The Fire and the Ore by Olivia Hawker

 

"She had come to the end of a long, sorrowful trail and found herself in a land of order and simplicity, of growth, of joy. A place with a future, where love could flourish."

       -Tamar, upon arriving in Salt Lake Valley

This was a selection I made from Amazon First Reads. It was an historical fiction about the Mormon migration of the mid-19th century. The story is told from the perspective of Tamar Loader whose family travels from London, eventually to Utah and the place the Mormons call Zion. Alternating with Tamar's story is that of young Jane Shupe, whose family is bound for California. Both Jane and Tamar survive tragic struggles and losses before they meet in a very shocking way---as they are about to exchange marriage vows with the same man! When it turns out Thomas Ricks already has another wife, the reader knows there will surely be some conflict before these sister wives learn to coexist!

I learned a good bit about Mormon history---that the "Principle" or "Blessing of Jacob," that is the privilege of having multiple wives, was only offered to select men. And apparently President Buchanan found it such an outrage, he threatened an army to attack Brigham Young and his people. The culture of polygamy did not end until 1890.

In the Author's Note, it was revealed that Thomas and the 3 wives I mentioned were actual people and that much of the novel was based on records kept by Tamar's sister, Patience.

I rated this book a 3. I found it tedious and pretty depressing through the first half but after reading the Prologue where this surprise wedding takes place, I had to know how the novel would end!