This Fierce Blood - A Novel

This Fierce Blood is a multicultural saga that follows three generations of women in the Sylte family, exploring themes of maternal ancestral inheritance, magical realism, and the clash between Hispano/Indigenous traditions and American culture in the American Southwest.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 07 October 2021
Publisher: Acre Books

This Fierce Blood is a captivating multicultural saga that delves into the lives of three generations of women within the Sylte family. Set in rural late-nineteenth-century New England, Wilhelmina Sylte, a settler, embarks on a journey of starting a family alongside her Norwegian immigrant husband. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she forms an inexplicable connection with a mountain lion and her cubs, living near their farm. This connection challenges Mina's loyalties and sparks a mysterious bond that intertwines her with the animals.

Fast forward to 1927 in southern Colorado, where Josepa faces accusations of witchcraft from a local priest due to her utilization of healing practices inherited from her Native mother. Determined to protect her family's reputation and way of life, Sepa finds solace in both worldly and otherworldly sources.

When Magdalena, an ecologist, inherits her great-grandmother Wilhelmina's Vermont property, she and her astrophysicist husband decide to transform the old farm into a summer science camp for teens. As Magda juggles personal and professional responsibilities, the line between science and myth begins to blur.

This Fierce Blood is meticulously crafted with rich historical and cultural details, seamlessly blending magical realism with themes of maternal ancestral inheritance. It also explores the intricate ways Hispano/Indigenous traditions conflicted and intertwined, shaping the distinctive character of the American Southwest. Readers who enjoy the works of Téa Obreht and Ruth Ozeki will find much to admire in this debut novel.

Weight: 318g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781946724441