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SHAGOON
Raised from infancy under strict supervision in a California Spanish mission, Ana prays for someone to care for her like a mother, to belong to someone. When she faces death from injuries caused by an earthquake, it is only her adopted brother's defiance of the padres that saves her life when he carries her to a nearby Ohlone village. There, she experiences life outside the mission for the first time, and her healer becomes like a mother, answering her prayers; but her freedom is temporary. Soldiers arrive to take her and her pet falcon back to the mission.
At age 14 as she considers marriage, the padres unexpectedly send her away to the Alaskan wilderness to serve as a missionary to her Tlingit people whom she has never known. She is shocked by the foreign world as soon as she steps away from the mission and travels on Discovery with Captain Vancouver, a notable group of British officers, and a steamy young Hawaiian named Kualelo. Now she is torn between desire for Kualelo and the fulfillment of her duty along with the possibility of finding her family.
Ana gains strength through her travels as she deals with loss, disease, murder and death; and she learns about the spiritual influences of tribal heritage. As indigenous people of Alaska begin to interact with strength against "Cloud Face Tribes," she wonders where she belongs. She befriends a Hawaiian queen and assists the leader of Russian America, but nothing prepares her for what it means to be Tlingit.
SHAGOON begins in 1764 with Ana's determined young mother whose intense love for her warrior husband launches a cultural change for future generations.
At age 14 as she considers marriage, the padres unexpectedly send her away to the Alaskan wilderness to serve as a missionary to her Tlingit people whom she has never known. She is shocked by the foreign world as soon as she steps away from the mission and travels on Discovery with Captain Vancouver, a notable group of British officers, and a steamy young Hawaiian named Kualelo. Now she is torn between desire for Kualelo and the fulfillment of her duty along with the possibility of finding her family.
Ana gains strength through her travels as she deals with loss, disease, murder and death; and she learns about the spiritual influences of tribal heritage. As indigenous people of Alaska begin to interact with strength against "Cloud Face Tribes," she wonders where she belongs. She befriends a Hawaiian queen and assists the leader of Russian America, but nothing prepares her for what it means to be Tlingit.
SHAGOON begins in 1764 with Ana's determined young mother whose intense love for her warrior husband launches a cultural change for future generations.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2020
About the author
Victoria Ventris Shea
4 books5 followersI have lived most of my life in Eastern Washington state and am now a retired teacher living on Whidbey Island (across the Straits from Canada) with my husband. My adult children and grandbaby live nearby.
I write historical fiction of the Pacific Northwest, engaging stories based on real people or real events, sea adventures, love stories, multi-cultural stories, even family memoirs about bootlegging, prison time and rumrunning.
So far, my stories take the reader to Alaska, Hawaii, California, Washington (Eastern Washington and the Palouse as well as Puget Sound), Idaho and Canada.
Some of my stories are to heal a wrong or to remember someone who should not be forgotten or to gain an understanding of a culture.
My favorite pastime is writing, but family time has precedence. I enjoy cooking for groups. I practice yoga and enjoy the mussels from Penn Cove where I currently live.
My husband and I have traveled throughout Southeast Asia, and I hope to visit Europe one day, especially Ireland.
I write historical fiction of the Pacific Northwest, engaging stories based on real people or real events, sea adventures, love stories, multi-cultural stories, even family memoirs about bootlegging, prison time and rumrunning.
So far, my stories take the reader to Alaska, Hawaii, California, Washington (Eastern Washington and the Palouse as well as Puget Sound), Idaho and Canada.
Some of my stories are to heal a wrong or to remember someone who should not be forgotten or to gain an understanding of a culture.
My favorite pastime is writing, but family time has precedence. I enjoy cooking for groups. I practice yoga and enjoy the mussels from Penn Cove where I currently live.
My husband and I have traveled throughout Southeast Asia, and I hope to visit Europe one day, especially Ireland.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 27, 2024
An entertaining, historical family saga novel with romance. Lots of action, intriguing relationships and learning about various cultures along the way: Alaskan Tlingit, Californian Spanish Mission, Ohlone of Northern California, Hawaiian. You'll be interested from beginning to end.
December 26, 2021
Sweeping history of indigenous people
I was entirely caught up in the stories of the individual characters a
nd family dynamics in this book. I felt I was right there with them from the beginning. 5 stars.
I was entirely caught up in the stories of the individual characters a
nd family dynamics in this book. I felt I was right there with them from the beginning. 5 stars.
May 13, 2022
A well-written, researched historical fiction.
How much inner strength one needs to make a decision whether to remain rooted where one belongs or to choose to follow love? Perhaps both can be done when the main character inner voice is embedded within her being, saying: “Ana, love thyself.״
This was an exceptional read. The story had depth on multiple levels, as a story of individuals and a story about an interesting region during the late 18th century. Besides the moving plot, I much enjoyed the writing style of the author, in particular, the description of the premise in each scene, the use of authentic personal names and terms, and the inspiring metaphors. A good historical fiction book as this one is definitely defined by having the readers easily visualize the places and the period context. I have learned a lot about the Tlingit natives and their cultures and belief, including the tribal conflicts, which was obviously given to us through in-depth research by the author.
Their detailed ceremonies and customs are described elegantly, and engagingly. Their traditional story about the ancient twin brother raised a smile on my face, associating it with biblical stories - many culture are so alike with regard to faith and spirituality. And the heartfelt plotline itself is dramatic and moving, involving struggle, loss, braveness, love, determination, and hope; everything that is needed to make the main character round and to make the story superb.
A turning moment dialogue when Ana is being prepared to go back to her homeland, but in fact, the text could be directed to many of us at some point in life: “Ana, you’ve been groomed all your life to take Christianity to the heathens in the North. When Friar Riobo took you on Captain Quadra’s ship as a newborn, you were so small that he did not expect you to live. But you did live. That is why he called you “his miracle.” He brought you here 14 years ago along with the other five children with the agreement that at least one of you would return to your homeland to spread the word of God…Sometimes change is for a good purpose, one that we can’t see in the beginning.“
The use of the ship Discovery with diverse people on board spiking different languages is a brilliant metaphorical setting for writing. I read this book in mid 2022 when the aggressive Russia attacked Ukraine, whereas in the plotline, the Russian leader prison the locals and occupying their land, claiming: “This area is known as Russian America now.” An amazing timing to read this fascinating story.
And finally, the initial love attachment between Ana and Kualelo is beautifully described: ‘Ever so gently, he brushes against her, again and again, like the warm, tropical air, making the tiny hairs on her arm stand up. It causes her breath to become more and more shallow.’ The motif of taking ‘deep breath’ by these two can melt your heart, and more, when it continues like that towards the end as well.
Definitely recommended.
How much inner strength one needs to make a decision whether to remain rooted where one belongs or to choose to follow love? Perhaps both can be done when the main character inner voice is embedded within her being, saying: “Ana, love thyself.״
This was an exceptional read. The story had depth on multiple levels, as a story of individuals and a story about an interesting region during the late 18th century. Besides the moving plot, I much enjoyed the writing style of the author, in particular, the description of the premise in each scene, the use of authentic personal names and terms, and the inspiring metaphors. A good historical fiction book as this one is definitely defined by having the readers easily visualize the places and the period context. I have learned a lot about the Tlingit natives and their cultures and belief, including the tribal conflicts, which was obviously given to us through in-depth research by the author.
Their detailed ceremonies and customs are described elegantly, and engagingly. Their traditional story about the ancient twin brother raised a smile on my face, associating it with biblical stories - many culture are so alike with regard to faith and spirituality. And the heartfelt plotline itself is dramatic and moving, involving struggle, loss, braveness, love, determination, and hope; everything that is needed to make the main character round and to make the story superb.
A turning moment dialogue when Ana is being prepared to go back to her homeland, but in fact, the text could be directed to many of us at some point in life: “Ana, you’ve been groomed all your life to take Christianity to the heathens in the North. When Friar Riobo took you on Captain Quadra’s ship as a newborn, you were so small that he did not expect you to live. But you did live. That is why he called you “his miracle.” He brought you here 14 years ago along with the other five children with the agreement that at least one of you would return to your homeland to spread the word of God…Sometimes change is for a good purpose, one that we can’t see in the beginning.“
The use of the ship Discovery with diverse people on board spiking different languages is a brilliant metaphorical setting for writing. I read this book in mid 2022 when the aggressive Russia attacked Ukraine, whereas in the plotline, the Russian leader prison the locals and occupying their land, claiming: “This area is known as Russian America now.” An amazing timing to read this fascinating story.
And finally, the initial love attachment between Ana and Kualelo is beautifully described: ‘Ever so gently, he brushes against her, again and again, like the warm, tropical air, making the tiny hairs on her arm stand up. It causes her breath to become more and more shallow.’ The motif of taking ‘deep breath’ by these two can melt your heart, and more, when it continues like that towards the end as well.
Definitely recommended.
February 6, 2022
I especially enjoyed learning about Tinglit culture in this historical novel set in late 18th century Alaska. Although the tale of Ana, a native Alaskan taken from her people to be raised in a Spanish Mission, is fictional, her story is weaved through real events, people and places, providing a peek into that time period and its peoples. Ana's story is one of personal growth, survival and love. Worth the read.
January 19, 2023
This is a carefully researched historical fiction adventure with Vancouver and his ship Discovery from the perspective of the coastal Alaskan Tlingit. An-ar-kark (Tlingit word for Village by the Sea) is actually Sitka. The engaging story teaches the intricacies of the very effective social structure within the Tlingit culture of the 1700s before influence from the Europeans.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews