Balm : A Novel

The New York Times bestselling author of Wench returns to the Civil War era to explore the next chapter of history—the trauma of the War and the end of slavery—in this powerful story of love and healing about three people who struggle to overcome the pain of the past and define their own future. The Civil War has ended, and Madge, Sadie, and Hemp have each come to Chicago in search of a new life. Born with magical hands, Madge has the power to discern others’ suffering, but she cannot heal her own damaged heart. To mend herself and help those in need, she must return to Tennessee to face the women healers who rejected her as a child. Sadie can commune with the dead, but until she makes peace with her father, she, too, cannot fully engage her gift. Searching for his missing family, Hemp arrives in this northern city that shimmers with possibility. But redemption cannot be possible until he is reunited with those taken from him. In the bitter aftermath of a terrible, bloody war, as a divided nation tries to come together once again, Madge, Sadie, and Hemp will be caught up in a desperate, unexpected battle for survival in a community desperate to lay the pain of the past to rest. Beautiful in its historical atmosphere and emotional depth, Balm is a stirring novel of love, loss, hope, and reconciliation set during one of the most critical periods in American history. The New York Times–bestselling author of Wench returns with a “deeply moving” tale of love, healing, and magical gifts in post-Civil War Chicago (USA Today).The Civil War has ended, and Madge, Sadie, and Hemp have each come to Chicago in search of a new life. Madge was born with the power to discern others'suffering, but to mend her own damaged heart, she must return to Tennessee to face the women healers who rejected her as a child. Sadie can commune with the dead, but until she makes peace with her father, she, too, cannot fully engage her gift. Searching for his missing family, Hemp arrives in this northern city that shimmers with possibility.In the bitter aftermath of a terrible, bloody war, as a divided nation tries to come together once again, Madge, Sadie, and Hemp will be caught in a desperate battle for survival in a community that years to lay the pain of the past to rest. Beautiful in its historical atmosphere and emotional depth, Balm is an ““elegantly crafted [novel that] captures the fierce energy, diversity, and suffering of Civil War-era Chicago” (Publishers Weekly). "The Civil War has ended, and Madge, Sadie, and Hemp have each come to Chicago in search of a new life. Born with magical hands, Madge has the power to discern others' suffering, but she cannot heal her own damaged heart. To mend herself and help those in need, she must return to Tennessee and face the women healers who rejected her as a child. Sadie can commune with the dead, but until she makes peace with her father, she cannot fully engage her gift. Searching for his missing family, Hemp arrives in a northern city that shimmers with possibility. But redemption cannot be possible until he is reunited with those taken from him. In the bitter aftermath of a terrible, bloody war, as a divided nation tries to come together once again, Madge, Sadie, and Hemp will be caught up in a desperate, unexpected battle for survival in a community desperate to lay the pain of the past to rest."-- Provided by publisher "Set during the [era after the Civil War] and exploring the next chapter of history--the end of slavery--this ... story of love and healing is about three people who struggle to overcome the pain of the past and define their own future"-- The Civil War has ended, and Madge, Sadie, and Hemp have each come to Chicago in search of a new life. Born with magical hands, Madge has the power to discern others' suffering, but she cannot heal her own damaged heart. Sadie can commune with the dead, but until she makes peace with her father, she, too, cannot fully engage her gift. Searching for his missing family, Hemp arrives in this northern city hoping to be reunited with those taken from him. All three will be caught up in a desperate, unexpected battle for survival in a community desperate to lay the pain of the past to rest. "Set during the [era after the Civil War] and exploring the next chapter of history--the end of slavery--this ... story of love and healing is about three people who struggle to overcome the pain of the past and define their own future"-- Provided by publisher "Set during the Civil War era and exploring the next chapter of history-the end of slavery-this powerful story of love and healing is about three people who struggle to overcome the pain of the past and define their own future"-- Provided by publisher