The River of Kings

Brown’s (Fallen Land) second novel captures the essence of an enchanting place with a story combining adventure, family drama, and local history over the span of centuries. The book begins with brothers Hunter, a college student, and Lawton, a Navy SEAL, kayaking down the Altamaha River in Georgia to scatter their father’s ashes, as well as to answer some questions about his death. Chapters describing their modern-day outdoor adventure down the river alternate with scenes from their father’s life on the river and historical chapters set in the 1560s in the same area. At that time, French settlers claimed the land at the river’s mouth and established the first European fort in America, Fort Caroline, where they clashed with Native American tribes. The historical chapters focus on Jacques Le Moyne, a real-life artist who recorded the expedition, and include his actual drawings of the Native Americans they encountered and the settlers’ harrowing experiences. These captivating, detailed drawings enhance the historical account. Brown ties the three stories together with tales and sightings of an ancient river monster. Brown makes this nostalgic trip down the river a gorgeous ode to the Georgia coast. Agent: Christopher Rhodes, The Stuart Agency. (Mar.)