This book hit me right in the heart. Amity is a beautifully told story about two siblings navigating freedom, danger, and hope in the aftermath of the Civil War. It’s tense, emotional, and full of moments that stay with you long after the last page.

In 1864 New Orleans, emancipated but not freed, brother and sister slaves Coleman and June have been separated. June went to Mexico with her master, Mr. Harper, while Coleman was left to take care of the abandoned family. Unexpectedly, a letter arrived from Mr. Harper ordering Coleman to come to him and June in Mexico. Coleman begins his journey to find June and freedom unprepared for what he is to endure.

I was drawn to this book by the cover and the description, and I was captivated by the prose, the plot, the characters, and the history. Living in the desert Southwest, Nathan Harris's depiction of this environment ran true to me. I could feel the dust, dirt, heat, and thirst. I LOVED everything about this book.

Thank you, Little Brown and Company and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest review. Ten Stars if I could.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you are not reading Nathan Harris you are just missing out, plain and simple. In his sophomore effort, Harris brings us down to Baton Rouge a few years after the end of the Civil War, but our main characters Coleman and June, sibling slaves, were separated by their master and have yet to find out they're no longer slaves. When Coleman receives a letter summoning him to Mexico to reunite with his sister and their master, the rest of the scheme begins to unfold.

The setting, the characters, the depth of the historical accuracy...chef's kiss all around. This story was so compelling and you just feel the heat and the dust of this perilous landscape enfolding these characters. I absolutely loved this book and I think it will quickly become a top read of 2025 when it releases in September. I never read the Sweetness of Water but I am quickly adding to my TBR. Amity is an easy 5 star read.