to emancipation literature. The bond between siblings is quietly revealed and imprinted on your heart as well as the bond between human and animal. The strangers they meet along the way that come to their aid restore your faith in humanity after seeing those who exploit and hurt others for gain. I was captivated from start to finish and will be thinking about Coleman, June, and Florence for a very long time. Nathan Harris is a brilliant voice in literature, and I can't wait to see what he writes next.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Little Brown and Company, and Nathan Harris for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.🐎🌵

[MicheleReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's 1866, and formerly enslaved Coleman is a servant in the home of the Harper family. There is little difference between life as a slave and being free. Wyatt Harper had taken his older sister June to Mexico, which was under French rule, with dreams of making a fortune. Coleman had been left with Mrs. Wyatt and his daughter, Florence. They soon travel to Mexico to reunite with Mr. Harper and help him locate June, whom he informs Coleman, by letter, has been abducted.

Through June's storytelling, we learn of the dangers encountered in Mexico and her desire to escape Wyatt. When June meets Isaac, a Black Seminole, she wonders if he could be her chance at real freedom and possibly love.

Coleman, who had spent his life reading, is unprepared to be a protector. The journey across the Mexican desert to find Wyatt and June is fraught with mishaps, including run-ins with a pair of criminal brothers and a Mexican gang. June finds hope in a town named Amity, and Coleman never gives up the search for his sister. 

If you read Nathan Harris' 2021 debut, The Sweetness of Water, it was clear that we were being introduced to an exceptional talent. In Amity, we are again treated to his beautiful writing and another unforgettable book. It is a captivating and emotional tale featuring complex characters, especially Coleman, who finds a strength and maturity he didn't realize he possessed. His bond with the Harper family's dog, Oliver, who also travels to Mexico, was incredibly heartwarming. The storytelling, especially Coleman's narrative, takes its time and requires some patience, which is richly rewarded. 

Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the advance. This was one of my most highly anticipated books of the year, and it did not disappoint.

4.5 stars.

Review posted on MicheleReader.com.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars (per Goodreads, 3 stars = "I liked it")

This is a work of historical fiction taking place in the American South and Mexico in the years immediately post-Civil War. POVs alternate between siblings Coleman and June, servants of the family who owned them as slaves before the North's victory freed them. Still stinging from the Confederacy's loss, the patriarch of the family takes June with him as he joins a group of other disgruntled Southerners who travel to Mexico in order to establish a new mining town and get out from the under the laws of the Union. Later, the man's wife and daughter, along with Coleman and the family dog, strike out to join them. The journey presents a multitude of dangers and interesting characters - criminals, Mexican soldiers, Black Seminoles, and others.

What I liked about this book included the setting and atmosphere. There is the harsh beauty of the desert, the chapparal and mesquite trees beneath the baking sun, but also the towns strung along their path south, which reminded me of being ensconced in the world of Red Dead Redemption 2. This video game takes place about 30 years later, but I could easily picture Arthur Morgan and his outlaw companions riding their horses through the territories of this book.

Also enjoyable was the character of Coleman, a former slave and current servant who is happiest lost in the pages of his books, taught himself academics and proper comportment both from the books assigned to the daughter of his employers for her education, and who has a sweet bond with the book's canine character, Oliver. Additionally, there is a side character who exhibits some nice personal growth.

What didn't work so well for me is a bit harder for me to name. I just wasn't that engaged in the plot, which meandered at times (particularly during June's page time) without a real sense of urgency or expected destination, figuratively speaking. In this way I suppose the pacing was a bit off, and I certainly wouldn't use the word "gripping" to describe my own reading experience. At the conclusion of the book I thought to myself, "Well that's nice," but it really isn't anything that I anticipate staying with me for long now that I have finished reading. I guess I appreciated the vibes more than the story. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. I loved this book for all the different emotions that it showed. This was such a heartfelt and inspiring story and so beautifully written with rich characters who evolved throughout the story so you feel like you are there. Is one of the best stories I’ve read this year. I would recommend the audio as the readers did an exquisite job telling this story. 🎧 Pub. 9/2/25

[Booknblues · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few years ago, I read Nathan Harris' debut book The Sweetness of Water and I loved it so much it made my top ten for the year. When I read that Harris had a new book coming out, I knew that I would have to read it.

While the time period is much the same the story of Amity is quite different than Sweetness of Water. Amity merges two historical events, the settlement of the Black Seminoles in Mexico and the resettlement of former southern slave owners in Mexico.

The book shifts in perspective between former enslaved siblings, Coleman and June. It begins:

"I had few pleasures to call my own. There was the peace found in the attic where I was made to board, the transporting comfort of the books in Mrs. Harper’s library, the deliciousness of the sweet bread I purchased with my allowance from the bakery down the road each Sunday of rest. But all of it paled in comparison to the joy brought upon me by Oliver, the terrier I considered my own and the most intelligent, loyal companion one could ask for."

Coleman is a unique character an erudite, talkative and yet anxious and fearful young man who is exceeding loyal to both Oliver, his dog and June, his sister.

Amity is a story of a quest and journey which highlights family ties of many kinds. I didn't feel the emotional impact in this one as I did in Sweetness of Water, but I really loved the characters and have a soft spot in my heart for Oliver.

[Marialyce]

Dull and boring both in writing and content.

[Ruben · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is nothing wrong with this book: it has an interesting premise (former slaves escaping the south trying to build a new life in Mexico), original characters, a good atmosphere, quite a lot happening. And yet I constantly found my mind wandering off and was never fully gripped by the story.

Perhaps if I had read a physical copy instead of listening to the audio I would have been more focused?

Or maybe this is too much of an adventure novel for me and didn't ask interesting questions. It first and foremost presents a linear narrative about good and evil that we can all very much agree with.

I would have liked to learn more about the years after abolition and the plight of former slaves, but for that non-fiction would have been the better choice.

Three stars based on my enjoyment, not a criticism of the book.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliantly rendered Western, adventure story, love story, and quest for freedom.

I’m going to think for a long time on how it is that Nathan Harris can write so truthfully and delicately about the complexity of the relationships between white people and Black people affected by slavery. How he does it is a wonder.

[Joy D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had previously read and loved Nathan Harris’s debut, The Sweetness of Water, so when I saw his latest release, I snapped it up. His second novel is set just after the American Civil War. Coleman, a former slave, is now free but still working for his former owners in New Orleans. The family’s patriarch, Mr. Harper, had taken his sister to Mexico. When Mr. Harper sends for the family, Coleman, Mrs. Harper, her daughter Florence, and the family’s dog set off on a journey by steamboat along the Gulf Coast and across the deserts of Mexico to join him.

The historical events are based on the Confederates who settled in Mexico, taking their “freed slaves” with them (in order to avoid fully freeing them). This is a beautifully written atmospheric book. It is told in the alternating perspectives of Coleman and his sister, June. We view Coleman’s progress toward finding June, and June’s situation trying to escape from Mr. Harper. The two storylines eventually converge. It is mostly character driven, with sporadic flurries of action. I enjoyed it immensely. Nathan Harris is a talented writer with a gift for storytelling. I am putting him on my list of favorite authors.

[Carol Ann Tack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely terrific. Gorgeous prose from cover to cover. Loved it. Highly recommend.

[Mary McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harris has created an indelible character and an unforgettable journey.
Beautiful words set during a brutal time in history.

[Kenzie | kenzienoelle.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

IG review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DQeXzCzEQ...

The Civil War is over, but brother and sister Coleman and June are far from fully free. Two years have passed since the siblings were separated when their old master, Mr. Harper, took June with him down to explore Mexico. What follows is a story of the fierce determination of a brother and the fierce hope of a sister to one day be truly free and reunited.

This was an adventure of a story as we started in Louisiana, got on a boat, and spent many many chapters in Mexico. This was a time in Mexican history where the Spanish-Mexican, French and Native peoples were all battling for the territory. And now, post Civil War some formerly enslaved people are looking towards Mexico to be their new home.

This felt like a very unique historical fiction about and time and place I had never read about. Coleman in particular was such a phenomenal character. Despite growing up enslaved, his older sister has been his protector his whole life and we watch as he finds a strength he didn’t know he possessed.

At points, the pacing did feel a little off but when there was action, it was full out!! I really enjoyed this novel and I hope more readers will pick this one up.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted egalley!!

[Ryan Brandenburg · Rating 2 out of 5]

After thoroughly enjoying Harris’ debut novel, “The Sweetness of Water,” I was thrilled to receive an ARC of his second novel that releases September 2, 2025.

However, this one fell short of my expectations. I couldn’t get as engrossed in the storyline as I did with his first book, and neither of the main characters, siblings Coleman and June, were compelling enough to maintain my interest in the plot.

As a result, I found myself skimming through to the ending, which was a disappointing. It may be a winner for someone, but it didn’t work for me.

[Amy Sugerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As powerful and as beautiful as The Sweetness of Water. Nathan Harris’ writing is gorgeous. Added joy, there’s Oliver the dog! I just loved this book as much as his debut.

Thank you to my fabulous Lewes DE Public Library for an ARC of this book, out on September 2nd.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. This post-civil war books deals with the aftermath of slavery. June and her brother Coleman are technically free. But their options remain limited.

June is a favorite of Mr. Harper and he’s taken her to Mexico, where he hopes to recover the wealth he lost during Reconstruction, but she is done with him. She flees and Mr. Harper sends for his family to join them, knowing that Coleman, still in their employ, will come too. He needs Coleman’s help to find June.

This is the story of the dangerous trek to Mexico and the former slaves’ relationships with their former owners. Coleman’s relationship with the Harpers’ spoiled, entitled daughter, is especially complex. And the two face multiple perils together.

Frankly, I struggled to understand exactly what was going on throughout much of this journey. The prose is beautiful but I liked the story itself less.

My favorite character was definitely Oliver, the dog. He has a starring role.

[Maggie McDermott · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was going to DNF but I wasn’t sure if it was this book or me causing my reading slump. Unfortunately after finally finishing, I fear it was the book. Amity has such potential but is hard to follow and tedious. Very little happens and the big events are lost in confusing tangents.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this could be a 3.5 star book, it would! I really wanted to like this book but parts of it fell flat for me. I struggled with the tenses changing between characters a bit, and it felt like the entire book was in service to what happens at the end.. which isn’t terrible, but it felt noticeable to me which I didn’t love. The writing was good and I did like the characters, but overall it didn’t quite hit all the marks.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC :)

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no doubt Nathan Harris has a command of language – eloquent prose, endearing characters, and the art of storytelling. I'm certain there are many untold tales of emancipated slaves and the freedom experience. Harris' debut SWEETNESS OF WATER (to date) is his best work. This sophomoric novel has highs and lows, however a story with seemingly endless hardship reminding the reader that hope is truly a saving grace.

[Larry K. Hatch · Rating 1 out of 5]

terrible book

Waste of time. Page after page dwelling on nothing of significance relating to the presumed message and hard to believe characters

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this one. Nathan Harris is a gifted author and I rooted for the characters. For me, there were too many characters introduced that didn’t impact the story.

[Alyssa Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 🌟 just didn’t really keep my attention

[Kristine]

Wow 😮, just realized after looking at Sarah McCoy’s page, that she is co-hosting an Author Event in Winston-Salem, NC on Friday, September 26 and the Main Festival Day is Saturday, September 27. So, consider if you live in North Carolina.

Nathan Harris is Speaking that day. I really want to go to this. Love Hearing Authors. Can get a Signed Copy of Amityand also have The Sweetness of Water

It’s called Bookmarks Festival of Books and Authors. Bookmarks is a well known Indie Bookstore and Involved in Setting this all up. This is their 20th Year!

Yeah 👍🏽 Indie Book Stores, Writers, Librarians, and Readers 🤎🩵🧡🩷

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so grateful to the publisher, Little, Brown and Company, and the author, Nathan Harris, for the privilege to read this advanced copy through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. I highly recommend this novel that is well researched and enjoyable to read. The author has a fantastic writing style that captures the reader's attention right from the start. I didn't want to put the book down.

The story is set in Louisiana right after the Civil War. The reader travels with the protagonists, June and Coleman, who are black slaves. Their treatment by their "owners" (Wyatt Harper and his family, Mrs. Harper and Florence are difficult. I loved the relationship of Coleman and Oliver, Florence's terrier, throughout the story. Oliver brings comfort during challenging times.

This is not just another book about slavery. It is a story about the two separate journeys of Coleman and June with hardships, abuse, and survival. While it sounds heavy, there are also times of rewards and joy. There is courage, happiness, love, support, and joy during challenging situations. Character development is outstanding. Amity is a place that brings hope.

The book ends like it begins. I loved it and highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed. Well done, Mr. Harris, and thanks for a great read!

[Lisa Cassaly Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Nathan Harris, but it certainly won’t be my last. From the very first page, I was drawn in by his lyrical prose and masterful character development. Harris has a remarkable gift for capturing both the beauty and the menace of the haunting deserts of Texas and Mexico, where danger seems to linger at every turn.

At its heart, Amity is an adventure story, following siblings Coleman and June as they struggle against all odds in their quest to be reunited. The narrative is suspenseful, yet it’s also infused with tender moments of love, hope, and connection, brought to life by a rich and memorable cast of characters.

Beyond the gripping storyline, Harris illuminates the profound challenges faced by newly freed slaves, weaving in themes of resilience, survival, and humanity. It’s both an engaging journey and a poignant reflection on a pivotal moment in history.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company, and Nathan Harris for the opportunity to read this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story of struggle and perseverance took me away to a harsh yet beautiful time and place after the turmoil and devastation of the Civil War. 

In Amity, alternating story lines and the memories of separated siblings Coleman and June told of their individual journeys as former slaves living in unfamiliar "freedom." The book seemed a bit jumpy and confusing at times, but more than midway through the story, when a new sense of home and community arrived for June, the confusion eventually settled. The possibility of a reunion of brother and sister kept me swiping toward the well thought out and satisfying conclusion. 

Mr. Harris provided a piece of American and Mexican history in a setting new to me and is a story that will remain with me long after his book has been tucked away on my Kindle. 

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing me the opportunity to read the advanced e-copy of; Amity by Nathan Harris.

[Gerry Durisin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book seemed far longer than its 308 pages, and was, for me, a difficult slog of a read. The premise was interesting: former slaves, brother and sister, separated by their former master and trying to reunite. Lengthy, overwritten descriptions of the territory between Louisiana and Mexico and of various encounters with individuals and groups representing the indigenous and colonizing peoples left me struggling to keep track of just what was going on and what point the author was trying to make. I loved The Sweetness of Water, but this book did not share its predecessor’s clarity of writing or its strong character development. Sadly disappointing.

[A.D. Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for journeys, and this story has an amazing one.