In book two of this historical saga, the elderly Louise recounts her grandmother Josephine's struggles to run the family plantation in the years leading up to the American Civil War. Josephine tries to raise her son Jean to be nothing like his grandfather and uncle, whose tyranny over their slaves and the women of the family forced Josephine and her mother to resort to the services of a voodoo priestess from New Orleans. But when Jean falls for a slave named Celeste, Josephine's tolerance and values are put to the test.