Stone Field by Christy Lenzi is a haunting, lyrical reimagining of Wuthering Heights set in the Ozarks. It follows Catrina and her intense, all-consuming love for the mysterious Stonefield. With its atmospheric setting and raw emotions, the novel explores love, identity, and belonging, perfect for fans of dark, poetic romances.

It's 1861 and the American Civil War is inching its way closer to Catrina peaceful life at her family farm with her father and brother. When a young man with no memory is discovered in their field, Catrina takes a shine to him, naming him Stonefield. Immediately the two begin to fall in love, and fight the world that tries to tear them apart.

This is a Wuthering Heights retelling during the era of the American Civil War, and I liked the setting and time time period for such a retelling, it felt like it really suited the kind of relationship and story the author wanted to tell. I think there were many aspects of the retelling that were done really well in this story - particularly the characters of Catrina and Stonefield who for all intents and purposes were not particularly likeable characters due to their selfishness, and quick to anger personalities.

I think this story fell down when it came to pacing. Everything felt like it was happening very quickly and it was one thing after another. And because of that, the relationship felt a little bit over the top as they had known each other only a couple of days before they were declaring they'd kill for one another. I think there was a great opportunity here to to tell a story of a small town divided by the Civil War as well as the story of women left behind to care for everything when the menfolk went to war but it was all skipped over.

There was also a brief upsetting scene in this book when a young Black woman was taken by a group of raiders (of whom Stonefield was one of the leaders) and it's implied that she was raped by these men and Stonefield let it happen. This whole thing was again done and over with very quickly and I think it should have been given more time in the book - particularly the woman's recovering and healing from such trauma instead of it being brushed over.

I don't think I'd recommend this to people but I read it very quickly, and it was mildly entertaining for the day I read it.

I had a tough time getting into this book. Sadly I ended up DNF this book. I thought that I would like it.

Despite that gorgeous cover, there's not much else that has this book going. It was sort of hard to get into and by the time I finished it, nothing stood out.

A take on Wuthering Heights set during the Civil War era.

I personally loathe Wuthering Heights, but this take was so interesting and different enough that I really enjoyed it.