Today we have a book review from team member Terry, she blogs at http://terrytylerbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/
Terry chose to read and review Across The Great Sparkling Water by Zoe Saadie
5 out of 5 stars
This is the second in the Peacemaker series, a fictional account based on fact, about how the Great League of the Iroquois was formed. More than a few scholars agree that the latter day USA constitution was influenced by this Great Law of Peace. I’ll just mention that it’s important to read the first in this series, Two Rivers, first. It’s a while since I read the first one so I had to recap, after which the two stories flowed together.
So readable just as an adventure story on its own, Across the Great Sparkling Water (the body of water later to be known as Lake Ontario) is fascinating in that it tells so much about the customs of the time, and the day to day living – and yes, yes, it made me want to go back in time and live amongst them, as all good historical fiction should do. A time and place when life was lived according to the rules of nature only, but with civilised regimes set in place for the efficient survival of communities.
The Great Peacemaker, named Two Rivers, is marvellously multi-faceted, single-minded in his mission to bring about ruling councils and end the warring between the nations, yet so human, too; unlike others of Zoe Saadia’s books that I’ve read, this one contains an element of love and passion of the more mature variety which is very convincing, as Two Rivers fights his feelings for a woman, concerned that it will distract him from his cause. Okay, I admit it; I ended up fancying him myself!
There are other terrific characters in this story: Tekeni, from the first book, a young man who accompanies Two Rivers on his journey; Onheda, a fierce and independent young woman trying to return from a kind captivity to her own people; Hionhwatha, the strong, proud, displaced leader of the Onondaga people, and Jikonsahseh, a wise old woman.
This is an excellent series, so well written and easy to read. I can’t recommend it too highly, and I am just off to Amazon to buy the next one!
Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Or start the series with Two Rivers from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Reblogged this on Barrow Blogs.
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I’ve been meaning for ages to start Zoe’s series. Am tempted by this one. Would it be better to start with Two Rivers, Terry?
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I think it probably would, June, I’m reading Two Rivers myself at the moment.
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Sorry I am late replying to this, June – yes, definitely. It’s a 4 part series, and Two Rivers is the first, it’s about how it all starts. I LOVE Zoe’s books… well, as I said!
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My curiosity has peaked. Lake Ontario? Iroquois Indians? This series is one for my long list. 🙂
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I must say I’m quite impressed with what I’ve read so far, I like native American tales though. All those years of watching Westerns on a Saturday afternoon, I often supported the Indian side.
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I live on the Canadian side. This has peaked my interest, not that I’ve specifically been interested in the Indians. 🙂
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I’ll just reiterate my recommendation!!
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As a Canuck, I like to buy Canadian. 😀
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Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
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