New ebooks From Canadian Indies
Description
The stunning debut by the author of the Globe & Mail bestseller The Last Secret. "Ambitious, broad, sweeping, historical mystery.” - Shelagh Rogers, The Last Chapter
Louis Riel arrives at Batoche in 1884 to help the Métis fight for their lands and discovers that the rebellious outsider Josette Lavoie is a granddaughter of the famous chief Big Bear, whom he needs as an ally. But Josette learns of Riel’s hidden agenda - to establish a separate state with his new church at its head - and refuses to help him. Only when the great Gabriel Dumont promises her that he will not let Riel fail does she agree to join the cause.
In this raw wilderness on the brink of change, the lives of seven unforgettable characters converge, each one with secrets: Louis Riel and his tortured wife Marguerite; a duplicitous Catholic priest; Gabriel Dumont and his dying wife Madeleine; a Hudson’s Bay Company spy; and the enigmatic Josette Lavoie. As the Dominion Army marches on Batoche, Josette and Gabriel must manage Riel’s escalating religious fanaticism and a growing attraction to each other. Song of Batoche is a timeless story that traces the borderlines of faith and reason, obsession and madness, betrayal and love.
Contributor Notes
Maia Caron is Red River Métis, whose ancestors fought with Cuthbert Grant at the Battle of Seven Oaks in 1816 and served in Louis Riel's councils in the resistance struggles at both Red River and in the North-West. Maia is a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario. Song of Batoche is her first novel. She lives in Toronto. Visit her at www.maiacaron.com or on Twitter @MaiaCaron.
Editorial Review
P>"A vivid and fast-paced retelling of this moment in Canadian history." - Toronto Star
"A stirring fictionalized account of events in and around the 1885 North-West Resistance. Josette Lavoie is an intriguing and memorable heroine." - Katherena Vermette, author of the The Break and winner of the Governor General's Award
"This passionate retelling uses women's eyes to reveal the hidden history behind Riel and Gabriel Dumont. Deeply researched, and rooted in the soil of Batoche." - Marina Endicott, author of the Giller-nominated Close to Hugh
"A fascinating and beautifully written account of Louis Riel and the months preceding the Battle of Batoche, as seen through the eyes of the Metis women. This is a perspective we've not seen before, and Caron handles it with compassion and depth." - Lauren B. Davis, author of the Giller-nominated Our Daily Bread
