Wild Lands in Aussie Readers

Jul 14, 2015 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2015-release, aussie-authors, net-galley, read-on-kindle, historical-fiction, own-read, arc, favourites, australian-history

Kate Carter’s life had changed since her father had died – ten years old and her only happiness was climbing the tallest tree and talking to his spirit. Her mother was working for the Reverend while Kate was relegated to the servants, doing chores from dawn to dusk. The new colony of New South Wales was a place of danger and hunger – Kate missed her father desperately. Ten years later on the death of her mother, Kate no longer wanted to stay in the Reverend’s employ. A headstrong and feisty youn Kate Carter’s life had changed since her father had died – ten years old and her only happiness was climbing the tallest tree and talking to his spirit. Her mother was working for the Reverend while Kate was relegated to the servants, doing chores from dawn to dusk. The new colony of New South Wales was a place of danger and hunger – Kate missed her father desperately. Ten years later on the death of her mother, Kate no longer wanted to stay in the Reverend’s employ. A headstrong and feisty young woman, she was determined to make her own way in this desolate country.

Kate's position of lady’s companion was procured by the Reverend; the advice of the many she spoke to was not to venture beyond the boundaries of the colony. But she had nothing to stay in Sydney town for – her future was in the unknown. Australia’s wild and unoccupied lands were a dangerous and unpredictable place. Travelling to the other side of the Blue Mountains was fraught with danger.

The Aboriginal people were devastated by the arrival of the white settlers. They didn’t understand the native ways; the burning of the land to generate new growth was frowned upon by the whites. But the damage done to the land by the foraging sheep hurt the tribes who had lived on the land for centuries – how could they understand each other’s culture?

Bronzewing was a white man living in an Aboriginal world. A young boy when he’d been rescued by the elder, Bidjia, he grew up with Jardi, Bidjia’s son, as his brother. Living with the tribe and learning the Aboriginal ways meant Bronzewing appreciated both sides of the argument; educated by a white family in his youth meant his loyalties were divided on many occasions.

What would happen when Kate, isolated on the Hardy’s farm for the past twelve months and working from sunup to sundown at the most mundane of tasks (certainly not what she had expected), met up with the enigmatic Bronzewing? The volatile situation with the natives attacking and murdering was terrifying – who was this white man living in an Aboriginal world? Was he friend or foe?

I absolutely loved Wild Lands by Aussie author Nicole Alexander. A fabulous portrayal of early life in the 1800s in Australia as it slowly became inhabited by convicts and white settlers alike; the heartbreak of everything the Aboriginal people had ever known being taken away from them by force. I thoroughly enjoyed the strength of character in Kate as she struggled to forge a life for herself without being dictated to by a man; the character of Bronzewing and his loyalty to Bidjia and Jardi was excellent. Wild Lands is a novel I have no hesitation in recommending highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
...more

23 likes · Like · see review

Aug 31, 2015 Tien rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, australian-author, australia

There are a tonne of historical romance of the American pioneering days but there seems to be a void when it comes to the Australian first settlement days. I’ve always thought there would be a very distinct difference noting Australian harsh climate and being set up as penal colonies. Wild Lands, however, does not quite fit into the romance genre –so I found out as I read! There is a bit of romance in there but in reality, this book explores the perspectives of the settlers and natives as they f There are a tonne of historical romance of the American pioneering days but there seems to be a void when it comes to the Australian first settlement days. I’ve always thought there would be a very distinct difference noting Australian harsh climate and being set up as penal colonies. Wild Lands, however, does not quite fit into the romance genre –so I found out as I read! There is a bit of romance in there but in reality, this book explores the perspectives of the settlers and natives as they fight over the rights of the land.

Kate Carter has had a fairly good and protected childhood until her father died and left her and her mother penniless. Compromises were made by her mother in order to protect Kate and ensure her growth into a lovely young woman. When her mother dies, however, Kate is forced to face the harsh reality of being a woman in a man’s world. Her choices were limited but she refused to have the terms of her life dictated to her and was determined to make her own choices. Her choice led her to the outer limits of civilisation and required her to adjust her views on many things.

Adam, aka Bronzewing, was rescued by a peaceful Aboriginal man and grew up straddling both worlds (of the settler’s and the native’s). He finds himself struggling to balance the two worlds and most times, unable to make one side listen to the other peacefully. Circumstances arose where he was forced to run with his adopted father and brother. His is a fight which still is being fought today as we try to find a balance in including the Aboriginals yet also accepting their cultures into the modern world.

This novel is told from two perspectives, Kate’s and Adam’s. By Kate’s thoughts, we come to know the settlers’ viewpoint and journeyed with Kate as she adjusted herself to her new world and reformed her views by her own experiences. By Adam’s, we learn of the Aborigines way of life and so understand their anger and sorrow. Wild Lands is a very thoughtful retrospective insights of a struggling world. Lyrical in its language, it is a story to beguile all readers.

As I’ve just finished both 1788 (non-fiction work by a British naval officer on the first settling of Australia) and Capricornia (Aussie classic where author spoke up against the horrible treatment of the Aborigines) earlier this month, Wild Lands, whilst set in between these 2 novels, definitely has the sweetest ending. Even when the novel itself isn’t strictly a romance, the ending itself was... well, I smirked, I rolled my eyes, and I harrumphed! Think knight on white horse riding into the sunset...lol

Thanks Random House Australia for eARC via NetGalley in exchange of honest review ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Apr 29, 2017 Dzintra aka Ingrid rated it really liked it

Loved this book as I do all Nicole's! So much history as it tells us of the White Settlers in a New Land trying to live their Old Way. Not to mention how this impacted on our Aboriginal people and Their Land that they have been living on.....so sad and it moved me to tears!
. ...more

1 like · Like · see review