ARC/ Book review: 1666 by Lora Chilton

The premise of this book - a fictional retelling of the survival of the Patawomeck tribe of Virginia - is excellent, the story extremely harrowing and hard to stomach but important to tell. It is the story of three women from the Patawomeck tribe who witness the brutal murder of their husbands and families in 1666 and are then kidnapped and sold as slaves on the island of Barbados. They suffer losses and unimaginable pain but in the end show resilience and courage when they escape and return to Virginia, thus guaranteeing the continued existence of their tribe.

Author Lora Chilton herself is a member of the tribe and has done an immense amount of research to finally write down what has mainly been transported orally from generation to generation. This is such a crucial addition and document to the history of the Indigenous tribes that were brutally dispersed, abused and erased when the Europeans began to colonize the Americans in the 16th century. Especially since the author also talks about the rituals and traditions of her tribe, about daily life and their sense of community before the tribe was attacked and destroyed.

But unfortunately, it always feels just like that: a mere listing of historical facts. This doesn’t read like historical fiction but like a school textbook for middle graders. Which is such a shame because it could have been an outstanding piece of fiction (the story itself is such an amazing example of bravery and resistance). While I applaud the author for tackling such a difficult matter- and one that is so dear to her own heart - I wish she’d either have opted to write this as non-fiction, or to have adopted a different style for this historical fiction. The way it turned out is a little bit messy. But I’m still glad I read it.

Thank you to Lora Chilton, NetGalley and Sybilline Press for the ARC.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is brutally honest about the treatment of Native American tribes by colonists. 1666 is harsh, showing the genocide and slavery that Patawomek were forced to live through. I loved this harsh and brutal honesty. It allowed the resilience of the characters to be seen through the darkness. It also forces the reader to reflect on a time in history we Americans often forget really was this terrible.

This is a definite must read!

Based mostly on the oral tradition of the Patawomeck tribe, this story imagines the life of a few women who survived genocide and slavery to return to Virginia and carry on the traditions of their people.

The incredibly story describes how Ah'SaWei, MaNa, Xo and WaBus are violently abducted, sold as slaves and sent to Barbados, experiencing cruelty and infrequent moments of kindness to find their way back home - all told in pragmatic yet poetic prose.

Although the language of the book is lilting and unembellished this story invokes plenty of emotion. The stark cruelty of the colonists contrasts with flashbacks of the peaceful traditions of the Patawomeck people while the women's thoughts and feelings are brought to life.

It's a quick read but packs a punch and I found that the story lingered with me for a long time after I had finished it.

It is a story of a place and time, and while we can comfort ourselves with the understanding that the human race has evolved, I think it's important to understand the roots of racial intolerance in order for us to see and heal its impact today.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and Sybilline Press. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The story behind this novel is fascinating and it's certainly something that needs to be told, however, the execution of THIS telling requires considerable refinement. The prose is dry and reads like a list of facts put forth in first person narrative, as if there was simply an outline of information regarding Patawomeck society and traditions that Chilton felt needed to be included. While I applaud thorough research, a fictionalized account shouldn't read like a sixth grade social study report. The inclusion of Patawomeck language is something I would expect, as in any novel involving people who speak a language other than what the work is written in, but the constant repetition of the Indigenous language followed by the English translation was clunky. For instance after every name "NePa'WeXo, Shining Moon" or "TseNaCoMoCo, Virginia." After the first introduction of non-English word with translation just pick a language! O felt more like I was reading a poorly written text book than what should have been a harrowing and finally uplifting story of three women's triumph over their enslaved.

1666 was a difficult book to get through at times but was that just means it was worth reading. It technically is about three Patawomeck women but a bulk of the story is told through two of their points of view. The Lora Chilton did not sugar coat the brutality they endured following the massacre of their tribe. It's an all to believable tale of slavery, suffering, and strength.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

I was drawn to 1666 simply because its an indigenous survival story that’s mostly unknown, but I was even more captivated once Lora introduced the daily living and customs of the Patawomeck Tribe and the main characters. I was hooked on the journeys of Xo and Ah’SaWei, and I didn’t want to put the book down until I found out their final fate.

There’s no denying this is a difficult story to read. Especially because the massacre is based on a true event. While the story following the massacre is imagined, it depicts conditions and treatment enslaved people really faced. My heart was so heavy while reading, but difficult stories are still necessary. The ugly truth is that multiple groups blood stains the history of America. Countless people faced despicable and horrific atrocities that led to profound suffering, destruction, and death.

1666, brings awareness to the massacre of Patawomeck men and the enslavement of the women and children. After foreigners “discovered” the “new world,” the Indigenous people helped and taught them. Eventually, their kindness wasn’t enough. The explorers wanted the tribes to sell their land to them. The Patawomeck tribe refused on several occasions. As a result, the foreigners attacked.

In this story, we follow Xo and her daughter WaBus, as well as Ah’SaWei and her daughter MaNa (after the massacre) as they’re transported on a slave ship across the sea to Barbados where they’re purchased as slaves. All four of these characters are close like family, but unfortunately they’re sold to work on different sugar plantations; Xo and her daughter on one plantation and Ah’SaWei and her daughter on another. From then on, their experiences are both similar and vastly different. Most importantly, they’re both separately plotting to escape Barbados and return home.

I found myself feeling both disgusted by how the enslaved people were treated and in awe of Xo and Ah’SaWei’s resilience and courage to get home with their children by any means necessary.

I loved learning about the customs of the Patawomeck and I’m so glad this book exposed me to a historic event I had never heard of before.

Thank you to NetGalley the publisher for an advanced eARC.

I can't remember the last time a book moved me to tears, but 1666 did it in spades. It is both a devastating story of unfathomable loss and the power of love and perseverance. The story follows 3 Patawomeck women during the massacre of their village, slavery, and eventual return to their homeland. Through out the story the author beautifully weaves in little nuggets of their culture and traditions, all from the perspective of the women as they try to better understand their new world all while trying to find a way back home. This is the most powerful and moving book I've read in many years. I absolutely recommend it!

1666 tells the story of the massacre of the Patawomeck men, the enslavement of their women and children, and the ultimate return of three women. This harrowing story is told through the eyes of the three women who risk it all to return home and continue the lineage of their people.

I appreciated the forward letting the reader know that reading about the violence that happened to the Patawomeck people would be difficult to read. The only way to learn history is to learn the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of it. Most people shy away from the bad and ugly parts but those are the ones that we need to truly look into because we can’t move forward and we can’t prevent it from happening again if we don’t learn about it to begin with. That forward made me WANT to read this book even more just so I could learn about what happened and know it wasn’t going to be sugar coated.

I am not normally one to get teary eyed while reading but this book got me there. The pain these women experience is raw and gut wrenching. There were times I wanted to put the book down but I had to know if it got better for them so I kept reading. In my mind, it had to get better for them after already enduring so much pain, suffering, and loss over the years.

* Special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

1666 is a fictional retelling of the survival of the Patawomeck tribe of Virginia through the lives of three women. It's a story from the oral tradition that's been shared from generation to generation among tribe members.
This story is told from three different points of view: Xo (Shinning moon, later named Leah), An'SaWei (Golden Fawn later named Rebeca) and WaBus (Blue Bunny, later named Anne), three women who were taken from their land and sold to English colonizers in Barbados and how they fought to survived and found their way back home.

This novel is a tribute to the bravery of the Patawomeck tribe and their beautiful culture. It goes into details on the traditions of the tribe, the cruelty of slavery and colonization. Its raw, emotional and very moving.
It can be a little confusing at first because it goes back and forth between the present and the past. If you like history this novel is for you.

I've been reading historical fiction for decades now. But despite the excess of material about our white founding fathers, I've come across very little that explores the indigenous stories with insight and honesty. Until now.

Based on a true story and written by a member of the Patawomeck Tribe of Virginia, 1666 tells the story of three strong women and the role each played in the survival of their tribe, following a massacre by English settlers. The novel is based on oral tradition, interviews with tribal elders, written colonial records extensive research, and study of the Patawomeck language.

At the start of the book, these peaceful, nature-loving indigenous people are growing increasingly angry with their treatment at the hands of the new settlers -- a group the tribe has fed and supported since the settlers arrived. What then unfolds is the story of the tribe's attempt to resist the settlers' ever-increasing demands and what happens to many of the women who survive.

If you, like me, usually think of enslavement in the United States as primarily affecting Afro-Americans, this novel will force you to reevaluate that assumption. The Patawomeck women suffer the same violations, the same indignations, and the same loss of autonomy. The book presents a graphic portrait of the institution of slavery that is hard to read.

1666 is a story with power and drama, written in a straightforward and simple voice. The voices of the three women narrating are not well differentiated. But that won't keep you from feeling the horror of what they endured. Or from admiring their commitments to one another and to their tribal culture.

Well done! This novel is a well-written history lesson presented in a way that is difficult to put down. Both heartbreaking and enlightening, this story makes me want to learn more. Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

This was a strong concept overall and thought the use of Patawomeck tribe worked well overall. It was a great way of introducing the readers to a real life tragedy. It was really well written and the characters worked in the time-period. Lora Chilton does a great job writing this and left me wanting more.

3.75⭐️
Really enjoyed this novel, my first forage into Native American historical fiction. I was unaware of the things many Native tribes underwent at the hands of the English, and this book was a great fictional retelling of some of the horrors faced.
One small comment on the book is that there isnt much dialogue, and some moments could have benefited from being discussed a bit more in depth and some scenes, especially many in which very formative and traumatic events occur, were quickly moved on from.

(Thank you to Lora Chilton, Sibylline Press and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC)

Can I just start this by saying wow? This book was so captivating emotional but also taught you a whole lot of the stories from the PaTow’O’Mek tribe and the three women who managed to find their way back to their lands in TseNaCoMoCo (Or Virginia) after a whole lot of suffering.

I can confidently tell you that since this book is based on the story of three PaTow’O’Mek women (AhSaWei, Xo and WaBus) and that my heart broke for them all throughout the book.

There were obviously some moments that any reader would probably know of/heard of if they had looked into some of the history regarding indigenous people and slave history, but it still hit a bit hard to read it from the perspective of these women in the story too.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about indigenous history while also following a bit of a story about women who experienced a lot of the things that were common and happened to them during the middle of the 1600s. But keep in mind that although this story had a happy ending that the women in the book (both indigenous as well as some other side character that I will not name due to spoilers) dealt with a lot of abuse and grief, even from the beginning of the book so please be aware of the trigger warnings for that (even if they are mild).

My main concern however is that although the story was told in chronological order and in POV’s, I do wish that we could have gotten a bit more information about a certain thing because to me it felt like the story of these women were “jumping forward” a bit too fast for us to fully get to know these women and the other people in the book that well. But that might just be a personal opinion. There also seems to be a tiny bit of rendering problem on the file that was sent to ARC readers because during the beginning of some of the chapters, the letters would be out of place (ex the sentence: “I had handled grief” would look something like “Had handled I grief”. But that might’ve been fixed before the book is released.

Otherwise I really recommend reading this book and also looking up some history of the different tribes around the world to fully know and see the story to full extent (if you haven’t already).

I was interested in reading this novel because I have not read books on the subject. I am glad publishers are branching out and including minority voices. While the topic was interesting, I felt this was an average read. I felt the author was telling us the story and now showing us. I did not feel emersed in the world in which the author was writing. That being said, I look forward to future books by this author.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Sibylline Press for gifting me this arc.

Secondly, the review. 1666 is a brutally honest depiction of the genocide and subsequent enslavement of the Native American tribes in America, specifically the Patawomeck tribe from the now named Virginia, USA. I appreciated the brutal honesty of the emotions and turmoil that the surviving women from the otherwise annihilated tribe went through. Why sugar coat the brutality, especially when colonisation is still rampant is modern society? It wasn’t just murder that they endured, but the kidnapping of their children to be adopted by white settler families as well and never to see them again. Despite that, the author manages to tell a story about resilience and hope in a time that other wise, is bleak and filled with uncertainty.

The book follows two mothers from the tribe who end up being enslaved in separate plantations. Their children still luckily with them due to their ages. The author does well in showing the varying relationships that slave owners had with their slaves, and albeit sometimes were kinder to them, the power dynamic was still treacherous. I enjoyed that the women did not give up, even with the possibility of death around every waking corner, they found a way to escape although separately. Their stories continue to show different lives for Native American women in a white settler world, and although at times it made my heart ache with sadness, I also found myself smiling at times of pure joy as well.

This is a very special book and I’m sure it’ll be a hit once officially published. I can’t wait to see what the author writes in the future!

This is a tragic story that is beautifully told. The first part of the book was tough for me to read, it is a tough part of history that is either glossed over or completely omitted in most history lessons. The strength of the Patawomeck women is incredible, as is their connection to each other and their land. The details of their culture and traditions was interesting to read and learn about. The different view points allowed for different experiences to be explored and were woven together nicely. Thank you Netgear and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book and allowing me to read it early.

I loved this title and had a hard time putting it down. It was heartbreaking and poignant and should be a must-read. And we think we are tough. The descriptions felt historically accurate and it was told in a way that was honest. The indigenous language used was manageable and did not take away from the readability of the story. I wanted more!

The amazing, heartbreaking, and hard to put down story of three Native American women captured and enslaved by Europeans, but managed to find their freedom and save their children.

Wow. Just Wow. I loved this book. I devoured it in just a few days and was so interested in the story and the history behind it.

1666 tells the story of primarily 2 Patawomeck women from present day Virginia who experienced a massacre that killed all of the men and several other women, infants and children from the tribe and left the survivors to be sold into slavery. Written by a descendant of this Indigenous group, the author Lora Chilton brings together a very thorough amount of research as well as the cultural and linguistic understanding that is needed to properly set this incredible book in both time and place in history. From the treacherous treatment of the slaves during the transport and sale from their land to Barbados, to the horrendous conditions on sugar cane plantations to a hope for a seemingly impossible return to their land one day, this book takes readers on a tumultuous journey filled with immense pain and suffering and incredible strength and resilience. From being members of an equal community to being treated worse than their owners' horses and having zero say in their lives and the lives of their loved ones, there are some pretty stark contrasts throughout this book and the author does a fantastic job juxtaposing these images and plotlines. Additionally, the cultural, linguistic and historic details such as the companion crop planting method used by Indigenous groups in North America, or the make up of the names of the characters and descriptions of the land, this book has an incredible amount of detail that I doubt readers would find in another historical fiction set in this time period. The Anthropology major in me definitely was enthralled by this one, but I think most histfic lovers would be interested in this unique story. I am really looking forward to it's pubdate in April 2024 to find out what others think of this book! Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy!