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Pub date June 19, 2024

Monday Creek Publishing

ISBN  979-8990369542

Price $14.59 (USD) Paperback

Set against the grim backdrop of the American Civil War, Robinette’s compelling novel traces the journey of a cavalry officer turned advocate for justice after a life-altering injury at Gettysburg. Hiram Robinett and his friend answer Lincoln’s Call to Arms to defeat the Rebellion. Four years later, the war ends, but the nation is in turmoil. Lincoln is dead, and his vision for Reconstruction is distorted by Johnson. Soldiers are back, but the country remains divided. The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, tasked with rebuilding, is stretched thin with just 1,000 workers and a small budget. Hiram, like many, gives everything until he has nothing left.

Robinette’s meticulous historical detail immerses readers in the era, from the brutal reality of Farnsworth’s Charge to the complex bureaucracy of the Freedmen’s Bureau. Real historical figures and events add authenticity. At the heart of the novel is Hiram’s evolution from soldier to civilian, wrestling with both physical and emotional scars while striving to honor the Union’s ideals. His relationships—especially his quiet connection with Anne—offer a tender contrast to the surrounding chaos, while his bonds with fellow soldiers are rooted in the camaraderie of war. Though the novel’s broad scope occasionally disrupts the pacing, the rich character development and thematic depth keep readers engaged. The novel explores identity, social justice, and the tension between personal trauma and societal expectations of forgiveness.

Both a gripping Civil War tale and a moving tribute to resilience, sacrifice, and the pursuit of a more just future, the book makes for a stunner.

***