Legacy of the Bitterroots: A Crystal Village Tale

by Eric Picard

A sweeping multigenerational American epic that weaves together historical mystery, mythic storytelling, and urgent contemporary questions about who gets to tell our stories.

★ DEBUT NOVEL ★

In 1867, Irish Civil War veteran Eoinn Seeley leads six fellow immigrants through the American West searching for a place to establish a home for their families. Along the way they rescue an orphan girl, Sam King, and together establish Crystal Village in Idaho's Bitterroot Mountains—a utopian mining community that becomes one of the most progressive settlements in the American West. With cutting-edge technology, radical social vision, and love stories that defy convention, the village prospers for decades through infamous gold rushes, forging complex relationships with neighboring Indigenous communities. Then the Great Fire of 1910 erases it from history.

But what really happened to Crystal Village? And why do some families still carry its secrets?

Over a century later, Jack Seeley returns to Idaho to visit his aging grandmother and discovers fragments of a mystery that will change everything he thought he knew about his family's past. Working alongside childhood friend, Susanne O'Connor, Jack begins to uncover the truth about Crystal Village—a truth that involves not just hidden history, but the mythic forces that have shaped the American West since time immemorial.

Meticulously researched and featuring real historical figures from the mining boom era, Legacy of the Bitterroots spans from the Civil War to the digital age, exploring themes of cultural collaboration, hidden family histories, and the transformative power of authentic storytelling. From the chosen family bonds of Irish immigrants to the complex romance between cultures and generations, this is a story about what we inherit, what we choose to preserve, and what we're willing to risk to honor both the past and the future.

Eric Picard's stunning debut novel—for readers of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Golem and the Jinni, and Homegoing—a genre-defying novel that asks what happens when history refuses to stay buried, and whether authentic wonder can be preserved while honoring both the past and the future.

496 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 3, 2025

About the author

Eric Picard lives in Newport, RI with his wife Erynn in a home called The Conservatory that was built as a Livery Stable in 1680. In a former life, Eric was a commercial boat captain, SCUBA diver, and Lighthouse Keeper. For 25 years he's worked as a technologist at companies he's started himself, and large companies like Microsoft, Pandora Music and Bark Box.

Eric blends his background as a historian and visual artist to write immersive, atmospheric fiction where the contemporary world and forgotten corners of American history meet the supernatural. His upcoming series called Crystal Village Tales, begins with Legacy of the Bitterroots—a dual-timeline saga set in Idaho’s wild Bitterroot Mountains.

He is also the author of the urban fantasy novella Frost, and the nautical adventure short story, Sally Braid. When not writing, Eric walks for exercise, drives his boat, swims in the ocean, explores ghost towns, collects odd historical facts, and enjoys road trips across the United States.

Connect at ericpicard.com or on Goodreads.

Reviews

[Jaden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that had me glued to reading it. Surprise after surprise, filling me with a wide range of emotions. I was excited to win this in the Goodreads Giveaway, because I grew up in a valley of the Bitterroot Mountains. Full of magic and connects multiple timelines seamlessly.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Not only was the past to present storyline well written, it also had fantasy woven throughout the book. I definitely recommend it. #goodreadsgiveaway

[Whitney Warrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a teenager, I lived to the west (Spokane) and east (Great Falls and Bozeman) of Couer D'Alene, so I was thrilled to come across this story. I think even Charles de Lint would be pleased with the way European and Indigenous folklore were combined here.

This book demands multiple readings to fully enjoy.

[Monica Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Historical Fiction and Montana History, this is a read you'll enjoy! Im from Montana, and it depicts the history very well. I enjoyed it.

[Sarah Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes you on a ride from past to future, covering the establishment of mining communities in Idaho in the late 1800’s (particularly one called Crystal Village, which becomes a Utopia of prosperity and supportive community that integrates peacefully with native tribes). Fast forward to 2028 where AI plays a role to bring back the best days of Crystal Village and all of the fascinating characters who built it. I don’t want to spoil any of the story, but suffice to say that there are many magical twists and surprises. The story arc is well done and eloquently told. It definitely kept me turning pages. Highly recommend especially if you like historical fiction and fantasy!

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eric Picard has done it. He wrote a book that weaved a lost mining ghost town, Irish magic, the Fey, and the Native American teachings of Raven and Coyote into a comprehensive story. It made sense, it speaks to the reader, it calls to us to remember where we came from and the lessons of our ancestors. Being Irish and Native married to a Potawatomi, this book meant the world to me. Thank you, Eric. Thank you for your respect to our culture and for breathing new life into our stories.

[Amelie Girard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a rich, immersive read. The historical sections are beautifully detailed, and the modern storyline adds emotional weight and urgency. I especially appreciated how it explored who gets remembered in history and who gets erased. Thoughtful, moving, and memorable.

[Chloe Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legacy of the Bitterroots is a beautifully layered multigenerational epic blending history, myth, and mystery, with unforgettable characters and a richly imagined American West

[Lisa Carta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started out thoroughly enjoying this story, but find myself struggling to finish.

[John R. Engler · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful read

New stories. New locations. I learned a lot and enjoyed doing it. Thank you for a great book. Can’t wait to read your next one.

[David Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good, well-developed story by my friend Eric Picard. About a group that settles in the Idaho mountains after the Civil War, to establish an "International" utopian mining community, set against a modern timeline featuring the community's discovery by the descendants of the founders. Good history with a splash of supernatural, driven by Irish elves and Native American beliefs. I had the privilege to be an early reader as Eric went through several iterations of the book.