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Hard Road to Freedom
Stephen A. Carter’s fully illustrated Hard Road To Freedom, the third book in the Matari series, takes readers on a gripping journey through the post-Civil War years, covering 1864 to 1882. The story centers on John Saxton, a Union officer imprisoned during the war, and his interactions with a wide cast of characters, from fellow prisoners like Lucas Garrow to the dangerous and menacing Horatio Garrow, Lucas’s father. The narrative bounces between Saxton’s trials in various prison camps, the broader social and political aftermath of the war, and the dangerous criminal underworld dominated by figures like Horatio. The story’s most fascinating moments come from the vivid depiction of prison life and the conflict between these complex characters.
Carter doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of the Civil War, especially when Saxton is shipped off to different prison camps. The detail in the Danville and Salisbury prison sequences was just chilling. You can feel the grime, the hunger, and the desperation pouring out of the pages when Saxton shares his miserable meals or confronts the horrors of disease and violence around him. When Lucas Garrow, the young drummer boy, is introduced, I really found myself rooting for him, especially after learning about his backstory and watching his interaction with Saxton. The fact that Lucas’s own father, Horatio, turns out to be such a ruthless criminal adds an emotional layer to their relationship, which is built on a lie Lucas doesn’t even know.
But speaking of characters, the villains in this book are really something. Horatio Garrow is just despicable, and Carter paints him as the kind of antagonist you love to hate. I mean, the guy is not only a Confederate deserter and smuggler but also deeply invested in all sorts of evil dealings, including trying to reclaim his estranged son Lucas while keeping his criminal empire running. Then there’s the addition of Allen Pinkerton hunting down Garrow. This cat-and-mouse dynamic kept me hooked, especially as Garrow’s schemes get bolder and Pinkerton closes in. I couldn’t help but think, “How’s he going to get away with this?” And when BB shows up to throw another wrench into the whole thing, it felt like the stakes just kept rising. BB’s manipulations and Horatio’s increasingly reckless actions were like watching a train wreck you couldn’t look away from.
One of the most memorable parts for me was Saxton’s dream of a utopia on Raccoon Mountain. Despite everything he goes through, he holds onto this vision of a post-war community where both black and white veterans can live together in peace. The dream felt almost too good to be true, especially in the face of all the violence and hatred he experiences. But I think that’s what makes Saxton such a compelling character; he’s an idealist in the middle of chaos. When he shares this dream with other prisoners, it really hit home how much people need hope, even if it seems impossible. And seeing the way characters like Lincoln and Harambee responded to Saxton’s vision gave me the feels. It made me wish for a better ending, though the story stays true to the gritty, sometimes hopeless realities of its setting.
I’d say Hard Road to Freedom is a must-read if you love historical fiction that dives into the aftermath of war with a mix of hope and brutality. The writing is detailed and immersive, though it’s definitely not a light read. This book is perfect for those who appreciate stories that don’t sugarcoat history and are drawn to complex, morally gray characters like Lucas and Horatio. If you’re looking for something with layers of emotion, tough choices, and a lot of historical grit, this will do it for you.
Pages: 322
The Die Game
The Die Game by Stephen A. Carter is a beautifully illustrated historical fiction novel that immerses readers in the captivating world of the American Civil War era. This gripping tale follows a group of valiant African American soldiers who fight for the Confederacy, offering a fresh perspective on a turbulent period in history. The novel also delves into the struggles faced by President Lincoln and his troops as they wage war. The profound impact of the conflict is portrayed with devastating realism, highlighting the shattered families and the resilience of mothers left to raise their children alone. The book intriguingly explores the motivations behind Americans fighting each other, as well as the loyalty of free blacks and slaves to the South.
Through The Die Game, readers can teleport themselves to the tumultuous US Civil War era. Stephen’s meticulous attention to detail shines through, from the authentic use of English in dialogues to the fascinating insights into the early stages of commercial manufacturing of aluminum and the pioneering deployment of machine guns. The book offers precise information on gun and ship design that will captivate enthusiasts. I was particularly enthralled to learn about the ingenious technique of sinking a ship by pumping water into a water-tight double hull, allowing the vessel to be lowered until the deck is barely awash. Furthermore, the book poignantly portrays the harsh realities of war through the characters’ personal struggles, including a mother’s heart-wrenching experience of seeing her two sons go to battle, facing the ever-present risk of losing them. The author weaves a rich tapestry of multiple perspectives and sophisticated strategies employed by the characters, providing readers with a mind-bending and puzzle-like narrative. However, the large cast of characters and the rapid shifts in viewpoints can be disorienting at times.
The Die Game is a compelling blend of action, history, and war strategy. Its courageous and passionate characters inspire readers and remind us of the enduring importance of the ongoing battle for justice and equality.
Their Love For Each Other
Battlegrounds follows a shipping captain and former slave who become involved in the abolitionist cause during the Civil War, working against the Confederacy. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As to inspiration, you might say I was curious for where I lived near Vancouver BC, there were hardly any black people living there other than Hogan’s Alley a black enclave in Vancouver’s downtown area (later torn down for an expressway). American history, especially the Civil War era before, during and after came to my attention in an American History course I took at UBC (University of British Columbia).
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Well the major national themes were the issue of slavery, then abolitionism followed by succession of Southern States leading to civil war. Others were more localized such as racism in Boston not only in the white society (burning of the black church, the violent protests etc) but the black as well as demonstrated in the funeral gathering in warehouse #3. Finally on a personal level the effects of racism on John Saxton and Virginia as they struggled to clarify their love for each other despite the opposition from her parents and his high society mother.
What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
Ah research, research! For every hour writing there was 2 hours of research or more. 14 years ago when I wrote the four books which later became the MATARI series, the internet was more honest, more reliable than it is today. Because of my geog/hst majors at UBC and a 21 year teaching career in High School Social Studies, I was able to find the material I needed to embellish a story that would educate as well as entertain the reader. Later on I added pictures of various sorts to bring the characters, the settings and the book’s plot to life. In doing so, it gave the reader a better sense of the story. Along with thousands of notes scribbled down after watching historical TV shows, reading books, hearing a certain word worthy phrase or late at night getting an idea, I persevered but only after double checking the veracity of the information.
Can you tell us where the book goes and where we’ll see the characters in the next book?
As thousands of books of hist/fic are published anew each year around the world, very few really make an impact or become a commercial success because of it. Famous hist/fict authors such as Ken Follett and Wilbur Smith have an advantage after writing many books that became best sellers. But they too had to start from scratch as I have done. Right now BATTLEGROUNDS is selling but slowly. As a writer I’m not in the same class as the aforementioned titans. Therefore the pictures etc. Hopefully have come to my rescue as well as my characters both real and fictional. In the next book THE DIE GAME, the characters remain the same, both good and evil as war descends upon them in all its fury. Here the tension escalates as characters we love die, or are horribly wounded or driven mad. War is all hell as Gen Sherman once said and thus Book 2 is living proof of that.
I did 2 tours of the South to meet the descendants of slaves, visit plantations of note, take photos, visit museums, battlefields, cities etc. relevant to the novels, and to clarify my internet research as to its accuracy.
Author Links: GoodReads
A supporting cast of unforgettable characters are caught up in a web of murder, dark secrets and political intrigue. Arrayed against them are two arch villains Horatio Garrow and his hapless henchman Harley Blackstone.
Saxton and his beautiful black bride Virginia survive a dangerous milieu of Confederate espionage, high treason and the siege of Fort Sumter all brought to the fore by one man…..President Abraham Lincoln.
LITERARY TITAN 