Seventh Son: The Tales of Alvin Maker, Volume I

Seventh Son is clearly the initial book in a series. It sets up some characters and events, and then abruptly ends.

The book covers the birth and young childhood of Alvin Miller. He is born the seventh son of a seventh son - a birth position that gives special powers. And he seems to have those powers - though he is only starting to discover them.

The setting is an "alternate" early 19th century America. Some of the names mentioned (such as Ben Franklin, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson) are familiar. However, things are slightly different, with a small United States, a New Amsterdam, an 'Apalachia', and numerous other 'differences'. The "alternate America" is one of the more intriguing aspects of the book. However, it is not the central theme (and only seems to play a passive role.)

The more active differences have to do with "hexes" and religion. The characters are primarily Christian. However, they also have a variety of "supernatural powers" that they do not hold to be incongruous with the Christian faith. The local preacher, however, holds them all to be witchcraft. He is portrayed as a somewhat vain man with a strong desire to save souls - but also a desire to be known as a great soul saver. He provides one of the richer "foils" to the main characters in the book.

While this book does set up the basic background of the series, many of the events are repeated in the later books. It would not be much a problem to start with the second book in the series instead.