This was a very powerful story filled with love and loss. I can't imagine the strength of these women after being taken from their homes, treated as property and the fight to return home. I highly recommend. Thank you for sharing!

I'm shouting it out today for this interesting, well-written novel about two indigenous women from early colonial times in America. It's from one of my favorite publishers: Sibylline Press (they only publish women authors over 50!).

Here's the scoop:

The Survival Story of the Patawomeck Tribe of Virginia told through the lives of two women 

The survival story of the Patawomeck Tribe of Virginia has been remembered within the tribe for generations, but the massacre of Patawomeck men and the enslavement of women and children by land hungry colonists in 1666 has been mostly unknown outside of the tribe until now. Author Lora Chilton, a member of the tribe through the lineage of her father, has created this powerful fictional retelling. 

Told in first person point of view through the imagined lives of two women, Chilton tells the harrowing stories of Ah’SaWei WaTaPaAnTam (Golden Fawn) and NePa’WeXo (Shining Moon), members of the surviving Patawomeck tribe, who after the slaughter of their men were sold and transported to Barbados via slave ship. Separated and bought by different sugar plantations, they endured, each plotting their escapes before finally making their way back to Virginia to be reunited with the few members of the tribe that remained.

About the Author:

A member of the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia, Lora Chilton tells the story of her people and their unlikely survival due to the courage of three Patawomeck women. As a part of the process, she interviewed tribal elders, researched colonial documents and studied the Patawomeck language. Chilton graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She has worked as a Registered Nurse, a small business owner, an elected official, a non-profit executive and a writer. Memphis is her home. 1666: After the Massacre is her second work of historical fiction.

Review can be found on the Chinook Indian Nation blog: https://chinooknation.org/review-of-1666-a-novel/

Book Review: 1666 by Lora Chilton

Rating: 4 Stars

As I delved into the pages of "1666" by Lora Chilton, I was immediately transported into a world where the harrowing survival story of the Patawomeck Tribe of Virginia unfolded through the eyes of two remarkable women, Ah’SaWei WaTaPaAnTam and NePa’WeXo. The brutal massacre of Patawomeck men and the subsequent enslavement of women and children in 1666 by colonists hungry for land is a tale that has been kept alive within the tribe, but largely unknown to the wider world until now.

This gripping historical fiction novel sheds light on a dark chapter of American history, highlighting the inhumanity and resilience of the Patawomeck people. The vivid storytelling by Chilton vividly portrays the struggles, resilience, and sheer determination of these women as they endured unspeakable hardships, including being sold into slavery and transported to Barbados.

Through alternating chapters, Chilton masterfully juxtaposes the peaceful pre-massacre life of the tribe with the horrors that followed, creating a poignant contrast that emphasizes the strength and traditions of the Patawomeck people. The characters portrayed in the book are not just fictional entities but representations of real individuals whose bravery paved the way for the tribe's recognition centuries later.

While the narrative is heart-wrenching and at times difficult to read due to the brutality and suffering depicted, it serves as a crucial reminder of the atrocities committed against Native Americans throughout history. Chilton's meticulous research and incorporation of oral histories make this imagined account ring true, offering readers a glimpse into a lesser-known aspect of American colonialism.

In conclusion, "1666" is a powerful testament to the resilience and spirit of the Patawomeck Tribe, expertly crafted by an author who is not only a storyteller but also a descendant of this proud lineage. This book is a must-read for those eager to gain a deeper understanding of Native American history and the enduring legacy of those who fought against all odds to preserve their culture and identity.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

This one will stay with me. It’s the story of a Native American tribe who were massacred by the English in the 1600’s. A few women escaped death and were sold into slavery and shipped to the hell that was Barbados.

It’s is beautifully written and absolutely engrossing. The story is fascinating, but the book is also rich in details of the lives of Native Americans. The characters are realistic and vivid. I am so grateful that I was able to read it. I learned so much.

In this realistic, haunting historical fiction novel, Lora Chilton explores the story of the Patawomeck nation in what is now Virginia through the perspectives of Ah’SaWei WaTaPaAnTam (Golden Fawn) and NePa’WeXo (Shining Moon), two women who survive the English’s arrival and their transport to Barbados as enslaved women. Following their stories over several years and alternating between their perspectives, Chilton brings the plight of the Patawomeck survivors to life and explores what might have been their lives after 1666. Set against the historical backdrop of the English colonization of North America and the Caribbean, Chilton gives the colonized Indigenous Patawomeck nation a chance to be the center of the story during the seventeenth century. Both characters are complex and lifelike, and Chilton balances their two narratives as complements to a larger story. Chilton does not shy away from the harder topics of enslavement, particularly for women and for those in the Caribbean, and deals with them accordingly and with tact. The characters are really the center of the story, and Chilton’s research also shows through her use of the Patawomeck language and relevant colonial history throughout the novel. An important if at times difficult read, Chilton’s book shifts the spotlight to the women survivors from the Patawomeck nation in this powerful novel.

I read it all in one night. I couldn’t stop until I learnt what happened to Ah’SaWei. NePa’WeXo, and their children MaNa’AnGwa and O’Sai WaBus. I had to know, I couldn’t sleep without knowing.

Afterwards, I found I could not sleep, now knowing.

1666 was a hard book to read, even for me, a historian of decolonization. I teach students about the Doctrine of Discovery every semester. I highlight resistance to systems of oppression, especially colonization. Still, for all that I know, 1666 eviscerated me. I continued to read it because it is a work of resistance, because the women of the Patawomeck/PaTow’O’Mek tribe deserve to be read and seen and remembered. Awful as it is for me to read it, that in no way compares to the pain they lived and the pain that continues in indigenous communities today.

The story begins and ends with the PaTow’O’Mek women and it is told entirely from their perspective; it is the narrative of the massacre of their people, their enslavement, and their resistance against the British who destroyed them. Readers who were moved by Beast of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala, Elie Wiesel’s Night, The Bird Tattoo by Dunya Mikhail — or more topically pertinent — Texaco by Patrick Chamoiseau will find 1666 an equally powerful read.

As an educator, I consider 1666 a valuable college level read. It is ideal, lengthwise, for an undergraduate course (at just over 200 pages, and with glossary and explanations of terms). Harrowing as the subject matter is, it is highly relevant and provides a number of points for discussion, historical examination, and resistance in the classroom. Chilton’s writing is also highly accessible, her prose smooth and flowing, her characters full of depth and humanity.

Title: 1666
By: Lora Chilton

Genre:
Fiction, Historical, Retelling

Red Flags:
Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, Loss, Torture, Slavery, Graphic scenes

Summary/Review:
The setting is 1660’s off the Eastern Coast of what is now present day Virginia. A place where indigenous people lived peaceably, until white man arrived. This is a retelling of the Patawomeck tribe, the stories only told in their tribe of the torture and brutality, but this story tells the reader more…the loss and heartache of loved ones, but also the unity, love and kindness of their tribe. I did find this book to be very informative on the lost lives of the indigenous people, however, the writing itself was lacking. The content is important, the talent is a work in progress. I felt the characters needed more depth, and parts of the storyline needed additional details or elaboration. For that reason, I rated this book a three stars.

Thank you to Lora Chilton, Sibylline Press, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#1666
#lorachilton
#sibylline
#netgalley
#advancedreadereditions

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is an interesting historical fiction account of the massacre of the Patawomeck tribe of Virginia by the English settlers. It shows the brutality and deceit used by the settlers to subjugate and ultimately sell the survivors into slavery. The story of the three women who managed to survive and return to Virginia comes from tribal folklore and oral legends.

Unfortunately, the telling is somewhat disjointed making it difficult to follow the people and the time frames involved. I did learn a lot about the history of this area.

Fantastic book that kept me riveted from page one. Highly recommend for anyone interested in historical fiction, women’s history, or Native American history.

Actual Rating 2.5

TW: R*pe, Sexual Abuse, Torture

It is the 1660s on the eastern coast of what will be called Virginia, and the indigenous people there already know not to trust the words of the white men who come to their lands. But despite trying to stay peaceful and aid their new white neighbors, the indigenous tribes soon find themselves under attack and forced to board ships to Barbados to slave on plantations. As their tribal members suffer, three women do their best to stay together and find their way home, against all odds.

This work is told using multiple POVs with a somewhat fluid timeline. I did like how it was set up, and how it used the fluidity of the timeline to tell the story. What I liked most about this work was just how many wonderful details were included about indigenous culture of the Patawomeck tribe from Virginia in the 1660s. There were so many rich details woven throughout the story, and it brough the setting to life in a beautiful way as well as teaching me much about the people who first lived in these lands. There were times though when the details read more like a list of facts rather than being smoothly incorporated into a narrative.

Unfortunately, the narrative voices weakened the story for me. The narrator’s voices were indistinguishable from each other. This made it where I had to rely on context clues to remember who was who, which was especially difficult at the beginning of the book. It also made the read feel emotionally detached, despite the events being so emotional and powerful. This was disappointing and a little frustrating.

Despite my issues with the characters, I don’t want to rate this book lower as it tells an important story that should be remembered by all Americans, and the details of indigenous culture were informative. My thanks to NetGalley and Sibylline Press for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The author presents a wealth of insights about the profound effects European arrival had on native women, and it's clear they did their research. While the prose was a little repetitive at times, the book is overall a great, if heart-rending, account of the intricate dynamics between Virginia's indigenous peoples and the incoming colonists.

I was captivated by this tragic story, which alludes to the true happenings and tough parts of history for the Patawomeck tribe from now named Virginia, USA. The story is based on oral tradition, interviews with tribal elders, written colonial records, and extensive research by the author, and as a person who loves to learn about history, I was blown away by it.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read about history.
Trigger warning: sexual and physical abuse, torture, deaths of loved ones and children, slavery.

Going into this book, I didn't know much about this story. So, because of that, I was looking forward to learning about this part of history. I am grateful that books like this exist, and that there are indigenous authors who write them, However, I had a difficult time getting into this book. I felt like perhaps another round of editing would have been beneficial.

This story is intense so a word of caution to others, please check the content warnings! Thanks to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I finished 1666 knowing this story will stay with me for a long time. Going into book I admittedly did not know much of the Patawomeck tribe, and I am grateful to have picked this up. This story brought out many emotions in me, as an indigenous reader, and it was told so honestly, which I really appreciated despite the dark history and experiences the Patawomeck were made to suffer. 1666 by Lora Chilton captivated my curiosity for the Patawomeck and I will hold the story of these Patawomeck women closely and share with others what I have learned, I feel a closeness and responsibility to share this title and their story. Thank you, author Lora Chilton and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy.

This novel was a captivating journey into forgotten history, and a stunning debut. Well researched and beautifully written.
Many thanks to Sybylline Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow what an intense but beautiful read. So much research went into this book and it shows. There are a lot of brutal scenes within this book, but it shows what happened to the women of the Patawomeck Tribe and how they survived.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Wow. The amount of time and research that must have gone into this fictional depiction of history is beyond me. Author Lora Chilton used oral history passed down from generations on the Patawomeck women to write this book. The story is essential as it is something that has largely been erased from U.S. history, however it is hard to digest. The brutality these women endured is horrific. I struggled with the writing style, it felt like it was lacking personality at times.

A beautifully written and powerful story. This was so well-researched and the characters were very fleshed out. It was easy to place myself in the setting and time period while I was reading.

1666 is the story of the Patawomeck tribe. We follow the women who survived the massacre of their men and were sent to Barbados where they were sold into slavery.
This book is brutal - Lora Chilton does not shy away from describing the horrors these women survived. It is a story of tragedy and loss but also a story of fortitude and survival.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sybilline Press for the advanced copy.