"Manassas" is the first instalment in a ten-book American Civil War historical fiction series. Told through a distinctly Southern lens, the novel explores the rumblings of secession and the First Battle of Bull Run, interweaving themes of familial bonds, personal allegiance and moral dilemmas.

Reasoner weaves a textured tapestry of Civil War-era life, threading together the raw nerves of a society on the brink of fracture. His portrayal of Confederate volunteers pulses with an unvarnished energy, young men swept up in a romantic delusion of martial glory, their naivety etched in every line. Domestic scenes serve as a counterpoint, rooted in the gritty realities of households bracing for upheaval, where personal costs of conflict simmer beneath the surface of daily existence.

The novel stumbles where it should soar. Characters drift like pale sketches, never quite breaking through the page's membrane. Prose marches in lockstep, functional but bloodless, missing the nuanced tremors that could have illuminated this fractured moment in history. Despite the narrative's fertile ground, Reasoner seems content to skim the surface, side-stepping the deeper moral fault lines that could have transformed a merely competent book into something truly piercing.

That said, "Manassas" offers a readable and accessible narrative that will appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven historical fiction. The battle itself emerges later in the story, but Reasoner's patient buildup may reward those who prefer their history served with a generous dose of familial drama and period detail.

"Manassas" is an interesting beginning to a lengthy series. While it doesn't quite deliver on the promise of its premise, it might still find its audience among those looking for an undemanding yet immersive foray into the Civil War's early days. Reasoner's saga could grow into something more ambitious, but as a standalone novel, this opening chapter struggles to rise above pedestrian.

⭐ ⭐ 1/2