arolina, and while the rest of the U.S. suffers from the Great Depression, newlyweds Pemberton and Serena ruthlessly profit from their timber empire. Along the way, they battle eminent domain threats from the state’s senator who seeks to build a national park, while killing those who stand in their way.

Serena, by Ron Rash, is rich in detail, perhaps tediously so at some parts. Main characters Serena and Pemberton are not likable but are admirable for their iron will and stout determination, as they brutally maintain control over their timber empire.

Serena, quite simply, is just a bad-ass, scary lumber queen. She trains an eagle to address the camp’s rattlesnake problem, to affirm her work ethic she rides her white Arabian horse to oversee the workers while pregnant and, to establish her authority at camp, she makes and wins a bet against one of the biggest lumberjacks in the crew to test timber knowledge. I cannot help but admire Serena’s quick wit and shrewdness, but I also question her character.

Her entire family – mom, dad, brother and two sisters – apparently died in a flu epidemic, which she responded to by burning their entire home down, selling their lumber assets, and leaving Colorado without turning back. I can understand her actions in grief, but the way she talks about the past as if it doesn’t matter in a cold and calculated way certainly sends up red flags.

In stark contrast, Pemberton’s character came across as flat. He does not have the mysterious and powerful aura Serena exudes and is rather boring, dependent, and cowardly by the end.

Their list of “perpetrators” becomes horrifically long, as one by one, Campbell, Harris, Wilkie, Buchanan, Dr. Cheney, and Widow Jenkins all either die or get fired for no warranted reason – well, all except Dr. Cheney.

Rachel Harmon is the most likable character. When I realized she was 16, yet pregnant with Pemberton’s pre-marriage child, I wanted to smack the idiocy out of her, and then smack Pemberton for being such a selfish jerk. However, as details about her life unfold, along with the determined way she attacks her severe financial problems without asking for pity from anyone, she gained my respect and admiration. I found myself sympathizing for her and looking forward to reading only her chapters.

In contrast with Serena and Pemberton’s dark, emotionless natures in the book are the way the film adaptation chooses to portray them. In the film, they are emotionally conflicted and damaged lovers, which completely misrepresents both characters. Serena is jealous and mentally broken by the end and never reveals the strength and power she possesses in the book. Pemberton is portrayed as the hero. Rachel comes across as desperate and, frankly, irrelevant. All murders are portrayed in a justifiable manner. The movie clearly chose to present the main characters in a more likable manner but, as a result, the events are more predictable and do not delve into the darker core themes of the book.

Serena is not for all readers. Because the movie tried hard to portray Serena and Pemberton as good people, it lacked originality, but it is because the book portrayed the main characters as too arrogant and ruthless that I disliked the book. However, if you enjoy detailed historical tales of hard living, corruption, love, greed, and senseless murder streaks, then read the book. If you live for more simple tragic tales of love gone wrong, moral obligations, emotional scars, and more justified murders, then watch the movie. Remember, both differ greatly, so choose wisely if you do give this title a chance.