A Legacy of Bones

The island of Kaumaha has a legacy of loss, lies, and bones. Ogden Lathrop is selling the tax liability to a local developer for twenty million dollars, but the Lathrop women want a fair solution. When violence erupts, the family must choose their legacy and hope for a better future.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 07 March 2023
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc

Some legacies are best abandoned, as they carry a burden of loss and pain. Such is the case of Kaumaha-Misery Island, a small island in the Hawaiian archipelago that has a tumultuous history.

In the 1600s, Hawaiian fishermen attempted to carve a life on this rugged and beautiful island. However, their struggles were not without challenges. Tsunamis and floods regularly threatened their existence, forcing them to flee the place forever.

The island's legacy of loss continued into the mid-century, as those who had survived the disasters chose to leave Kaumaha behind, dubbing it "Kaumaha-Misery Island." It became a symbol of despair and hardship, a place where people sought to escape their past troubles.

Fast forward to 1847, when King Kamehameha made a peculiar decision. He rid himself of Kaumaha in a sale to Reverend Amyas Lathrop of Massachusetts. Lathrop was looking for a fresh start for his congregation and saw potential in the island. However, his faith was tested when a mysterious illness devastated the island year after year.

The legacy of lies continued as King Kamehameha chuckled at his good fortune, believing he had rid himself of the island's problems. However, the truth was far more complex. The island's struggles were not just due to natural disasters, but also due to the actions of those who had come before.

Present day, Ogden Lathrop, the descendant of Reverend Lathrop, holds a deep hatred for Kaumaha. His apathy has ruined all that his ancestors built, and he is beyond thrilled when he closes a deal to sell the crumbling tax liability to a local developer for twenty million dollars. The villagers and family be damned, as far as he is concerned.

However, the Lathrop women feel differently. Family matriarch Eleanor seeks a fair solution for all involved, while her strong-willed granddaughter, Lani, born of two cultures, vows she will protect the island and its people to the last. When violence erupts, more than one casualty is found amidst the rubble, and the family grapples with the sins of both present and past generations.

Now, they must choose the legacy they will leave behind. Can an island named Misery ever hope for a better future? The answer is not simple, as the island's history is fraught with pain and suffering. However, it is up to the Lathrop family and the people of Kaumaha to decide whether they will continue to be defined by their past or strive for a brighter future.

In conclusion, Kaumaha-Misery Island is a legacy of loss, lies, and bones. It has been a place of despair and hardship for centuries, but it is also a place of hope and determination. The Lathrop family and the people of Kaumaha must choose the legacy they will leave behind, and work together to create a better future for themselves and future generations.

Weight: 280g
Dimension: 139 x 210 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781728259116