River Becomes Shadow
by Anne M. Smith-Nochasak

---

It is said that one day, wherever River walks, the earth will turn green again. In the dying wasteland that is rural Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the year 2036, this seems impossible. But where others see impossibilities, twelve-year-old River cultivates hope. She sees what a new world can be, even when the oppressive regime known as the Elect enslaves more and more people every day. Even if it means sacrificing herself along the way. In this second installment of the Taggak Journey trilogy, River has left Gran Flo and her swamp far behind. She’s joined by her cousin Tag, their guide to shadow running, a means to travel in secrecy requiring complete focus. But without proper food and sleep, how will they maintain the necessary concentration? And then there’s Dr. Andrea Parker, the keeper of stories—and resentment. Left to fester, her resentment might just ruin everything. As these unlikely heroes struggle forward, will they stay loyal to each other and to themselves, taking Flo’s voice and vision as their compass? Will River walk her path and fulfill Flo’s prophecy? River Becomes Shadow is a story of devotion and resilience in the face of heartbreak and brutality. It encourages readers to look into the not-so-distant future, at the very real possibility of an apocalyptic world, and believe that we are enough to change it, no matter how broken we may be.

---

"Smith-Nochasak’s beautiful way with words pulled me in from the first sentence. —A-M Mawhiney, author of Fugitive Rifts Reviews of River Faces North (Taggak Journey: Book 1) ​ "Smith-Nochasak’s writing is a beautiful, slightly chaotic, magnificent stream-of-consciousness, weaving together what her protagonist wishes was true with what is her horrible truth, as Flo tries to protect us, the readers, as much as she is protecting River. It is intimate, immediate, and utterly engaging." —Heather McBriarty, author of Somewhere in Flanders and Amid the Splintered Trees, for The Seaboard Review of Books “Dark, uncompromising, and shocking, “River Faces North” by Anne M. Smith-Nochasak is saturated with hope. Flo’s courage, her love for her granddaughter River, her faith in her son’s and his partner’s ability to bring the revolution home and wipe away the horrendous Elect are the rays of bright light that transform this story.” —Eve Koguce, Author of Neglected Merge and The Accidental Cop "Flo’s journey through this frightening world demonstrates the endurance of the human spirit and the strength of family. In spite of the world around her, it speaks of the incredible resilience of this woman and her hope for the future." —Bill Massey, Author of Of Pork and Potatoes, Poets and Pioneers, and Under Italian Skies

---

Anne M. Smith-Nochasak is the author of four novels. Her first, A Canoer of Shorelines (FriesenPress, 2021), was recognized as one of The Miramichi Reader’s Best of Fiction in 2021. The Ice Widow (FriesenPress, 2022) was shortlisted for the Whistler Independent Book Awards in 2023 and a semi-finalist for the North Street Book Prize. River Faces North (FriesenPress, 2024), the first book in the Taggak Journey trilogy, was a Seaboard Review Book Pick in 2024. She is currently a member of the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Authors Association. While she grew up in Nova Scotia, Anne taught in northern communities for many years. She now lives in rural Nova Scotia in an area not unlike Flo’s swamp, with logging trails and rivers to explore. When she’s not writing, Anne enjoys hiking routes like the ones her characters might travel.

---

Contributors

Author

Anne M. Smith-Nochasak