Reviewed by Rahul Gaur
Most of us take our freedom for granted, but we forget that at some point in time, the price for the freedom was so hefty that entire generations worked their whole lives and still couldn’t pay it off. Forget about freedom; your chances of surviving were extremely low. Survival depended on staying awake—awake to the cold, to memory, to illness, and to the truth people would rather ignore. And, this way, the novel opens a new world with its first chapter, where danger doesn’t announce itself with claws or fangs. It arrives quietly, offering fake promises, faith, authority, and safety. Purchase Here.
The book is divided into 4 parts, which resemble the cycles found in nature. For example, four seasons, four directions, or four stages of life. Each part shows the progression of the protagonists (Oxfords). London Oxford is not introduced as a hero but as a man trying to keep his family safe in a world that keeps changing the rules. He is free, but that freedom depends on white landowners, the Wright family. Jane Oxford, wife of London, does not trust these arrangements. She senses that promises can be broken. Whereas London always feels that it is legally free, yet economically and socially dependent. Thus, the first part is about history, family, memory, and promise.
The second part is where the book takes an interesting turn. It shows how grief, racism, fear, and lies shape the lives of London, Jane, Abner, and others around them. There is a chasing scene where the antagonist follows Jane Oxford before killing her, and it is written exceptionally well. It will definitely give you goosebumps. After the death of Jane, desperation takes over London, not hope. London drinks to numb his pain. Abner is forced to grow up fast. He must care for his sisters even though he is still a child. He knows the girls were his responsibility. The book does not soften this burden. It shows how trauma passes from parent to child. In the third part, the story becomes darker and more urgent. When bodies start piling up suspiciously, everyone is freaked out. Whom to trust and whom not. Here, the author has done full justice with the portrayal of the antagonist. He is charming, authoritative, and clever, and he uses politeness to mask the brutality. Though he is not loud and scary, to get his things done, he can be anything. One powerful insight in this part is the role of women. The women join together to protect their children. They stand up when the men hesitate. Their unity becomes a quiet form of power. Fourth part beautifully concludes the novel’s central concern and reaches its darkest and most meaningful point: that even when evil is defeated, suffering does not end. Freedom is not a single event but a constant struggle. The book also refuses simple moral clarity. Survival sometimes requires brutality, and justice is imperfect.
O’Brien has beautifully shown that living as a Black family in the 18th century was not at all easy. Their daily struggles and fear of getting into any trouble without their fault are horrific. What makes the book work is how it balances character and plot. The research done to weave real history with chilling Indigenous folklore is commendable. The author’s writing is simple, and the prose often uses short, direct sentences that mirror exhaustion, fear, and urgency. However, the lack of illustrations leaves some weakness in the narration. Regarding the pacing, it is dynamic but plays an important role in the book. For example, the middle of the book slowed down quite a bit as the settlers dealt with the logistics of camp life. However, these moments added to the “stuck” feeling of the blizzard. Similarly, in the final chapters, it spikes when there is a desperate chase through the deep snow to save young Annie. By the end of the book, the reader will definitely ask, what is the real price of freedom? And can we ever truly reach a place of peace, or is it an endless pursuit?
Since this is the first novel in the Mischief Makers series, I am sensing that all the books in the series will connect to a central story related to Wìsakedjàk. So, pretty excited for the upcoming books.
