The Seekers

Kent Family Chronicles #3

by John Jakes

The end of the colonies' fight for independence ushers in a fresh and even more glorious struggle to build the new nation. It is an epoch ripe with the energy of a country in its springtime. Two young heirs to a family dynasty turn their eyes west -- the frontier beckons.

It took a special breed to give up the comfortable life along our eastern seaboard. Who knew what lay beyond? But when Abraham Kent fell in love with his beautiful stepsister, he knew that leaving was the only course open to him.

THE SEEKERS is the third in the Kent Family Chronicles following THE BASTARD and THE REBELS.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, American History, Novels, Audiobook, Drama

634 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

John William Jakes, the author of more than a dozen novels, is regarded as one of today’s most distinguished writers of historical fiction. His work includes the highly acclaimed Kent Family Chronicles series and the North and South Trilogy. Jakes’s commitment to historical accuracy and evocative storytelling earned him the title of “the godfather of historical novelists” from the Los Angeles Times and led to a streak of sixteen consecutive New York Times bestsellers. Jakes has received several awards for his work and is a member of the Authors Guild and the PEN American Center. He and his wife, Rachel, live on the west coast of Florida.

Also writes under pseudonyms Jay Scotland, Alan Payne, Rachel Ann Payne, Robert Hart Davis, Darius John Granger, John Lee Gray. Has ghost written as William Ard.

Reviews

[Tim The Enchanter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 3 of the Kent Family chronicles is my least favourite so far. With the exception of Jared Kent, the family members introduced are either undeveloped or simply unlikeable. Two story lines from the previous book converged in the third instalment but you are left feeling as if the characters and storyline has been wasted. This instalment is more disturbing than the first two. Rape is a recurring theme in the books but it is more disturbing in this instalment as it deals with children.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I finish the 3rd book in this series I decided to bump up my rating to 5 stars. Not because this book in particular was better than the others but because this is such a great series. The perspective of early America is nothing I have ever read. Obviously it's not necessarily all true but what great potential perspectives this book gives. I think American history teachers should bring up MANY of the points brought up in these books. So much to talk about!! John Jakes might have been a genius. On to the next one....

[Michael Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fantastic book, but i take major issue with the level of detail used to describe the SA of a minor. I nearly stopped reading it at one point, but I persevered and as a whole, this is a 5/5 but for my personal tastes I have to knock of a star.

EDIT:

So the ending of this book had a traumatic scene involving a minor that left me questioning this series a little. I have now restored this book to the full five stars because that poor girl became the protagonist of the next book and she quite simply might just be the greatest female character I have ever read, and i greatly appreciated what Jakes was doing with her arc.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I enjoyed The Seekers, my only complaint, and my prevention of giving it 5 stars, was the talk about rape, and some of it involving children, that just made me sick to my stomach, anyone who molests children should have their balls cut off and left to suffer, sorry to be so overly graphic, but it's how I feel. I swear I'm not a violent person. Anyway, all in all, another great Historic tale!

In The Seekers we are introduced to the second generation of the Kent Family, and the first half of the story revolves around Abraham Kent, son of Phillip Kent, and Elizabeth Fletcher stepdaughter of Phillip and blood-related daughter of Peggy Ashford McLean Kent (Phillip's second wife, and former flame of Judson Fletcher, who appeared only in The Rebels). The story opens in 1794, with Abraham fighting in the Battle of Fallen Timbers, alongside Meriwether Lewis, and William Clark, the future leaders of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (and a very brief appearance of future President William Henry Harrison). After returning home from the battle, Abraham is at odds with his father, who wants Abraham to take over the Family business of Kent and Son in Boston when he passes, but Abraham wants to make plans of starting his own family with Elizabeth, who he is very attracted to, also Abraham's stepsister, and who is strongly disliked by Phillip. Abraham and Elizabeth fall in love and travel into the Northwest Territory where they purchase a small strip of land, and have a baby boy named Jared.

The Second half of the story revolves around Jared Kent, still in his early boyhood years, living in the household of second son of Phillip Kent, Gilbert, married to Harriet LeBow, an aristocratic woman from New York, her and Gilbert have their daughter Amanda Kent, who is close to Jared's age, and who Amanda is very close to, much to the dismay of Harriet, who strongly disliked Jared, believing him to be just like his mother, who was very hot headed, just like her father who she never knew. After a series of unfortunate events occur, Jared and Amanda embark on their own journey. That's all I'm going to say, I don't want to spoil everything.

A great installment in this Family Saga, wonderful new characters, and I'll also mention that at-time future President Andrew Jackson appears, along with his wife, Rachel Jackson, which I found very cool and fascinating! He was one of my favorite studied US Presidents because I'm aware he was not one of our classier Presidents, HAHA! My Mom shared with me about Jackson and his supporters holding a crazy drinking party in the White House, because Jackson was known for his booze! And once again George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson appear, and their Presidencies are briefly mentioned off and on throughout the story. PS, there is a very brief mention of Abraham Lincoln as a boy.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent edition to the series, but it's a lot darker than the first two. Still, it was realistic enough & Jakes drops plenty of historical facts through the characters' eyes. Well done.

I need to take a break to read another book, but intend to continue re-reading this series soon.

[K · Rating 1 out of 5]

Should be called, "The family with the worst luck in the world." This is the sort of book you usually find well-read to tatters in a used bookshop lying all by its lonesome in the hopes someone will take it home. Want my advice? Don't bother. John Jakes is a proliferate writer. Having read his "North and South" trilogy, you think I'd have learned my lesson. I guess I'm one of those readers who likes to see their favorite characters suffer.

In John Jakes' stories you can always count on rampant misogyny, rape, explicit violence, and just about every horrific thing a human being can do to another. In this novel, we have... child rape. UGH. No. Just no. I was curious as this had been a miniseries and gave it the once over. Be warned. Once you read the part where a ten-year-old Amanda Kent is brutally assaulted, you will NEVER get the image out of your mind. Hadn't she suffered enough?

The author didn't think so. He continued to put every member of the Kent family through the wringer just to show he has no favorites. Amanda is later sold to fur trappers and then to a young Sioux warrior. She is around eleven or twelve by this point. Her story is continued in "The Furies."

I couldn't get into that one either. I still had the image of the poor girl being brutalized while Jared watches in my head. He was kind of useless. He drags her along with him and allows her to fall into the clutches of one of the worst villains ever in a book. I hated Jared. Didn't care what happened to him after that. Even with the scene of ultimate vengeance, I felt it was too little, too late.

And don't get me started on the historical characters. With this much rape and violence, who cares if Andrew Jackson shows up? No one in these novels is happy to be there. I know the 18th and 19th century sucked, but throw your characters a bone.

Most of the Kent women are murdered, raped, exploited, and left to fend for themselves when the man in their life meets his maker. Women had a crap lot in life. I get it. I don't need to be reminded constantly that wearing skirts and a corset is an invitation to hell.

So, if you like John Jakes and want to give his stuff a whirl, stay the hell away from the Kent family. They’re selfish. They’re petty. They suffer. They die. They get raped. They lose their money in stupid ways. When trying to exact revenge, they end up dead. If you like history, watch a documentary instead.

Excuse me while I read something about fluffy bunny rabbits.

[Tara Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read books 2-7 of this series in the last weeks of Feb 2013. While I liked the continuation of the family name through each generation, I could have done without every single important female of the Kent family being raped, sometimes repeatedly. They no sooner got power and money than they lost it, and family members ran the gamut from good to brilliant to corrupt to sleazy to fierce to insane to bloodthirsty. Lots of historical info, also, which made the story more real and interesting. But I would not recommend this series, save book #4.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another page turner from Jakes, but I went with three stars instead of four because there was just too much of a focus on sex in this book - and it was not at all a romantic or even loving view of sex. Too many thoughts of rape, attempted rape, under-age rape, and female characters who either really want sex or want no sex at all. Just felt like it was an unhealthy focus that took away from the story at times. With that said, I liked the history (even if the number of famous historical persons the characters come across defy credulity) and will definitely continue the series.

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume 3 of the Kent Family Chronicles starts out with Abraham Kent and then moves on to cover his son Jared Kent and his adventures with his cousin Amanda Kent. This work of historical fiction cover the late 1700s and the early 1800s. Jakes does a good job of weaving a page turning story in with the history of what was going on in the United States at the time. I am looking forward to reading Volume 4 The Furies.

[Tim Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the continuing adventures of the Kent Family in this novel, but I will echo the sentiments of other reviewers of this book. There was entirely too much rape in this story (two children are raped for god's sake). It's a bit too much and really does nothing for the story.

This story really has no likeable characters. Gilbert and Amanda Kent are the saving graces in that regard. I really, really wanted to like Jared Kent, but he falls into the trap of rash and poor decision making. His father, Abraham is an awful person and the patriarch of the Kent clan, our protagonist from the previous two books, Phillip has become rigid and unlikeable by this novel. I'm hoping Jared can be redeemed in the next book and I am hoping we get more of Amanda because she was a breath of fresh air in this story. Looking forward to the next one!

[Chad Malkamaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a big John Jakes fans and this was the most disappointing read of any of his books. Too much rape, and I had too little sympathy for the characters involved. I'm not sure if Jakes took on too much in the 1970s trying to compete this series during the bicentennial, this felt rushed, and even the historic figures seemed to just show up for no good reason other than to name drop instead of the lead characters being at the right place in time. I hope this isn't how the rest of the series goes.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This installment is about the second generation of the Kent family. Abraham has failed at farming and his wife has been killed. He returns to Boston with his 5 year old son, Jared. His father and his wife have both died and his brother Gilbert is now running the family business successfully. Gilbert has married a shrew of a wife that harasses Abraham and Jared. Abraham turns into a drunk and abandons Jared with Gilbert. Gilbert has a daughter named Amanda. Jared and Amanda become fast friends. When Gilbert and his wife die, they take off in search of a safer life.

This is the story of the travels of Jared and Amanda.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book, maybe the best in the series so far. I want to read more.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75***

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always adored historical fiction and as the years have gone by, John Jakes has become one of my favorite authors in the genre. Though this novel did not fail to disappoint, I could not bear to give it a full 5 stars.

The Seekers is the third installment of the Kent Family chronicles which details the exciting lives of Philip Kent and his descendants as they navigate life through some of American history’s most chaotic periods. This novel details the lives of Philip’s sons and their children, particularly in regards to their westward movement as the country expands.

Though the stories were captivating and exciting in a different sense from the first two books (which both captured the Revolutionary period), it was hard to see what Philip had become. Though it is incredibly realistic that he would be bitter after his first wife’s death and in his older age, it seemed so different from the character I had loved. I had hoped that by focusing on his children, it would be easy to regain my spirits. But, this book is TOUGH to read. There were times when I had to pause and put the book aside because my heart was so heavy. While the first two books felt as if they were filled with hope, this book felt like it carried absolutely none. All of the characters are suffering at pretty much every point of this story and it got hard to handle.

A fair warning to those of you reading the series - this books contains some brutal killings and incest, but more disturbingly details the rape of a child. Like I said, some pretty heavy themes.

The fact that this book was so overloaded with depressing storylines, some of which included despicable acts, is the primary reason for only giving four stars. It was difficult to keep going at some points and it simply felt that none of the characters were ever able to catch a break. But, I must admit, even with these heavy themes Jakes’ characters and their world just sucks you in. I feel there is a healthy balance between history, drama, romance, and adventure in all of his books and look forward to starting the next part of the series!

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably higher than 4 stars but I struggle with the darkness of this book. It is very well written again and really places you into what America was like around 1790 but it also is very hard tor read about the molestation and sex trading of children (both Jared and the man in the navy and little Amanda being kidnapped and sold to Indians).

However, aside from the dark themes, I still find these books to be the most interesting way to retell history. This one wasn't all about a war (like the last one) and so the story was very interesting. It starts with Abraham Kent (Philip's son) fighting the Indians out west, he moves to Ohio where his wife is murdered by an Indian, they move back to Boston, Philip dies, Abraham disappears, Gilbert Kent raises Jared (his wife hates Jared), Gilbert dies, Kent & Son gets sold to bad people, Jared burns it down and runs away with his cousin Amanda, Amanda is kidnapped and sold to Indians, Jared goes looking for her in St. Louis and ends up as a fur trader. The story emphasizes western expansion and the role of Lewis & Clark.

Another side note, I didn't like the way they so casually killed off Philip Kent!! He was the main character for TWO books and then dies in just a sentence.

[Steven Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begins in 1794, at the Battle of Fallen Timbers, in the Northwest Territory. Abraham Kent, the son of Philip Kent and Anne Ware, had enlisted in the Legion of the United States to help neutralize the threat of American Indians against expanding white settlements. He led a cavalry charge in the battle, but let a chance to kill Tecumseh slip away.

Philip Kent, his father, had grown affluent as the proprietor of the publishing firm, Kent and Son in Boston, and would have preferred to have Abraham follow him into the family business; however, Abraham was not interested in that trade and was uncertain what he wanted to do in life. Politically, father and son also had diverging views. Philip supported the Federalists, a party more friendly to urban industrialists, but Abraham did not.

Abraham fell in love with Elizabeth Fletcher, his stepsister, the illegitimate daughter of Judson Fletcher and Peggy Ashford McLean Kent. Philip had married Peggy after the death of his first wife, but never adopted Elizabeth as his own daughter. Elizabeth, who had inherited her late father's rebelliousness, resented him for this and did not want to live by his conservative rules. Sharing a common desire to leave Boston and Philip, Abraham and Elizabeth married in 1796 and planned to start a new life in the Northwest Territory. They purchased a tract of land on the Great Miami River, near Fort Hamilton, though Abraham feared that his young wife was too frail to make the journey. Along the way Elizabeth revealed that she was pregnant, but she lost the baby when their riverboat crashed in the Ohio River.

Once reaching their tract of land, Abraham took advice once given him by Thomas Jefferson and began farming corn. There, a son, Jared Adam, was born to Abraham and Elizabeth in 1798. Living there two years had not made Elizabeth any more content than she was when she was living under Philip's roof in Boston. Her health was also suffering. Not wanting to see her in such distress, Abraham decided to sell his farm and move to a more populated settlement. This news seemed to raise her spirits, but just before the move, two Shawnee Indians wandered onto Abraham's farm looking for whiskey. In attempting to expel them, Abraham killed one of the men, but the other one killed Elizabeth. Afterwards, Abraham, distraught, sold the farm, then made his way back to Boston with Jared to learn that Philip had recently died.

Gilbert Kent, the son of Philip and his second wife Peggy Ashford McLean, inherited control of Kent and Son after his father's passing. He gave Abraham a job there, but it was a job marred by constant violent and drunken behaviour by Abraham. Abraham had never recovered from Elizabeth's death. Because of this, Gilbert tried to arrange for Abraham to participate in the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1803, but Abraham informed him that he could not participate because he had caught a disease from a prostitute. Abraham chose to leave, but tried to take his son with him. Gilbert's wife, Harriet, would not allow it. Abraham pushed her down the stairs and she went into premature labor. Gilbert expelled him from his house after a violent scuffle. Abraham left without Jared, and Harriet gave birth to a daughter, Amanda. Abraham was never seen again.

Jared was raised by Gilbert and Harriet, though Harriet detested him and treated him cruelly. After the War of 1812 was declared, Jared enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Constitution. He participated in the battle with HMS Guerriere that took place on August 19, 1812. During the battle Jared contributed to the maiming of 6th Lieutenant Hamilton Stovall, a superior officer who had earlier demanded sex from Jared, but was denied.

Later that year Gilbert Kent, had a seizure and died, and Harriet quickly remarried. Her second husband, Andrew Piggott, appeared to be a suitable mate before they were married; however, this was to prove illusory. He was a compulsive gambler and womaniser. He would lose the entire Kent and Son publishing firm to Stovall in a game of craps, which proved to be a setup as retribution for Jared's having rejected Stovall's advances. In his rage upon hearing this news from Stovall, Jared set fire to the firm and attempted to kill Stovall, instead shooting an associate of his. Thinking the man he shot was dead, Jared fled the city with his cousin Amanda. Earlier that day, Harriet had been hit by a carriage and died, leaving Amanda an orphan.

Having no specific destination in mind, they traveled to Pittsburgh. Once there, Jared made the decision to settle in New Orleans, but he was sidetracked along the way. While in Tennessee, near Nashville, Amanda was raped and abducted by William Blackthorn. Having been beaten up by Blackthorn and also badly ill, Jared was required to recover for a time at The Hermitage, the home of future US President Andrew Jackson. Jackson made inquiries as to Blackthorn's destination, and learnt that Blackthorn may have gone to St. Louis. After recovering, Jared went there, discovered him in a brothel and shot him dead in self-defence. With his dying breath, Blackthorn told Jared he had sold Amanda to fur traders going up the Missouri River. He refused to name the traders.

Jared was jailed for ninety days for disturbing the peace; while in jail, he was visited by Elijah Weatherby. Weatherby, a fur trader, had witnessed Blackthorn's death and he was impressed by Jared. The shooting had also prevented Weatherby from being charged over an alcohol-induced "frolic" he had been engaged in at the time. He was further impressed by Jared's story of his travels from Boston to St Louis, and the endurance that both he and Amanda had displayed. He told Jared he was going to Indian country to trade and that he needed a partner. Weatherby offered to aid Jared in his search for Amanda along the way. After some consideration, Jared decided to accept the offer, and they commence their journey in November 1814. The story ends without Jared and Amanda being reunited, but the reader learns that Amanda is alive and was sold by fur traders to an American Indian.

[Scott Hammond · Rating 3 out of 5]

The saga continues... I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first two, though I will continue to read the series. The writing remains snappy and the plot moves quickly. It is entertaining but the plight of the family now seems a little more precarious than I thought it would. The Kent family seems to have more than their fair share of difficulties. Gilbert dies young, his wife Harriet, though not very nice, meets an undeserved end, the printing business is lost, and, on top of all of that, Amanda is kidnapped on the way to New Orleans and sold to human traffickers! What else could go wrong. Or perhaps this is just reflective of the difficulties in life on the frontier of the United States in the early 19th century. I gave this book a 3 rating only because so many bad things happened. I hope to see some more positive outcomes in the next installment. At least by the end of the Seekers, Jared is starting to understand his worth and seems to have joined up with a redeemable member of society. Things are looking up!

[Mitzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't a bad book, in fact it kept me turning the pages the same way the first two books in the series did. But, I can't say I enjoyed it, which is disappointing. No one is happy in this book, ever. And nothing good happens to them, at all. I understand putting your characters through the proverbial ringer, but you have to have an emotional breather in there once in a while...

I also didn't like how drastically changed the character of Phillip was at the beginning, and the "raised as brother and sister, but not related by blood" marriage creeped me out. The author tried to temper it with them being apart for a few years during which she grew from a girl to a woman, but still - ick.

I'll keep reading the series - there was a shred of hope left for the characters at the end of the book, so I am hoping that some happier times are in store for them in the next one...

[Rosemary Hazard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy the Kent Family chronicles but this was a sad read; Abraham was an interesting character and I hated to see his story as it played out, would have like to have seen him on the stage a little longer. Phillip is much different than his character in the first two books and it is sad to not see any of this story really from his character's point of view. The remaining story is interesting, well researched, and vividly depicted; historical figures weave their way into our main characters' lives, history of the young United States also is woven into the story, and yet there is also pretty graphic depictions of sexual violence that are excrutiatingly detailed and presented. If you like the series, you have to read this but steel yourself for rough passages.

[Thom Swennes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 3 of the American Bicentennial Series (The Kent Family Chronicles) deals with the second generation Kents and a new and ever growing country. Westward expansion and the men that legends were made of, color this fast-moving and engaging novel. Many may find the actions as brutal as their perpetrators are beastly but that was the west. The settlers moving westward tamed the country and made it into a nation. In John Jake’s fashion figures of American history are brought to life and intertwined with the lives of his creations. Like the book’s predecessors, the dry facts of history are transported into a gripping tale that will remain with you for years to come.

[Joy H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Added 5/11/12.
I have read the first 2 volumes of the Kent Family Chronicles. This is the 3rd. I started this one on or about 6/10/12.

7/29/30 - I finally finished reading this book. It was an enjoyable read even though I wasn't able to give it the time it deserved because I was busy with other things. Nevertheless, each time I returned to it I was immediately engaged in the story. Jakes knows how to tell a good story!

On to Volume 4, The Furies!

[Bookish Enchantment (Katherine Quirke) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always it has been a slow book to read. For me it is the war scenes of which I do struggle with, however, these scenes are important for the history of the storyline.

Otherwise a very enjoyable story.

[Yeshua · Rating 2 out of 5]

another rush job on the characters.. expected more from the author many of the main characters are killed off almost instantly. let's see who dies in book 4.

[Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will seek that which was lost, and bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and I will strengthen that which was sick-- Ezekiel 34:16

That is a marked passage in a Bible that was given to Jared Kent by Rachel Jackson, wife of the future president Andrew Jackson. Jared Kent had found himself recuperating from an illness at the Jackson's place in Tennessee after losing a fight with a brute who raped and kidnapped his 10-year-old cousin, Amanda. That's enough of a spoiler, but it's what drives Jared through the last third of the book.

Jared has had it so hard. His Aunt Harriet, Uncle Gilbert's wife, is nothing but a shrew and treats him so badly. She's always on him about his bad blood because his mother was a wild spirit and never knew when to shut her mouth. Abraham, his father was nothing to write home about, either, but their story broke my heart. Everything happens for a reason and sometimes the circumstances dictate your destiny.

Jared is just a kid. Aunt Harriet can't stand him. He doesn't like her anymore than she likes him. Amanda is younger than he is by five years, but they are great friends. In an effort to get Harriet off Jared's back, Gilbert (Abraham's younger half-brother) proposes that Jared work on a ship. Hello the Constitution. Jared gets a job there at 13 and encounters a lieutenant that likes boys instead of women. What happened there didn’t stay there.

So much happened in the story that kept me turning the pages. I caught my breath a few times. I couldn’t imagine two young kids like Jared and Amanda making a run for New Orleans, making their way down rivers, through woods, and running into the people they did…it was downright dangerous and scary at times, but did they ever learn some life lessons and discover just what they were made of.

I wanted to know what happened to Abraham after he left Gilbert's house. It isn’t spelled out exactly, but years after he left, Jared was walking down the wharf after disembarking from his ship and was accosted by a prostitute and her pimp. The pimp asked him his name and Jared gave him a fake name. The pimp knew he was lying and it was easy to see that the pimp recognized him and was sad that the boy had lied. I think the pimp was Abraham Kent, Jared's father, and Jared didn’t recognize him. So sad.

This was a crazy good book with plenty of action, emotion, history, and historical figures come to life. Incredible.

This book is part of a series and the books should be read in order.

1. The Bastard
2. The Rebels
3. The Seekers
4. The Furies is next

[Emmanuel]

The Seekers






The Seekers: The Quest Begins" is an exciting start to an epic adventure in the historical fiction series by John Jakes. This book is a gripping introduction to the captivating world of "The Seekers." In "The Quest Begins," we are introduced to the main characters who are embarking on a journey of self-discovery and exploration. The story follows their quest for truth, meaning, and their place in the world amidst the backdrop of significant historical events. What makes this book so compelling is the way Jake weaves together history and fiction seamlessly. Through the main characters, we get a glimpse into the real-life events that shaped America's past. From the American Revolution to the Gold Rush, the book takes us on a thrilling journey through time. The characters themselves are well-developed and relatable, each with their own unique strengths and flaws. As they encounter challenges and obstacles, they grow and evolve, making their journey even more engaging and inspiring. Jakes's writing style is immersive and descriptive, allowing readers to visualize the settings and feel the emotions of the characters. The historical accuracy and attention to detail add depth and authenticity to the story, making it a rich and rewarding reading experience. "The Seekers: The Quest Begins" is just the beginning of an incredible literary adventure. It introduces the reader to a world filled with historical significance, memorable characters, and thought-provoking themes. If you enjoy books that combine history, adventure, and personal growth, then this is definitely a series worth diving into the book. You should read this book because it is about history and
more. This is a book review of The Seekers I totally think you should give this book a try. You might even like the book.
By Emmanuel

[Nico · Rating 2 out of 5]

2-3 stars. Maybe reading negative reviews before finishing this had an influence on my rating. That being said, I did not enjoy reading about step siblings being romantic, and marrying. I even checked myself on this and googled "marriage between step-siblings". What I found was that it is extremely rare, and usually only happens if the step-siblings meet as teenagers. The step siblings in the story met as very small children (previous book), so they literally had to be raised together as siblings. Not everyone will agree with me on this, but it just did not sit right with me. In fact, I feel like Jakes took the easy way out. Developing a new characters would have taken time, created a longer book, required more back-stories. My concern is that the cousins Amanda and Jared, too, will end up in a love relationship. If that happens, I'm not sure I will want to read any more of the "Kent Family Chronicles".
I feel like I did learn some history from this book, and that is the nice thing about historic fiction - and why I'm such a fan. I was a poor history student in high school, so - in a small way - books like this help make up for it. That being said, I felt the book's point of view was so extremely limited. When I finished it, I thought of the diligence and detail someone like James Michener goes through in his works. I suppose it's unfair to compare.
There is child rape in this book, so a trigger warning.

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

There's a pedophilic rape scene in this book, involving Amanda Kent, a ten-year-old girl.

Is it disgusting? Yes.

Is it treated sensitively? A big, fat NO. The scene could serve as an exhibit of How Not to Write a Sensitive Treatment of Child Rape. It's told not from Amanda's point of view, but from the point of view of her male cousin, who--horrors!--has to WATCH her being raped! It basically reduces Amanda to a collection of body parts. It's described in loving, and I do mean loving detail. All that's missing is the part where the male cousin finds himself strangely turned on by the rape and yet horrified that he's turned on.

Afterwards, does the book focus more on the male cousin's pain than on Amanda's pain? Oh, yes. Amanda is kidnapped by her rapist, and we don't see her again until the epilogue. Meanwhile, Jakes takes time to describe Male Cousin's guilt, and how he's going to take revenge on the rapist, and how it wasn't actually his fault, and how if he doesn't find Amanda, he'll be the last member of the Kent family, and what he's going to do with his life...it never ends. Oh, and there's plenty of historical name-dropping too, as he randomly meets Andrew and Rachel Jackson, and they fawn over him and assure him what a brave, strong person he is, and how it wasn't his fault. Their concern for Amanda basically amounts to, "She was only ten? Poor girl!"

While Male Cousin gets three long chapters of soul-searching, Amanda gets one measly epilogue, during which we learn that she was raped and beaten every night (!) by her first rapist, then sold to a bunch of fur traders who raped her, and then sold to a Native American who's about to rape her. But don't despair: Amanda gets some character growth too! In fact, she learns an important lesson: she can use her sexuality to charm men into raping her more gently! This book would make your average fedora-wearing MRA member turn feminist.

By the way, earlier, Male Cousin is almost raped too, at the age of 13. He's in the navy, and it's a superior officer who tries to rape him. But Male Cousin can manage to fight off his attacker, report him to the authorities, and later, when the attacker ruins the Kent family, almost murder someone in a fit of rage. 'Cause he's a guy, and y'know, we can't have GUYS getting raped or developing Stockholm syndrome, God forbid! It might make them seem GAY or GIRLY or something!

Can the implications get any worse? You bet they can. Once Amanda is sold into sex slavery in a Sioux village, she's tied down to a pallet to wait for her rapist...I mean, husband. One of the Native American's other wives comes in and tries to mutilate Amanda. We're never told why, but it's strongly implied that she's jealous of her. For being white, I guess, and for being young (I mean, doesn't every non-white woman wish she was white and sold into sex slavery at age ten?). Then the "husband" comes in and brutally beats the Native American woman (!) for trying to hurt his white child bride (!!), and Amanda thinks this must mean he's not so bad after all! She actually notices that the guy has a "handsome smile"!

Anyone who's familiar with horrible "noble savage" rape fantasies can guess what happens next. The "husband" starts to reach for her, she bites him, but then smiles at him and places his hands on her breasts. The "husband" is somehow charmed with Amanda's feistiness (I guess since she's white, that makes it okay), and he rapes her more gently. So Amanda manages to tame her brutal, non-white husband with her white skin and her spiritedness, and presto! Being raped isn't so bad after all!

But the most damning part of the whole mess?

The pedophilic rape scene didn't need to exist. It was completely gratuitous. It doesn't even touch on the psychological horror of being raped at age ten. It provides no meaningful growth for any characters, except to give Male Cousin something to angst and soul-search over. If a female character had to be hurt just to give Male Cousin some angst, Jakes could have had Amanda die of sickness or starvation. If she really had to be raped, Jakes could have made her fifteen, or fourteen, or even thirteen. The only reason it exists is to be DARK and EDGY.

But the book was DARK and EDGY enough before it happened. Male Cousin's father, Abraham Kent, marries his stepsister, Elizabeth. On the journey west to the Ohio frontier, Elizabeth is molested by a wagon driver, who's then killed by Abraham. She suffers a miscarriage when their boat crashes in the Ohio River. Their attempt to build a life out on the frontier ends in failure, when Elizabeth, who starts to go mad from depression and the rigors of poverty, is shot by a Native American raider (Anybody starting to notice a pattern here?). Abraham goes mad with grief, returns to Boston, drowns his sorrows in drinking and whoring, and (it's implied) dies of syphilis. But before that happens, he pushes his pregnant sister-in-law, Harriet Kent, down the stairs, so she gives birth early (Hey, it's been all of two chapters since a woman was brutalized. Gotta keep that EDGINESS going). Harriet Kent, when her husband dies, remarries and goes through a lovingly-detailed marital rape scene. The new husband makes perverted comments about Amanda (sure, he's a pedophile too. Why the hell not?). Male Cousin (whose name is Jared, by the way) almost gets raped by the naval officer. When the Kent property is lost, Harriet runs out into the street and is hit by a carriage, Jared burns down the printing company and almost kills someone in a fit of rage, and he and Amanda flee west on the road, where they suffer from cold, sickness, and starvation.

And after all that, Jakes still felt the need to put in a pedophilic rape scene. Just think about that for a minute.

This book reads like a parody of DARK and EDGY media, except it's not funny. It's like reading the fanfiction of a teenager who thinks putting massive amounts of violence, sex, and swearing in their work somehow makes it more adult. But it should give young readers a new perspective on these kinds of books. Anyone who thinks the DARK and EDGY trend started with Frank Miller in comics or with George R.R. Martin in fantasy, just remember: Jakes was doing it first, in historical fiction. In fact, he was doing it to celebrate the Bicentennial. Because what's more American than writing about little girls being raped just to make sure your work is taken seriously?

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phillip is now an old(er) man. His children are grown or nearly and his success and influence is established throughout Boston. All his hard work has not been for naught. He is among the most wealthy and influential people in Boston and influence is far and wide. Unfortunately, all that Phillip has worked so hard for is not what his eldest child, Abraham wants. After marrying, he strikes out for the West and to make a life of his own. Sadly the West is untamed and tragedy exists everywhere. After years of struggling and losing quite a lot, he wanders back home a broken man. Will Abraham’s struggles and failures set the tone for the remainder of his life and his family’s? Will Phillip’s hope of a Kent family of wealth, education, and influence live on after he passes?

I really enjoy this series about the Kent family. It is very educational and entertaining about one family as its generations experience the “American experience” and life. American history is at its core interesting due to all the conflict, struggles and changes that occurred in such a relatively short time but that also created an entirely unique culture. This book covers the period from about 1800 to the 1820s and approximately 3 generations of the Kent family. For a family so involved in the Revolutionary period, their experiences continue to be dramatic as time goes by.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Abraham Kent leaves Boston to find his destiny on America’s frontier in this saga by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of North and South. Continuing the saga of the Kent family, John Jakes turns his masterful eye to the settlement of the untamed American West. Abraham Kent, the son of Philip Kent and Anne Ware, fought valiantly on the frontier, only to return home to Boston and a life he doesn’t want. Determined not to live in his father’s shadow, Abraham and his young bride join the wave of pioneers carving out farms in the turbulent, dangerous West. But life on the nation’s frontier soon becomes more than their fledgling family can endure. Furthering his reign as the living master of American historical fiction" My husband, his aunt and I read this whole series during the 1970's when they first came out - all three of us would read them in less then a weekend and couldn't wait for the next one to come out. They were so very good you felt like you were right there living the story with them!