This novel is firmly rooted in real events. I relied heavily on research from historians including Juanita Brooks (author of The Mountain Meadows Massacre), Will Bagley (author of Blood of the Prophets), and Barbara Jones Brown and Richard E. Turley, Jr. (authors of Vengeance Is Mine). That said, I have taken some liberties for the sake of clarity, pacing, and coherence. For instance, some character and location names have been changed or consolidated (there were a lot of people named Joseph in this particular story). I’ve also condensed the chronology of events in some places to maintain pacing and narrative. While all quotations used in this book are drawn from real historical documents, I have condensed and edited some for brevity and to enhance readability for a contemporary audience. Any deviations made from real names, events, or quotations were made with careful consideration and the goal of preserving their original spirit and intent.
— Noelle W. Ihli