Book Blurb:
Rebecca Plummer is a Canadian herbalist and midwife with a shameful secret and feminist outlook, caught up in the War of 1812 in Niagara, Upper Canada. Rebecca struggles to keep her family and community together despite wartime deprivation and gossip.
A story of courage, strength, and resilience
This work placed 3rd in the Historical Novel category of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association 2023 competition.
Mirrors & Smoke captivates from the start and delivers a moving tale of perseverance in the face of tragedy. Rebecca Plummer is a healer, midwife, and caregiver to women whose strength has been diminished by childbearing, near starvation, and abuse. In 1812, when the United States invades Canada, Rebecca’s dedication to healing is put to the test. Told from multiple perspectives, the reader is given interwoven views of the war, and contrasting perceptions about Rebecca and her life. Based on real people and historical events, this fictionalized account is told from the Canadian perspective and presents a rarely seen view of life in war-torn, rural Canada.—Donna D. Conrad, award-winning author of House of the Moon: Surviving the Sixties
Mirrors & Smoke tells the remarkable story of Rebecca Plummer. Life is not easy for a healer and midwife in Upper Canada in the early part of the nineteenth century, especially one who wants to improve the lot of women. Inevitably, such desires bring her more enemies than successes.
Adrienne Stevenson presents us with an oh so realistic, yet fictionalised, account of those turbulent times from the perspective of a woman living in Niagara in Upper Canada. With more enemies than friends, Rebecca navigates the anti-feminist repression of the time with intelligence, determination and a capacity for hard work. The chaos brought by the US invasion in 1812 multiplies her problems. Her skills must turn from saving the lives of injured soldiers to saving her own family as the turmoil causes both friend and foe to reveal their true nature.
As I read on, I became more and more involved with Stevenson’s artfully crafted characters. It was a jolt to realise the author had not actually lived through those times, although she must have immersed herself in every last detail. Stevenson brings a light and poetic touch to this important subject matter without hitting us over the head with the underlying serious theme.
It is refreshing to see a book about the war of 1812 that reveals the wider effect on the people of the time and how a woman might achieve her goals against her political adversaries and the agonies of war raging, albeit slowly, around her.—Brian Wyvill, author of The Second Gate series
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/CJ30
Author Bio:
Adrienne Stevenson lives in Ottawa, Canada. A retired forensic toxicologist, she writes poetry and prose. Her work has appeared in over sixty print and online journals and anthologies in Canada, USA, UK, Europe, India, and Australia. Adrienne is an avid gardener, voracious reader, amateur genealogist and sometime folk musician. Her debut novel "Mirrors & Smoke" was published in August, 2023.
Editorial Review:
The beauty of historical fiction lies in its ability to immerse readers in different times and places, offering fresh perspectives on well-known events. Adrienne Stevenson achieves this brilliantly in Mirrors & Smoke, plunging readers into the lesser-known aspects of the War of 1812 from the Canadian perspective. Through the eyes of the brilliant and captivating Rebecca Plummer, among other characters, we witness the struggles and triumphs of those living on the Canadian frontier during this lesser explored period in historical literature.
The portrayal of the often-overlooked fact that the United States invaded Canada during the War of 1812 was fascinating — it’s an aspect of history that many Americans, and indeed the world at large, may not fully appreciate. Through Rebecca's eyes and those of other characters, Stevenson describes the political complexities and human experiences behind the conflict, providing readers with a multifaceted and nuanced view of the time.
The characters in this book are truly the heart and soul of the story, each bringing their own unique qualities and unique perspectives to the story. Their depth and complexity are wonderful, which makes them feel incredibly real and relatable.
They would do, at least for tonight.
How I envied my cousin Mary when first I entered their household… and yet here I was, living a part of the life that should have been hers. And trying my best to be a better parent to their daughters than mine were to me.
Rebecca embodies resilience and strength in every scene that she is in, juggling roles as a healer, midwife, and caregiver with remarkable grace and fortitude. She is a woman ahead of her time, determined to carve out a better future despite the societal constraints of the era. Her determination to protect her family and community, coupled with her compassion and resourcefulness, makes her a compelling protagonist who is very easy to like. Her evolution throughout the story, from a caretaker to a leader, is both inspiring and deeply human.
Jack, with his strong sense of duty, provides a window into the complexities of military life during wartime. His struggles with loyalty, family obligations, and personal desires are an interesting exploration of his character, making him both sympathetic and flawed in the best way possible. Similarly, Tom's journey from a conflicted young man to a seasoned survivor highlights the harsh realities of war and the moral ambiguity of human nature. Both his and Jack’s struggles and challenges mirror the novel's larger themes, serving as a poignant yet grim reminder of the cost of survival in tumultuous times. Willcocks, with his idealism and determination to enact change, was another interesting character.
Overall, the characters in the book are wonderfully authentic and human. They feel like real people dealing with real issues.
The author elegantly captures the essence of the early 19th-century Upper Canada without getting too caught up in historical details. Instead, she seamlessly integrates historical context into the story, making it easy for readers to understand the setting without relying on overwhelming exposition. Through Stevenson's storytelling, readers gain unique insights into how war and political turmoil impacted the lives of ordinary people. Her prose is both engaging and informative, providing a deeper understanding of the struggles and triumphs of the characters, almost as if you're witnessing the lives of people you might encounter in your own community.
Everything ends. Wars. Lives. Stories.
For readers who enjoy immersing themselves in history and experiencing it through the eyes of beautifully developed and realistic characters, Mirrors & Smoke is definitely worth picking up. Its rich storytelling and compelling portrayal of the war's impact on individuals and communities make it a book that readers will eagerly recommend to others. It is a refreshing and insightful exploration of bravery, determination, and the enduring power of the human spirit told through the story of a truly remarkable woman who was ahead of her time.
*****
“Mirrors & Smoke” by Adrienne Stevenson receives four stars from The Historical Fiction Company
To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year contest, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
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