What the River of the Cherokee Did Not Tell, by James Short, is a historical fiction novel on the topic of the New World. While I have read a few selections on this time period in American history, I am still a newbie to the information there is out there. I was drawn to this book by the word Cherokee in the title but stuck with the book because the content was so informative in a way that read like a well-written novel. If textbooks were presented more like this, I might have paid more attention in history class. Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Jonathan ventures where his nose points and discovers ways of living as a peddler, securing odd jobs. When he is introduced to Benedict Arnold, he discovers many more ways of survival—that of a merchant, smuggler, privateer, and later as a war profiteer.

Not that he’s happy with himself working the latter. Through the latter, he is recruited to spy for the Continental Army in New York. He takes that job as a way of pursuing the vengeance he has sworn to avenge the torture and death of his beloved.

I’m not sure where the espionage comes in as most of the narrative focuses on his efforts at finding the three men responsible for her ultimate painful death. He has in the space of Book 1 managed to find one of the men but the narrative pulls the storyline a bit slow for me.

I was not able to engage sufficiently with Jonathan. I’m sure this odyssey will appeal to Revolutionary War buffs, the saga apparently continuing in his efforts to seek the remaining two of the three and there are still years of war to survive. 3.5 stars

First this is a historical book that gives us a glimpse into what life might have been for a spy during the American Revolutionary War. It is a story of a young man who grows up in the wilderness, his adopted father and mother owning a trading post, and so he is in essence a frontiersman in many ways. He has a strong moral compass, and because of that, suffers from a great sense of needing to find justice in the injustices and tragedies of life.

I was quite taken with the lead character and his ever evolving sense of who he is as a man. Like many of us we are not who we were at the end of our teens. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series, “SONS OF THE NEW WORLD BOOK II”. Having said that, it speaks to my high recommendation to anyone wanting to read about this particular era in history, but also the tremendous strength of character it took to live in such a time. This was the first book I have read by this author, James Short, but it will not be my last! (I was given a copy of this book for my honest opinion…would I buy it? Yes!)

I haven’t read a lot of historical fiction set in the ‘New World’ just this book and ,Barkskins. I really enjoyed this book and it makes me want to read more set in same time and/or by author.. I particularly enjoyed the full range of characters and scenery.

Indentured servants do not fare well in the American continent in 1748. Skinny, shivering, and lame, Julian fears for his prospects as he is inspected by buyers on the transport ship docked in Philadelphia. When his bond is purchased by the fur trader Bartholomew Bragg, Julian's concerns appear well-founded. As Julian grows into manhood, he is forced to contend in a violent world where Native American nations struggle to survive war, famine, and disease; settlers stake their lives and meager resources on disputed territory; and bands of renegades murder and thieve free from lawful constraint. In his travels, Julian learns the harsh realities of life and love on the frontier. In the end, surrounded by enemies and desperate to protect the woman he loves, the jealous land demands its sacrifice.

4.5 stars! I enjoyed this book immensely and couldn't wait to see how it ended. Most characters had sustenance without overtly fitting into narrative stereotypes. The book also does an interesting job of showing how lawless the territories of North America were. My largest complaint was how some of the secondary characters were only present for a few pages but made to feel like they were going to be more important later. I recommend reading this book for anyone who loves historical fiction based in the gritty New World.