The Newcomers: The Chronicles of Touperdu, Book I

by Pam Troy

It is 1880, and immigrants are flocking to a new refuge from the economic and racial turmoil of the late nineteenth century. 

For New Orleans chef Amadeo Roselyn, the Isle of Touperdu is where he can open his own restaurant and raise his daughters as educated, marriageable ladies in a place free of the violence roiling the post-Reconstruction era south. For Gwennoelle Duday, the matriarch of a rackety family of witches from the French village of Fourche, it is where the Dudays can act freely, unfettered by other people of “talent” and any foolish talk of rules and higher law.

But the night before they disembark, a question troubles both Amadeo in first class, and Madame Duday in steerage. It is one that will haunt them for years after they step onto the island — is the promise of Touperdu a lie? 

The Newcomers is the first novel in a series set on the fictional island of Touperdu, where the lines blur between superstition and magic, legend and history, promises and betrayal. Two immigrant families confront the question all outsiders face when they enter a new world. What can you do — and what will you give up — to truly belong?

Genres: Fantasy, Historical

420 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 9, 2026

Reviews

[Jae · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. Newcomers is a story of two families trying to make ends meet after leaving America for a better life in the Caribbean.

I wouldn’t market this book as a fantasy because there really isn’t a lot about the fantastical aspect. It read more like early Outlander and the writing style reminds me of Anne with an E or other similar classics.

However, for those of us who enjoy a book that’s meandering, that’s about the day to day dinner on the table, and just seeing life as an “immigrant”; this will be your book.

Amadeo is an interesting pov because he moves to Touperdo, because he could not tolerate the fact on how his daughters would be treated against in the context of racism, but then all his diary/letters is for his future sons and grandsons. He is written in the perspective of someone who does have good morals, but I think this is a fantastic choice from the author and intentionally or not, I can see the unreliable narrator seep out the pages. Amadeo is a capitalist, I would say has some misogyny but it makes sense for him to be that in the backdrop of the era this is set in. I’m in awe because I dislike the character, but I love reading from his very thought provoking perspective, which is a great accomplishment from the author.

The secound family, Duday is where the magical aspect exists and towards the end we do explore the themes of society rejecting outsiders and their practices. I didn’t love her pov chapters as much.

And I do have to say that not a lot happens in the book, it’s not a plot driven book, and I wouldn’t call it a character driven book either; I do not have any attachments to any of the characters - but this is more so a theme driven book and if you are a reader who loves exploring themes and its wider meanings and read between the lines - this is for you.

2/5 on goodreads on a personal scale, but objectively I can see this being a 3/5

Thank you to Netgalley and Sibylline press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

[Sharon Greenwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Sibylline Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

An Enchanting Start to a New Historical Fantasy Series

Pam Troy’s debut, The Newcomers, is the kind of book that feels like a warm, slow-simmering stew—it takes its time to develop, but the richness of the world-building makes it well worth the wait. As the first installment of The Chronicles of Touperdu, this novel does an exceptional job of establishing a unique setting that blends 19th-century history with a subtle, grounded sense of magic.

The story follows two families arriving on the mysterious Isle of Touperdu in 1880. Troy's prose is elegant and the pace is decidedly gentle, yet I found it consistently engaging. She doesn’t rush the plot; instead, she lets the atmosphere of the island soak in, making the "story building" one of the book's greatest strengths.

If there is a minor hurdle, it’s the sheer size of the cast. In the first few chapters, I found myself flipping back a few times to keep track of who was who among the Roselyn and Duday families. It can be a bit confusing at the start, but once you settle into their individual rhythms, the characters begin to stand out.

What really kept me turning the pages was the tantalizing way Troy handles character backgrounds. Many backstories are only briefly mentioned or hinted at, leaving their full histories frustratingly, yet effectively, shrouded in mystery. It left me wondering exactly where certain figures fit into the larger puzzle of the island.

Pleasantly, the book avoids a massive, heart-stopping cliffhanger. It reaches a satisfying resting point for this first leg of the journey, yet provides enough intrigue and unanswered questions to make me immediately want to pick up Book 2. If you enjoy character-driven historical fiction with a touch of the supernatural, this is a strong recommendation.

5 Excellent read, loved it.
4 Enjoyable read, Liked It.
3 Average read, OK and passed the time
2 Below average read, MEH
1 Regrettable read, nearly a DNF

[Cathichou · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book of this series, The Newcomers, was a captivating historical fiction/fantasy. Throughout the book, we follow the immigration stories of two families arriving on the island of Toutperdu at the same time in 1880, but in different circumstances and from different classes of society. Both families, the Roselyn and the Duday, are trying to make a life for themselves on this island in their own way. Is Toutperdu really the place they were sold, the place they were expecting? How does one take their place and stop being a “Newcomer”? Will they make the life they wished for themselves and their families?

This first book felt more like historical fiction, but I did enjoy it a lot and I see the fantasy world build itself through it as well. There is a lot of character development, relationship development, backstories and world building. I felt that it was setting the bases for the stories to come. I am eager to understand a little more how “talents” will affect the stories of the Islanders and the Newcomers. I will most likely recommend this book and read the next one to follow these two families a little deeper on their life and adventures on the Toutperdu Island.

[Jackson Proffitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Sibylline Press and NetGalley for the ARC

This was closer to a 3.5 than a 4 ⭐️ but definitely closer to a 4 than a 3.

Early on the bouncing around between multiple sets of characters gets you a little lost but once you get your head around the different groups it is an enjoyable read with good characters. I would say the interactions between characters and the way they navigate the world are probably the best things about this book.

Will be really interesting to see if this world continues to be built out in future books!

[Elize Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me ARC read this book!

I did enjoy this book but I will definitely say it is much more historical fiction than fantasy. There are some fantasy elements to this book and I'm definitely interested to see how things develop further in the series! I found the concept and storyline really interesting. Additionally, it was fun to learn more history of the 1880's and Toutperdu island!

I will definitely be picking up the next book of this series as l am interested in where this goes.