Review: Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon (audio)

Title: Where the Lost Wander

Author: Amy Harmon

Narrator: Lauren Ezzo, Shaun Taylor-Corbett

Published: April 2020, Brilliance Audio

Length: 11 hours 46 minutes

Source: Publisher

Summary:

In this epic and haunting love story set on the Oregon Trail, a
family and their unlikely protector find their way through peril,
uncertainty, and loss.

The Overland Trail, 1853: Naomi May never expected to be widowed
at twenty. Eager to leave her grief behind, she sets off with her family
for a life out West. On the trail, she forms an instant connection with
John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man straddling two worlds and a stranger in
both.

But life in a wagon train is fraught with hardship, fear,
and death. Even as John and Naomi are drawn to each other, the trials of
the journey and their disparate pasts work to keep them apart. John’s
heritage gains them safe passage through hostile territory only to come
between them as they seek to build a life together.

When a
horrific tragedy strikes, decimating Naomi’s family and separating her
from John, the promises they made are all they have left. Ripped apart,
they can’t turn back, they can’t go on, and they can’t let go. Both will
have to make terrible sacrifices to find each other, save each other,
and eventually…make peace with who they are.

My thoughts: This is the first book I’ve read by Amy Harmon and I know it won’t be the last. As soon as I saw this I knew I had to request it as my friend Ashley has been raving about her books for quite some time and I can see why. I’m only sorry I did pick up any sooner.

I read a lot of historical fiction, but not too many set in the United States and I have not read any set on the Oregon Trail. Not only was this book beautifully written, but I could feel as if I was with the characters on the trail with them. I felt transported back in time and that is not always an easy feat to do in writing, especially in historical fiction, yet I feel that Amy Harmon did so with ease. Her characters were so richly drawn and the scenery was depicted in such a way that I could easily visualize it. 

This book clearly depicts just how hard life was during this time. Amy does not sugarcoat it by any means and I appreciate that. I was completely captivated by this book from the start and even when these characters were struggling, the way Amy wrote the scenes, you could not help but be sucked in, wanting to know how things would be resolved. It wasn’t always that a positive outcome was to be expected but that you just needed to see how the characters handled themselves. 

I loved the author’s note at the end where Amy Harmon shared the inspiration for this story. I always find that so enlightening and it provides further understanding of why certain parts were so in the book. I cannot recommend this book enough. It was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time and am so glad I finally had a chance to discover why this author is a favorite. I will now be binging on her backlist as I wait to see what comes next from her! 

Audio thoughts: I had the chance to listen to this book and what a delight that was. I adore Lauren Ezzo and was so happy to see she was one of the narrators listed for this book. I was not familiar with Shaun Taylor-Corbett but enjoyed his narration as well. Both narrators did a great job with their parts and their pacing and intonation were spot on and they made this audiobook a delight to listen to.