Customer Reviews

Fire Along the Sky

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 1998 Sara Donati published "Into the Wilderness," the first in this family saga set in post-Revoluntary War upstate New York. "Into the Wilderness" received excellent reviews from Booklist and Kirkus Reviews, and was embraced by readers of historical romances and historical novels. Books two and three of the series were somewhat disappointing, but in the fourth book of the series Donati has returned to her "Wilderness" roots. This is one of the few novels that I know that is set during the War of 1812, and while the author admits to having taken some liberties with the military aspects of the war, Donati has done her research.

Lily, the daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Bonner, is the focus of "Fire," although cousin Jennet from Scotland, and Hannah (Nathaniel's daughter from his first marriage to an Indian woman) are not shortchanged. Lily has been hiding a secret, or so she believes: she thinks she is in love with a man married to a childhood friend, yet she finds herself attracted to Simon Ballentyne, the business partner of her half-brother Luke. Jennet has arrived unannounced from Scotland, hoping to marry Luke, who is reluctant to commit due to the war. And Hannah returns from the west without her husband or her child, a dispassionate shadow of her former self. The fates of some familiar characters from past books are resolved (including those of Richard Todd and Liam Kirby), while I have the feeling that evil Jemima Southern Kuick will turn up once again like a bad penny in a future installment.

Donati has a knack of being able to handle a laundry-list of characters without ever confusing the reader as to their identity. Each character is an individual and some are little gems of individuality, such as Cornelius Bump. However, I do not feel that her books (with the exception of "Into the Wilderness") could ever be read as stand-alone books, as they build on each other, both in terms of plot and character development. Donati has an ability to faithfully recreate a time and place without going into great detail, as her books are primarily character-driven. Although not as evident in this book as in the previous ones, she has a knack for making the reader feel that he or she is really in the wilderness -- feeling the isolation of the characters, the smells and sounds of the world before the age of the train and the airplane, the telegraph and the cellphone. I am hoping that the fifth installment of this series is not far behind!

I have to admit I was not that excited about this book--I loved Into the Wilderness, and liked #2 and #3 (although the third volume was better than Dawn on a Distant Shore), but this just blew me away! I couldn't put it down--I had the same feeling when I first read Into the Wilderness, a book I have read and re-read dozens of times.

I think Donati has revitalized this series, and I must say that I find the newer characters (especially Lily and Simon) very believable and just as engaging as Elizabeth and Nathaniel. I have always been a Diana Gabaldon (Outlander series) fan, and I still love her stories, but I think she tends to overdramatize her hero and make him into an unbelievable superman (Jamie Fraser's been on the verge of death 500 times).

Donati's Nathaniel, however, has aged, he doesn't run around taking on the world like he used to (he didn't run off to Montreal), and is a much more believable character than Gabaldon's Jamie Fraser. I think I have become even more enthusiastic for this series than the Outlander series and cannot wait for the next installment.

Yes, I agree with the other reviews--you definitely need to read the first three to truly appreciate it--but that is the same of almost every series.

Really... a 4.5 review, but I rounded up for the stars. This is a fun 'escapism' read - not too thick on history or romance, and delightfully thin on military action.

I don't typically think of myself as a fan of romantic historical fiction - bodice ripping or 'fair maiden meets warrior' sorts of books - but occasionally I find books that have more meat to them than what one thinks of in this genre.

As a fan of Diana Gabaldon (particularly the first 3), I was pleased to find Sara Donati's series. Into the Wilderness (her first) caught my attention so much that I simply went out and bought the remaining three published thus far. Dawn on a Distant Shore and Lake in the Clouds were somewhat disappointing, and I began Fire Along the Sky out of a sense of obligation. What I discovered is that Donati gave up attempts to write 'action' and returned to her romance roots. The result was a much more satisfying book.

While lean on historical accuracies, this book delivers if you are looking for an entertaining story with some sexual tension and interesting characters. It is simply a very enjoyable read - nothing more. Just fun!

The drawbacks are that the story does build upon events from books One through Three, and readers will be far better informed if they've read the series in order than if they attempt to pick up here. Over the years Elizabeth Bonner's character has become slightly annoying, and Curiosity Freeman is practically a cliche. I missed Nathaniel Bonner as well; he's a bit too far in the background in this book.

That said, the characters of Lily Bonner and her cousin Jennet Carryck are more interesting. Further, Donati delivers realistic portrayals of how grief and mourning may rob the very life of a person when writing Hannah Bonner and Daniel Bonner, and how their painful silent inward anguish pains and haunts all who love them.

The draw in this story is the romance between Lily and Simon. Does it come out of nowhere as other readers mention? Yes. But you won't care after a bit. It simmers, nearly boils, then cools and simmers some more... and repeats that cycle again. The presentation of their growing relationship - particulalry their sexual one - is a bit 20th Century, but that just made it fun to read. Donati skillfully stokes anticipation, and brings back memories of feeling giddy. Enjoy!

This series keeps getting better for me. I'll stay away from the plot to spare anyone spoilers. This book covers the growth of the Bonner children during the War of 1812; less so that of their collective parents. Caution: you will be completely lost if you start the series here - in my opinion this book is NOT a stand alone. My only criticism is that the cover art isn't relative to the story this book tells. Why do publishers do this???

Do yourself a favor and read this series. It's great fun without the guilt because it's a love and adventure saga rolled inside a history lesson. I actually missed the characters when I finished the last book and I can only hope Sara Donati is hard at work on the next installment. Start at the beginning so you know who everyone is and how they influence the story as it progresses.
1. Into the Wilderness
2. Dawn on a Distant Shore
3. Lake in the Clouds
4. Fire Along the Sky
5. Queen of Swords
Enjoy.....

In 1812 half-breed widow Hannah returns to the home of her father Nathaniel and step-mother Elizabeth following the deaths of her husband and their child. Nathaniel, Elizabeth, and Hannah's Aunt Many-Doves can see she has lost the spirit to live. Still, Hannah is a gifted healer and she brings hope and health to the needy of Paradise. This provides her with some solace and the beginnings of her own healing from the tragedy that has left her feel alone even amongst loved ones.

Although war seems imminent between America and England making oceanic passages dangerous and difficult, recently widowed Jennet, a distant cousin, arrives from Scotland. The recent deaths of their respective husbands does not provide a link between Hannah and Elizabeth as the latter refuses to discuss her tragedy while the former acknowledges relief following the end of her loveless marriage. Meanwhile Hannah's stepbrother eighteen-year-old Daniel joins the American militia, but becomes a prisoner of war. Only Hannah can set him free bit she must first liberate herself from her grief.

FIRE ALONG THE SKY is a deep look at the impact that the War of 1812 had on Americans who were somewhat distant from the front, but effected by loved ones joining the fight. The story line is character driven especially by the courage of several of the women, but mostly Hannah who serves as the center that keeps the complex tale together. Fans of James Fennimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales will appreciate this powerful Americana novel.

Harriet Klausner

I enjoyed every book Sara Donati wrote and look forward to her next book but I am disappointed with her latest. In Fire Along the Sky, she skipped a decade at the start and ended the book like a segment of a soap opera. There were so many questions to be answered that I felt cheated. By the time she publishes her next book, I will have forgotten half the characters and I will need a refresher course on this book. I lost sleep reading Fire Along the Sky because of the suspense of this page turner, but what a let down. Ms. Donati - please finish your next book on an upbeat.

Unlike Donati's previous novels in this series, it took me a while to get into this one. The characters made so many oblique references and inside jokes that could not be understood until you read farther into the story where they are explained. However, once hooked, I missed sleep to finish it. I was a little disappointed in the lack of details in Lily and Simon's romance. (Some of the wonderful wooing like that between Elizabeth and Nathaniel in the first book would have been more in order.) I also would have liked it if Hannah found peace, but it is not my story to tell, and I am satisfied with the cliff-hanger ending - eager for the next book.

All I have to say is that if you are a fan of Donati's previous 3 novels you will love, love, love this newest installation about the Bonner family! Into the Wilderness, the first, is still my hands down favorite, but Fire Along the Sky comes in at a close second! I could not put this book down! I agree that you cannot read this book without first reading (and maybe re-reading) the first three. I cannot wait until the next one!

My only complaint is that this book was not long enough! Many questions are left unanswered, which is what makes this such a fantastic series. Donati knows her time period and history well and weaves that knowledge into a totally believable storyline. As with the other three books in the Wilderness series, the story center around the Bonner family, Nathaniel and Elizabeth being the nucleus. The children are the center of this novel. Hannah, coping with a great personal tragedy, Daniel and his desire to prove himself a man, Lily dealing with first time love and something she had mistaken for love. Luke Bonner, Nathaniel's son from a previous relationship, plays a large role in this tale, as well as Bonner family distant cousin Jennet from Scotland.

All of Donati's books in this series are character driven, thereby, the residents of Paradise are strong, recurring secondary characters in this installment. Once again, we are delighted by Curiousity Freeman's wit and seemingly endless wisdom. Jemima Kuick returns as an even more wicked villainess. Many Doves, Runs From Bears and their children Blue Jay and Annie appear as Mohawk family to the Bonners, giving readers a true appreciation for the type of racial ties that existed at the time for many frontier dwellers.
Simon Ballantyne, a lovable Scot and business partner of Luke, plays a major role in Lily's story as the man who courts and finally marries her.

Loose ends from the previous novels are answered, but the ending of this book leaves readers anxious for the next one. I highly recommend this book to anyone who had read the previous books. And to anyone who loves excellent historical fiction.