This story of struggle and perseverance took me away to a harsh yet beautiful time and place after the turmoil and devastation of the Civil War. 

In Amity, alternating story lines and the memories of separated siblings Coleman and June told of their individual journeys as former slaves living in unfamiliar "freedom." The book seemed a bit jumpy and confusing at times, but more than midway through the story, when a new sense of home and community arrived for June, the confusion eventually settled. The possibility of a reunion of brother and sister kept me swiping toward the well thought out and satisfying conclusion. 

Mr. Harris provided a piece of American and Mexican history in a setting new to me and is a story that will remain with me long after his book has been tucked away on my Kindle. 

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing me the opportunity to read the advanced e-copy of; Amity by Nathan Harris.

Told through dual POVs from siblings June and Coleman. Amity is a beautifully written harrowing tale of these two siblings trying to find their freedom and each other in a post Civil War US and into Mexico. The characters are so well developed. The story is primarily told through Coleman's point of view. He really feels like a growing adult. Trying to find his place within his new "freedom" when he is separated from his sister June. What follows is his journey to find his sister in Mexico. It's treacherous and terrifying. Oliver is such a light moment throughout. I think there were areas where the pacing was a little slow and it was hard to stay engaged. But overall a really good work of historical fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC!

This book drew me in right away. The characters were so well written and their affectations described so perfectly I could picture them in my mind. I liked that the story was told mainly from Coleman's POV, but we also heard his sister, June's, story in third person. I found myself feeling sympathetic for characters I didn't want to be, especially in the desert scenes. And I loved little Oliver!

Harris did an excellent job of creating a historical account with a ton of accuracy without losing the storytelling touches. I recommend this one. I bet it is great on audio, too. 4.5 stars rounded up.

A book that chose me... and came with a little NetGalley confession.

Confession time: I snagged this from Camp NetGalley partly out a little publishing pettiness. This publisher used to approve me and now I’m stuck in auto-decline purgatory.
Seriously—why??

So when Amity popped up, I snatched it, read it, and now I’m reviewing it and hoping to no longer be a ghost from the past.

Then I realized it was by the same author as The Sweetness of Water, which I still haven’t read (yet), but this one instantly nudged it higher on my TBR. I'm a sucker for slow, carefully written, haunting stories especially those with an atmosphere that soaks into your bones.

What Lit my mood
The haunting quiet tone that lingered over every page
The setting in New Orleans, 1866. The Civil War is over, but formerly enslaved Coleman and June have yet to find the freedom they’ve been promised.
The unforgettable bond and quiet ache for each other between siblings Coleman and June, torn apart when their former master, Mr. Harper fled to Mexico with June. Coleman is left behind in Louisiana to serve Mrs. Harper and her daughter Florence, now on a journey to Mexico after being summoned by Mr Harper.

Where my Mood Flickered
This story asks you to sit in the hush and just feel and at times I did that but the pacing felt off. Just as something would catch my attention, it would slow again, and I’d find my focus would flicker, breaking the spell.

Witchy Mood Meter Rating
🕷️ Almost Aligned -The vibes were there, but my energy was too restless to fully settle into the story’s quiet spell.

My recommendation
Add it to your altar if you crave quiet, poetic prose and aching, character-driven storytelling. So summon it when your energy is calm, and you're ready to sit with sorrow, longing, and the ghosts of history.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and wish to leave my opinion on it. This story is a loving nod of historical fiction taken with painstaking effort for accuracy. Nathan writes all of the gritty details of life during those times without trying to hide it behind rose colored glasses. It was a wonderful, heartbreaking journey to be taken on without glorification of the past. I appreciate all of the detail built into the world and characters. Amity is a story I would recommend everyone read, especially those that say they don’t understand the horrors that followed the Civil War. I rejoiced with the peaceful ending while deeply understanding that was not usually the case.

I am so grateful to the publisher, Little, Brown and Company, and the author, Nathan Harris, for the privilege to read this advanced copy through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. I highly recommend this novel that is well researched and enjoyable to read. The author has a fantastic writing style that captures the reader's attention right from the start. I didn't want to put the book down.

The story is set in Louisiana right after the Civil War. The reader travels with the protagonists, June and Coleman, who are black slaves. Their treatment by their "owners" (Wyatt Harper and his family, Mrs. Harper and Florence are difficult. I loved the relationship of Coleman and Oliver, Florence's terrier, throughout the story. Oliver brings comfort during challenging times.

This is not just another book about slavery. It is a story about the two separate journeys of Coleman and June with hardships, abuse, and survival. While it sounds heavy, there are also times of rewards and joy. There is courage, happiness, love, support, and joy during challenging situations. Character development is outstanding. Amity is a place that brings hope.

The book ends like it begins. I loved it and highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed. Well done, Mr. Harris, and thanks for a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this advanced reader copy of Amity by Nathan Harris. This is the second post civil war historical fiction novel by the author.

Siblings, June and Coleman, were formerly enslaved by the Harper family but continue to work for them as societal laws have left them without other options. Mr. Harper leaves the family estate to seek out mining opportunities in Mexico and takes June with him, much to the dismay of her brother and the remaining Harpers. When Coleman is later summoned to meet them in Mexico, an unbelievable journey to reunite commences.

Amity was a very unique perspective on this post civil war time period also involving the history of the fight for land amongst the French, Mexican and Native American civilians. I very much enjoyed Harris’ use of the inhospitable Mexican desert to create tension and despair in the story as well as the sibling storyline. At times, I had difficulty maintaining the identity of the many male characters, but overall I enjoyed this novel.

If this could be a 3.5 star book, it would! I really wanted to like this book but parts of it fell flat for me. I struggled with the tenses changing between characters a bit, and it felt like the entire book was in service to what happens at the end.. which isn’t terrible, but it felt noticeable to me which I didn’t love. The writing was good and I did like the characters, but overall it didn’t quite hit all the marks.

Amity follows a brother and sister, Coleman and June, who were freed from slavery but are still chasing real freedom and each other across the rough terrain of the post Civil War South and the deserts of Mexico. Separated for years, their paths twist through danger, betrayal, and unlikely alliances as they try to reunite and outrun the people who still want to control them. It’s a powerful, emotional story about family, survival, and what freedom really means when the world keeps trying to take it back. Truly enjoyed taking a step back from fantasy and romance to devour this book

I picked up this book for Camp Netgalley, and I'm really glad I did! The narrative follows Coleman, a former slave who has been separated from his sister June. He remained behind in Lousiana with the family that formerly owned him- Mrs. Harper and Florence, along with the family's dog, Oliver, who is dearly loved by Coleman. There are also interludes from June's perspective as she is brought to Mexico by Mr. Harper on an increasingly perilous journey. I enjoyed that we got both perspectives, as it pulls the tension tighter as the story goes on and the siblings try to find each other.

At times, the prose in Coleman's point of view felt a little too heavy. However, once he mentions the contemporary authors he admires, and then the framework of the narrative becomes clear at the end of book, I understood the choices the author made in Coleman's perspective. The writing style might not be for everyone, as it sometimes drags through moments of little action and then moves quickly through action sequences. But it does model the writing of 19th century literary figures, and this was a clever decision on the author's part. June's perspectives are written in third person as opposed to Coleman's first person, and you can feel June's practicality in how she narrates and what she observes, which is a nice contrast to Coleman's perspective.

Something I really appreciated about this book was the depth of the historical setting. While reading, I could tell that both the time period and the places were thoroughly researched simply by the level of detail and care that went into creating the environment. In the author's note, Harris references the materials he used and the people that helped him write this story accurately. The story does a very good job in capturing the unrest in both the antebellum South and the Mexican border in the middle of the 19th century. Particularly in Mexico, many groups of people were vying for power (or simply a place to be left alone) which resulted in a constant, all-around pressure. As Coleman and Florence travel through Mexico, they meet many people who are not wholly good nor bad, but instead have depth and nuance. Meeting these characters through Coleman, a man who seems to extend grace to everyone he meets, lets the reader form their own opinions about each one. Additionally, the descriptions of the landscape around Coleman are extremely evocative.

Overall, the prose in this book may not be for everyone but it clearly was written with a lot of care for both the setting and the characters. The bond between siblings shines through the entire story, and the nuance of many characters lends even more depth to this sweeping story.

It's 1866 in New Orleans. Two years ago, brother and sister, Coleman and June, were separated when their old master, Mr. Harper, took June away to Mexico, where he hoped to escape the new reality of the post-war South. Coleman stayed behind in Louisiana to serve the Harper family which consists of Mrs. Harper and her daughter Florence.

When an unexpected letter from Mr. Harper arrives along with a mysterious man, Coleman thinks that finally his prayers have been answered. Mr. Harper wants Coleman brought to Mexico. When disaster strikes Coleman’s and the Harper's journey, he is forced on the run with Mr. Harper's daughter, Florence. Together, they venture into the Mexican desert to find June, all the while evading two crooked brothers who'll stop at nothing to capture Coleman and Florence and collect the money they're owed. For now, Coleman and June are fighting their own battles in the desert. Can they make their way back to each other?

Amity is historical fiction AND a western. It's so unique and I was all over the place with it lol. The writing and setting pulled me in immediately, as well as the characters. I love a journey through a desert. The story kept slowing down and then picking back up. There was some crazy action, a bit surreal but interesting! Then it slowed again. Coleman talks so much! I thought I wanted a break, said no just read a few more pages. Suddenly I was at 70% and I didn't want to put the book down. I got so invested I tried to finish before bedtime.

There is a lot of blood and violence and action near the end. The dog, Oliver, has his own journey along with the other characters. You have to read this for yourself. The story is worth it. And Amity has the best of this one type of scene I've ever read. Don't skip the epilogue. It's long but important.

I loved his debut novel and was so excited to read this. I thought this book was beautiful. You will fall in love with these characters. I loved the relationship between the main character and his dog. This story will make you gasp, cry, and laugh. I loved this book a lot.

Amity (4.5 stars!!) was a little different than the books I usually read, but it piqued my interest as a Camp NetGalley pick and I’m glad I gave it a chance! Amity mostly follows Coleman, a freed slave still working for the family that owned him, as he searches for his sister June, who left with their previous master to pursue his effort to form a new life in Mexico. His story is interspersed with June’s story of what her life has been like in her time away as she struggles to get out from underneath Mr. Harper’s control in an unfamiliar country. Once the action picked up, found the book to be relatively fast-paced and both characters’ stories to be equally as compelling, so there was never a time I was dreading for one part to end to go back to the other. I think Nathan Harris did an amazing job of depicting the reality of the racism Black people faced and how, even after slavery ended, many found themselves stuck because they had no resources to start their lives over again. The side characters were also very compelling, particularly Florence and William, as they were not firmly good OR bad people and Harris had me rooting for them one minute and then hoping they’d get some sense knocked into them the next. Overall, I enjoyed Amity and would be interested in following Nathan Harris’ works in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC!

Amity, the second novel by Nathan Harris is a beautifully written story of historical fiction, telling the journey of Coleman and June, brother and sister, set in 1864. Enslaved to the Harper household, June must accompany Wyatt Harper to Mexico as he attempts to start a new life. Coleman then follows along with Mrs. Harper and her daughter Florence. Coleman’s goal is to reunite with his sister and start a new life.

This novel is very much about the journey, both physical and emotional, of Coleman, as he grows from a fearful young man to a man of courage and determination all the while staying true to his expressive nature. The writing is so descriptive and eloquent that the reader will want to savor each word even as they are experiencing a range of action from nearly drowning in the ocean to battling others in the desert. The end of the novel is perfect. Readers who enjoy historical fiction will want to read this novel, as well as readers of general literary fiction.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Little, Brown and Company for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

While I really enjoyed this book, I did find it to be a little long in the tooth, The author really invoked the imagery but at times it felt a little taxing with all that detail. It was a beautifully written story though and I would recommend the read.

I feel like this would fit well in college classrooms. We do a lot of fiction about slavery such as Homegoing, but this provides a new perspective.

This was a strong, beautiful story of an adventure and finding your family.
I loved the historical accuracy and I loved reading Junes parts. She was my favourite sibling. Coleman more came off as annoying in parts, and honestly slightly insufferable.
The entire time I was so scared for Oliver but I'm glad to say the dog does not die.
Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This novel was a culmination of two former slaves finding freedom from two points of view: June, the older sister who was taken to Mexico by Wyatt Harper (the head of the household they worked at who has an obsession with June), and Coleman, the younger brother who was left behind but later finds himself on his way to Mexico as well, along with Mrs. Harper and Florence Harper, Mr. and Mrs. Harper's daughter (both women, as we soon find out, were not intended to be on the journey to Mexico to begin with, but Coleman chooses to keep that information to himself).

This novel is full of adventure from start to finish, but I personally enjoyed reading from June's point of view more than Coleman's. The story of June's life and her journey into the Mexican desert, both sad and haunting, later became something happier and more meaningful as she eventually found both freedom and love there. However we didn't get to hear from June's point of view as much as we did from Coleman's point of view and his even more eventful journey into the Mexican desert with Florence. I thought that both June and Florence were great characters, both well-written and with excellent character growth, but aside from Coleman being a dog lover I wasn't able to sympathize as much with him. It was funny to me since they characterized Florence to be the token "whiny" character, yet I found Coleman to be more whiny and annoying. To the point that so many other characters commented on his incessant chattering, and honestly? They were right. There were also so many things throughout the novel that I wish Coleman had done differently. I wanted him to stick up for himself more throughout the novel and he just doesn't, and (aside from one major event) so much of the time it ends up being Florence or someone else sticking up for him instead.

Even though I didn't enjoy Coleman as a character and found his point of view more frustrating to get through at times, the epilogue helped to redeem Coleman and left me to feel more neutral about his character as opposed to being annoyed by him. Overall I enjoyed reading Amity and would recommend it. This novel was definitely a wild, action-filled adventure that at times played out like a Western movie, with characters that for the most part I grew to love. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This was beautifully written and descriptive. Instantly transporting me to post-civil war ear Louisiana and the "wilds" of Mexico/Texas. A powerful tale hope, love, the will to live, and the lengths, trials and tribulations a brother will go through to be reunited with his sister. As I got closer to the end, I thought for sure this story would end in heartbreak. Thankfully I was wrong. And honestly, I wanted to sit there with June and listen to Coleman tell his story all over again.

I enjoyed the premise, the plot and the character work were amazing. However, I think the entire book the author was trying to describe every little detail, which left me feeling a tad drained. I don't need to be told every minute thing, I'd rather be shown and let my brain fill in. Overall a good read!