Where the Lost Wander

It’s not hyperbole by any stretch of the imagination to say that Amy Harmon is a stunningly gifted writer.  From Making Faces to The Bird and the Sword to From Sand and Ash, she has proven time and again to be a master of any genre she chooses to write, whether it’s contemporary, fantasy, or historical. 

Where the Lost Wander is such a beautifully detailed and mesmerizing story of American Pioneers in the 1850s.  The emigrants’ journey, heading west over plains and prairies and through mountains and wilderness in search of a better life, is filled with bravery and endurance, suffering and tragedy.

Wander has one of the most harrowing prologues I’ve ever read. It sets the tone and stirs the anticipation for the rest of the story. My heart was in my throat for most of the book, and I couldn’t read it fast enough. 

I went through a gamut of emotions reading this book, but most of all, I am in awe of Amy Harmon’s ability to weave all-consuming and beautiful stories — and Wander is just the latest example.  She really does the story justice with her well-researched and detailed account of life on the pioneer trail, including the gorgeous scenery and the devastating violence and disease they encountered.

But more than that, the love story that is truly the heart of Wander is where this tale shines.  Naomi and John Lowry are two lost souls in search of meaning, purpose, and, ultimately, acceptance and love.  In their own way, they are each stuck between two worlds. 

This is one of those books that you just have to experience to truly understand.  It is consuming and gorgeous and thrilling, so be prepared to read it cover to cover in one sitting!