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Wilderness #2
Dawn on a Distant Shore
Sara Donati's debut novel, Into the Wilderness , was hailed as "epic in scope, emotionally intense...an enrapturing, grand adventure" (BookPage) and "a captivating saga...definitely the romance of the year when it comes to transcending genre boundaries" (Booklist) . Author Diana Gabaldon called it "one of those rare stories that let you breathe the air of another time, and leave your footprints on the snow of a wild, strange place." Now, in her second novel, this award-winning master storyteller once again blends fact and fiction, and re-creates her beloved characters from Into the Wilderness in an eloquent, enthralling tale of romance and adventure.
Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner have settled into their life together at the edge of the New-York wilderness in the winter of 1794 when Elizabeth gives birth to healthy twins. But soon the events in Canada draw Nathaniel far away from his new family. Word has reached them that Nathaniel's father has been arrested by crown officials in British Canada. Nathaniel reluctantly leaves Hidden Wolf Mountain to set out for the distant city, determined to see his father freed. Instead Nathaniel is imprisoned and finds himself in imminent danger of being hanged as an American spy.
In a desperate bid to save her husband, Elizabeth bundles her infants and sets out on the long trek to Montreal. Accompanied by her stepdaughter, Hannah, their wise friend Curiosity Freeman, and Runs-from-Bears, a Mohawk warrior and lifelong friend of Nathaniel's, Elizabeth journeys through the snowy wilderness and across treacherous waterways. But she soon discovers that freeing Nathaniel will take every ounce of her courage and inventiveness. It is a struggle that threatens her with the loss of what she loves most: her children.
Torn apart, the Bonners must embark on yet another perilous voyage...this time all the way across the ocean to the heart of Scotland, where a wealthy earl claims kinship with Nathaniel's father, Hawkeye. In his heart, the Mahican tribe of Hawkeye's youth is the truest kin he will ever know, just as Nathaniel will always remain loyal to the Mohawk nation. But with this journey a whole new world opens up to Nathaniel and Elizabeth--and a destiny they could never have imagined awaits them....
A sweeping epic of romance and adventure, Dawn on a Distant Shore establishes Sara Donati as one of today's most gifted storytellers. With well-drawn characters and an evocative love story that is intricately woven into the rich history of our nation's past, this extraordinary novel will enthrall readers like few others--and sweep them away to a whole other time and place.
A sweeping epic of romance and adventure, Dawn on a Distant Shore establishes Sara Donati as one of today's most gifted storytellers. With well-drawn characters and an evocative love story that is intricately woven into the history of our nation's past, this extraordinary novel will enthrall readers like few others--and sweep them away to a whole other time and place. -->
Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner have settled into their life together at the edge of the New-York wilderness in the winter of 1794 when Elizabeth gives birth to healthy twins. But soon the events in Canada draw Nathaniel far away from his new family. Word has reached them that Nathaniel's father has been arrested by crown officials in British Canada. Nathaniel reluctantly leaves Hidden Wolf Mountain to set out for the distant city, determined to see his father freed. Instead Nathaniel is imprisoned and finds himself in imminent danger of being hanged as an American spy.
In a desperate bid to save her husband, Elizabeth bundles her infants and sets out on the long trek to Montreal. Accompanied by her stepdaughter, Hannah, their wise friend Curiosity Freeman, and Runs-from-Bears, a Mohawk warrior and lifelong friend of Nathaniel's, Elizabeth journeys through the snowy wilderness and across treacherous waterways. But she soon discovers that freeing Nathaniel will take every ounce of her courage and inventiveness. It is a struggle that threatens her with the loss of what she loves most: her children.
Torn apart, the Bonners must embark on yet another perilous voyage...this time all the way across the ocean to the heart of Scotland, where a wealthy earl claims kinship with Nathaniel's father, Hawkeye. In his heart, the Mahican tribe of Hawkeye's youth is the truest kin he will ever know, just as Nathaniel will always remain loyal to the Mohawk nation. But with this journey a whole new world opens up to Nathaniel and Elizabeth--and a destiny they could never have imagined awaits them....
A sweeping epic of romance and adventure, Dawn on a Distant Shore establishes Sara Donati as one of today's most gifted storytellers. With well-drawn characters and an evocative love story that is intricately woven into the rich history of our nation's past, this extraordinary novel will enthrall readers like few others--and sweep them away to a whole other time and place.
A sweeping epic of romance and adventure, Dawn on a Distant Shore establishes Sara Donati as one of today's most gifted storytellers. With well-drawn characters and an evocative love story that is intricately woven into the history of our nation's past, this extraordinary novel will enthrall readers like few others--and sweep them away to a whole other time and place. -->
480 pages, Hardcover
First published February 29, 2000
1052 people are currently reading
5998 people want to read
About the author
Sara Donati
30 books3,368 followersWorking on the next novel in the Waverly Place series. Looking for more information? Visit the wilderness universe wiki. Register to comment and participate in giveaways.
Sara Donati is the pen name of Rosina Lippi, also here on Goodreads because she writes too. All book reviews you'll find under Rosina's name.
Sara Donati is the pen name of Rosina Lippi, also here on Goodreads because she writes too. All book reviews you'll find under Rosina's name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 794 reviews
June 27, 2013
I was recommended this series because I loved the Outlander series. The first book was ok, and interested me enough to read the sequel.
This book was not as good as the first one, and the first one wasnt great. I never became very attached to the characters, they didn't seem to have much depth and didn't seem real to me. The story was silly. The last quarter of the book takes place in Scotland, and all the Scottish characters' dialogue is written phonetically. It was annoying to read, and very distracting from the story.
If you loved Into the Wilderness, then try Dawn on a Distant Shore. If you thought the first book was "meh" then you're not missing anything if you don't read this one.
This book was not as good as the first one, and the first one wasnt great. I never became very attached to the characters, they didn't seem to have much depth and didn't seem real to me. The story was silly. The last quarter of the book takes place in Scotland, and all the Scottish characters' dialogue is written phonetically. It was annoying to read, and very distracting from the story.
If you loved Into the Wilderness, then try Dawn on a Distant Shore. If you thought the first book was "meh" then you're not missing anything if you don't read this one.
September 23, 2017
He thought anger would cripple her, that grief would rob her of purpose. How little men knew of women; how little this one knew of anything at all.
I wasn't supposed to finish this epic in one day. I wasn't supposed to skip meals. I wasn't supposed to lose an entire day on a distant shore (or two). I wasn't supposed to be swallowed up by the unpredictability of a series with the purity of the wilderness at its heart. I wasn't supposed to outpace my buddy.. but thankfully she is kind and forgiving and knows me enough to expect such things (cue up her good-natured ribbing in three, two, one..).
"Promise me you'll still blush like that when you're seventy."
"If you'll promise to give me reason, why then, sir, I'll promise to oblige you."
DAWN ON A DISTANT SHORE was.. so many things. In some ways I think I liked book one better but it cannot be denied that Donati weaves a masterful, twisty, complicated, brilliant, tale. And maybe I'm rounding up a bit on this one but I don't feel bad because it's just so.. lush. Well researched. Compelling. Thrilling. Though, at times, I did kind of lose myself amongst some of the politics of this one. Nonetheless, things came to a major head in book two of this series -- like, for real, how is this only book two? I am fucking exhausted and there's so much more story to be told. I honestly don't know how I'm going to survive. This is not a series to binge. This is a series to savour. To indulge in after some time has passed since you've closed the book on the last one. It is too easy to be swept up by it.. as seen by the fact that I devoured this.
After more than a year with Nathaniel she was still sometimes taken by surprise by his faith in things she would have once dismissed summarily : unseen worlds; dreams that evoked truth beyond the ones that could be dissected by reason; a sky that opened itself to offer faith and speculation.
Reuniting with Elizabeth and Nathaniel was just like coming home. Their extended family, eclectic as it is, is perfect. The wisdom of their various cultures and beliefs, the differences, the complications, the loss, the struggles, the triumphs.. they experience it all. This book broke my heart, only to make the pieces all but pound out of my chest. It turned friends into enemies, enemies into reluctant allies.. and went in directions I never saw coming.
"Ah, I know you're feeling yourself when you start quoting."
"You once appreciated my quotes."
"I still do, Boots."
Through Donati's words we navigate the wilds of a small village in New York State, up north to lower Canada, across the seas to Scotland, only to circle back for home. To Paradise. Boots and Nathaniel face much apart and even more when together. Accused of treason, reluctant heirs to a name and legacy they don't want, embroiled in feuding clans set apart by religion, caught up by pirates.. and so much more.
"What have I done to bring this on so suddenly?"
"I like it when you bare your teeth and get ready to fight. And then of course you're breathing. That always does the trick, too."
Their marriage is never easy, nor is what they face, but always they are honest and true, even if it means facing things one of them doesn't want to, and their relationship is just so wonderful to witness -- but nor are they infallible. They make mistakes, trust the wrong people, they are human.. with all the jealousies, doubts, frailties, and worries the rest of us have. And the buck doesn't stop there. The whole gang is back for this adventure -- Curiosity, Hannah, Robbie, just to name a few -- and some play bigger roles than they did before.. and some less, though no less meaningful.
In polite society older ladies might speak their mind, but the young ones were not to discuss anything of importance, to ask a substantive question, or to express a real opinion. If a young woman was so brash as to turn her attention to anything but the affairs of the neighbourhood, music, or needlework, it was taken as a sign of excessive reading, a naturally intractable disposition, or an indulgent upbringing. Clearly [they] were convinced she was a product of all three.
Yet in all this adventure, still we are given a sharp, expansive, and no-holds-barred experience of the times. Where women were lesser, everyone was judged by the colour of their skin, and one would go to outrageous lengths for their family, for good or for ill, no matter who was hurt in the process. But that is ultimately what this whole story is about. Family; whether you're born into one, adopted, whether your skin reflects your heritage or not, and all the ways one might go to survive and hide the truth of who you are.
It's intense, it's brilliant, it's sexy, it's heartwarming, it's crazy hard on my nerves, and I can't wait to see what's next for the Bonners.. and where they'll go.
4.75 "Boots, the bed's no good to me without you in it" stars
I wasn't supposed to finish this epic in one day. I wasn't supposed to skip meals. I wasn't supposed to lose an entire day on a distant shore (or two). I wasn't supposed to be swallowed up by the unpredictability of a series with the purity of the wilderness at its heart. I wasn't supposed to outpace my buddy.. but thankfully she is kind and forgiving and knows me enough to expect such things (cue up her good-natured ribbing in three, two, one..).
"Promise me you'll still blush like that when you're seventy."
"If you'll promise to give me reason, why then, sir, I'll promise to oblige you."
DAWN ON A DISTANT SHORE was.. so many things. In some ways I think I liked book one better but it cannot be denied that Donati weaves a masterful, twisty, complicated, brilliant, tale. And maybe I'm rounding up a bit on this one but I don't feel bad because it's just so.. lush. Well researched. Compelling. Thrilling. Though, at times, I did kind of lose myself amongst some of the politics of this one. Nonetheless, things came to a major head in book two of this series -- like, for real, how is this only book two? I am fucking exhausted and there's so much more story to be told. I honestly don't know how I'm going to survive. This is not a series to binge. This is a series to savour. To indulge in after some time has passed since you've closed the book on the last one. It is too easy to be swept up by it.. as seen by the fact that I devoured this.
After more than a year with Nathaniel she was still sometimes taken by surprise by his faith in things she would have once dismissed summarily : unseen worlds; dreams that evoked truth beyond the ones that could be dissected by reason; a sky that opened itself to offer faith and speculation.
Reuniting with Elizabeth and Nathaniel was just like coming home. Their extended family, eclectic as it is, is perfect. The wisdom of their various cultures and beliefs, the differences, the complications, the loss, the struggles, the triumphs.. they experience it all. This book broke my heart, only to make the pieces all but pound out of my chest. It turned friends into enemies, enemies into reluctant allies.. and went in directions I never saw coming.
"Ah, I know you're feeling yourself when you start quoting."
"You once appreciated my quotes."
"I still do, Boots."
Through Donati's words we navigate the wilds of a small village in New York State, up north to lower Canada, across the seas to Scotland, only to circle back for home. To Paradise. Boots and Nathaniel face much apart and even more when together. Accused of treason, reluctant heirs to a name and legacy they don't want, embroiled in feuding clans set apart by religion, caught up by pirates.. and so much more.
"What have I done to bring this on so suddenly?"
"I like it when you bare your teeth and get ready to fight. And then of course you're breathing. That always does the trick, too."
Their marriage is never easy, nor is what they face, but always they are honest and true, even if it means facing things one of them doesn't want to, and their relationship is just so wonderful to witness -- but nor are they infallible. They make mistakes, trust the wrong people, they are human.. with all the jealousies, doubts, frailties, and worries the rest of us have. And the buck doesn't stop there. The whole gang is back for this adventure -- Curiosity, Hannah, Robbie, just to name a few -- and some play bigger roles than they did before.. and some less, though no less meaningful.
In polite society older ladies might speak their mind, but the young ones were not to discuss anything of importance, to ask a substantive question, or to express a real opinion. If a young woman was so brash as to turn her attention to anything but the affairs of the neighbourhood, music, or needlework, it was taken as a sign of excessive reading, a naturally intractable disposition, or an indulgent upbringing. Clearly [they] were convinced she was a product of all three.
Yet in all this adventure, still we are given a sharp, expansive, and no-holds-barred experience of the times. Where women were lesser, everyone was judged by the colour of their skin, and one would go to outrageous lengths for their family, for good or for ill, no matter who was hurt in the process. But that is ultimately what this whole story is about. Family; whether you're born into one, adopted, whether your skin reflects your heritage or not, and all the ways one might go to survive and hide the truth of who you are.
It's intense, it's brilliant, it's sexy, it's heartwarming, it's crazy hard on my nerves, and I can't wait to see what's next for the Bonners.. and where they'll go.
4.75 "Boots, the bed's no good to me without you in it" stars
August 11, 2025
Sara Donati’s sequel to her praised Wilderness Series opens where the prior book left off, with the protagonist Elizabeth in labor and her Mohican husband Nathaniel at odds as to whether they should take the Scottish Land title as a blessing or be done with it altogether. This predicament he decides to leave to his father Hawkeye, in which they are unfortunately brought the sobering news that he has been apprehended on his visit to Montreal over suspicions that he has obtained and hidden Tory gold that the English government claims as their own. Hawkeye is being held with another younger Mohawk named Otter whom we met in the first novel, and it is here that the book finally picks up strength as it carries the reader through a suspenseful journey of Nathaniel and his two Scottish compatriots from the first novel rushing to their aid and hopeful release from captivity.
Donati has created a bit more depth and understanding to each of her characters in this novel, with a rather distinct focus being given to some of the side and minor characters of the previous book, such as their young daughter Hannah, and allowing for more contrast and appeal than just featuring the relationship of Elizabeth and Nathaniel. Touching on that note, the reader will still find the couple’s dialogue all too intimate and forced, with far too many witty quips, banter, and romantic notions on both of their ends—which to put it quite bluntly just feels cheesy and awkward.
The title references large themes of hope and change with the titular characters wandering from the confines and comfort of their land known as Paradise in New York, to the unknown ports of Canada and ship bound passages to Scotland. Similar to the first book, Donati uses a broad range of historical icons throughout the Bonner family’s journey—with the HMS Leopard of 1812 infamy making a casual appearance—Philip Schuyler whom the Bonner’s were previously acquainted with, and the prickly yet family-oriented Sir Guy Carleton, also known as Lord Dorchester (Governor of Lower Canada), and his wife Lady Dorchester, whom instantly takes a liking to Elizabeth as a mother in need:
Lady Dorchester gave a very unladylike snort. “She is a suspect?”
“Her husband is.”
Elizabeth was so relieved at this unexpected ally that she might have laughed out loud to see the governor’s plans so neatly turned on ear.
“Exactly!” Lady Dorchester advanced a step toward the governor. “Her husband. She has not committed any crime.” Her gaze dared him to contradict her.
She took Elizabeth by the arm. “My dear, we must have patience with them, for they are merely men, after all. Most excellent men, it is true, but men nonetheless. We will send you back to the Isis, my dear, but first you must have dry boots, and this cloak—you must be chilled through.”
This sequel differs from the first novel in the sense that it fails to deliver in the second half and keep the excitement in time for a grand finale. Instead, Dawn on a Distant Shore starts with lots of promise up to two-thirds of the way in, yet somehow flounders out upon their reaching Scotland. The captivating imagery and consistency in the flow of the narrative are all still present, but it is somewhat lacking in it’s appeal for drama with the ever-encumbering and seemingly inevitable setbacks.
The book’s finale comes to a rapid close with all major plot points being pieced together almost too conveniently, leading the reader to wonder how or why the long term turmoil between Lord Carryck and his exiled daughter Isabel ever needed to take place in the first place, nor why indeed it took the Bonner family to come across a whole ocean in order to sort out this familial discrepancy. Donati’s epilogue wraps the story up in reminding the reader of the world that seemed so far away back in New York and easily sets the narrative for another sequel, while a helpful cast of characters, family tree, and maps in the beginning are useful for periodic reference and evaluation.
Donati has created a bit more depth and understanding to each of her characters in this novel, with a rather distinct focus being given to some of the side and minor characters of the previous book, such as their young daughter Hannah, and allowing for more contrast and appeal than just featuring the relationship of Elizabeth and Nathaniel. Touching on that note, the reader will still find the couple’s dialogue all too intimate and forced, with far too many witty quips, banter, and romantic notions on both of their ends—which to put it quite bluntly just feels cheesy and awkward.
The title references large themes of hope and change with the titular characters wandering from the confines and comfort of their land known as Paradise in New York, to the unknown ports of Canada and ship bound passages to Scotland. Similar to the first book, Donati uses a broad range of historical icons throughout the Bonner family’s journey—with the HMS Leopard of 1812 infamy making a casual appearance—Philip Schuyler whom the Bonner’s were previously acquainted with, and the prickly yet family-oriented Sir Guy Carleton, also known as Lord Dorchester (Governor of Lower Canada), and his wife Lady Dorchester, whom instantly takes a liking to Elizabeth as a mother in need:
Lady Dorchester gave a very unladylike snort. “She is a suspect?”
“Her husband is.”
Elizabeth was so relieved at this unexpected ally that she might have laughed out loud to see the governor’s plans so neatly turned on ear.
“Exactly!” Lady Dorchester advanced a step toward the governor. “Her husband. She has not committed any crime.” Her gaze dared him to contradict her.
She took Elizabeth by the arm. “My dear, we must have patience with them, for they are merely men, after all. Most excellent men, it is true, but men nonetheless. We will send you back to the Isis, my dear, but first you must have dry boots, and this cloak—you must be chilled through.”
This sequel differs from the first novel in the sense that it fails to deliver in the second half and keep the excitement in time for a grand finale. Instead, Dawn on a Distant Shore starts with lots of promise up to two-thirds of the way in, yet somehow flounders out upon their reaching Scotland. The captivating imagery and consistency in the flow of the narrative are all still present, but it is somewhat lacking in it’s appeal for drama with the ever-encumbering and seemingly inevitable setbacks.
The book’s finale comes to a rapid close with all major plot points being pieced together almost too conveniently, leading the reader to wonder how or why the long term turmoil between Lord Carryck and his exiled daughter Isabel ever needed to take place in the first place, nor why indeed it took the Bonner family to come across a whole ocean in order to sort out this familial discrepancy. Donati’s epilogue wraps the story up in reminding the reader of the world that seemed so far away back in New York and easily sets the narrative for another sequel, while a helpful cast of characters, family tree, and maps in the beginning are useful for periodic reference and evaluation.
October 9, 2020
5 STARS
Once again, I was glued to the pages. Not sure if it was the story itself or the performance of the narrator, maybe the combination of the two. Either way, I flew through it. I had my doubts at first that Donati could make this sequel as compelling as the first book. Well she certainly did an excellent job sustaining my interest. Looking forward to book 3 Lake in the Clouds!
It was a rare gift she had, this ability to look ahead, through the loss and heartache, beyond the hardship, to see so clearly the possibilities that waited for them. If they could be strong, if they could persevere.
Once again, I was glued to the pages. Not sure if it was the story itself or the performance of the narrator, maybe the combination of the two. Either way, I flew through it. I had my doubts at first that Donati could make this sequel as compelling as the first book. Well she certainly did an excellent job sustaining my interest. Looking forward to book 3 Lake in the Clouds!
July 9, 2017
update at end
Following up on my "rejoice, fans of Diana Gabaldon" review, I now urge you all to sit down with a proper cup of strong tea. Chai, if you have it. It's time for a reality check.
My previous whole-hearted "two thumbs up" for Sara Donati's "Into the Wilderness" -- the precursor to this book -- still stands. I was thrilled to find the second novel in my local Half Price Books for a measley $3.50. "Dawn on a Distant Shore" (terrible title) follows our Claire-esque heroine traipsing across the sea to a "distant shore" on a grand adventure with her husband.
Adventure? Mais oui, my friends. Romance? Well... they're married now. Suspense? Not so much. Historical perspective? Eh. Good story telling and plot twists? Definitely.
Standing on its own, "DOADS" is pretty good. But comparing to Donati's previous work, and of course, in comparison with Gabaldon's ability to carry her characters forward in several (thick) books, "DOADS" is just a little above the so-so mark. But if I come across book three, I'll definitely pick it up for another go.
Update (July 2017): Thank you for the positive/validating comments on this review. I feel I need to update since I have completed the entire series since writing this review. It's absolutely one of my "go to" recommendations for anyone looking for historical fiction with an epic span. Please don't let this review keep you from continuing on with the series -- it's truly one of the top series I've found in this genre.
Following up on my "rejoice, fans of Diana Gabaldon" review, I now urge you all to sit down with a proper cup of strong tea. Chai, if you have it. It's time for a reality check.
My previous whole-hearted "two thumbs up" for Sara Donati's "Into the Wilderness" -- the precursor to this book -- still stands. I was thrilled to find the second novel in my local Half Price Books for a measley $3.50. "Dawn on a Distant Shore" (terrible title) follows our Claire-esque heroine traipsing across the sea to a "distant shore" on a grand adventure with her husband.
Adventure? Mais oui, my friends. Romance? Well... they're married now. Suspense? Not so much. Historical perspective? Eh. Good story telling and plot twists? Definitely.
Standing on its own, "DOADS" is pretty good. But comparing to Donati's previous work, and of course, in comparison with Gabaldon's ability to carry her characters forward in several (thick) books, "DOADS" is just a little above the so-so mark. But if I come across book three, I'll definitely pick it up for another go.
Update (July 2017): Thank you for the positive/validating comments on this review. I feel I need to update since I have completed the entire series since writing this review. It's absolutely one of my "go to" recommendations for anyone looking for historical fiction with an epic span. Please don't let this review keep you from continuing on with the series -- it's truly one of the top series I've found in this genre.
July 29, 2016
This is the second book in the Wilderness series by Sara Donati. I love reading this kind of historical fiction. I always love when I feel like I get to know the characters. Elizabeth and Nathaniel are the two MCs in this series. This book brought other characters to the spotlight. I liked getting to know them, but I kind of missed Elizabeth and Nathaniel.
I like the way the story flowed. It felt very structured and maybe even orchestrated. But it worked with main story line. So 4 stars.
I like the way the story flowed. It felt very structured and maybe even orchestrated. But it worked with main story line. So 4 stars.
May 7, 2020
This is the 2nd book in the Wilderness series.
I really enjoyed this series so far. This book is an amazing and engaging tale about life in the 18th century among the wilds of the forests of New York.
It pulls you in right from the start. It is very well written.
This book takes you from NewYork to Canada during the most adverse weather conditions to Scotland.
The Bonners infants are kidnapped. Nathaniel and Elizabeth are separated during their perilous journey to Scotland. Nathaniel’s father is heir to Carryckcastle. What will they do ?Lots of decisions to be made. Will they stay or go back to the wilderness?
This is a wonderful historical fiction book. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.
I really enjoyed this series so far. This book is an amazing and engaging tale about life in the 18th century among the wilds of the forests of New York.
It pulls you in right from the start. It is very well written.
This book takes you from NewYork to Canada during the most adverse weather conditions to Scotland.
The Bonners infants are kidnapped. Nathaniel and Elizabeth are separated during their perilous journey to Scotland. Nathaniel’s father is heir to Carryckcastle. What will they do ?Lots of decisions to be made. Will they stay or go back to the wilderness?
This is a wonderful historical fiction book. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.
July 9, 2022
Book 2 completed, what can I say, The character development is strong, both with men and especially the women given the setting, late 1700’s. Book 3, I should have from the library in the next couple of days.
October 10, 2018
My heart is still pounding. What a rush. Wonderful sequel. Loved every page.
October 4, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
Sara Donati has a way of making me fall in love with her characters and I can’t seem to get enough of them. This second installment was another good adventure but it wasn’t as captivating as the first. I’m also feeling salty because one of my favorite characters from book one didn’t have much of a presence in this one and then they ended up being killed off without much ceremony. I don’t know if I can forgive her for that 🥲 I’ll be reading the next book though 👏🏼
Sara Donati has a way of making me fall in love with her characters and I can’t seem to get enough of them. This second installment was another good adventure but it wasn’t as captivating as the first. I’m also feeling salty because one of my favorite characters from book one didn’t have much of a presence in this one and then they ended up being killed off without much ceremony. I don’t know if I can forgive her for that 🥲 I’ll be reading the next book though 👏🏼
June 7, 2016
1st read 12/17/11-1/24/12
Audiobook 5/31/16 - 6/6/16
Love this series. I feel like I know the characters.
Audiobook 5/31/16 - 6/6/16
Love this series. I feel like I know the characters.
January 3, 2022
I was so excited to read this second book of this series, having loved the first book so very much. I was not disappointed with this one!
September 25, 2017
GR has lost my review once and I can't find the words a second time to review this book. I kind of put my soul into the review and I'm over it. This was a great second in the series, I love the main characters in an unrelenting way and I look forward to the rest of the series. #grsucks
January 18, 2010
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
This book is the sequel to Into the Wilderness, which I read late last year and really enjoyed. The story picks up right where it left off with a gripping series of scenes in which Elizabeth gives birth to twins at home on Hidden Wolf with only the help of her ten-year-old step-daughter. Meanwhile Nathaniel is trapped in the village by a blizzard, desperate to get home to his wife, whom he thinks is only having one baby. A good way to draw the reader into the story and what follows does not disappoint: an adventure with a long, twisting, turning plot with many characters and viewpoints, romance, danger and surprises.
The Bonners travel to Canada and Scotland, through wilderness and by sea. Ms. Donati writes very descriptively, and there's no doubt she brings settings and details into vivid life, but sometimes I felt like there was too much attention paid to detail and conversely there were several instances where I felt like not enough attention had been paid to the meat of the story. All of the storylines come to a head in the last few pages and thus the climactic scenes felt rushed and conclusions to a couple of storylines were not thoroughly fleshed out; I didn't feel completely satisfied. One example: near the end Nathaniel has to make a startling revelation to Elizabeth, but the reader is not privy to that conversation or to her reaction to the news.
Some of the plot twists were a little over-the-top, but I once read that if you can write great characters, your reader will go along with anything you throw at them, and Ms. Donati has a real talent for writing characters that are complex and realistic and that readers become attached to. A large chunk of this book is devoted to Hannah, Nathaniel's tender-hearted half-Indian daughter, who struggles to come to terms with the cruelty and bigotry of others, and to find her place in the world as a child of two races. I was glad to get to know her so well and my heart ached for her. She is much changed by the end of their journey and there is a very fitting and meaningful rite of passage at the end for her.
Overall I enjoyed this sequel. I've grown attached to the characters and I'm moving right along to the next book in the series, Lake in the Clouds.
This book is the sequel to Into the Wilderness, which I read late last year and really enjoyed. The story picks up right where it left off with a gripping series of scenes in which Elizabeth gives birth to twins at home on Hidden Wolf with only the help of her ten-year-old step-daughter. Meanwhile Nathaniel is trapped in the village by a blizzard, desperate to get home to his wife, whom he thinks is only having one baby. A good way to draw the reader into the story and what follows does not disappoint: an adventure with a long, twisting, turning plot with many characters and viewpoints, romance, danger and surprises.
The Bonners travel to Canada and Scotland, through wilderness and by sea. Ms. Donati writes very descriptively, and there's no doubt she brings settings and details into vivid life, but sometimes I felt like there was too much attention paid to detail and conversely there were several instances where I felt like not enough attention had been paid to the meat of the story. All of the storylines come to a head in the last few pages and thus the climactic scenes felt rushed and conclusions to a couple of storylines were not thoroughly fleshed out; I didn't feel completely satisfied. One example: near the end Nathaniel has to make a startling revelation to Elizabeth, but the reader is not privy to that conversation or to her reaction to the news.
Some of the plot twists were a little over-the-top, but I once read that if you can write great characters, your reader will go along with anything you throw at them, and Ms. Donati has a real talent for writing characters that are complex and realistic and that readers become attached to. A large chunk of this book is devoted to Hannah, Nathaniel's tender-hearted half-Indian daughter, who struggles to come to terms with the cruelty and bigotry of others, and to find her place in the world as a child of two races. I was glad to get to know her so well and my heart ached for her. She is much changed by the end of their journey and there is a very fitting and meaningful rite of passage at the end for her.
Overall I enjoyed this sequel. I've grown attached to the characters and I'm moving right along to the next book in the series, Lake in the Clouds.
September 7, 2022
Where can I start? Into the Wilderness (Wilderness #1) was already trying waaaay too hard to muster up the wherewithal to have the literary/iconic impact of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, but now, to make matters far worse and unnecessarily complicated (not unlike book one) Sara Donati contrives the action to get the Bonner family to SCOTLAND. Of course she does. She wants to be Diana Gabaldon.
Suddenly "Granny Cora" (who in book one, remember, is supposed to be based on Madeleine Stowe in the film The Last of the Mohicans, a girl raised in England, mind you, not Scotland, and who came to the American colonies as a very young woman; not to mention that she is slender, dark-haired, and dark-eyed) is remembered by Hannah Bonner as a fair, robust, blue-eyed, very Scottish elderly lady. That's the first of many WTF moments in this train wreck of a sequel.
I get it. There was almost nowhere to go after Into the Wilderness but the Outlander series is still going, therefore SD had to keep *this* series going, and so, let's see...how can Nathaniel Bonner channel Jamie Fraser even more...let's see...we'll pretend that his "da" (Dan'l Bonner, or Daniel Day Lewis) is the long-lost descendant of a Scottish earl. Oh, my gosh! Then EVERYONE can wear tartan and talk like Jamie Fraser and be bonny. Let's sort of gloss over the inanity of how the Scottish connection to the family was made and how they found the reclusive Dan'l in rural upstate New York, because it's really full of ginormous plot holes...but maybe no one will notice because Nathaniel and Elizabeth now have a lot of uninspired married sex...
But, by gosh, SD gets the family to Scotland after an unnecessarily circuitous journey during which we meet a bunch of flat, forgettable secondary characters. So let's focus on how the whole story is so Scottish now! And full of "intrigue" and "mystery" and attempts on main characters' lives...all while managing to remain incredibly boring overall.
Just no. This book is so bad. Done now with this series.
Suddenly "Granny Cora" (who in book one, remember, is supposed to be based on Madeleine Stowe in the film The Last of the Mohicans, a girl raised in England, mind you, not Scotland, and who came to the American colonies as a very young woman; not to mention that she is slender, dark-haired, and dark-eyed) is remembered by Hannah Bonner as a fair, robust, blue-eyed, very Scottish elderly lady. That's the first of many WTF moments in this train wreck of a sequel.
I get it. There was almost nowhere to go after Into the Wilderness but the Outlander series is still going, therefore SD had to keep *this* series going, and so, let's see...how can Nathaniel Bonner channel Jamie Fraser even more...let's see...we'll pretend that his "da" (Dan'l Bonner, or Daniel Day Lewis) is the long-lost descendant of a Scottish earl. Oh, my gosh! Then EVERYONE can wear tartan and talk like Jamie Fraser and be bonny. Let's sort of gloss over the inanity of how the Scottish connection to the family was made and how they found the reclusive Dan'l in rural upstate New York, because it's really full of ginormous plot holes...but maybe no one will notice because Nathaniel and Elizabeth now have a lot of uninspired married sex...
But, by gosh, SD gets the family to Scotland after an unnecessarily circuitous journey during which we meet a bunch of flat, forgettable secondary characters. So let's focus on how the whole story is so Scottish now! And full of "intrigue" and "mystery" and attempts on main characters' lives...all while managing to remain incredibly boring overall.
Just no. This book is so bad. Done now with this series.
October 25, 2012
Despite changing the setting not only to a different country but also a different continent and introducing a whole new cast of supporting characters, Donati never loses sight of what made Into the Wilderness so special in her followup novel Dawn on a Distant Shore. After the Bonners learn of their connection to an heirless Scottish Earl, forces seem to conspire against them, taking the family across the Atlantic Ocean to confront their long lost relative. During their adventures, they face jail and charges of espionage; kidnappings, pirates, and naval battles; deception and trickery, but, through it all, Nathaniel and Elizabeth never lose sight of what is most important: each other, their family, and getting home. Together, they face the trials and tribulations thrown at them, never once falling victim to the doubt or misunderstandings that would plague a lesser couple. This doesn't mean, however, that the events which occur in Dawn on a Distant Shore are any less real or powerful, any less devastating.
Just like with its predecessor, Dawn on a Distant Shore has an epic feel to it. This comes from the sheer scope of Donati's work, the fact that these people who are attempting to live simple lives are thrust into such extraordinary circumstances and situations. It's present in her attention to detail, in the gravity of the emotions felt by her characters, and in the larger historical themes explored. It's found in the delightful cameos Donati includes - first Jamie and Claire Fraser in Into the Wilderness and now Robert Burns in Dawn on a Distant Shore. No small touch is left out; no unnecessary line or passage is included. Donati packs not only an immense amount of action into her books, but her characters are constantly evolving, changing, developing, too, and both of these feats are accomplished together seamlessly. From its very first page until its last, Dawn on a Distant Shore is a pleasure to read - one that begs to be finished but that makes you hate to see its beauty come to a close. Luckily, you don't have to, because the conclusion of Dawn on a Distant Shore sets the stage well for the next novel in this series as the Bonners return to Lake in the Clouds.
Just like with its predecessor, Dawn on a Distant Shore has an epic feel to it. This comes from the sheer scope of Donati's work, the fact that these people who are attempting to live simple lives are thrust into such extraordinary circumstances and situations. It's present in her attention to detail, in the gravity of the emotions felt by her characters, and in the larger historical themes explored. It's found in the delightful cameos Donati includes - first Jamie and Claire Fraser in Into the Wilderness and now Robert Burns in Dawn on a Distant Shore. No small touch is left out; no unnecessary line or passage is included. Donati packs not only an immense amount of action into her books, but her characters are constantly evolving, changing, developing, too, and both of these feats are accomplished together seamlessly. From its very first page until its last, Dawn on a Distant Shore is a pleasure to read - one that begs to be finished but that makes you hate to see its beauty come to a close. Luckily, you don't have to, because the conclusion of Dawn on a Distant Shore sets the stage well for the next novel in this series as the Bonners return to Lake in the Clouds.
March 31, 2018
“It was a rare gift she had, this ability to look ahead, through the loss and heartache, beyond the hardship, to see so clearly the possibilities that waited for them. If they could be strong, if they could persevere.”
Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner have settled into life together at the edge of the New York wilderness in the winter of 1794. “Dawn on a Distant Shore,” the second installment to the, “Wilderness” series weaves more of the tale of romance and adventure with the backdrop of the founding of America.
What I really like most so far about this series is the wonderfully written characters and it’s almost “Little House on the Prairie” or “When Calls the Heart” feel. It’s hard to describe why, but I guess to me it has that same sweetness and world building as those shows do.
Curiosity. She is my absolute favorite. She is one character that just stands out from so many others in stories. She is so funny and heartfelt that I just want to binge the series mainly because of her, but also there are so many other lovely characters too.
People compare this to Outlander and I definitely see why; the two are very similar in plot, but I feel like they are also very different too.
I love how Donatri has such an ease with her setting. This could totally be another successful tv series. It’s rich and takes you to another time. I did think this book was slightly slower than the first, but I still really enjoyed it. Also, I highly recommend the audiobooks for these, it really takes the story to a whole new level!
Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner have settled into life together at the edge of the New York wilderness in the winter of 1794. “Dawn on a Distant Shore,” the second installment to the, “Wilderness” series weaves more of the tale of romance and adventure with the backdrop of the founding of America.
What I really like most so far about this series is the wonderfully written characters and it’s almost “Little House on the Prairie” or “When Calls the Heart” feel. It’s hard to describe why, but I guess to me it has that same sweetness and world building as those shows do.
Curiosity. She is my absolute favorite. She is one character that just stands out from so many others in stories. She is so funny and heartfelt that I just want to binge the series mainly because of her, but also there are so many other lovely characters too.
People compare this to Outlander and I definitely see why; the two are very similar in plot, but I feel like they are also very different too.
I love how Donatri has such an ease with her setting. This could totally be another successful tv series. It’s rich and takes you to another time. I did think this book was slightly slower than the first, but I still really enjoyed it. Also, I highly recommend the audiobooks for these, it really takes the story to a whole new level!
December 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Dawn on a Distant Shore is the second book in The Wilderness Series written by Sara Donati. This book began where the first one left off. I was surprised how easily I was able to pick up the story line because it’s been three years since I started this series.
Elizabeth Bonner was an English girl who came to up-state New York in the late 1790’s. Her father, the judge, had wanted her to marry Dr. Richard Todd, so that their material wealth and holdings would be combined. Of course, our Elizabeth was an early feminist and had a mind of her own. She chose instead Nathaniel Bonner, an outdoorsy woodsman who had had the audacity to marry a Kahnyen’kehàkan woman, who unfortunately died in childbirth. So, God forbid, Elizabeth now has a half Mohawk stepdaughter whom she grows to love very much. And she gives birth to a set of twins, a boy and a girl. Then she sets off on an unbelievable adventure to save Nathaniel from being hung as a spy.
Reading Donati brings early American history alive for me. I hope it doesn’t take me another 3 years to get to the next book in this series.
Goodreads 2025 Challenge - Book #112 of 115
Dawn on a Distant Shore is the second book in The Wilderness Series written by Sara Donati. This book began where the first one left off. I was surprised how easily I was able to pick up the story line because it’s been three years since I started this series.
Elizabeth Bonner was an English girl who came to up-state New York in the late 1790’s. Her father, the judge, had wanted her to marry Dr. Richard Todd, so that their material wealth and holdings would be combined. Of course, our Elizabeth was an early feminist and had a mind of her own. She chose instead Nathaniel Bonner, an outdoorsy woodsman who had had the audacity to marry a Kahnyen’kehàkan woman, who unfortunately died in childbirth. So, God forbid, Elizabeth now has a half Mohawk stepdaughter whom she grows to love very much. And she gives birth to a set of twins, a boy and a girl. Then she sets off on an unbelievable adventure to save Nathaniel from being hung as a spy.
Reading Donati brings early American history alive for me. I hope it doesn’t take me another 3 years to get to the next book in this series.
Goodreads 2025 Challenge - Book #112 of 115
February 1, 2023
Not quite as good as book one, and a few glaring inconsistencies with accurate historical notes, but still a good story and I still like reading about Elizabeth and Nathanial. The pacing was good throughout to keep my interest and I may try book three before giving up the series. 4.5 ⭐
August 14, 2010
Since I enjoyed the first book in this series, Into the Wilderness, I'm not sure why it took me so long to pick up the second book. However, now that I've read it, I don't think I missed much by waiting. This novel just misses some vital spark for me. I also felt a lack of connection to the characters. The fact that I plowed my way through most of this book and then decided to bring other reading material with me on my vacation says it all. I didn't dislike the book, but it was just OK and I wanted something more captivating in my suitcase.
Dawn is slow to get started and full of so many characters introduced in rapid succession that I had a hard time remembering who they all were. Although frequently compared to Diana Gabaldon, Ms. Donati lacks Ms. Gabaldon's skill with character development. Many of the characters in this book never really come alive, with a few exceptions such as Jennet. A bit of a nitpicky point, but I found the overuse of the phrase "to take one's measure" to be a small source of irritation, as was the babies' frequent squeaking. Mice squeak, rusty door hinges squeak, but babies usually squeal, gurgle, or coo.
I also found the plot to be rather contrived. The Earl of Carryk has disowned his daughter and is desperate to find a male heir so that a rival clan doesn't inherit his estate after he dies. Hawkeye and his descendents are the Earl's heirs. Carryk sends his agent, Moncrief, to America to bring the Bonners to Scotland. Moncrief goes to rather ridiculous lengths dependent on luck to manipulate the Bonner family into coming to Scotland, only to resort to kidnapping when all else fails. Such a man would more likely just have kidnapped his victims and dispensed with all of the other silliness, including his own jail stay with the Bonners.
On a positive note, I enjoyed the Bonners's stay in Scotland and I thought the author did a nice job capturing the dialect. The scenes on board the ships were also well-written in that the settings came across as very realistic and gave me a sense of actually being on board.
The ending was tied up conveniently, complete with a red bow, with everyone getting pretty much what he or she deserved.
Dawn is slow to get started and full of so many characters introduced in rapid succession that I had a hard time remembering who they all were. Although frequently compared to Diana Gabaldon, Ms. Donati lacks Ms. Gabaldon's skill with character development. Many of the characters in this book never really come alive, with a few exceptions such as Jennet. A bit of a nitpicky point, but I found the overuse of the phrase "to take one's measure" to be a small source of irritation, as was the babies' frequent squeaking. Mice squeak, rusty door hinges squeak, but babies usually squeal, gurgle, or coo.
I also found the plot to be rather contrived. The Earl of Carryk has disowned his daughter and is desperate to find a male heir so that a rival clan doesn't inherit his estate after he dies. Hawkeye and his descendents are the Earl's heirs. Carryk sends his agent, Moncrief, to America to bring the Bonners to Scotland. Moncrief goes to rather ridiculous lengths dependent on luck to manipulate the Bonner family into coming to Scotland, only to resort to kidnapping when all else fails. Such a man would more likely just have kidnapped his victims and dispensed with all of the other silliness, including his own jail stay with the Bonners.
On a positive note, I enjoyed the Bonners's stay in Scotland and I thought the author did a nice job capturing the dialect. The scenes on board the ships were also well-written in that the settings came across as very realistic and gave me a sense of actually being on board.
The ending was tied up conveniently, complete with a red bow, with everyone getting pretty much what he or she deserved.
December 6, 2022
4.5 STARS
"In the winter of 1794, on the edge of the New York wilderness, Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner have settled into the comforts of domestic bliss. Typically, however, adventure seeks these two out. Alone but for her stepdaughter Hannah, Elizabeth gives birth to twins, while Nathaniel and his father Hawkeye are imprisoned in Montreal. Determined to help her men, Elizabeth packs up the children and sets off to free them. Liberty does not bring relief to the Bonner clan, however, as sinister forces conspire to pirate them to Scotland and embroil them in a complex family feud." (From Amazon)
A great follow-up to the first novel. The Bonners are off to a rescue mission in Canada and Scotland. I enjoyed the way Donati sets up the time and place. I am glad we get more of the Bonner men's roots and past.
"In the winter of 1794, on the edge of the New York wilderness, Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner have settled into the comforts of domestic bliss. Typically, however, adventure seeks these two out. Alone but for her stepdaughter Hannah, Elizabeth gives birth to twins, while Nathaniel and his father Hawkeye are imprisoned in Montreal. Determined to help her men, Elizabeth packs up the children and sets off to free them. Liberty does not bring relief to the Bonner clan, however, as sinister forces conspire to pirate them to Scotland and embroil them in a complex family feud." (From Amazon)
A great follow-up to the first novel. The Bonners are off to a rescue mission in Canada and Scotland. I enjoyed the way Donati sets up the time and place. I am glad we get more of the Bonner men's roots and past.
December 15, 2008
The 2nd book in the series, after Into the Wilderness, and a great read. This one didn't keep me up at night like the first one did but I really enjoyed it very much.
It was filled with the same characters I had grown to love and surprises that make me speak out loud in a crowded room with exclamation.
This one is definitely one that flows so well that you realize the book is almost ending but you have yet to get to the end of the story. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
I would definitely recommend this book to others!
It was filled with the same characters I had grown to love and surprises that make me speak out loud in a crowded room with exclamation.
This one is definitely one that flows so well that you realize the book is almost ending but you have yet to get to the end of the story. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
I would definitely recommend this book to others!
September 25, 2014
I am really enjoying this series. This 2nd book was much better than the 1st. More character development, more detailing and good plot twists.
June 13, 2019
Rereading: Audiobook from Audible.ca
The Into the Wilderness series is one of my all-time favourite sagas. Filled with adventure, romance and family drama, Donati has written an engaging story that pulls readers into the lives of the Bonner family as they experience the tumultuous issues influencing 18th century North America.
While I liked that this book takes Elizabeth and Nathaniel on a wee bit of an adventure, this wasn't my favourite book in the series. Still a great read but I think I prefer it when more of the secondary characters, namely those at Lake in the Clouds and small-town Paradise, are included in the story lines. When you start to miss characters, you know you've got a good read.
Kate Reading narrates this audiobook and does a phenomenal job. A narrator can make or break an audiobook and Reading is one of the best. She easily bounces back and forth between the characters and includes several different well-done accents, making the story and its characters quite vivid for the listener.
Fans of Outlander will particularly enjoy this series. It has a similarly addictive story and main couple and you'll find yourself immersed in the Bonner clan. What it doesn't have is the frustrating wordiness that Outlander is known for. If you can get your hands on copies of this series (sadly, they are no longer in print for paper editions!), I highly suggest diving into this memorable series.
The Into the Wilderness series is one of my all-time favourite sagas. Filled with adventure, romance and family drama, Donati has written an engaging story that pulls readers into the lives of the Bonner family as they experience the tumultuous issues influencing 18th century North America.
While I liked that this book takes Elizabeth and Nathaniel on a wee bit of an adventure, this wasn't my favourite book in the series. Still a great read but I think I prefer it when more of the secondary characters, namely those at Lake in the Clouds and small-town Paradise, are included in the story lines. When you start to miss characters, you know you've got a good read.
Kate Reading narrates this audiobook and does a phenomenal job. A narrator can make or break an audiobook and Reading is one of the best. She easily bounces back and forth between the characters and includes several different well-done accents, making the story and its characters quite vivid for the listener.
Fans of Outlander will particularly enjoy this series. It has a similarly addictive story and main couple and you'll find yourself immersed in the Bonner clan. What it doesn't have is the frustrating wordiness that Outlander is known for. If you can get your hands on copies of this series (sadly, they are no longer in print for paper editions!), I highly suggest diving into this memorable series.
September 25, 2025
Why did they have to go to Scotland? Seemed too much like it was a poorly written copy+paste of plots from Outlander. Couldn't it have been a different country? Outlander dealt with Catholicism much better, it felt far less anti-Catholic. I don't care for Nathaniel, he doesn't seem particularly exceptional male lead. Did he once in the whole of this book call his wife by her first name?? Ugh, I can't with cheesey nicknames! Honestly, I don't know that I cared for any of the characters. I enjoyed the colonial-ness of the first book and that was lacking in this one. I don't know that I will continue with the series, we'll see.
April 17, 2024
4.5 🌟 bit of a slow beginning for me, had to come back to it and so happy I did. lots of action, Scotland, high seas, secret religious orders and secret sons! loved the ending too much and highly suggest this series for outlander fans.
September 17, 2020
Round up to 4.5 stars.
May 4, 2019
And so the epic continues with great twists and turns in their lives!
September 17, 2019
So good! Loved the dynamics at the end!!
April 24, 2024
Love this series. As Diana Gabaldon reviewed it "let's you breathe the air of another time". Well written historical saga that draws you into its pages with characters you come to love (and hate) and page turning romance and adventure, survival, war, prejudice, sorrow, joys and freedom of spirit.
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