Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Cathy reviews Across The Great Sparkling Water by Zoe Saadia

Today’s review comes from Cathy, she blogs at http://betweenthelinesbookblog.wordpress.com

Cathy chose to read and review Across The Great Sparkling Water by Zoe Saadia

The incredible journey of the Great Peacemaker continues with more action and adventure. Two Rivers and Teneki have crossed the Great Sparkling Water (Lake Ontario) but fighting the currents and rapids has left Two Rivers injured. They find refuge in a clearing in the woods where an old woman, Jikonsahseh, lives. She also wants peace and helps anyone passing through her clearing who is in need. Staying with her is Onheda, a runaway captive from Teneki’s tribe. Onheda has been travelling for days trying to reach her own people. Jikonsahseh found her, too exhausted and weak to continue and nursed her back to health.

From Onheda and Jikonsahseh, Two Rivers and Teneki learn of Hionhwatha, the former leader who wanted to stop the feuding and unite the Onondaga people. The gatherings were peaceful until those who opposed Hionhwatha resorted to violence and after the death of his wife and children Hionhwatha left to live alone in the woods. It takes some persuasion from Two Rivers and Teneki to convince him to take part in the peace talks.

The story is developing wonderfully and moves along at a great pace, with characters, old and new adding depth, to an atmosphere I can all but feel, and sense of place. Two Rivers from the start has been, and is, a highly developed and charismatic character. Teneki and Two Rivers are now faced with the task of seeking meetings with tribes, whose members are very wary and view strangers as a possible threat, with their message of peace.

The chemistry and growing attraction between Two Rivers and Onheda is a touching romantic addition which I hope will continue. But for the moment Two Rivers is totally focused on his task and destiny, even to the point of fulfilling the part of his prophecy which requires him to carry out a life or death act.

Facts presented in fictional form really bring history to life, making the people and situations a reality and creating a fascinating insight into the past. Zoe Saadia has achieved this brilliantly.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Cathy reviews Two Rivers by Zoe Saadia

Today’s review comes from Cathy, she blogs at http://betweenthelinesbookblog.wordpress.com

Cathy chose to read and review Two Rivers by Zoe Saadia

Set in twelfth century upstate New York and South Eastern Canada, the story centres around three main protagonists. Tekeni, who was taken captive and adopted into the Wolf Clan after his father was killed, but has always been considered an outsider. He finds an ally in Two Rivers, an enigma among his people and also on the fringes of his society. I love the way Two Rivers is portrayed and the way his feelings and thoughts which he’s not afraid to express, along with the doubts and resistance against the prophecy, are described.

Two Rivers knows the time for change is fast approaching, and questioning his people’s need to war with each other he advocates a more peaceful existence. The clans are stuck in an endless cycle of fighting with nothing to show for it. Even so, the majority of the clans dislike and distrust what they perceive as Two Rivers’ extremist ideas and principles.

Tekeni’s real troubles begin when a fight with a cowardly bully results in serious injury and Tekeni is compelled to atone with a task unheard of for any lone person never mind someone so young. Two Rivers’ choice to assist Tekeni further alienates him from most other members of the clans.

Tekeni is very taken with the beautiful Seketa, a young girl of the Turtle Clan who proves to be both brave and resourceful, but the path of true love does not run smoothly and Two Rivers, Tekeni and Seketa fight almost overpowering odds as they each begin to realise the inevitability of their futures.

I really enjoyed this first of the Peacemaker series, the man who was destined to form the constitution of The Great League of the Iroquois is an intriguing character and I look forward to following his story. The life and distinct culture of the Native American clans is brought to life vividly and realistically by Zoe Saadia, their politics, everyday life and struggles. Along with the dramas, jealousies and rivalries that can escalate into dangerous situations, showcasing others’ loyalty and courage. There’s some great action and a lovely budding romance.

The basis of the story is obviously very well researched and it combines the facts with an entertaining and enjoyable narrative and the three main characters are strong, very likeable and well defined, drawn with insight and warmth. The fascinating beginning of the Peacemaker’s journey is a really great read.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Vanessa reviews Two Rivers by Zoe Saadia

Today we have a review from team member Vanessa, she blogs at http://www.vanessawesterwriter.blogspot.com

Vanessa chose to read and review Two Rivers by Zoe Saadia

“When I saw a book by Zoe Saadia up on the review list I have to admit that I immediately took it up! Having read “The Highlander” I knew that I enjoyed the setting of these books, and having seen other reviews I had to find out more.

So, the good news is that I loved it. I started it 10 days ago, but then was so busy that last night I finally relaxed and enjoyed! I was so engrossed I ate it up in less than 4 hours!

So on with the review…

This book is focused on a few central characters during the 12th Century in the Americas: Two Rivers; Wolf Cub (Tekeni); and Seketa.

Two Rivers is a man with ideas. He wants a new way of life among neighbouring tribes and does not see the point of revenge raids in the name of honour. His ideas are strange, different and troubling to his people, who think that he should listen to his elders and follow their instructions. To make matters worse he gets involved in a fight by defending Wolf Cub, an adopted son of a neighbouring tribe who is still treated very much as an outsider.

The book then follows the outcome of the argument… will Wolf Cub be forgiven for the way he nearly killed another man? Will he be accepted or will he always be an outsider?

For honourable reasons, Two Rivers befriends Wolf Cub and tries to help him (he even manages to get him to kill a bear!) This friendship is sure to set the scene for the rest of this series…

Alongside, this fascinating story-line an attraction develops between Wolf Cub and a strong minded and beautiful woman, Seketa. I loved the way they naturally steered towards each other and the way she was portrayed. Strong, wilful, willing to her duty, yet fair and loving.

The books ends on a cliff-hanger and I have to admit that I am intrigued to know what will happen next. I highly recommend!

Rating: 4 Stars“

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Noelle reviews Two Rivers by Zoe Saadia

Today we have a review from Noelle, she blogs at http://saylingaway.wordpress.com

Noelle chose to read and review Two Rivers by Zoe Saadia

I am a huge fan of historical fiction and looked forward to reading this book. I was not disappointed.

Two Rivers, by Zoe Saadia, is the beginning of the Peacemaker series of historical fiction which creates the world in which five sister nations of Native American came together to form the great Iroquois confederation that lasted for centuries.

According to history, a Great Peacemaker came from the Wyandot (Huron) people and crossed Lake Ontario to southeastern Canada. There he encountered what he had experienced with his own people, a vicious cycle of warring and retribution, which drained the tribes of their young men and their resources. Without their men, the people had less plentiful crops, meat, and other things they needed to  survive the harsh winters. It was the work of the Peacemaker to join the nations, and formation of this confederation lead to the creation of a well-defined constitution, in pictographic form, which would serve in part as the basis of the US Constitution.

In this first book of the series, the reader meets Two Rivers, a man supposedly the product of a virgin birth, whose life is overshadowed by the prophesy accompanying his birth: that he is destined to achieve great things. Two Rivers is a thinker, and he is frustrated by the Elders of the tribe when he makes observations and logical suggestions for change. The tribe also has an adopted young man, Teneka, captured when his tribe raids the tribe of Two Rivers. He is now seventeen, brash, willful and outspoken, and easy to take offense and not well-liked, even by the clan which adopted him to replace one of their young men who had died.

Action begins in the first chapter, when, during a game of lacrosse, Teneka gets into a fight and seriously injures Yeentso, an older warrior and a bully from another clan. Two Rivers stands up for Teneka and the tribal council decides that Teneka must make amends for the injury by providing Yeensto’s clan with the hide of a grizzly bear. Two Rivers goes with him to kill the bear, advising but not participating. Teneka also falls in love with Seketa, a beautiful young woman from another clan who is nearly as outspoken and headstrong as he is.

Things come to a head when the Chief is killed in a raiding party and Two Rivers is blamed for not having joined in the raid but instead helping Teneka.

The author a researcher of the early Native American peoples and it enriches this story in the everyday details of life in a village, the customs, the celebrations, their food and its sources. Her character development is wonderful and the reader is easily lost in this story, which artfully mixes fact and fiction.

I have already downloaded the second book in this story, since I did not wish to lose the characters who had made such an impression. I recommend this book without reservation. A great read!

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

 

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Terry reviews Across The Great Sparkling Water by Zoe Saadie

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

Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT Spirit Warriors: The Concealing by Della Connor

Today’s book review is from a new team member who will be reviewing YA books for us. Cookiebooker blogs at https://cookiebookreviews.wordpress.com/

Cookiebooker chose Spirit Warriors; The Concealing by D.E.L Connor

Spirit Warriors: The Concealing by D.E.L. Connor

Spirit Warriors: The Concealing left me with a whole load of contrasting emotions.

I love all the characters and the novel has a great idea behind it. It has the perfect description and immediately you, as the reader, are given the image of the world of Emme and her friends. Their friendship has been written in such a way that made me feel, alongside the description, I was there with them.

So much can happen, and it does. Spirit Warriors contains all the action you could possibly wish for in a novel, not too much or too little and everything has the sense of reality, the feeling of “I’m there with them”.

As the reader, there is the opportunity to catch on to things before the characters, but not here, this novel allows the reader to work out some parts before the characters but otherwise you are left in the dark until the right time.

This book is perfect for someone looking for adventure and friendship.

I love the cover because it’s very detailed and colourful. The cover also hints at the plot of the book, not enough to be able to say “I know exactly what this is about”, but just enough to win the interest of the reader to pick up the book and delve into the story.

I was glued to the book from the moment I began reading it and was sad when it ended, because it ended.

I can very easily visualise this book as a film, the descriptions are detailed enough to make it a great opportunity for a film.

Amazing.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Mystery Book Tour Day 2 #MysteryNovember Spirit Warriors: The Scarring by D.E.L.Connor

Please welcome to the mystery book tour, Della Connor and her book Spirit Warriors: The Scarring

Where is your home town?

I live in a small town in Texas about 90 miles north of Houston. We jokingly say that we live “behind the pine curtain.” This area is home to immensely tall pine trees that seem to isolate us from the big cities, which are just a short distance from us.

This is book 2 in your series when did you start writing them?

I had the idea for the series about twenty years ago but I didn’t start writing them until 2012. I am a late bloomer or as I like to say I never grew up I just grew old.

What is your favourite sub-genre of mystery?

I would have to say historical mysteries. I love history, old places and buildings, and people who have been gone a long time.

Where is your book set?

In the state of Montana in the present time. If you have never been there you must add it to your bucket list. Words can’t properly describe the beauty of Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park.

Introduce us to the main characters in the book.

Emmeline Rima Belrose: Emme is the storyteller of the books. She is strong-willed, brave, and fierce. Her spirit animal is the majestic soaring osprey, Eros.

Charlie Hunt: Charlie is a seer and a gifted medicine man. Charlie is the leader of the group. He has the visions and the powers that guide the others. He is Emme’s protector, as he alone knows how valuable she, and her gifts, are to his people and to the future of their tribe. His spirit animal is the fierce grizzly, Hercules.

Lilly Grayson: Lilly is soft, petite, and kind. She is loved for her kindness and grace. She loves cheerleading and barrel racing with her spirit animal the beautiful mustang Arion.

Betsy Ross: (Bets) Bets is the beauty of the group with reddish blond hair and green eyes. She is the questioner of the group, always wanting to know why, and then wanting to make things better. Her spirit animal is the graceful mountain lion, Electra.

Lachlan Jackson Arrington: (Jack) Jack moved back to the family ranch in Montana when he was in high school. He came from Australia after his father was killed in a car accident. He is not a part of the spirit warriors, but he knows about them and he helps them. Jack is the listener and solver of the group. He is the one the others turn to when they need to talk about something. He is also the one to come up with solutions when things get tough.

Oliver Graves: (Ollie) Ollie provides all the fun of the group. He always has a joke or a smile to share. Ollie’s spirit animal is the fast coyote, Zephyr. Read more about them here: http://dellaconnor.com/character-bios/

 

What is the element of mystery in the book?

The kids must find and destroy an evil spirit, the machayiwiw, before he kills Emme. The only problem is they don’t know where or in what body they will find him.

What unusual skills do the children have?

Emme, Bets, Charlie, Lilly, and Ollie all have the ability to move their spirits into an animal host.

Tell us a bit about Em’s new power.

Emme has discovered that in addition to her ability to move her spirit to her osprey Eros, she can communicate with animals.

What was the best bit about researching this book?

Reading all of the Native American stories. They have stories to explain everything from the stars in the skies to the water in the rivers. I have started adding the stories to my blog. Read about the origin of summer and winter here: http://dellaconnor.com/native-american-stories/

Where can readers find out more about you?

My website www.dellaconnor.com, my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DelconnorSpiritwarriors, or follow me on twitter: del_connor and instagram: delconnor

Find a copy of Spirit Warriors; The Scarring here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com This book will be down to 99c November 8th -10th

I reviewed this book here on the blog. Follow the link to read the review http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5FG