Indentured servants do not fare well in the American continent in 1748. Skinny, shivering, and lame, Julian fears for his prospects as he is inspected by buyers on the transport ship docked in Philadelphia. When his bond is purchased by the fur trader Bartholomew Bragg, Julian's concerns appear well-founded. As Julian grows into manhood, he is forced to contend in a violent world where Native American nations struggle to survive war, famine, and disease; settlers stake their lives and meager resources on disputed territory; and bands of renegades murder and thieve free from lawful constraint. In his travels, Julian learns the harsh realities of life and love on the frontier. In the end, surrounded by enemies and desperate to protect the woman he loves, the jealous land demands its sacrifice.

4.5 stars! I enjoyed this book immensely and couldn't wait to see how it ended. Most characters had sustenance without overtly fitting into narrative stereotypes. The book also does an interesting job of showing how lawless the territories of North America were. My largest complaint was how some of the secondary characters were only present for a few pages but made to feel like they were going to be more important later. I recommend reading this book for anyone who loves historical fiction based in the gritty New World.