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Milana Marsenich
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Copper Sky Kindle Edition

by Milana Marsenich (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 152 ratings

The feminine spirit of the West comes alive in early twentieth century Montana.



Set in the Copper Camp of Butte, Montana in 1917, Copper Sky tells the story of two women with opposite lives. Kaly Shane, mired in prostitution, struggles to find a safe home for her unborn child, while Marika Lailich, a Slavic immigrant, dodges a pre-arranged marriage to become a doctor. As their paths cross, and they become unlikely friends, neither knows the family secret that ties them together.



“A dazzling heartfelt epic of friendship and loss, love and renewal. Copper Sky conjures the unimaginable heartbreak of Butte’s history with compassion and grand vision and a storyteller’s genius. If you love Montana’s rich and ghosted past, don’t miss this read.”—Debra Magpie Earling, author of Perma Red



“A riveting story of darkness and redemption...”—Phil Condon, author of Clay Center, Montana Surround, and Nine Ten Again



“This splendid debut carries readers into the textured dimension of Butte’s vivid and perseverant heart.”—Sid Gustafson, author of Swift Dam
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  1. Print length
    307 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    May 2, 2017
  5. File size
    2.4 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

MILANA MARSENICH has an M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling from Montana State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana.

She has previously published in Montana Quarterly, Big Sky Journal, The Polishing Stone, and Feminist Studies. She has a short story included in the Montana Quarterly book Montana, Warts and All: The Best From Our First Decade.

Milana lives in Northwest Montana. She enjoys hiking the wilderness trails with friends and dogs.

Copper Sky is her debut novel.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0722Q1K51
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 2, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.4 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 307 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 152 ratings

About the author

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Milana Marsenich

Milana Marsenich

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Milana Marsenich lives in Northwest Montana near Flathead Lake at the base of the beautiful Mission Mountains. She enjoys quick access to the mountains and has spent many hours hiking the wilderness trails with friends and dogs.

As a natural listener and a therapist, she has witnessed amazing generosity and courage in others. She first witnessed this in her hometown of Butte, Montana, a mining town with a rich history and the setting for Copper Sky, her first novel. Copper Sky was chosen as a 2018 Spur Award finalist for Best Western Historical Novel.

She has an M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling from Montana State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana. She has previously published in Montana Quarterly, Big Sky Journal, The Polishing Stone, The Moronic Ox, BookGlow, and Feminist Studies. She has a short story included in The Montana Quarterly book: Montana, Warts and All. She has three published novels, Copper Sky, The Swan Keeper, and Beautiful Ghost, and one popular history book, Idaho Madams. Her soon-to-be-released novel, Shed Girl: A Juliet French Mystery, will be available January 18, 2024.

In addition to Copper Sky being a Spur Award finalist in 2018, The Swan Keeper was a Willa Award finalist in 2019, and her short story, Wild Dogs, won the Laura Award for short fiction in 2020. She is a member of Western Writers of America and of Women Writing the West.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
152 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book a wonderful read that takes them into a strange world, with a deeply moving story and richly developed characters. Moreover, the book receives positive feedback for its value, with one customer describing it as a total page-turner. Additionally, customers appreciate the strength portrayed in the narrative, with one review highlighting the courage it takes to overcome hardship.

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8 customers mention "Readability"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable to read, taking them into a strange world, with one customer particularly praising the author's prose and description of Butte.

"...The author’s prose and description of Butte, the surrounding landscape, and the tenuous social structures had me re-reading paragraphs because they..." Read more

"...Brilliant characterizations and a deeply moving storyline result in Copper Sky being a total page-turner!" Read more

"...so it can seem a bit uneven at times, but overall this is a beautifully written work...." Read more

"...The best novels create whole worlds that we get to share for a few hours. Milana Marsenich has created one that is well worth a visit." Read more

8 customers mention "Story quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story of the book, describing it as wonderful and deeply moving, with one customer noting its vividly described narrative.

"...It’s an engaging story." Read more

"...Milana weaves a beautiful tale of what it was like and I have no doubt that even though she calls it fiction, there is a great deal of truth and..." Read more

"...Brilliant characterizations and a deeply moving storyline result in Copper Sky being a total page-turner!" Read more

"Copper Sky is a deeply moving story that holds the reader tightly from beginning to end...." Read more

7 customers mention "Value for money"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well worth their money, with one describing it as a total page-turner.

"...and a deeply moving storyline result in Copper Sky being a total page-turner!" Read more

"...Milana Marsenich has done a riveting job of bringing to life for us one period of Butte's history...." Read more

"...Milana Marsenich has created one that is well worth a visit." Read more

"...A wonderful debut novel; well worth your time. Great for book clubs too!" Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book.

"...The characters were so well-crafted, they came alive for me, and showed the strength, determination, and courage it took to overcome hardship...." Read more

"...Her characters are richly developed, and the descriptions of the area and the events are fabulous...." Read more

"...Her characters come to life in such richness, you'll find yourself wondering how they are long after you've closed the book...." Read more

"good book with great characters and a mystery set early 1900's" Read more

3 customers mention "Strength"3 positive0 negative

Customers praise the book's strength, with one review highlighting its portrayal of strong yet credible young women and another noting how it holds readers from start to finish.

"...Kaly and Marika, both strong yet credible young women, experience a mysterious connection made clear by the end of the book...." Read more

"...The characters were so well-crafted, they came alive for me, and showed the strength, determination, and courage it took to overcome hardship...." Read more

"A wonderful story ,filled with the pain and joy of life . Holds you from start to finish ." Read more

A Discovered Diamond
5 out of 5 stars
A Discovered Diamond
This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review: Helen Hollick founder #DDRevs "I rarely read a book which so completely captivates me as this one did. I felt immersed as if I inhabited the world I was reading about."
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Lois Simenson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Copper Sky is a brilliant journey back in time!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Milana Marsenich’s book taught me a lot about the history of my hometown that I didn’t know. Copper Sky immersed me in Butte, Montana, in 1917. It’s the story of two women with different lives, who become friends despite not knowing the family secret that connects them. Kaly is involved in prostitution and struggles to find a safe home for her unborn child. Marika is a Slavic immigrant who tries to avoid an arranged marriage to become a doctor. I love how the author leads us to where their lives intersect, becoming unlikely friends. The author’s prose and description of Butte, the surrounding landscape, and the tenuous social structures had me re-reading paragraphs because they’re so beautifully written. I also learned about the danger of the miners who worked underground back in 1917, with sometimes disastrous outcomes. I love it when a storyteller whisks me off my feet and I can’t stop turning the pages. Treat yourself to a wonderful read with the brilliance of Copper Sky. It’s an engaging story.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Gail
    4.0 out of 5 stars Historically accurate story of an old mining town.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Being from Butte I can picture this story taking place. Milana weaves a beautiful tale of what it was like and I have no doubt that even though she calls it fiction, there is a great deal of truth and history revealed in this page turner.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Susan S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars it’s better classified as psychological fiction with a feminist slant
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Copper Sky transports the reader to a copper town in the American West. However, this work of fiction by Milana Marsenich is a completely different sort of Western. While it’s full of plenty of action, it’s better classified as psychological fiction with a feminist slant. Kaly and Marika, both strong yet credible young women, experience a mysterious connection made clear by the end of the book. Both strive for better lives, though clearly Marika’s world is more habitable than Kaly’s. No one had it easy in the copper towns during the early years of the twentieth century. Mining accidents had become the norm, and many lives were tragically lost. This compelling narrative is so vividly described that it can easily be imagined as a movie. Brilliant characterizations and a deeply moving storyline result in Copper Sky being a total page-turner!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Heidiwriter
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Extraordinary Book
    Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The story simply grabbed hold of me on the first page and led me into the arsenic & sulfur-laden air of Butte MT in the early 1900s. A time when women without the support of a man were often forced to become prostitutes to survive, and men labored in unsafe conditions in the mines, dying in explosions, collapses or of lung "consumption." The characters were so well-crafted, they came alive for me, and showed the strength, determination, and courage it took to overcome hardship. I didn't want the book to end!
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  • Rebecca S
    4.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring tale of hardships in Butte, Montana, 1917
    Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2018
    One hundred years on - the times have changed, as have our struggles... and nothing reminds us of that more than Copper Sky.

    Writing as somebody who has had the stability and privilege of 1st world background, this has naturally had some influence over the way in which I have interpreted the book. Some people may disagree with my comments, but please understand that I write them as generalisations only. In no way am I discrediting anybody else's opinion or experience just because it is not a majority.

    Comparing the lifestyle of these two women is a far cry from that expected and experienced by many others in modern day. That being said, we still have our modern day issues to contend with.
    One of the topics Milana brings to the table, in a variety of ways, is the rights of women. This is still a hot topic today, albeit for different reasons. By way of example, one of our local topical debates at the moment is the issue of legalising abortion. My home town is the very place that allowed landowning women to vote from 1881 - some 37 years before the UK even introduced it, yet to get an abortion, women usually travel as they cannot be accessed here!

    Anyway, that is a discussion for another time perhaps. The point is this; society has adapted within the past 100 years and thankfully our living and working conditions are not so harsh (for the most part).

    Kaly, one of many prostitutes in Butte, has to battle with the reality that she is pregnant. The father, whom Kaly has known since childhood, wants to help her raise the child. Having had a difficult, parentless childhood herself, she faces inner turmoil, wondering what kind of life her child will ever have. Should she raise the child, (most likely into prostitution), or allow the child to be raised in an unsafe foster home? Those are not the only options either, but they are not pretty at all.

    Marika has different troubles of her own. Does she respect her father's wishes and marry the husband he has found for her, or pursue her dreams of training to be a doctor? Marika is a stubborn girl and I admire her mettle, as even in fighting into a profession she has longed to join since girlhood - it is very much a man's world. Time and again she is not taken seriously, but she keeps trying all the same!

    Copper Sky is based around real events and disasters within Butte, Montana. Mining disasters, fires and later civil unrest were frequent occurrences and as Milana correctly highlights - mining is a dangerous profession. Working conditions were less than ideal and many men lost their lives labouring in those mineshafts.
    Despite the serious themes of the book, it is not without beauty. Gorgeous, vivid descriptions of the landscape and community reflect the author's love of her hometown, and the depth of both Kaly's and Marika's perspective is absorbing. I was never in any doubt as to whose perspective the narrative was being relayed from due to the contrasting ideas and attitudes of the women.

    Whereas Kaly, through hardship and experience has a perhaps pessimistic attitude to life (as can only be expected given everything she has gone through), Marika is youthful, hopeful and has an arguably more naïve innocence about her. Each character is complex; even though Kaly has little hope or stability for her child, she still moderates herself for the health of the baby so doesn't dismiss having it outright. Marika on the other hand has a fiery temper and wilfulness to be her own person and not be given by one man into the possession of another.

    Living in a small community myself, I sense, relate to and love the community spirit that comes together anytime disaster strikes. When it comes to saving lives, all social and economic disparities are set aside, as they should be, in my humble opinion. The author has captured the soul and portrayed both sides of the double-sided coin of life in a way that broadens perspective. It is one thing to know what lengths people will go to and what motivates them, and quite another to experience it by seeing through their eyes.
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  • Janet Y
    5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter was born in Butte, so the community ...
    Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    My daughter was born in Butte, so the community of Butte has been close to my heart for 40 years. Mining towns tend to have dramatic and colorful histories, and this is especially true for Butte. Milana Marsenich has done a riveting job of bringing to life for us one period of Butte's history. Her characters are richly developed, and the descriptions of the area and the events are fabulous. I have enthusiastically shared this book with many, many friends and family. I look forward to reading her next book!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Whitey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, Intelligent Writing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    It's a long time since I read a book which so completely captivated me. While I was reading, I felt as if I inhabited the world I was reading about. Ms Marsenich writes lyrically, intelligently, and explores deep human emotions. The backdrop of the mining town of Butte at the turn of the last century is evoked in all its grim, toxic detail. Here are the lives of ordinary men and women whose daily task is sometimes simply to stay alive. Kaly, who is haunted by her childhood, seeks escape. Marika, an immigrant, also wishes to plot a different course through life. Something links these two women and it is not immediately obvious. I guessed, and nearly got it right, but not quite. Danger lurks on every corner, and there is a pervading sense of menace, not just from the mines which belch fumes, and collapse in on the miners. The women do what they can to survive and the men contemplate leaving to fight in the war because they see this as an escape. This should have been a relentlessly exhausting and depressing tale and yet it is not, because also sewn through the fabric of the story is hope. I simply had to keep reading because I was so invested in the characters. The pacing is wonderful too; every so often, at appropriate points, we are taken back to the past, and each time we are told just a little bit more of what happened. This was masterful story-telling, and I wondered how it would all end. Often such stories end abruptly, being wrapped up too quickly, but here the ending came at the right place, after a dramatic scene based on real events. There is a lot of symbolism and it's used to good effect. The weather, the murders which take place, showing how fragile life can be, and the sense of suffocation, both real and emotional. After I'd read the book I did a bit of reading up on the history of Butte and found a photo taken around the time of the book's setting. It looked exactly as I had imagined it.
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