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The Mourning War
New York Times bestselling author Kathleen O’Neal Gear writes with poignancy and realism tales of the past that are both immensely entertaining and surprisingly educational.
Lovely Andiora is a Huron Indian in seventeenth-century North America. A seeress with an unbreakable bond to the spirit world, she has foreseen a frightening vision of a blond man in a black robe, whose coming will bring misery, despair, and death to her people. Father Marc Dupre is a French missionary who has arrived in Quebec to bring the word of Christ. He is ill-equipped to deal with the growing love he feels for Andiora, an attraction which is mutual.
But a threat far more grave than a forbidden union looms. A mysterious epidemic is devastating the Hurons, and vengeful shamans blame the “Black Robes” from Europe, demanding the priests’ deaths to end the plague. Menaced by war and disease, torn between their desires and their sacred callings, Marc and Andiora struggle to find peace and fulfilment in a world seemingly gone mad.
“Absorbing… Harsh, powerful descriptions of 17th-century Quebec...horrific ordeals. Breathes life into daily events at the Huron village.” —Publishers Weekly
Lovely Andiora is a Huron Indian in seventeenth-century North America. A seeress with an unbreakable bond to the spirit world, she has foreseen a frightening vision of a blond man in a black robe, whose coming will bring misery, despair, and death to her people. Father Marc Dupre is a French missionary who has arrived in Quebec to bring the word of Christ. He is ill-equipped to deal with the growing love he feels for Andiora, an attraction which is mutual.
But a threat far more grave than a forbidden union looms. A mysterious epidemic is devastating the Hurons, and vengeful shamans blame the “Black Robes” from Europe, demanding the priests’ deaths to end the plague. Menaced by war and disease, torn between their desires and their sacred callings, Marc and Andiora struggle to find peace and fulfilment in a world seemingly gone mad.
“Absorbing… Harsh, powerful descriptions of 17th-century Quebec...horrific ordeals. Breathes life into daily events at the Huron village.” —Publishers Weekly
432 pages, Paperback
Published June 24, 2022
79 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen O'Neal Gear
137 books710 followersMy professional life began in the dark basement of the Museum of Cultural History in Los Angeles, where I was cataloguing three-hundred-year-old Guatemalan saint carvings. I quit this fascinating job and moved to Wyoming to work for the U.S. Department of the Interior as a historian and archaeologist. When I finally understood the error of my ways I moved to Wyoming and started writing books. Since then, I've authored or co-authored 54 novels and around 200 non-fiction publications.
I love writing. And buffalo. And hiking the wilds of Wyoming's backcountry.
I'm married (until he comes to his senses) to W. Michael Gear, the novelist and my co-author, and we live at the edge of the Wind River Indian Reservation in the Owl Creek mountains of Wyoming. We're contented watching buffalo and writing books.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/kathle...
I love writing. And buffalo. And hiking the wilds of Wyoming's backcountry.
I'm married (until he comes to his senses) to W. Michael Gear, the novelist and my co-author, and we live at the edge of the Wind River Indian Reservation in the Owl Creek mountains of Wyoming. We're contented watching buffalo and writing books.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/kathle...
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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March 2, 2025DNF. Even with my new glasses, the print is too small. I struggled to read the pages I read. I cannot remember what I read. I've been trying to read this novel for a long time. I'll keep watch for a larger print book. The number of pages does not matter, but the font size does.
July 16, 2022
Review of The Mourning War /This widowed land by Kathleen O'neal Gear
I was surprised when I cracked the cover of this book and how it still reads. The book was written in 1993, but it still proves today that people have not changed. In the news just before I started the books a religious group had just passed the deadline of the end of the world, with the leaders claiming that they read the signs wrong, that their predictions were off. As I began the book I was surprised that the contact between North America and Europe in the 16th century was also seen as the end of the world. The Jesuit belief that finding the native american tribes in the north east were the final finding of the lost tribes of Israel. I am amazed to find out that writings of Geromino De Mendieta wrote in 1554 " who knows whether we are not so close to the end of the world that the conversion of the Indians is fulfilling the prophecies for which we pray that the Jews may be converted in our time? because if the Indians descend from the Jews, then prophecy is fulfilled."
Besides the historical characters shown in the book the personal struggles of the fictional characters give this book a characteristic that would bring us back to this story over and over. I love the use of Historical characters to base the interpersonal relations between traders, and the "black robes" and the Indian populations. The story of love found and lost by living life and the choices made mark the path of your future.
It struck a keynote in the story about the inter relation between the two belief systems between christianity and native americans, and the echoes of similarity between the two, and that they both do not truly cancel each other out, especially if you step back and remove the symbolic nature of religion but put the aspect of what is the meaning of religion, that is the same.
A great story.
I was surprised when I cracked the cover of this book and how it still reads. The book was written in 1993, but it still proves today that people have not changed. In the news just before I started the books a religious group had just passed the deadline of the end of the world, with the leaders claiming that they read the signs wrong, that their predictions were off. As I began the book I was surprised that the contact between North America and Europe in the 16th century was also seen as the end of the world. The Jesuit belief that finding the native american tribes in the north east were the final finding of the lost tribes of Israel. I am amazed to find out that writings of Geromino De Mendieta wrote in 1554 " who knows whether we are not so close to the end of the world that the conversion of the Indians is fulfilling the prophecies for which we pray that the Jews may be converted in our time? because if the Indians descend from the Jews, then prophecy is fulfilled."
Besides the historical characters shown in the book the personal struggles of the fictional characters give this book a characteristic that would bring us back to this story over and over. I love the use of Historical characters to base the interpersonal relations between traders, and the "black robes" and the Indian populations. The story of love found and lost by living life and the choices made mark the path of your future.
It struck a keynote in the story about the inter relation between the two belief systems between christianity and native americans, and the echoes of similarity between the two, and that they both do not truly cancel each other out, especially if you step back and remove the symbolic nature of religion but put the aspect of what is the meaning of religion, that is the same.
A great story.
July 18, 2022
Errors in the ebook were distracting. I don't expect that many from such publishers or in books authored by the likes of Gear. That said, the book is full of interesting historical references and detail. I, however, found all the mystic stuff distracting to the story - such as the cougar saving their lives and prowling around the villages, and lying on the grave.
July 24, 2022
This is an important book.
I’m one of those folks who was just about completely unaware of the Catholics coming to Canada to save the red man back in the early 1600s.
Well written by a recognized researcher and writer.
War between Indian tribes. Unrest among a several of the Black Robes. A lovely Indian woman. What’s not to like?
I’m one of those folks who was just about completely unaware of the Catholics coming to Canada to save the red man back in the early 1600s.
Well written by a recognized researcher and writer.
War between Indian tribes. Unrest among a several of the Black Robes. A lovely Indian woman. What’s not to like?
November 21, 2022
The Mourning War
Bestselling & multiple award winning author, Kathleen O'Neal Gear, has done it again! This book has it all. God, demons; love, war; suffering, healing; romance dying, romance growing; faith, doubts; innocence, guilt; beauty, & horror. I've never read another author who can pack a book with all that & NOT over-do it! Kathleen does it perfectly. She allows you to share not only the human emotions, but the environment. You feel the Arctic winds, the deep cold of winter, the icy river water, the warmth at the fireside,, the sunburn after hours of hiking trails from dawn until dusk. You watch the moose at the edge of the water while he's watching you, see & hear the gulls circling & screeching overhead in search of some easy, free food! You will see "the sunlight’s lemon patchwork on the meadow", "Dusk lay over the woods in a smoky blanket of the deepest lavender" as "The creases in his yellow shirt caught the lavender rays of sunset and sparkled as though pools of amethyst had flowed in to fill them" or as "Pale beams of morning light lanced through the branches, striking the earth in a lacy patchwork of blue and black". You'll notice as "the tiny flame filled the room, its light a pale flaxen shawl over the table and chairs"& stand witness that "the brilliant sun had been chasing the snow from the plaza" & "a gooey mixture of mud and pine needles covered the ground". Kathleen O'Neal Gear has the magic to take you THERE with her words!!
The story takes place during the 1600's when Europe was colonizing Columbus' New World. This area is New France, in what we know as Canada, near Lakes Erie & Huron. Jesuit priests & Native Americans are living together, but not always peacefully. Based on true stories from that time, fictional characters are added to put meat on the bones. It always amazes me how similar indigenous religious & Christian stories & beliefs can be! This theme is brought out very well throughout. And, yes, there is romance, but I won't be accused of Spoilers!! You'll just have to read it for yourself!! You WON'T be sorry!!
Bestselling & multiple award winning author, Kathleen O'Neal Gear, has done it again! This book has it all. God, demons; love, war; suffering, healing; romance dying, romance growing; faith, doubts; innocence, guilt; beauty, & horror. I've never read another author who can pack a book with all that & NOT over-do it! Kathleen does it perfectly. She allows you to share not only the human emotions, but the environment. You feel the Arctic winds, the deep cold of winter, the icy river water, the warmth at the fireside,, the sunburn after hours of hiking trails from dawn until dusk. You watch the moose at the edge of the water while he's watching you, see & hear the gulls circling & screeching overhead in search of some easy, free food! You will see "the sunlight’s lemon patchwork on the meadow", "Dusk lay over the woods in a smoky blanket of the deepest lavender" as "The creases in his yellow shirt caught the lavender rays of sunset and sparkled as though pools of amethyst had flowed in to fill them" or as "Pale beams of morning light lanced through the branches, striking the earth in a lacy patchwork of blue and black". You'll notice as "the tiny flame filled the room, its light a pale flaxen shawl over the table and chairs"& stand witness that "the brilliant sun had been chasing the snow from the plaza" & "a gooey mixture of mud and pine needles covered the ground". Kathleen O'Neal Gear has the magic to take you THERE with her words!!
The story takes place during the 1600's when Europe was colonizing Columbus' New World. This area is New France, in what we know as Canada, near Lakes Erie & Huron. Jesuit priests & Native Americans are living together, but not always peacefully. Based on true stories from that time, fictional characters are added to put meat on the bones. It always amazes me how similar indigenous religious & Christian stories & beliefs can be! This theme is brought out very well throughout. And, yes, there is romance, but I won't be accused of Spoilers!! You'll just have to read it for yourself!! You WON'T be sorry!!
July 9, 2022
Great Book
Beautiful written story by my favorite author ever! I couldn’t put it down. I sometimes got confused about which character was which, but that’s the problem I have with all historical books on Indigenous People, I am just not accustomed to them. It’s also a great excuse to reread it in a few months!
I love all the Gear’s books but Kathleen put so much love and dedication into this book, it’s amazing!
Please keep writing!!! & write quickly if possible!! I love your work!
Beautiful written story by my favorite author ever! I couldn’t put it down. I sometimes got confused about which character was which, but that’s the problem I have with all historical books on Indigenous People, I am just not accustomed to them. It’s also a great excuse to reread it in a few months!
I love all the Gear’s books but Kathleen put so much love and dedication into this book, it’s amazing!
Please keep writing!!! & write quickly if possible!! I love your work!
January 13, 2023
Not for the queasy....
Good historical reading about the natives in Canada and the priests bring to bring religion into the lives in the middle of the 17th century. The Indians torture of their enemies are brutal and very descriptive in this read, but a fact. Surprised some cooked and ate their victims....
Good historical reading about the natives in Canada and the priests bring to bring religion into the lives in the middle of the 17th century. The Indians torture of their enemies are brutal and very descriptive in this read, but a fact. Surprised some cooked and ate their victims....
July 23, 2022
cubbie0149
I love the Gear books. This one was just as exceptional as all there others. Any historical fiction fans fans would enjoy this book
I love the Gear books. This one was just as exceptional as all there others. Any historical fiction fans fans would enjoy this book
October 30, 2022
This is my first historical romance. It really shows the struggles and danger that three people who are very much on Love can go through.
December 2, 2023
Took me awhile to read . Andoria was a very special person along with Fathers Jene and Marc in Canada’s Indian world that the Jesuits were trying to convert.
August 11, 2022
Love story in the midst of culture clash
This dramatic story tells how an impossible romance sparks to life in the midst of the huge culture clash forced into the lives of communities in the new world. It brings to light the challenges faced by everyone trying to exist and accomplish their personal goals, both good and bad, and how sometimes good intentions bring disaster. It’s a touching story of two who fall in love, their conflicting beliefs and how their decisions cause change in merging cultures. Their story reveals the realistic version of history and how women coped and men reacted.
This dramatic story tells how an impossible romance sparks to life in the midst of the huge culture clash forced into the lives of communities in the new world. It brings to light the challenges faced by everyone trying to exist and accomplish their personal goals, both good and bad, and how sometimes good intentions bring disaster. It’s a touching story of two who fall in love, their conflicting beliefs and how their decisions cause change in merging cultures. Their story reveals the realistic version of history and how women coped and men reacted.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews