Rebecca

Title: Rebecca
Author: Shannon McNear
Series: Daughters of the Lost Colony, book 3
Major Themes: Native Americans, Pocahontas, John Smith, Virginia, Jamestown
Synopsis: Mato’aka was fascinated by the strange pale men who came to live in her land; could her destiny have anything to do with them?

I enjoyed Elinor, the first book in the Daughters of the Lost Colony series, quite a lot. After reading Mary, the second book, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to read another. When Rebecca became available, though, I decided to give it a go. What a relief that it was much cleaner than the last one!

Woanagusso is the favorite wife of Wahunsenecawh, the weroance of the Powhatan people (the True People). She has nearly forgotten that she was not always of them, but when her people start talking about more tassantassas coming, and her husband asks her advice, old memories are stirred up. 

Mato’aka is Woanagusso’s eldest daughter and also a favorite of Wahunsenecawh. She has led a carefree life up until now, but at the same time that the English are settling nearby, she is becoming a woman—and not just any woman, but a Beloved Woman.

John Smith, after an adventurous life as a mercenary soldier in Europe, is ready to go to the New World. He studies the language of the native people before going and on the way, but nothing can really prepare him for meeting them. His life intersects with Mato’aka’s in various ways throughout the rest of their lives.

This was an amazing “what-if” story of Pocahontas and the beginnings of the English settlers in Virginia. Rebecca brings this trilogy full circle from the original landing at Roanoke, and is an amazing story in its own right. You don’t have to read the first two books to understand this one, but it will help. I liked this one much better than the second in the series, and especially liked the way the Gospel was presented as Pocahontas was taught about the Bible. It is not preachy, but the entire story of how God redeemed people is included. If you enjoy historical fiction about colonial America, you will enjoy this book. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

WARNING: Chapter 6: the young women of the Powhatan offer themselves to John Smith, a man exclaims, “By Jove.” Chapter 9: a woman is raped repeatedly. Chapter 10: she is raped again. Chapter 12: abortion.

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Related posts:

Pocahontas and the Strangers Elinor Mary Pocahontas