The Water Lilies of Mishipeshu

by Karla Cruise

A hidden botanical manuscript sparks a centuries-long battle between profit and preservation, leaving a trail of murder, madness and encounters with the supernatural. In the midst of war and cultural upheaval, Marguerite, a half-French, half-Native American woman, and her British lieutenant lover create a botanical manuscript at a wilderness outpost. This manuscript holds the secrets of an ancient medicine society, including a dangerous recipe for a hallucinogen that can grant prophetic powers or kill. As foreign invaders sweep across the land, generations work to preserve and conceal this "lost" manuscript.

The story unfolds over centuries, from the burning of a local fort by Native American tribes to the rise of White settlers and industrialists. Despite attempts to erase indigenous culture, the manuscript endures, hidden away until a young graduate student discovers it by chance. Her find sparks a race against time to protect the manuscript from a powerful pharmaceutical company. Join her on a thrilling subterranean adventure with an ecology student as they strive to restore the land and return the manuscript to its rightful owners.

In a tale woven with history, myth, and the enduring power of nature, Mishipeshu, the Algonquin goddess, reappears to foretell the world's destruction and rebirth. Will the manuscript’s secrets bring harmony or chaos? Discover the answer in The Water Lilies of Mishipeshu.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery

240 pages, Paperback

Published January 27, 2026

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the arc of this book thanks to NetGalley and it has been a real gem. There are multiple short stories, all interconnected, that span through generations, with a mystical theme under it all. It goes from the first interaction between native tribes and white settlers to modern families, all with a botanical book that two lovers create and pass by over centuries. The theme of the power of nature and the spirit world is very strong and it made me really curious to keep reading and see where the story would go. The characters are a lot but each of them easily identifiable. In particular i really enjoyed the last chapters where there almost an academic research going on. I really want to have this book in a physical form in my library, i can’t wait for it to came out already.

[C.Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75☆
The structure of this book is so interesting. It's plotted like an interconnected short story collection that narrates many lives across centuries and how they sometimes echo one another. The shifting timelines and perspectives make it a book best read in a few focused sittings, but the reward is a story that feels whole and rich.
The research behind it feels thorough, and the blend of history, myth and nature is well balanced and complementary.
I do wish there had been more chapters focused on Mishipeshu to strengthen the narrative's central thread.

(NetGalley e-ARC)

[Ruth Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, despite its structure and lack of a strong character throughout. Each chapter moves forward in time from the mid-1700s, the connection being a botanical manuscript, a magical elixir, and some generational characters. In between, we have Mishipeshu, an Algonquin river goddess who enters the human world to search for her missing sister. (Yes, she is a "strong character throughout," but she is a bit vague.) There are lots of interesting historical bits and pieces and the writing is good (could have used one more pass by the copy editor, though). It provided a good sense of place for northern Indiana and the indigenous people of that area.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

This is a time period/location pairing I didn't know much about, and I really enjoyed that aspect of this book. I thought the perspective shifts were interesting, and I liked the broad expanse of time covered, with some acute narrative at the end. I didn't understand the framing device used in the novel and it was jarring each time it came up and then I don't feel like it resolved in a satisfying way.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book was intriguing and I liked learning more about these overlooked corners of history. The narratives were interesting in a historical capacity and the author did an excellent job setting the stage for each chapter. However, Mishipeshu's role was very limited, and the characters felt like cardboard cutouts. The dialogue was also quite choppy.
The historical elements of this book were excellent overall, but the characters and central storyline were quite weak. Thank you to NetGalley and HTF Publishing for the eARC!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a print copy of an Advance Reading Copy of this book. I have gone back and forth over the rating. The beginning of the book is slow for me and is in small print. I have severe glaucoma, so it was a struggle for me to read it. I found the Historical Notes in the back of the book very helpful. I felt a little lost in the first two chapters, so I decided to read the historical notes before each chapter.

There was a theme in the chapters about certain water lilies and the potion made from them by the Native Americans in the region, as referred in a map at the beginning of the book, Mishipeshu, a river goddess. Generally, the land is near Lake Michigan, and present-day South Bend is included.

The potion is advertised as a treatment for fatigue and more but it had serious side effects, such as hallucinations and even death.

The research done on this trail of stories surrounding this water lily and the potion made from There is great academic importance in the book created by a lover of botany long ago, and the history in that area. But it is a book that is difficult to read.

[Kuu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was a very interesting book, with an intriguing structure. The "race against time" mentioned in the blurb is not as big of a deal as it is made out to be, and most of the book spans the previous centuries and not the present, but that did not make me enjoy the book any less, though it is something to be aware of.

What I found a little sad was that some chapters were quite short and we learned next to nothing about the characters, even though they SEEMED like they might have very interesting stories that I would have loved to read more about. I also found the ending a little bit anticlimatic. But the thing with this novel is that it didn't seem very plot-driven, though there definitely was a red string connecting all the stories. It read more like a collection of short stories, almost, all of which revolve around either Mishipeshu or the manuscript.

All in all, I really enjoyed this novel and the breadth of time periods and events that were featured.

[Rose Aria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book.
I also DNF'd at 20%

The Water Lilies of Mishipeshu is a historical fiction following the fate of a botanical manuscript through various stories of Native American tribes. This book was difficult to review because I found the history and writing beautiful. However, I just could not get lost in the story, and I did not find myself wanting to pick the book up again. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in historical fiction or Native American culture, but it wasn't for me.

[Adams Rubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is breathtaking. It feels less like a novel and more like a living legend passed down through time. The way history, mythology, and modern suspense are woven together is truly beautiful. I felt completely transported—from the wilderness outpost to the hidden tunnels and sacred lands. This story made me think deeply about preservation, identity, and our connection to nature.