Publishers Weekly
08/23/2021
Benton continues her saga of the Cameron family in this enjoyable follow-up to Mountain Laurel. In the 1790s, Ian Cameron, a plantation owner in North Carolina, freed his light-skinned mixed-race lover, Seona, along with their son and Seona’s mother, and sent them to live as free citizens with his family in Boston. When Ian’s wife dies in childbirth, he frees the rest of his slaves and resolves to court the woman he loves. On his way to Boston, Ian helps out Judge William Cooper, who offers Ian the opportunity to settle in the outskirts of Cooperstown, N.Y. In his short time in Boston, he begins to rebuild his relationship with Seona, but leaves to establish a home in the foothills and convinces Seona and her family to join him. Seona struggles with her newfound freedom and trusting in God now that she has to make decisions for herself. She also worries about how the people of New York will treat her and her illegitimate son. Seona’s mother and another former enslaved person teach her that she needs to count her blessings and rely on God. While it can be read as a standalone, readers will want to check out Benton’s full series to get the most out of this impeccable work. (Oct.)
Foreword Reviews
Lori Benton’s wrenching second novel in the Kindred series probes the wounds of the US’s racist past to prove that love and God conquer all.Seona is a former slave who lives in Boston with her son, Gabriel. Gabriel’s father, Ian, is a capable carpenter who lives in North Carolina, where he pines for Seona and the son he barely knows. Though these relationships are strained, a chance discovery brings Ian into newfound wealth, letting him escape the South and return to Boston. He has a fortuitous meeting with a traveler heading in the same direction, and is invited to a new community, Shiloh, in New York. There, his neighbors love each other despite their differences, and make space to live with Native Americans, too. The relationships he witnesses in Shiloh give Ian hope for a bright future.Seona is an interesting and complex lead, for whom understanding her heart requires navigating a difficult social system and the demands of her faith. When Ian returns in the role of the broken prodigal son, he finds that his brother despises him, that his father has plans he isn’t interested in, and that home is not what he expected. It’s left to Seona to decide whether—and how—she fits in Ian’s new world. Rich Christian allegories and allusions lead the tale throughout, as when Shiloh becomes like a miniature Eden for Ian’s family. But here, big biblical themes also pair with well-attended, tender moments, as when families share time at home around the fire, and develop strengths as they overcome adversity.Shiloh is a tender novel that confronts historical racism with a hopeful message about love and redemption.
Library Journal
10/01/2021
With this novel that picks up after the events of Mountain Laurel, Benton continues the story of Ian Cameron and his loved ones, particularly his beloved Seona, a woman recently freed from slavery on the Cameron family plantation and the mother of his son Gabriel. Ian and Seona were forced apart in the first novel, and Seona, her mother, and Gabriel moved to Boston while Ian stayed behind with his wife in North Carolina. After Ian's wife dies in childbirth, he and some formerly enslaved people from the Cameron plantation journey to reunite with Seona. On the way, Ian is presented with an opportunity to start a new life in New York, but how will Seona and Gabriel fit into his plans? Those who haven't read the first book will need to familiarize themselves with the characters' relationships quickly in order to follow the story. Unfortunately, the novel leans on several racist stereotypes including that of the white savior (Ian), the mystical Black person (Malcolm), and the noble Native American (Joseph Tames-His-Horse). The plot moves slowly for the first two-thirds of the book but gains speed when the characters are reunited. VERDICT A pass except where fans of the first book need to know what happens next.—Heather Webb, Worthington Libs., OH
