First published 2025
Marguerite grows up expecting a life of wealth and comfort until her parents die and leave her in the care of a mysterious guardian. This volatile man squanders her inheritance and forces her to join his voyage to New France. During the journey, Marguerite falls in love with her guardian's servant. When he discovers their secret relationship, he maroons them both on a barren island. Marguerite must abandon everything she knew about herself. The woman who once wore silk gowns and pearl necklaces now fights to survive brutal winters and find food. As ice covers the island and rescue seems impossible, she turns to a faith that her privileged life never required. Based on a real woman from the sixteenth century, this story follows Marguerite as she transforms from a sheltered heiress into someone who can endure whatever nature demands.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, 21st-century, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family, survival
Setting: New France
Period: 16th Century
368 pages · Hardcover · The Dial Press