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Unfamiliar Territory
Unfamiliar Territory, the long awaited sequel to award winning In This Land of Plenty, yet also a stand-alone novel, is a sweeping tale of one woman's determination and resilience against insurmountable odds during California's tumultuous Gold Rush and Civil War years.
Having lost everything, Juanita Castro de la Cruz rides alone into the chaos of California's Gold Rush, searching for her missing son. After four generations of stability on her family's vast Mexican land grant ranch, she now faces unimaginable upheaval as her home transforms into an American state--one with an unfamiliar language, religion, economy, and culture.
With no resources, Juanita must be fearless and inventive to survive in this radically changed landscape. Can she find her son amid the explosive growth of gold-fevered San Francisco and the rugged mining camps? Will her struggle to forge a new identity and build a sustainable livelihood lead her to the peace and sense of family she longs for?
Join Juanita on her journey after the conclusion of In This Land of Plenty.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2025
10 people are currently reading
814 people want to read
About the author
Mary Smathers
6 books21 followersMary writes fiction for adults and children. Unfamiliar Territory, released in May, 2025, follows a key character from her first novel into Gold Rush California. In This Land of Plenty, a family saga set in California history, was popular with book clubs and won multiple awards, including the 2021 Fiction Book of the Year from BiblioLab’s Indie Author Project--California, and a Readers' Favorite Gold Medal for Western Fiction. Mary also has published a collection of contemporary short stories, Fertile Soil: Stories of the California Dream and a bilingual children’s picture book series set in the tropics, Tropical Tales.
Before focusing on writing, Mary had a full career in California public education, serving as a teacher, administrator, teacher trainer, grant writer, and educational entrepreneur, helping to found three education companies and a public charter school. She divides her time between California’s Monterey Peninsula and Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast.
Before focusing on writing, Mary had a full career in California public education, serving as a teacher, administrator, teacher trainer, grant writer, and educational entrepreneur, helping to found three education companies and a public charter school. She divides her time between California’s Monterey Peninsula and Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 26, 2026
Publishing date: 06.05.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and mks Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
DNF at 60%
TLDR //
A woman goes in search of her son during the gold rush era of the 1800’s. She meets multiple obstacles and a brand new world, struggling along the way. Through pure cleverness she perseveres. 3 stars.
Quickfire likes and gripes //
Good vibes and atmosphere
Set during a time I really enjoy in most medias
Mostly believable characters
Story didn’t keep my attention at all
What didn’t work for me //
I suspect this is purely a “wrong book wrong time” situation for me. There was nothing inherently wrong. I see how the plot would work for me, I liked most of the characters, the “quest-like” story and goal. But I was sadly in a terrible reading slump, and this is not a slump breaker.
Might return to this some other time.
Audience //
There is not too much explicit or complicated content, this can go as low as YA. But the intended audience is likely New adults and up.
Final Verdict //
There is nothing wrong with the book, simply a reader issue. Giving the book 3 stars from what I read, and a temporary “might read some other day”.
Thank you to NetGalley and mks Publishing for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
DNF at 60%
TLDR //
A woman goes in search of her son during the gold rush era of the 1800’s. She meets multiple obstacles and a brand new world, struggling along the way. Through pure cleverness she perseveres. 3 stars.
Quickfire likes and gripes //
Good vibes and atmosphere
Set during a time I really enjoy in most medias
Mostly believable characters
Story didn’t keep my attention at all
What didn’t work for me //
I suspect this is purely a “wrong book wrong time” situation for me. There was nothing inherently wrong. I see how the plot would work for me, I liked most of the characters, the “quest-like” story and goal. But I was sadly in a terrible reading slump, and this is not a slump breaker.
Might return to this some other time.
Audience //
There is not too much explicit or complicated content, this can go as low as YA. But the intended audience is likely New adults and up.
Final Verdict //
There is nothing wrong with the book, simply a reader issue. Giving the book 3 stars from what I read, and a temporary “might read some other day”.
August 19, 2025
A year or so ago, I read In the Land of Plenty. It was written by the same author and had some of the same characters. This book picks up where that one left off, but if you didn't know it, nothing about this book lets you know that. I don't get it, because I enjoyed the first one, even though I'm not a reader of historical fiction. What I really liked was the way I was sucked into it as it began in the present and then took us back to before the birth of California.
Unfamiliar Territory has a more traditional start, but it's an even stronger, better-written tale, focusing on Juanita, a woman who gets knocked down and keeps getting up like she was starring in her own Rocky movie. I'll understand if you need to stop and look it up.
Juanita is an eminently watchable character, as are a few of the other characters. I'm talking about you, Silas (a former slave), and you, Isabel, a successful San Francisco madame (or is it madam? I'm not sure). Either way, she, like Juanita, is a force to be reckoned with.
I typically take a couple of weeks reading a novel, but I burned through Unfamiliar Territory in two days. That may be a personal record for me. The author knows how to create unforgettable characters that you can easily connect with and care about. There are triumphs and tragedies, all skillfully written.
Since I'm not an experienced reader of historical fiction, I have no qualifications when it comes to comparing it to other works of this genre, but as a novice to the genre, I was thoroughly entertained--and impressed. I highly recommend the read, and if you somehow find this one first, by all means, go back and take a look at the first one. Either way, you'll get something out of each of them, and the connection between the past and present works well in both novels no matter which way you consume them.
Unfamiliar Territory has a more traditional start, but it's an even stronger, better-written tale, focusing on Juanita, a woman who gets knocked down and keeps getting up like she was starring in her own Rocky movie. I'll understand if you need to stop and look it up.
Juanita is an eminently watchable character, as are a few of the other characters. I'm talking about you, Silas (a former slave), and you, Isabel, a successful San Francisco madame (or is it madam? I'm not sure). Either way, she, like Juanita, is a force to be reckoned with.
I typically take a couple of weeks reading a novel, but I burned through Unfamiliar Territory in two days. That may be a personal record for me. The author knows how to create unforgettable characters that you can easily connect with and care about. There are triumphs and tragedies, all skillfully written.
Since I'm not an experienced reader of historical fiction, I have no qualifications when it comes to comparing it to other works of this genre, but as a novice to the genre, I was thoroughly entertained--and impressed. I highly recommend the read, and if you somehow find this one first, by all means, go back and take a look at the first one. Either way, you'll get something out of each of them, and the connection between the past and present works well in both novels no matter which way you consume them.
November 17, 2025
"Steamships take these desperate, barely clothed souls up to Sacramento, Marysville, and Mudville - new towns just sprung up. You see destitute miners returning with nothing. Then there are those with nuggets and pouches full of the gold dust who just gamble and drink it away. It's a chaotic, inhumane place barely fit for any man, certainly not a woman."
The story of Juanita Castro de la Cruz's quest to find her lost son, this historical novel stretches from the California Gold Rush through the American Civil War to post-war Reconstruction. I loved the vivid, immersive descriptions of 19th-century San Francisco, and the unexpected turns the story took, especially a sweet thread of romance.
The book is dedicated to the author's mother and grandmother who "faced the challenges of their times with grace and grit", qualities which are reflected in the main character. I think it would appeal to fans of Beth Lewis' 'The Rush' and Imogen Martin's Western novels.
Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the review copy.
The story of Juanita Castro de la Cruz's quest to find her lost son, this historical novel stretches from the California Gold Rush through the American Civil War to post-war Reconstruction. I loved the vivid, immersive descriptions of 19th-century San Francisco, and the unexpected turns the story took, especially a sweet thread of romance.
The book is dedicated to the author's mother and grandmother who "faced the challenges of their times with grace and grit", qualities which are reflected in the main character. I think it would appeal to fans of Beth Lewis' 'The Rush' and Imogen Martin's Western novels.
Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the review copy.
June 10, 2025
Full disclosure: Mary is a friend. Of course I give her 5 stars. I normally don't often give 5 stars. If this were any other writer I'd give a solid 4 stars.
Unfamiliar Territory will appeal to many of you. I wanted to read it because it includes a good amount of meticulously researched California history. I learned new some things, yay! I love reading historical fiction with Wikipedia by my side.
At the same time the book tells a good family story with love and some tragedy that I did not expect. I will not give a spoiler here. Go read it yourself. I recommend it.
Unfamiliar Territory will appeal to many of you. I wanted to read it because it includes a good amount of meticulously researched California history. I learned new some things, yay! I love reading historical fiction with Wikipedia by my side.
At the same time the book tells a good family story with love and some tragedy that I did not expect. I will not give a spoiler here. Go read it yourself. I recommend it.
July 21, 2025
Mary Smathers does it again. She takes a strong, California born Hispanic woman on a long journey around gold fever California in the mid 1800's as she searches for her long lost bastard son. The good yarn evolves as the medium by which we gain a pretty accurate vision of the remarkable mix of people, along with their attitudes about sex, race, immigration taxes, et al - do the issues ever change? - who fought the brutal climate and each other, at first in search of gold and then in search of whatever else might bring riches and power. A totally fun read.
Ed Kornbluh
Ed Kornbluh
June 10, 2025
It is the mid-19th century. Conflicts between Mexico and America are rampant. Everyone is hyped in this gold fever in California. And amid the chaos, Juanita's teen son Joe goes missing. Will she sit there and gallow in grief all her days? Or will she man up and go find her boy? Join Juanita Castro de la Cruz, as she journeys throughout New California and faces numerous adventures. Will she find her son? What is her story? Find out in this epic book!!!
June 17, 2025
A beautifully rendered tale sprung from the remnants of Alta California. Mary Smathers has researched Unfamiliar Territory brilliantly. History buffs can mine gold and silver gems from each chapter. From muleteer merchandising to an intriguing transplanted madam of San Francisco, the reader is taken on a whirlwind trip through twenty-three years of possibility built on the backs of war, invasion, class struggle, and lost family.
February 8, 2026
What a well written historical fiction of one woman’s journey through her life searching for the son she had sent away at 15. I felt this was well researched & I learnt quite a bit about American history that I didn’t know. The FMC had so much grit & determination against all the odds. I really enjoyed it & have already recommended it to my Mum to read.
Thank you NetGallery & MKS Publishing for this eARC.
Thank you NetGallery & MKS Publishing for this eARC.
September 4, 2025
Unfamiliar Territory is a beautifully written and powerful sequel to This Land of Plenty. With her signature blend of rich historical detail and nuanced character development, Mary Smathers brings depth and heart to every page. The story unfolds with vivid settings and a quiet emotional power that really draws the reader in.
December 27, 2025
Must Read!
From the beginning of the book, I was lost in the story. With every turn of the page, you never knew what was going to happen. It is very well written and definitely worth reading.
From the beginning of the book, I was lost in the story. With every turn of the page, you never knew what was going to happen. It is very well written and definitely worth reading.
August 20, 2025
I loved this book. A thoroughly engrossing and unforgettable story. And I love learning about California history from a book that's so interesting that I can't put it down.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews