Have you ever visited a historical site - in the U.S., these places are usually identified with brown signs signifying they are places of historic significance - and then gone into the visitor's center at this historic site and seen the plethora of memorabilia that is somehow connected with that site, usually including plenty of books (fiction and non-fiction) written and published by local authors?

I am the guy who buys those books.

While Ian Roberts' <em>A Land Apart</em> wasn't purchased at a regional historic site, the feel is pretty much the same.

The story is about Etienne Brulé and his part in the French colonization of Canada in the very early 1600's. Not surprisingly, his life in and among the natives (arming the Wyandots to be able to defend themselves against the Iroquois who've been armed by the English) plays a major part in Brulé's time in this land.

I have to admit that I know (knew?) next to nothing about Canada's early explorers - which is precisely why I like this sort of book. It's packed full of history (presumably well-researched) and told in an easier (narrative) way to make the reading enjoyable. Or at least that's the idea.

Ian Roberts does a very strange thing here with the actual writing of the book. He tells this story in third person historic present tense. The idea, I think, is that this is supposed to make us feel the immediacy of the moment much more when the action is taking place <em>now, </em>rather than looking back on it. But for me the effect was just the opposite. I struggled constantly through the book because the narrative just felt wrong to me. While I recognize that this isn't the first book to be written in this tense I've noticed that those I can recall I have not rated very highly.

I believe that present tense is hard to sustain in a novel. It is much easier in a film or stage script. And there we have the crux of what I consider to be the problem here. In his Afterword, Robert's tells us that this story started out as a film script that a dear friend insisted that he write. When nothing came of it, he put it aside until one day when a friend who had a copy of that script told Roberts that he should do something with this story. And now it's easy to see why this style was selected ... it had already been written this way, for a different format, and of course it's easier to rewrite when you keep the tense in which it was first written.

Let me randomly pick a scene in the book:
<blockquote>Brulé, tomahawk still in hand, now slams it down on the noble’s table itself, splitting it in two. ...

Brulé is furious that he has let this priest get to him again. Behind du Barre, he sees LeCharon stepping into the water just beyond the gap at the end of the palisade. Near the priest, two soldiers talk. One leans against the edge of the palisade, the other nestles himself in the fork of a tree to have a view over the palisade wall into the forest. Another burst of laughter escapes from the four Algonquin on the other side of camp. A drunken laughter. And not far from them, six French men lounge against the palisade wall.

“Who are they?” Brulé asks.

“The company’s new men,” answers du Barre. “Those that will replace you.”

But Brulé is already striding towards them. His frustration and fury with the priest now overflow at the sight unfolding before him.</blockquote>
This definitely has a film script sense to it. Rather than writing description for a read, this is written as description for a director to paint a scene. And given this, I would much rather have read this <em>as</em> a script (though I suppose that aren't really that many readers who are familiar with how to read a script).

This didn't work me. Maybe it would have if I'd known at the start that this was a (slightly) converted script-to-novel. And this is too bad, because I think the story could have been quite interesting.

Roberts also illustrates this book with some fine drawings.

Looking for a good book? <em>A Land Apart</em> by Ian Roberts is a nice, historic, Canadian story but the story format doesn't appeal.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

A Land Apart

by Ian Roberts

40675822January 1st 2019
by Atelier Saint-Luc Press
ISBN 0972872337
(ISBN13: 9780972872331)
Just the pictures themselves is amazing, but this book shows the nature of trade and the changes of colliding cultures. This book is a great resource for children learning about the interactions between Native Americans and European powers during the American Revolutionary time, and how trade and wealth influenced the nature of the conflict.

“A Land Apart” is historical fiction and based on actual events that happened in 1634 in New France which will eventually become Canada. It’s the story of the Wendat and the Iroquois as seen through the eyes of a Frenchman who had “gone native” in a manner of speaking.

For some strange reason, “gone native” has a bad connotation, as if the person had gone rogue or made a bad choice. Personally, I don’t see it that way and in terms of the book, the lead character Etienne Brulé actually made a good choice to adapt the way of the Wendat because it showed that Brule respected them.

“A Land Apart” is different from other books I’ve read because it is full of illustrations. The author Ian Roberts is an artist; the paintings in the book are his work. But, this is not the narrative I had read that features illustration. Books by Brandon Sanderson, specifically his “Stormlight Archive” series always include illustrations.

What made the paintings in “A Land Apart” different is that it seemed that they were a storyboard in a manner of speaking. That assumption on my part became stronger when I found out that the author rewrote the book from a script! So, okay, the illustrations were partly storyboard material.

So, what can I say about this book? Do I recommend it? For those who likes historical fiction, then yes, you will enjoy this book. But it is hard to get into. There were times when I felt I was reading a history tome. If you can get over that, then your interest will be piqued.

Just a few personal notes: It’s hard writing a review when I cannot go back and re-read the passages I need to. The ARC was sent via Adobe Digital Editions and like I expected, there was an expiration date. I finished reading “A Land Apart” sometime ago but never had the time to write the review. Now, that I’m ready, I just found out that time had expired.

So, let me just say that I winged this review. Sorry about that. It sounds so unprofessional. But I liked the book including all its quirks. And, though “A Land Apart” is not my usual cup of tea, I was asked via email to review it. I gave my word that I’ll read and review it. So, here it is.

Sorry I hadn't time to read this one before it was archived. I'm in college and have a big workload this year.

**I received this as an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review**
So, the publisher sent me an email asking me to review this book on Netgalley. This is not something I would normally read at all. I don't even know how to catagorize it. It was historical, it also seemed a little young-adultish...it is not billed as YA, but something about it seems that way.

It is the story of Brule`, a fur trapper from France who is now living with the Native Americantribe of the Wendat of New France (eventually to be Canada). It is that period of history where the English are trading for muskets with the Iroquis and the Iroquis are wiping out their more peaceful neighbors.

I was cruising along, actually enjoying the story, even though it got kind of brutal once or twice, when all of a sudden it came to a capricious and abrupt end with no warning or anything. It wasn't even a cliffhanger. It actually seemed like I only got half the book, and that's where it cut off.

The quote in the book that I find amusing: "Follow whatever silver of hope you find...to the end." Why, you might ask? This is just a food for thought. I think for me it weighs a lot when I truly want something so bad but the current is too strong and everything against me. It gets frustrating, right? Running away does not resolves things anyway so I press on.

I am glad to have been able to get an opportunity to read A Land Apart because it is part of Canada's history. I have a lot of respect when it comes to Canada because it is my dream country to visit one day. Aside from the fact that this book is truly an adventure book and art due to its writing style of vibrant details of certain events.

This review may be viewed as unhelpful and vague in a sense that I did not go beyond of what I really thought of the characters and whatnot because I felt that I lack a lot when it comes to reading that connects with history. But, I would certainly recommend this book to someone who is fond towards this genre. I personally have to say that it is probably my first encounter to have read one about really in depth and wide knowledge on its true event related to history.

This book tells the story about the interactions of native peoples, settlers and religious missionaries in a frontier area of what is now Canada in the 16th century. It is an adventure story, and a description of the difficulties in understanding that plagued European visitors/settlers as they tried to make their way within this environment that was much more alien and hostile than they could even imagine.

The writing and illustrations are very descriptive and beautiful; although I did not know that the author was a landscape painter before reading the book, his evocative descriptions of the landscape within which this story takes place have a painterly feel to them.

The story itself was well-written, and enjoyable. There was a bit more action/adventure, and a bit less character exploration than I normally enjoy, but I think that is simply a function of the fact that I don’t tend to read action/adventure novels. All in all, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for anyone who likes reading about the time period. I would definitely give it 3 and a half stars if I could.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy.

This book was super interesting and, while it was kind of hard to get into at first, it was thoroughly enjoyable. I loved how there was a clear story that was being told, but that it was also based on history. It didn’t feel like a lot of other historical fiction novels that are boring or just dump the history on you. The plot was fascinating and fast paced. Overall, it was a great read!

French explorer Etienne Brule is the center of an extremely interesting and entertaining historical story that I really enjoyed. I haven't read a historical in quite a while and enjoyed this one over Summer. I think the fact that it is loosely based on true events makes it even more relevant and really got my mind working. The writing was descriptive and the plot was very enjoyable. I really liked this book.

This is very different to novels that I normally choose to read but it proved both entertaining and educational, based on historical events and characters crafted into an intriguing adventure story. The author has also included lovely images illustrating events from the story which has Etienne Brulé as the central character, someone who really existed and involved in the battles involving the French, English, Wendat and Iroquois which occurred in what is now known as Canada and the US during the 17th Century.

The time is brought vividly to life, portraying just what it may have been like to live there during that time. There are also historical notes, discussion stimuli and more in this book. This is a great way to learn more about what happened then and some of the people involved - it certainly had me enthralled. It is definitely a book for adults and I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who enjoys history presented in novel form.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of it after choosing to read it.

A Land Apart follows the story of Etienne Brule and his connection to the colonization of Canada by France. The story covers only a short time period in history. The story begins with the Iroquois obtain guns from the English. A simple thing by modern standards but such a purchase endangers the settlement of Canada and the Wyandot tribe. Brule is forced to evaluate his beliefs. By arming the Wyandots, he is saving them from the immediate attack of the Iroquois, but possibly condemning them to a deadly war.

It took me a while to get into the novel. The writing style of the author is a little strange. Once I realized he had transformed this book from a script, the style made more sense. It reads a little like a movie. This technique made it easier for me to imagine the scenes unfold. To witness history. As I read further, I could not put it down. I wanted to know more about Brule, Savignon, and Champlain. When I reached the final page, I was sad to see it end. I wanted more.

I truly enjoyed reading about an unusual topic. I have enjoyed reading other novels based upon the settlement of the early America by Europeans and about their Native people they encountered. It was nice to learn about a different group and to see a different angle. Usually I am reading about the English or Americans, so I liked the view of the French settlers.

Etienne Brulé is a Frenchman who has given up on the French. He lives with the Wendat Indians and appreciates the spirit of nature and friendships of the men. He even marries and has his own children. But not everyone appreciates him. The French hold a grudge...

Atelier Saint-Luc Press and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It is has been published and you can grab a copy now.

This story is based on historical fact. It was 1634. When the English sells guns to the Iroquois, it changes the balance of power in the Indian wars. Now instead of a few deaths, there can be larger numbers murdered. It's an unfair advantage.

The other tribe wants to buy guns also but Etienne tries to talk them out of it. He's served in the war and saw how many people the guns can kill. But peace isn't easy to achieve when even the Frenchmen don't want the Indians there. They want to take their land for another colony. It's that perpetual war that exists between white men and people of different colors or different economic situations. Even nowadays it raises its ugly face.

The Wendats are anxious for weapons, so he goes to buy some. Then he finds the Iroquois are getting ready to attack the Wendat village. They get sidetracked when they run into the traveling French group. The priests are determined to shove their religion down the Indians throats.

Even if it's a story about a real man, it reads like a thriller. He faces torture, certain death, and perhaps the death of his son, too. He does what he came to do and makes up his mind stay and protect those he loves. I admire what he did so long ago. He believed in freedom and that's important. I enjoyed this read about a bit of Canada's history and the illustrations are beautiful.

‘I thought Paradise was lost, not found.’

North America, 1634. The French, the English, the Iroquois and the Wendat are just starting to battle for control over the land. The French and the English have established colonies and want to control the vast natural resources. They also want to convert the ‘savages’ to Christianity and establish towns on the land they have inhabited. In New France, the Iroquois and the Wendat may have been evenly matched, but when the English sell the Iroquois guns, this balance is shaken. Étienne Brûlé may be able to get guns for the Wendat, but he knows that no-one can win.

The hero of this novel is Étienne Brûlé who has lived with the Wendat for years. He has embraced Wendat culture and has helped them develop a fur trade with France. Brûlé has fought alongside the Wendat against the Iroquois and has suffered with them as a consequence. In the novel Étienne Brûle is the only person who seems aware of the dangers of European colonisation.

Based on historical events, Mr Roberts has written an action-filled novel accompanied by beautiful black and white drawings. His novel draws our attention to the consequences of European colonisation including the impact of introduced diseases. Viewed from the 21st century, we know that the French insistence on civilising the ‘savages’ will not end well for either side. Read as a novel set in the 17th century, the French themselves succeed in looking uncivilised at times. For me, the novel succeeds on two fronts. Firstly, by conveying a real sense of the beauty of the countryside and secondly by making me more aware of this historical period.

There is no neat end to this novel, no sense of a story concluding. The novel finishes. The reader returns to the present, knowing that change has just begun. I finished the novel (and Mr Roberts’s notes) wanting to know more about the life of Étienne Brûle.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Atelier Saint-Luc Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I took Canadian Literature for a full year in University, followed by Canadian Fiction and then Canadian Short Stories, and so I am no stranger to historical fiction. In fact, I probably read too many of them and haven't picked up a single historical fiction since finishing school.

A Land Apart is a lovely piece and I am so, so happy I picked it up when I received the email that it was available for download. I recognized the familiar themes of man versus wilderness, of cultures opposing one another, and of the strong emotions caused by nature. Ian Roberts writes well and is sensitive to the story he is representing, and I truly enjoyed the book. The illustrations within are also beautiful and so I recommend reading this book on a large, bright screen, or getting a physical copy to truly enjoy it.

This is a shorter book and the ending left me craving more. I think the book could have easily went on for another chapter or two to satisfy the reader a little bit more.

I'd like to thank Atelier Saint-Luc Press for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. For Netgalley users: please note that this book isn't available on Kindle.

Historical fiction based on real events, A Land Apart by Ian Roberts takes us back to the North American wilderness of 1634. The French are determined to convert the local "savages" to Christianity and establish towns and cities on lands inhabited by aboriginal tribes. The English are also attempting to do the same and make the mistake of introducing guns to one of the more violent tribes, the Iroquois.

The story is based upon the life of Frenchman Etienne Brulé who arrived in the country, soon to be Canada, 25 years prior to the beginning of the book. Rather than trying to force the natives to change their ways, Brulé embraced their cultures and joined the Wendat tribe, using his knowledge of the western world to help them trade fur with the French. Only Brulé seems to realise the potential catastrophe that could occur as a result of the Iroquois owning muskets, however, he also recognises that, in order to survive, the Wendats now need guns too.

Ian Roberts highlights the history that is often omitted from history books. The French and the English believed what they were doing was good; they were saving people's souls by converting them to their faith and civilising the "savages". Yet, when seeing the situation from the other perspective, shown here by Brulé, the French were doing more harm than good. The western world was meddling with a society that had functioned for many years without the use of modern technologies and powerful weapons. Tribes were content with their mud huts and spiritual beliefs and they had remained healthy despite foraging for food and hunting down wild animals. Since the French arrived, however, illness such as Smallpox swept through the communities, killing over half of the population.

A Land Apart reveals the stubbornness of the French as well as their ignorance. Rather than describing the tribes as uncivilised, the French begin to appear that way instead. Roberts contrasts the way the French cope with the tribal lifestyle with the way in which the tribes embrace or reject western culture. All of this is achieved whilst building up a story around the introduction of guns and Brulé's desperate attempt to protect his beloved Wendat.

There is no conclusion to this story, which some may find frustrating, however, we all know how it will end. Today, Canada is full of cities established by the French. Gone are the tribes and wilderness, their natural environments destroyed. With a combination of prose and illustrations, Roberts has exposed the uncomfortable truth.

A Land Apart might be fiction, but it is steeped in history. In the book, we follow a few good men around Canada, trying to stop a catastrophe from happening. I love the fact that A Land Apart address key issues faced when outsiders invade a land: people fall sick and the increased hunting, hurting wildlife.
What is impressive, is the author's beautiful landscape drawings, which are really beautiful and a part of the writings of the book. Definitely recommend it.

Adventure, cultural clash and a well researched historical background.
This book has it all to be appreciated by people who love historical fiction and those who like adventurous books.
I loved the style of writing and I loved how the plot was developed, fast paced and engaging.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Atelier Saint-Luc Press and Netgalley for this ARC