The majority of this novel dealt with an impatient protagonist, Isaac Devins, and his impetuous and unsuccessful attempts to advance up the social ladder during the birth of the city of Toronto. The story was strongest when it kept with this narrative, bringing in elements of the earliest settlers, American immigrants (my family too came north the Upper Canada at this time), British hierarchy and class structure in early Canada, and the relationships with the first nations, in this case the Mississauga people.

Unfortunately, the story strayed in some of the later chapters, moving into a first person narrative by peripheral characters and relating the events of some of the early battles of the war of 1812 by letter, which sounded more like reading from a text book. This took away from the earlier theme, and unfortunately made the ending a bit too hasty and unfulfilled.

I would still give it a thumbs up, as it would appeal to both history buffs, and those native to Toronto and Southern Ontario, as well as those who enjoy local artists. ( )