Peggy is a Torch, able to see the fire burning in each person’s heart. She can follow the paths of each person’s future, and know each person’s most intimate secrets. From the moment of Alvin Maker’s birth, when the Unmaker first strove to kill him, she has protected him. Now they are married, and Peggy is a part of Alvin’s heart as well as his life. But Alvin’s destiny has taken them on separate journeys. Alvin has gone north into New England, where knacks are considered witchcraft and their use is punished with death. Peggy has been drawn south, to the British Crown Colonies and the court of King Arthur Stuart in exile. For she has seen a terrible future bloom in the heartfires of every person in America, a future of war and destruction. One slender path exists that leads through the bloodshed, and it is Peggy’s quest to set the world on the path to peace.
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"I enjoyed this book more than any other in the series since Seventh Son. I enjoy the courtroom drama Mr. Card cooked up. I'm a little concerned that he insists on dragging as many famous people into his alternate history as possible. Also, the beginnings of reconciliation between Alvin and Calvin is very good to see."
— Dan (4 out of 5 stars)
“With delicacy and insight, incorporating folk tales and folk magic with mountain lore and other authentic details, Orson Scott Card has evoked a vision of America as it might have been.”
— Greensboro Tribune-Review“Card’s antebellum settings, dialogue, and historical figures seem authentic and thoroughly researched, and, as always, he offers excellent differentiation of characters.”
— Publishers Weekly“The fifth installment of Card’s popular Tales of Alvin Maker series exhibits the same homespun charm of its predecessors and belongs in most fantasy collections.”
— Library Journal“Alvin and Peggy’s adventures are set against an intriguing backdrop of what America might have been…Card is a consummate storyteller able to create a believable world peopled with strong, solid characters.”
— VOYA“One more absorbing entry in this brilliantly conceived and fetchingly rendered series.”
— Kirkus Reviews" The maps inside the front and back covers now make more sense as the story branches out widely to include new people, new places and new powers. "
— Trent, 2/2/2014" i really enjoyed the alvin maker series. I may have to buy these for my library. i think reading them would be more enjoyable than listening although listening was great. "
— Ruth, 2/1/2014" We learn more about the rest of "America" "
— Frank, 1/25/2014" I read this book not realizing that it was part of a series. But I still loved the sci-fi ideas injected into American history. "
— James, 1/14/2014" This book seems to spend a lot of time talking about things I really do not care to much about. It does not focus on the characters as much, instead introducing a few that seemed to be scrapped from another story. Altogether very good though. "
— Alexander, 1/13/2014" Another good book in the series. Not my favorite of the bunch, but still great writing and storyline. "
— Nicole, 1/9/2014" Alvin landed himself in the middle of some witch trials in this book. It was interesting to learn about the craziness that surrounded those. Another good book. "
— Tracy, 1/1/2014" Still good, but there is a certain repetition of plot devices that kind of mars this installment. Count on more character development of our main players, as opposed to suspense of plot. "
— Karl, 1/1/2014" End was ok, but overall the book did little to move the series along. "
— nathaniel, 12/28/2013" What dreck. I tried to get through this, just for the sake of finishing the series, but I can't make myself go any further. "
— Matthew, 12/25/2013" This series has gotten better and better, so much so that I read this book within a 24 hour period. That is not bad considering I have a very active toddler. "
— Kerry, 12/11/2013Orson Scott Card, the author of the New York Times bestseller Ender’s Game, has won several Hugo and Nebula awards for his works of speculative fiction. His Ender novels are widely read by adults and younger readers and are increasingly used in schools. Besides these and other science fiction novels, Card writes contemporary fantasy, American-frontier fantasy, biblical novels, poetry, plays, and scripts.