Its been some time since Ive read the previous book in the White Indian Series, so it took a little more back and forth with the family tree at the front of the book to try to re-familiarize myself with the main characters in the story.
Its just before the start of the War of 1812 and Tecumseh is urging the tribes to join him in fighting against the US government.
In the meantime, Little Hawk (Rennos son) and his cousin, Gao, are working with the American forces to convince the tribes to make peace and sign treaties with the US government. In doing this, they are ensconced within the US troops. Some of whom take a strong disliking to having Indians as part of the troop.
Little Hawk takes his wife, Naomi, and their twin sons with him on mission to strike a peace agreement with tribes to the south. He believes his wife and children will be safe there with the US troops, but he has a determined enemy who is part of Tecumsehs forces, Calling Owl, a Creek Indian, who will stop at nothing to get back at Little Hawk for a humiliation he suffered in battle against Little Hawk and the US troops.
Gao is not as lucky in his immersion with the US troops. He is accused of rape and murder. There was no rape and the murder was in self-defense against the man (a US soldier) who was a rapist. He leaves the US troops and joins forces with Tecumseh.
The title of the story is based off Tecumasehs strategy of using red sticks to mark time until the tribes will rise against the US forces and stop them from taking over the Indian tribes lands.
One of the things I have liked about this series, as well as disliked, is the authors willingness to make the outcomes of the stories not be the happily ever after outcomes. Characters that you come to love and want to see developed meet tragic ends and ones that you havent been paying enough attention to meet good fortune.
I will be trying to read the next two books (and I believe the last two books) in this series before the year is out.
Its just before the start of the War of 1812 and Tecumseh is urging the tribes to join him in fighting against the US government.
In the meantime, Little Hawk (Rennos son) and his cousin, Gao, are working with the American forces to convince the tribes to make peace and sign treaties with the US government. In doing this, they are ensconced within the US troops. Some of whom take a strong disliking to having Indians as part of the troop.
Little Hawk takes his wife, Naomi, and their twin sons with him on mission to strike a peace agreement with tribes to the south. He believes his wife and children will be safe there with the US troops, but he has a determined enemy who is part of Tecumsehs forces, Calling Owl, a Creek Indian, who will stop at nothing to get back at Little Hawk for a humiliation he suffered in battle against Little Hawk and the US troops.
Gao is not as lucky in his immersion with the US troops. He is accused of rape and murder. There was no rape and the murder was in self-defense against the man (a US soldier) who was a rapist. He leaves the US troops and joins forces with Tecumseh.
The title of the story is based off Tecumasehs strategy of using red sticks to mark time until the tribes will rise against the US forces and stop them from taking over the Indian tribes lands.
One of the things I have liked about this series, as well as disliked, is the authors willingness to make the outcomes of the stories not be the happily ever after outcomes. Characters that you come to love and want to see developed meet tragic ends and ones that you havent been paying enough attention to meet good fortune.
I will be trying to read the next two books (and I believe the last two books) in this series before the year is out.
