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THE SIMPLER: Book III of The Riven Country Series
THE SIMPLER rounds out the first trilogy in The Riven Country Series. The contemporary, psychological novel examines obsession and madness, whether in Paris, France, a demesne in Ireland, or Devils Tower in Wyoming's Black Hills. Senga Munro, ever the herbal simpler, using one herb at a time, continues to provide her remedies and esoteric philosophies. In return, her trust will be tried—and who is Danica Olsen, other than a former acquaintance of Senga's lover in Denmark? Sebastian’s photography exhibit, centering on “Intuitive Portraits” of Senga, opens in Copenhagen to acclaim. At the Paris show, a startling entrance and incident threatens all peace of mind for the Danish photographer. The series' thread of magical realism follows Senga to Ireland, and once again seeing what others can't, she will pay the price. Struggling to regain a hard-won sense of her own agency, someone who once intervened on her behalf will test her intuition. Ranchers Rufus and Caroline Strickland, Gabe Belizaire, The Blue Wood Guest Ranch staff, and the lovely Francesca return, along with the Two Bears and their adopted son, Joe Rafaela. The 1800’s Cheyenne chief Highwolf makes another appearance, this time as a child. A story of love among persons of every age, and what it means to be attentive, this is a cautionary tale written to our souls, as we consider the stillness between the tides of trust, and those of deed.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2020
About the author
Renée Carrier
10 books5 followersTHE EARTH IS HER OWN, the riveting conclusion to Carrier's Riven Country series (a quartet) is available as an e-book and in paperback. What began with THE RIVEN COUNTRY OF SENGA MUNRO, the story of a wounded healer, nudged by the Universe, set mostly in Wyoming, proceeded with the second in the series, STARWALLOW, exploring the distance between home and the journey necessary to come home to oneself. THE SIMPLER, Book III, examines obsession and madness, whether in Paris, France, a manor in Ireland, Wyoming's Black Hills. The last poses the question, what exactly is Senga? Her captivity in a deep cave beneath Devils Tower leads to an unforeseen future, for one who sees what others cannot.
Renée's nonfiction work, CROFTER, A Wyoming Homestead Manual and Radical Memoir, Rooted in Place, is available as an E-Book, paperback, and hardback. CROFTER describes life on a small rural homestead, disguised as pages of a manual. Amended by recollections of her Air Force childhood, she stretches memory decades into the now.
As a child, Renée lived in France and five Southern states, “migrating” to Wyoming at eighteen to attend the university where she earned a B.A in French. "Having lived in rural Wyoming for decades, I remain its student of place."
A memoir, A SINGULAR NOTION, was published in 2006 by the Higher Shelf imprint of Pronghorn Press. In 2010 she compiled, edited, and published her fighter-pilot father's early aviation memoir as a short run. Currently out of print, a second edition is planned.
The author and her husband, a retired school superintendent, tend an apple farm, a garden, and raise garlic and herbs—medicinal and culinary. Two children and three grandchildren live out of state. Renée is a past recipient of the Frank Neilson Doubleday Writing Award by the Wyoming Arts Council. She continues to sing and play the odd musical performance and practice family herbalism, which wends its way into her writing "like a possessed vine." She enjoys knitting, walking, reading, viewing good films, and traveling.
Renée's nonfiction work, CROFTER, A Wyoming Homestead Manual and Radical Memoir, Rooted in Place, is available as an E-Book, paperback, and hardback. CROFTER describes life on a small rural homestead, disguised as pages of a manual. Amended by recollections of her Air Force childhood, she stretches memory decades into the now.
As a child, Renée lived in France and five Southern states, “migrating” to Wyoming at eighteen to attend the university where she earned a B.A in French. "Having lived in rural Wyoming for decades, I remain its student of place."
A memoir, A SINGULAR NOTION, was published in 2006 by the Higher Shelf imprint of Pronghorn Press. In 2010 she compiled, edited, and published her fighter-pilot father's early aviation memoir as a short run. Currently out of print, a second edition is planned.
The author and her husband, a retired school superintendent, tend an apple farm, a garden, and raise garlic and herbs—medicinal and culinary. Two children and three grandchildren live out of state. Renée is a past recipient of the Frank Neilson Doubleday Writing Award by the Wyoming Arts Council. She continues to sing and play the odd musical performance and practice family herbalism, which wends its way into her writing "like a possessed vine." She enjoys knitting, walking, reading, viewing good films, and traveling.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 29, 2020
Carrier’s third installment in The Riven Country Series spins a tale of love, obsession, and madness, winding through the streets of Paris to a demesne in Ireland, and Devils Tower in Wyoming's Black Hills.
Things are looking up for Sebastian, Senga’s Danish lover, who is in his home country for his photography exhibit, centering on “Intuitive Portraits” of Senga. But a startling entrance and incident at the Paris exhibition threatens to shatter his peace of mind. Meanwhile, Senga is forced to pay the price for her ability to see what others cannot after a series thread of magical realism follows her to Ireland.
Senga has aged twenty years since Carrier introduced her to readers in the first book, and despite her change of circumstances, readers will find her voice is still intact, as is Carrier’s ability to structure her characters without losing their innermost essences. Though obsession and madness rule a significant portion of the storyline, this is a story with psychological meat, that of love, what it means to be attentive, and the relationships among free will and forced obligations.
Those familiar with Carrier’s earlier books in the series will welcome the return of the lovely Stricklands, the endearing pair of Gabe and Francesca, the Two Bears and their adopted son, Joe. There’s plenty of psychological depth here, and the novel can be read as a standalone but new reader will be better off reading the series in order to get a better grasp of Senga’s world.
Lyrically written, poignant, and wholly transporting, the novel is sure to delight lovers of literary fiction.
Things are looking up for Sebastian, Senga’s Danish lover, who is in his home country for his photography exhibit, centering on “Intuitive Portraits” of Senga. But a startling entrance and incident at the Paris exhibition threatens to shatter his peace of mind. Meanwhile, Senga is forced to pay the price for her ability to see what others cannot after a series thread of magical realism follows her to Ireland.
Senga has aged twenty years since Carrier introduced her to readers in the first book, and despite her change of circumstances, readers will find her voice is still intact, as is Carrier’s ability to structure her characters without losing their innermost essences. Though obsession and madness rule a significant portion of the storyline, this is a story with psychological meat, that of love, what it means to be attentive, and the relationships among free will and forced obligations.
Those familiar with Carrier’s earlier books in the series will welcome the return of the lovely Stricklands, the endearing pair of Gabe and Francesca, the Two Bears and their adopted son, Joe. There’s plenty of psychological depth here, and the novel can be read as a standalone but new reader will be better off reading the series in order to get a better grasp of Senga’s world.
Lyrically written, poignant, and wholly transporting, the novel is sure to delight lovers of literary fiction.
February 27, 2021
Carrier combines love and intrigue with magical realism to build a stunning literary series set in rural Wyoming, Italy, Paris, and Ireland.
In the debut installment, Senga is struggling to realize her true purpose in life as accidental death of her only daughter, nine-year-old Emily, weighs heavy on her mind. The second installment in the series sees Senga gradually coming to terms with her grief as Sebastian, a brilliant Danish artist, comes into her life. In the third installment, Senga finds herself following a magical realism thread that takes her to Ireland. She must weigh her own ability that makes her see what others cannot see.
Carrier devotes considerable attention to developing her characters, especially Senga who is greatly affected by the tragic events of her past. The passages exploring Senga’s mental state, particularly after she loses her daughter to the tragic accident are haunting and raw. She balances the increasingly entangled lives of Senga and her friends, including the endearing Stricklands, Sebastian, Joe, Gabe, and Francesca with skill and precision.
Carrier elegantly weaves the old legend into the main storyline, and High Wolf’s ancient story is as fascinating as Senga’s ongoing tale. Though it takes time to settle into Senga’s intricate world in the first installment, Carrier’s assured, lyrical prose expertly guides the reader throughout. The second and third installments read like a breeze, and new readers will have no trouble following Senga’s story.
The plot unravels at a tantalizingly leisured pace, and carrier’s immersive prose keep the pages turning. The characters’ complex relationships with one another are brilliantly portrayed, and the exquisitely detailed world and expert plotting are an added bonus. Along the way, Carrier explores deeper questions of love, life, regret, grief, racism, and the human cost of obsession and control.
Intrigue, passion and madness, and hints of magical realism with tiny magical moments will keep readers spellbound from start to finish. With its Intricate worldbuilding, heartrending emotions, and expert characterization, this imaginatively told tale is sure to impress both the lovers of women’s fiction and literary fiction.
Readers will eagerly await Carrier’s next.
In the debut installment, Senga is struggling to realize her true purpose in life as accidental death of her only daughter, nine-year-old Emily, weighs heavy on her mind. The second installment in the series sees Senga gradually coming to terms with her grief as Sebastian, a brilliant Danish artist, comes into her life. In the third installment, Senga finds herself following a magical realism thread that takes her to Ireland. She must weigh her own ability that makes her see what others cannot see.
Carrier devotes considerable attention to developing her characters, especially Senga who is greatly affected by the tragic events of her past. The passages exploring Senga’s mental state, particularly after she loses her daughter to the tragic accident are haunting and raw. She balances the increasingly entangled lives of Senga and her friends, including the endearing Stricklands, Sebastian, Joe, Gabe, and Francesca with skill and precision.
Carrier elegantly weaves the old legend into the main storyline, and High Wolf’s ancient story is as fascinating as Senga’s ongoing tale. Though it takes time to settle into Senga’s intricate world in the first installment, Carrier’s assured, lyrical prose expertly guides the reader throughout. The second and third installments read like a breeze, and new readers will have no trouble following Senga’s story.
The plot unravels at a tantalizingly leisured pace, and carrier’s immersive prose keep the pages turning. The characters’ complex relationships with one another are brilliantly portrayed, and the exquisitely detailed world and expert plotting are an added bonus. Along the way, Carrier explores deeper questions of love, life, regret, grief, racism, and the human cost of obsession and control.
Intrigue, passion and madness, and hints of magical realism with tiny magical moments will keep readers spellbound from start to finish. With its Intricate worldbuilding, heartrending emotions, and expert characterization, this imaginatively told tale is sure to impress both the lovers of women’s fiction and literary fiction.
Readers will eagerly await Carrier’s next.
November 9, 2021
The third book in The Riven Country series returns us to the characters we have come to know earlier, but this time the plot has unexpected twists and turns. There is obsession here, and forebodings of danger. The setting (mostly rural Wyoming) is as rich as ever, the familiar characters as well developed, and I felt myself drawn into a world that feels very real. The unexpected turns of the book kept me hooked, and I could never have foreseen the ending! I am looking forward to book IV!
March 21, 2021
Okay…. How often do you read a book that has an ending that is utterly unforeseen. Ready to have your mind twisted? Read The Simpler. This third book, in Renee Carrier’s remarkable trilogy, is a page-turning read. The writing is ethereal, lush and soul-piercing.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews