Review: An excellent novel about 17th-century New England
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 19, 2012
It's been awhile since I've so thoroughly enjoyed a book. Rebel Puritan was a wonderfully engaging and informative read. The historical details of daily life in 17th-century England and New England were spot on, but not too heavy handed. I loved Herod's growth as a character and I especially loved how  her daughter, Hannah, had a lot of the same personality traits as Herod did as a child. The pacing of the novel was excellent and the dialogue was really well done, with hints of 17th-century phrasing, but modern enough for smooth reading. Butler did a great job raising the tension of the novel, even in small moments. It is always difficult to write a historical novel from a woman's point of view as women were not often allowed to engage in political events, hunting, sailing, or other adventures. However, Butler manages to make a day-long Sabbath service come alive with tension and intrigue. Anyone who enjoyed The Widow's War by Sally Gunning, The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, and Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick will love Rebel Puritan.