throne of Grace was such an interesting book! I felt like I was reading fiction sometimes, that's how exciting the writing made the story. Definitely quenched my thirst for westerns!

Actual Rating 2.5

The early nineteenth century was a time of exploration, exploitation, and confrontation for the white settlers and explorers who began to spread across America. This work of nonfiction explores the life and history surrounding Jedediah Smith, a pathfinder and mountain man in the era of Manifest Destiny in the United States.

I expected this to be more of a focused biography on Smith. I understand providing historical context for the person, as otherwise the biography would be relatively meaningless. However, the context in this book was expansive. From the migration of the first peoples to the area that is the United States to the introduction of horses to the area, there were so many historical facts included that could be argued to be relevant to a small degree to Smith. But the man got lost beneath these expansive facts.

There really was no cohesive narrative with this one, which made this work feel relatively dry and fragmented. There were some good descriptions included that helped to paint a picture of the setting, but again these were often lost behind random facts and tangents. The authors certainly did their research, I just think it wasn’t presented in the most approachable or consumable way despite the solid writing.

I did appreciate how much effort the authors put into including the histories of Indigenous peoples who were in the areas that Smith would have ventured into. While this information did contribute to giving the work its more fragmentary feeling and losing Smith behind the facts, it’s always appreciated when America’s history is more focused on its first peoples than is typical in the past.

If you love general American history, especially during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, you may enjoy this one. I unfortunately found it a bit dry and not the biography I was hoping for. The narrator’s voice was perfect for this work, though, and I enjoyed how well his rougher voice added to the feeling of the American frontier that was depicted. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

When it comes to the American West, there are some names that stick out more than others. Kit Carson, Jim Bridger, and of course - Lewis and Clark. But Jedediah Smith seems to have been lost to history - until now.
The romantic view that many hold of the American West was anything but. It was lawless, violent, and full of struggles that many would never understand, unless they endured it. However, before the masses began heading toward better opportunities, there were men who cut through the wilderness, learning routes, breaking paths, and paving the way for mass movements.

This book was everything it promised, and so much more. History lovers will not be disappointed with this read. It almost reads like fiction in places, as it is hard to believe that one could endure so much, and yet, survive. But men like Jedediah Smith helped to open the west, and were the ones who truly were able to bring the romantic view in (albeit much later in time).

I will be adding a section into my American history course on this area, and talking about Jedidiah Smith from here on out. These unsung heroes deserve to have their story told.
Grab this book and discover an entirely new chapter of American history.

This one was a bit hard for me to digest. I felt the main narrative was a side partner go just random facts…..scattered throughout the book.

It's been a minute since I've read what I would consider to be a historical western. This one did not disappoint. It was a treat to take a journey in time. I enjoyed the scenery, the characters, and how everyone's story was told.