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Maguire Storyhouse

The official home of author C.J. Maguire.

Maguire Storyhouse

The official home of author C.J. Maguire.

Debut novel

What the Land Takes

On the edge of the American frontier, one young man’s life is torn apart, setting him on a path that will shape a legacy for generations to come.

Want a peek inside first? Step into the first chapter and discover the beginning of An American Bloodline

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About the Book

What the Land Takes is an atmospheric historical novel set during the French and Indian War on the unforgiving edge of colonial America. When injustice strikes close to home, a young blacksmith’s world fractures, forcing him to confront the cost of loyalty, power, and survival in a land still being forged.

 

C.J. Maguire blends vivid frontier realism with deeply personal stakes, crafting a story of legacy, vengeance, and the choices that echo across generations.

The saga begins October 13, 2026. Preorders launch July 2026. Join the newsletter and be first onto the frontier.

Companion Novella Announcement

Three stories. One unforgiving frontier.

In this gripping companion to What the Land Takes, three men are thrown into a war that will test everything they are.

As their stories collide in a land where survival comes at a cost, not every man will pay the same price.

This companion novella will release as an Amazon-exclusive eBook, launching alongside the main novel.

Tablet mockup of the companion novella ebook cover

The Author

C.J. Maguire

C.J. Maguire is a career firefighter, husband, and father of two living in Florida. When he is not on shift or spending time with his family, he can usually be found reading, writing, watching movies, playing games, or exploring some new corner of history.

He has long been fascinated by legacies and dynasties, how families grow, fracture, and endure over time, and how small, forgotten moments can shape entire generations. He enjoys researching people, places, and the stories history left behind.

That curiosity sparked the idea for a series that follows one American family across multiple eras. Believing that everyone comes from those who walked before them, parents, grandparents, and countless lives beyond memory, he set out to explore the hidden moments that make a family what it is, both the good and the bad.

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