Out Front the Following Sea - Book Review

Out Front the Following Sea
by Leah Angstman

Out Front the Following Sea is a tragic story of Ruth Miner. In a culture that frowns upon independent and unmarried women, she needs to stand strong on her principles.

Out Front the Following Sea is a historical fiction set in the 17th century. The year is 1689, the beginning of King William’s War between the French and the English settlers in New England.

The story opens with Ruth Miner trying to buy some crops from the market. Sadly, all of the vendors are not keen on selling their goods to her. Every person in town scoffs at her for being a thief, a liar, and a witch. One man even chases her with a stick. Luckily, though, a sailor arrives in time to rescue her. The sailor’s name is Owen, an old friend of Ruth. He escorts and helps the lady get some goods.

Ruth goes home to a wooden house in the clearing and takes care of her ailing grandmother. But, one day, a serious incident happens in the two women’s lives. It’s a defining moment for Ruth Miner. In a twist of fate, Ruth is faced with a situation where she needs to take action. She cannot live peacefully in a community where the people are convinced that she is a witch.

New Life in Stonington

The only way for Ruth to avoid the judgmental people is to leave Shrewsbury for good. And so, despite having no definite destination in mind, she decides to just depart with the next ship available. She gets on board the Primrose, and disembark in Stonington. Luckily enough, Ruth finds abode in the house of an accommodating couple.

In the new place, Ruth lives peacefully and is free to move around. She earns a few friends and begins to build her dream home. Until one day, another challenge comes to Ruth. An influential figure in town changes the course of her life journey. From this moment onwards, her life becomes complicated. More significant events happen to her one after another.

Follow Ruth Miner’s life journey in Stonington and beyond. Discover how she is branded a witch and how she tackles all the challenges that come her way.

Out Front the Following Sea and its Author

Out Front the Following Sea is a well-researched novel. It gives the reader a glimpse of the onset of the French-English war. Aside from the war, the book also shows the plight of the Native Americans when the new settlers arrive. I commend the author’s detailed descriptions of the events. Leah Angstman literally takes the reader on a wild ride through the sea and in the bloody battle on land.

I also like her poetic writing style and her idea of incorporating a local dialect in the dialogues. It makes the story of Out Front the Following Sea grounded and closer to reality. But, most importantly, by using a Native American language, Angstman helps promote the preservation of a culture.

On the other hand, however, I must point out that the story drags on a bit. While her vivid descriptions of the scenes are commendable, Angstman stretches them more than necessary. Because of this, almost three-fourths of the whole story maintain a monotonous tone. Thankfully, she’s able to redeem it with action-packed scenes towards the final chapters. It’s only then that the book takes a life.

Overall, I give Out Front the Following Sea a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. But, I still recommend the book to readers 18 years old and above. I don’t suggest younger people read it due to the violent scenes.