Amity: a post-Civil War story of two former slaves and their journeys through Mexico.

It's 1866, and formerly enslaved Coleman is a servant in the home of the Harper family. There is little difference between life as a slave and being free. Wyatt Harper had taken Coleman's older sister, June, to Mexico, which was under French rule, with dreams of making a fortune. Coleman had been left with Mrs. Wyatt and his daughter, Florence. The three of them soon travel to Mexico to reunite with Mr. Harper and help him locate June, whom he informs Coleman, by letter, has been abducted.

Through June's storytelling, we learn of the dangers encountered in Mexico and her desire to escape Wyatt. When June meets Isaac, a Black Seminole, she wonders if he could be her chance at real freedom and possibly love.

Coleman, who had spent his life reading, is unprepared to be a protector. The journey across the Mexican desert to find Wyatt and June is fraught with mishaps, including run-ins with a pair of criminal brothers and a Mexican gang. Coleman never gives up the search for his sister. 

If you read Nathan Harris' 2021 debut, The Sweetness of Water, it was clear that we were being introduced to an exceptional talent. In Amity, we are again treated to his beautiful writing and another unforgettable book. It is a captivating and emotional tale featuring complex characters, especially Coleman, who finds a strength and maturity he didn't realize he possessed. His bond with the Harper family's dog, Oliver, who also travels to Mexico, was incredibly heartwarming. The storytelling, especially Coleman's narrative, takes its time and requires some patience, which is richly rewarded. 

Many thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the advance. This was one of my most highly anticipated books of the year, and it did not disappoint.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Historical Fiction.

Publication Date: September 2, 2025.

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