People of the Longhouse, Book 1

By Zoe Saadia

My Review

BEYOND THE GREAT RIVER takes place in what is now upstate New York in the early days of the great Iroquois Confederacy that was made up of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca nations.  To the East across the Great River or the River Whose Waters Are Never Still (Hudson River) lived the River People or as we know them, the Mohicans.

Kentika, daughter of the War Chief of the River People, was unlike the other girls of her tribe. She was a fast runner, a free spirit, and was much happier doing what the young warriors were doing than girlish things.  After she sneaked out of camp she discovered about twenty warriors from the lands of the setting sun encroaching upon her tribe’s side of the river with what she knew was the intent to raid and pillage her village.

On the shore of the Great River, Okwaho, a young warrior sensed that someone was watching as he and the rest of the raiding party gathered on the shore.  Where did she come from?  Was there a camp nearby?  Would she go back and warn the elders that they were there?

Both Kentika and Okwaho were in the position where they had to prove their worth to their own tribes.  Would the elders believe her when she told them about the strangers upon their shore?  And Okwaho? Would the leader of their war party believe him and allow them to investigate the hillside?

Migisso, The Eagle, is another of the major players in the story.  He is son of the War Chief, Kentika’s brother.  Just as she disappointed their father, Migisso was not interested in war games and the other activities of those his age.  He shadowed the medicine man and learned about using herbs for healing, and developed knowledge and practice beyond anything applied at the time.  He was a healer by nature.

The story will engage you in the horrors of tribal conflicts, the growth of Kentika, Migisso, and Okwaho beyond what was expected, and unforeseen friendships. Will Kentika and Migisso win the praise and recognition of the War Chief?  Will Okwaho become a great warrior of the Iroquois Confederacy?

I have wanted to read BEYOND THE GREAT RIVER, People of the Longhouse, Book 1 since I first discovered the author and her many books.  The author depicted the characters in a believable manner, and the storyline incorporated ample twists and turns to keep me reading to the end. I was not disappointed. I recommend BEYOND THE GREAT RIVER to all historical novel enthusiasts, young and old.  Additionally, with little violence and objectionable language (as compared to today’s standards) and only light romantic notes, this book is suitable for young teens.

I have to thank Zoe Saadia for generously gifting me this extraordinary book. In line with the policy of this blog, I do not receive compensation for my reviews. I review books because I am an avid reader and love to share my thoughts about the books I read.

Book Blurb

“They felt she was too spirited, too forward, too boyish, not as feminine and as graceful as a young woman should be. Their frowns followed her like a cloud, but she didn’t care. Other girls may have worked happily, danced beautifully, or sewn themselves pretty dresses, but they could not climb or run or swim as well as she did, the silly, giggly, empty-headed creatures that they were. 
The entire village may have been frowning at her, but when she spotted the enemy forces camping under the Sacred Hill, they had no choice but to listen.

Okwaho knew they were being watched. Whether by spirits or a wandering local, he could not ignore the feeling of the wary, frightened, hate-filled eyes staring out of the forest, burning his skin. But of course! Of course, the local woods distrusted them. He and his people were invaders, not coming to trade or engage in other peaceful dealings, but to raid these settlements. The enemies from the lands of the rising sun were bad, evil, impossible to understand. And yet…
And yet, when the urge to prove himself lent him enough words to convince the leader of their party to send him and his friend on the mission of scouting the suspected hill, he could not have imagined what consequences this deviation from the well-planned road would lead them all into, the attackers and defenders alike.”

About the Author

“Zoe Saadia is the author of several novels of pre-Columbian Americas. 
Having researched various pre-contact cultures of this continent for more than a decade, she is convinced that it’s a shame that such a large part of history was completely overlooked, by historical fiction most of all.
Both Americas has an extremely rich, diverse, fascinating history long before this continent was discovered by other civilizations.
So her professional motto is set. America has not been discovered by other continents, not yet. Not in her novels.“

To learn more about this author and her books, please visit her at the following:

Website: www.precolumbianhistory.com

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZoeSaadia

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zoe.saadia

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5056466.Zoe_Saadia

1. Type of Book – e-book, MOBI, Amazon Kindle
2. Publication Date – December 26, 2014
3. Page Count – 310
4. Genre – Historical fiction

To buy the book go to Amazon.com