Were you surprised by Evangeline's fate? Why or why not?

This book was full of sad surprises. Nevertheless, I did not believe that Evangeline's life would end this way!

The Exiles is a most disturbing book. I love it.

When Evangeline was pushed overboard by Buck and then not rescued, I was in total disbelief. As readers and as watchers of movies and television shows, we are so used to an auxiliary character, rather than the hero or heroine, being sacrificed that it was indeed unsettling for Evangeline to perish halfway through the book. It was a very emotional moment for me, but it did allow for fuller development of other characters.