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Tales from a Revolution
The Smoke: New York
As the quiet cycle of life in the forested realm of the Skarure is shattered by the outbreak of war between the British and Colonial forces, the old alliances of the Haudenosaunee Confederation are pulled in divergent directions, pitting brother against brother, even within the clans. Thrust into the middle of this maelstrom, young Joseph Killeen will rely upon the guidance of an unexpected community to decide not only what is right and wrong, but ultimately, who he even is.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
199 pages, Paperback
First published December 28, 2013
25 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Lars D.H. Hedbor
25 books59 followersWhat made the American Colonists turn their back on their King, and fight for independence? How were they different from us–and how were their hopes and fears familiar to our own hearts?
These are the sorts of questions that I think are important to ask in examining the American Revolution, and in the pages of my novels, I suggest some possible answers.
I am an amateur historian, linguist, cuckoo clock restorer, brewer, fiddler, astronomer and baker. Professionally, I am a technologist, marketer, writer and father of six.
My love of history drives me to share the excitement of understanding the events of long ago, and how those events touch us still today.
These are the sorts of questions that I think are important to ask in examining the American Revolution, and in the pages of my novels, I suggest some possible answers.
I am an amateur historian, linguist, cuckoo clock restorer, brewer, fiddler, astronomer and baker. Professionally, I am a technologist, marketer, writer and father of six.
My love of history drives me to share the excitement of understanding the events of long ago, and how those events touch us still today.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 29, 2013
Lars Hedbor has proven himself a prolific indie author with the release of a third installment in his Tales of a Revolution series. The Smoke is a thought provoking look at the clash of cultures that took place during one of the most world-changing events in history—the Revolutionary War. In a microcosm of the broader conflict, Hedbor focuses on the challenges facing the Iroquois Confederacy (an alliance of five Indian nations), and more specifically, the Tuscarora tribe within the alliance. Historically, this powerful force sided as a whole with the British, but when the British failed to keep old promises and the American army became a greater threat, some tribes within the Confederacy allied themselves with the Americans in an act of self-preservation, effectively splintering the long-held cohesion.
The Smoke very effectively illustrates the pressures facing the Turscarora people: the continuing encroachment of American settlers and loss of Indian land, the long arms of an American/European conflict that was not their own, the tough decision to choose against the larger Iroquois council, and the struggle to hold on to a culture doomed to extinction by a stronger invader. But Hedbor does more than just paint a picture, he makes the “savages” human. “They are but people, whose ways are strange to us, without a doubt, but they laugh, love and lose just as we do.”
Apart from an immaculate application of history, Hedbor demonstrates his ability to write artistic prose. I love his consistent use of animal word pictures to help readers get into the heads of the tribal people, my favorite being: “His speech sounds like a bear smacking a fish on a rock.” That quote also gives a taste of the humor speckling the tale. And as always, his particular gift for historical vernacular shines through.
I have two reasons for not awarding this one 4.5 stars instead of a solid five as I did for books one and two, and both reasons are very minor. First is an abundance of commas that I found a little disruptive to the flow of thought. And second, the main American character Joseph undergoes an all-encompassing change, an embracing of the tribe that is very appropriate to the story but happens too strongly, too quickly, in just one winter. I had a hard time believing that he could so soon forsake his own culture and even dream in the Indian speech.
Overall, I give The Smoke my highest recommendation. It’s a fascinating glimpse into one tiny corner of the world’s first global conflict and one of the best books I’ve picked up this year. If you enjoy American historical fiction as I do, this one is a must-read.
**I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
The Smoke very effectively illustrates the pressures facing the Turscarora people: the continuing encroachment of American settlers and loss of Indian land, the long arms of an American/European conflict that was not their own, the tough decision to choose against the larger Iroquois council, and the struggle to hold on to a culture doomed to extinction by a stronger invader. But Hedbor does more than just paint a picture, he makes the “savages” human. “They are but people, whose ways are strange to us, without a doubt, but they laugh, love and lose just as we do.”
Apart from an immaculate application of history, Hedbor demonstrates his ability to write artistic prose. I love his consistent use of animal word pictures to help readers get into the heads of the tribal people, my favorite being: “His speech sounds like a bear smacking a fish on a rock.” That quote also gives a taste of the humor speckling the tale. And as always, his particular gift for historical vernacular shines through.
I have two reasons for not awarding this one 4.5 stars instead of a solid five as I did for books one and two, and both reasons are very minor. First is an abundance of commas that I found a little disruptive to the flow of thought. And second, the main American character Joseph undergoes an all-encompassing change, an embracing of the tribe that is very appropriate to the story but happens too strongly, too quickly, in just one winter. I had a hard time believing that he could so soon forsake his own culture and even dream in the Indian speech.
Overall, I give The Smoke my highest recommendation. It’s a fascinating glimpse into one tiny corner of the world’s first global conflict and one of the best books I’ve picked up this year. If you enjoy American historical fiction as I do, this one is a must-read.
**I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.
December 23, 2013
The Smoke is a book that achieves the almost impossible. It talks about the early interaction between the colonial settlers and the people of the Six Nations Confederacy without reverting to stereotypes. Both the aboriginal and the whites are portrayed as human. They have their strengths and their weaknesses, but they are not innately evil or good. I found this to be a very refreshing take on a time in history that was filled with a great deal of grief on all sides.
The book begins with a pair of hunters who overhear a conversation by colonial soldiers. They take the conversation back to their village where it is decided that they will leave their village to avoid conflict with the whites. As they are doing this, the three scouts are attacked and one killed while another is wounded.
The groups meet and it is soon clear that conflict is inevitable. Rather than showing the broad scale of the period, Lars choses to focus on a few people on each side. It is a good decision as he is able to maintain the character’s humanity and show that they are all doing their best.
Aside from the characters being exceptionally well drawn, we are also treated to the occasional lyrical passage describing the land that both groups wish to call home. These passages are a welcome gift and make it believable that people would wish to live in the land. The plot is not overly complex and makes no overt attempt to state one side or another.
I would recommend the book to any who have a curiousity about this period in our history as well as fans of good stories well told.
The book begins with a pair of hunters who overhear a conversation by colonial soldiers. They take the conversation back to their village where it is decided that they will leave their village to avoid conflict with the whites. As they are doing this, the three scouts are attacked and one killed while another is wounded.
The groups meet and it is soon clear that conflict is inevitable. Rather than showing the broad scale of the period, Lars choses to focus on a few people on each side. It is a good decision as he is able to maintain the character’s humanity and show that they are all doing their best.
Aside from the characters being exceptionally well drawn, we are also treated to the occasional lyrical passage describing the land that both groups wish to call home. These passages are a welcome gift and make it believable that people would wish to live in the land. The plot is not overly complex and makes no overt attempt to state one side or another.
I would recommend the book to any who have a curiousity about this period in our history as well as fans of good stories well told.
December 4, 2017
One of the things I like best about Lars D.H. Hedbor’s novels is the rotating perspectives they take on: Revolutionary stories, which I have loved hearing since childhood from my father, told from points of view history generally skips over. In The Prize Caleb, a young boy growing up in Vermont, witnesses the birth of a new nation and he plays a significant role in the struggle his region encounters. Farther south in New Jersey, Quaker settlers in The Light have some hard choices to make as their pacifist ways run afoul of the king’s mounting pressure against the colonies. The author brings his tales at various times through victory and defeat, and his characters utilize their unique perspectives, cultural understandings and individual abilities the navigate their particular wartime settings, wherever they may be in the colonies.
In The Smoke Hedbor brings us to New York, where love, loss, struggle and occasional victory also play their roles, introducing readers to the indigenous Tuscarora, members of the larger Iroquois Confederation. Caught between their tribal loyalties and war between the Colonial and British armies, various bands and tribes ally themselves with the Americans. Having been forsaken by their British allies, who made promises in exchange for attacks on colonial homesteads, they split from their confederation as those who stayed loyal to the Redcoats ultimately relocated to Ontario, with the rest remaining in what was to be United States territory.
As the battles rage on, two Tuscarora tribal members observe colonial scouts, whose presence in the forest the Natives can easily detect, while they remain hidden from Washington’s soldiers. Early on Hedbor sets up a thrilling continuity via alternating viewpoints portraying to readers events from each group’s point of view in something akin to real time. Very quickly readers realize that while the Americans discuss their plans and try to conceal signs of their camp, the Tuscarora—one of whom understands English—are listening. An anxious moment comes when discovery is threatened, but the alternating viewpoint keeps the tension hovering while maintaining clarity within point of view.
This alternating viewpoint continues through the novel as we follow the colonials as well as Natives, particularly Joseph and Ginawo, both of whom are counseled by their respective leaders as to the nature of their perceived enemy.
“Are they so difficult to spot in these woods?”
“They are like smoke, Joseph, and they have lived in these woods for many hundreds of years, at the least, so they have learned all the ways of keeping out of sight and covering their tracks. Those who dismiss them as primitive men or mere savages do so at their peril.”
This passage hints at the title’s deeper significance, referencing not only the resulting smoke from villages burned in retaliation for attacks, but also the Natives themselves, so often able to hover within the forest like smoke, though impossible to capture with one’s hands. This, however, does not guarantee victory for the tribes, for the Americans also have their techniques, not entirely understood by their adversaries.
“[The elders] believe that the best way to ensure that our people can find peace is to understand these pale men …in order to learn how we can make peaceful terms with the Colonials.”
Overall the Natives and Americans maintain an uneasy alliance, one group caught up in a war that is not theirs and attempting to figure out which is the better side to support, the other understanding that the land they occupy is too big for the British, whose people back home will ultimately tire of the fighting. The Natives instinctively recognize this, and worry what will become of their own people and settlements. The Algonquin wars with the French, in the elders’ youth, had destroyed a key Native tactical advantage. King Philip’s War, an earlier conflict in the region now known as New England, had also resulted in the unraveling of a larger Native alliance and birth of a distinct American identity separate from subjects of the king. Certainly aware of these and other events, the Tuscarora know the colonials are here to stay.
Hedbor uses his linguistic experience to effect some of this uncertainty, crafting Native dialogue smoothly when they are meant to be speaking in their own language, with rougher edges to indicate English. However, he does more than employ mere grammatical errors, instead stripping away English conventions, such as tense, and reordering it within the structure of the Tuscaroran language. The outcome is a greater sense of tension between colonial and Native when they are exposed to one another, and a more at-ease sensation when Ginawo, Tanarou or others speak amongst themselves. In this manner Hedbor’s transitions into scenes of Native life occur organically and it becomes much easier to grasp similarities and not only differences. There are memories of attraction of male to female, small children laughing at the way Joseph speaks, words of grief, pleas for longer sleep and poking fun at each other with words like “turkey.”
While Hedbor presents his audience with a need to re-examine these Revolutionary events equipped with greater understanding of Native suffering, he wisely refrains from lecturing readers, while still engaging our rapt attention. First, he openly and honestly references retaliation for violence perpetrated against innocent colonials, but also maps out dissenting views within Native politics. The consequences of these, paired with Joseph’s own experience of living his American identity and exposure to indigenous culture causes him to question much that he knows, and Hedbor guides him—and us—through his new experiences within authentic scenes that contribute to his growth—and ours.
One of my favorite elements of these scenes and Hedbor’s attention to detail is that in which medical attendance—“physicking”—is described in rich prose strokes easily creating images that come alive within the narrative. Hedbor also breaks free of the confines wherein the Native perspective is given the historical “Other” treatment, or else they are portrayed as perpetual victims. While this era in history was certainly not good to them and they suffered many wrongs, they make missteps of their own while simultaneously being strong people who gallantly stand to defend what they see as theirs. Hedbor allows his Native characters greater reign to define who they are themselves, and they turn out to be every bit as complicated and complex personalities as anyone else.
As historical fiction, The Smoke is top notch, and naturally overlaps into an attraction for those interested in the Revolution, or Native Americans, even British, French or Canadian history. It is a worthy and outstanding addition to this author’s growing collection of Revolutionary stories told from unique perspectives, and serves as a portend of even better yet to come. This seems to be part of the “verdict” after each Hedbor read, as it becomes more and more difficult to decide which one we like best.
In The Smoke Hedbor brings us to New York, where love, loss, struggle and occasional victory also play their roles, introducing readers to the indigenous Tuscarora, members of the larger Iroquois Confederation. Caught between their tribal loyalties and war between the Colonial and British armies, various bands and tribes ally themselves with the Americans. Having been forsaken by their British allies, who made promises in exchange for attacks on colonial homesteads, they split from their confederation as those who stayed loyal to the Redcoats ultimately relocated to Ontario, with the rest remaining in what was to be United States territory.
As the battles rage on, two Tuscarora tribal members observe colonial scouts, whose presence in the forest the Natives can easily detect, while they remain hidden from Washington’s soldiers. Early on Hedbor sets up a thrilling continuity via alternating viewpoints portraying to readers events from each group’s point of view in something akin to real time. Very quickly readers realize that while the Americans discuss their plans and try to conceal signs of their camp, the Tuscarora—one of whom understands English—are listening. An anxious moment comes when discovery is threatened, but the alternating viewpoint keeps the tension hovering while maintaining clarity within point of view.
This alternating viewpoint continues through the novel as we follow the colonials as well as Natives, particularly Joseph and Ginawo, both of whom are counseled by their respective leaders as to the nature of their perceived enemy.
“Are they so difficult to spot in these woods?”
“They are like smoke, Joseph, and they have lived in these woods for many hundreds of years, at the least, so they have learned all the ways of keeping out of sight and covering their tracks. Those who dismiss them as primitive men or mere savages do so at their peril.”
This passage hints at the title’s deeper significance, referencing not only the resulting smoke from villages burned in retaliation for attacks, but also the Natives themselves, so often able to hover within the forest like smoke, though impossible to capture with one’s hands. This, however, does not guarantee victory for the tribes, for the Americans also have their techniques, not entirely understood by their adversaries.
“[The elders] believe that the best way to ensure that our people can find peace is to understand these pale men …in order to learn how we can make peaceful terms with the Colonials.”
Overall the Natives and Americans maintain an uneasy alliance, one group caught up in a war that is not theirs and attempting to figure out which is the better side to support, the other understanding that the land they occupy is too big for the British, whose people back home will ultimately tire of the fighting. The Natives instinctively recognize this, and worry what will become of their own people and settlements. The Algonquin wars with the French, in the elders’ youth, had destroyed a key Native tactical advantage. King Philip’s War, an earlier conflict in the region now known as New England, had also resulted in the unraveling of a larger Native alliance and birth of a distinct American identity separate from subjects of the king. Certainly aware of these and other events, the Tuscarora know the colonials are here to stay.
Hedbor uses his linguistic experience to effect some of this uncertainty, crafting Native dialogue smoothly when they are meant to be speaking in their own language, with rougher edges to indicate English. However, he does more than employ mere grammatical errors, instead stripping away English conventions, such as tense, and reordering it within the structure of the Tuscaroran language. The outcome is a greater sense of tension between colonial and Native when they are exposed to one another, and a more at-ease sensation when Ginawo, Tanarou or others speak amongst themselves. In this manner Hedbor’s transitions into scenes of Native life occur organically and it becomes much easier to grasp similarities and not only differences. There are memories of attraction of male to female, small children laughing at the way Joseph speaks, words of grief, pleas for longer sleep and poking fun at each other with words like “turkey.”
While Hedbor presents his audience with a need to re-examine these Revolutionary events equipped with greater understanding of Native suffering, he wisely refrains from lecturing readers, while still engaging our rapt attention. First, he openly and honestly references retaliation for violence perpetrated against innocent colonials, but also maps out dissenting views within Native politics. The consequences of these, paired with Joseph’s own experience of living his American identity and exposure to indigenous culture causes him to question much that he knows, and Hedbor guides him—and us—through his new experiences within authentic scenes that contribute to his growth—and ours.
One of my favorite elements of these scenes and Hedbor’s attention to detail is that in which medical attendance—“physicking”—is described in rich prose strokes easily creating images that come alive within the narrative. Hedbor also breaks free of the confines wherein the Native perspective is given the historical “Other” treatment, or else they are portrayed as perpetual victims. While this era in history was certainly not good to them and they suffered many wrongs, they make missteps of their own while simultaneously being strong people who gallantly stand to defend what they see as theirs. Hedbor allows his Native characters greater reign to define who they are themselves, and they turn out to be every bit as complicated and complex personalities as anyone else.
As historical fiction, The Smoke is top notch, and naturally overlaps into an attraction for those interested in the Revolution, or Native Americans, even British, French or Canadian history. It is a worthy and outstanding addition to this author’s growing collection of Revolutionary stories told from unique perspectives, and serves as a portend of even better yet to come. This seems to be part of the “verdict” after each Hedbor read, as it becomes more and more difficult to decide which one we like best.
January 28, 2020
“The Smoke” is the third audiobook in the wonderfully written historic “Tales from the Revolution” series by Lars D. H. Hedbor. The book’s Audible narration was professionally performed by Shamaan Casey; who has narrated the previous books in the series as well. This series of audiobooks place the listener in various locations around the United States along with the situations uniquely taking place during that period in the Revolutionary war; 1775 through 1783. This audiobook drops the listener in to the more rural areas of New York state where there are still plenty of woods, homesteading, British troops and Native Americans. I consider this series to be more classified as edutainment (education and entertainment) because there is a fair amount to be learned from the story while the author includes elements of action and adventure found in a piece of fiction. If you are a person who likes to learn while listening to an audiobook, I think you will find this series rather enjoyable.
One of the aspects I have gleaned from each of the audiobooks in the series, including this one, is just how harsh and difficult living during this period would have been. Many of the necessities we take for granted today were not even imagined or possible during this period of history. Add to all of this a harsh and unforgiving New England winter and one begins to see the overall gravity of the situation people were facing, and this is not even accounting for war. Often, one hoped simply to survive to see the next day, and for many, sadly, it never came. The necessity of using hardtack (a simple long-lasting bland biscuit) to provide sustenance and calories when other food was scarce. The requirement of bone saws to address the issues around gangrene and the many other ailments one would face. The author did an excellent job helping me see this harsh way of living as I listened. Yet, neither the author nor the characters in the story complained about the life they were given.
The audiobook is geared toward the early teen listener (11-13). Yet, I found it well-crafted and enjoyable for older audiences as well. Many chapters of the book are spent going between the Colonials and their goals while others were focused from the perspective of the local Native American tribes. This trade-off worked well until the two groups and their situations began to blend towards a central goal. Here, chapters often blended the views of both parties and I thought it was done rather well. I also found that the addition of humor also brought some lightless to a story that could have been too gloomy. I often found myself smiling or laughing at the many analogies and metaphors the Native Americans contributed.
I found the research used for the audiobook to be what one would expect from a piece of good historic fiction. The author even included a closing chapter giving the listener some additional background on the place, people, and situation from which the story was crafted. What I did find interesting were the views of both people groups compared to the more historic norms. The Native Americans were not as much savages as often portrayed and in some cases were even welcomed when assisting the United States with the war. I was able to learn about how matriarchal many of the Native American societies were along with a few of their religious practices. Not only this, but we also see that these people group were like many others who loved, fought, and even had time for some needed fun. Ball games and other related sports were covered in this book.
Even though the book is a bit short in length (shy of five hours), there was quite a bit packed in making it feel much larger. Based on the other books in the series, I felt this one spanned a bit more time and for me it was harder to get my head around this point until a ways in. Once I caught on, it was much easier going forward. Birthing a baby, learning a new language, and a few other events seemed to occur rather quickly. But, because of this time span, the author was able to weave in some events of happiness, sadness and even mourning. The span in time also permitted the author to build on friendships, brotherly love along with the bonds created by those facing battle. What made this all the more difficult was that each of the groups involved in our story leveraged means of deception to fool the other.
The audiobooks narration was clean, crisp, deep and rich with atmosphere. Mr. Casey reads at a steady pace which aligns with most listeners abilities. The audio itself was clean of any defects or audio artifacts (pops, clicks, background noise, or swallows). I have to give credit as the book contains many difficult names to pronounce and I felt that the narrator did an exceptional job here as well. The ability to switch between conversing characters also was done flawlessly by the narrator while listening. Mr. Casey adds a level of depth and complexity to the book’s characters and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
For parents and younger readers, like with the other books in this series, there was no use of vulgar language or mature material. There is some light graphic violence, however this is not more than what one would expect from a historically accurate tale. I would recommend this book and the series to readers interested in the United Stated Revolution time period. On audible, the book is classified as for teens aged 11-13. As I said earlier, it can be enjoyed by all.
In summary, if you are a history buff or someone that likes to learn new things while being taken on an adventure, I would recommend this book and the series. The writing is not overly complex, the story is enjoyable and engaging, and the narration is solid. Even though it is a bit short, one comes away with learning about actual history and having fun doing it.
One of the aspects I have gleaned from each of the audiobooks in the series, including this one, is just how harsh and difficult living during this period would have been. Many of the necessities we take for granted today were not even imagined or possible during this period of history. Add to all of this a harsh and unforgiving New England winter and one begins to see the overall gravity of the situation people were facing, and this is not even accounting for war. Often, one hoped simply to survive to see the next day, and for many, sadly, it never came. The necessity of using hardtack (a simple long-lasting bland biscuit) to provide sustenance and calories when other food was scarce. The requirement of bone saws to address the issues around gangrene and the many other ailments one would face. The author did an excellent job helping me see this harsh way of living as I listened. Yet, neither the author nor the characters in the story complained about the life they were given.
The audiobook is geared toward the early teen listener (11-13). Yet, I found it well-crafted and enjoyable for older audiences as well. Many chapters of the book are spent going between the Colonials and their goals while others were focused from the perspective of the local Native American tribes. This trade-off worked well until the two groups and their situations began to blend towards a central goal. Here, chapters often blended the views of both parties and I thought it was done rather well. I also found that the addition of humor also brought some lightless to a story that could have been too gloomy. I often found myself smiling or laughing at the many analogies and metaphors the Native Americans contributed.
I found the research used for the audiobook to be what one would expect from a piece of good historic fiction. The author even included a closing chapter giving the listener some additional background on the place, people, and situation from which the story was crafted. What I did find interesting were the views of both people groups compared to the more historic norms. The Native Americans were not as much savages as often portrayed and in some cases were even welcomed when assisting the United States with the war. I was able to learn about how matriarchal many of the Native American societies were along with a few of their religious practices. Not only this, but we also see that these people group were like many others who loved, fought, and even had time for some needed fun. Ball games and other related sports were covered in this book.
Even though the book is a bit short in length (shy of five hours), there was quite a bit packed in making it feel much larger. Based on the other books in the series, I felt this one spanned a bit more time and for me it was harder to get my head around this point until a ways in. Once I caught on, it was much easier going forward. Birthing a baby, learning a new language, and a few other events seemed to occur rather quickly. But, because of this time span, the author was able to weave in some events of happiness, sadness and even mourning. The span in time also permitted the author to build on friendships, brotherly love along with the bonds created by those facing battle. What made this all the more difficult was that each of the groups involved in our story leveraged means of deception to fool the other.
The audiobooks narration was clean, crisp, deep and rich with atmosphere. Mr. Casey reads at a steady pace which aligns with most listeners abilities. The audio itself was clean of any defects or audio artifacts (pops, clicks, background noise, or swallows). I have to give credit as the book contains many difficult names to pronounce and I felt that the narrator did an exceptional job here as well. The ability to switch between conversing characters also was done flawlessly by the narrator while listening. Mr. Casey adds a level of depth and complexity to the book’s characters and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
For parents and younger readers, like with the other books in this series, there was no use of vulgar language or mature material. There is some light graphic violence, however this is not more than what one would expect from a historically accurate tale. I would recommend this book and the series to readers interested in the United Stated Revolution time period. On audible, the book is classified as for teens aged 11-13. As I said earlier, it can be enjoyed by all.
In summary, if you are a history buff or someone that likes to learn new things while being taken on an adventure, I would recommend this book and the series. The writing is not overly complex, the story is enjoyable and engaging, and the narration is solid. Even though it is a bit short, one comes away with learning about actual history and having fun doing it.
February 24, 2020
Duration: 4 hrs 54 mins.
Publisher: Brief Candle Press.
The Smoke - Tales From a Revolution: New York, Book 3 by Lars D. H. Hedbor is another fascinating glimpse into America's history from a lesser-told perspective that educates and entertains.
I have enjoyed the previous audiobooks in Hedbor's series, The Freedman and The Tree , and was keen to revisit the series to learn a little more about the period. In this tale from the Revolution, we glimpse the impact of the fighting on the Native American peoples. As with the rest of the series, I was glad that Hedbor did not make this a novel in which things are black and white, with a 'right' side and a 'wrong' one, and most specifically that he did not pit the indigenous population as a whole against the Rebels. Allowing for a more nuanced story, in which the local tribes become embroiled in the affairs of both sides, is important in ensuring that their tale does not generalise or dismiss any of the characters as part of a broad, homogenised group. Neither the soldiers nor the tribesmen are one-dimensional, with each capable of as much harm as joy as they fight to secure the future of their kin. Ultimately, The Smoke challenges the ways those men classify 'kin' and proves that even those from very different worlds can become brothers in arms. As the book itself says, “They are but people, whose ways are strange to us, without a doubt, but they laugh, love and lose just as we do.”
Hedbor did well to capture a sense of the domestic lives away from the conflict, and introduced enough of the Native American way of life to explore their culture without it feeling voyeuristic or exploitative. There was a very good depiction of a difficult pregnancy, which was emotive and candid; not only in the risks for the woman and child, but the turmoil endured by the husband.
The narrator, Shamaan Casey, did another great job with this audiobook. I love the depth and resonance to his voice, which gives the stories a gravitas that helps the historical setting feel as though it is telling the true stories of the characters we meet in Hedbor's novels. His performance always holds my attention and is quite relaxing to listen to, even when he is describing some of the Revolution's hardest times.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories from the Revolutionary era, or those - like me - who are looking for a gentle introduction to the times that covers the many facets of the war and its impact, without specific bias.
*I received this audiobook free of charge in the hope of an honest, unbiased review.
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Publisher: Brief Candle Press.
The Smoke - Tales From a Revolution: New York, Book 3 by Lars D. H. Hedbor is another fascinating glimpse into America's history from a lesser-told perspective that educates and entertains.
I have enjoyed the previous audiobooks in Hedbor's series, The Freedman and The Tree , and was keen to revisit the series to learn a little more about the period. In this tale from the Revolution, we glimpse the impact of the fighting on the Native American peoples. As with the rest of the series, I was glad that Hedbor did not make this a novel in which things are black and white, with a 'right' side and a 'wrong' one, and most specifically that he did not pit the indigenous population as a whole against the Rebels. Allowing for a more nuanced story, in which the local tribes become embroiled in the affairs of both sides, is important in ensuring that their tale does not generalise or dismiss any of the characters as part of a broad, homogenised group. Neither the soldiers nor the tribesmen are one-dimensional, with each capable of as much harm as joy as they fight to secure the future of their kin. Ultimately, The Smoke challenges the ways those men classify 'kin' and proves that even those from very different worlds can become brothers in arms. As the book itself says, “They are but people, whose ways are strange to us, without a doubt, but they laugh, love and lose just as we do.”
Hedbor did well to capture a sense of the domestic lives away from the conflict, and introduced enough of the Native American way of life to explore their culture without it feeling voyeuristic or exploitative. There was a very good depiction of a difficult pregnancy, which was emotive and candid; not only in the risks for the woman and child, but the turmoil endured by the husband.
The narrator, Shamaan Casey, did another great job with this audiobook. I love the depth and resonance to his voice, which gives the stories a gravitas that helps the historical setting feel as though it is telling the true stories of the characters we meet in Hedbor's novels. His performance always holds my attention and is quite relaxing to listen to, even when he is describing some of the Revolution's hardest times.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories from the Revolutionary era, or those - like me - who are looking for a gentle introduction to the times that covers the many facets of the war and its impact, without specific bias.
*I received this audiobook free of charge in the hope of an honest, unbiased review.
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July 2, 2017
At first, I thought I was reading the parallel stories of two leaders in two different cultures during the American Revolution, Tanarou, a Tuscarora elder and Sgt. Howe of the Colonial New York militia, since the first two chapters open in these men’s points of view. The plot at first appeared to be about the progress of the war and the conflicts among the Iroquois confederacy, the Colonials, and the British. Then it became the stories of two younger warriors, Ginawo, a promising leader in his tribe, and Private Joseph Killeen, and the unwelcome alliances Native tribes were obliged to make when caught between two sides. Finally, it evolved into Joseph’s story, with the broad view of the war narrowing down to focus an intense light on one young man and his cross between two cultures. Though the dialogue is sometimes forced and in one instance becomes a clunky “I did my research” display as one character unrealistically tells another things she already knows, the writing otherwise flows well and the relationships are portrayed with affecting depth. I would have liked the book to be longer, a fully fleshed out novel. There was potential in it for a big story. However, it was still worth reading, and once it found its focus on the protagonist and I realized what the arc of the plot was about, I was totally immersed in it. My interests in Native American history and eighteenth century history led me to this book, and Hedbor didn’t disappoint me at all in the depth and quality of his understanding of the cultures and setting. Since I’ve already acquired another book in the series, which explores the Revolutionary War in various locales, I’ll probably read it, but I don’t think I’ll get hooked on the series as a whole. History buffs who like short books, however—it was only 167 pages on my Nook—may well become whole-series fans.
Note: Goodreads defaults to Kindle editions and I had trouble changing to another edition, but if I review a book, it's either a Nook edition or a paperback.
Note: Goodreads defaults to Kindle editions and I had trouble changing to another edition, but if I review a book, it's either a Nook edition or a paperback.
May 5, 2020
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and any opinion expressed herein are my own.
This is the third book in the Tales from a Revolution series. Each book is a standalone book with no cliffhanger ending. The series can be read in any order. Each book focuses on a specific state, a few characters, and the effect of the American Revolutionary War. I have read other books in this series [in no particular order] and would recommend them.
This book is a fictionalized account of the effects of The American Revolutionary War on the Iroquois Confederacy (an alliance of five Indian nations), and more specifically, the Tuscarora tribe within that alliance in New York who were trying to stay neutral but initially allied themselves with the British and then with the Patriots. I was particularly captivated by this tale as I grew up in upstate New York and while I do remember touching upon the Iroquois in my high school history class, we certainly did not spend a lot of time on the topic. I found the exploration of the Iroquois culture and their politics to be fascinating. The integration of Joseph, a Patriot soldier, into the tribe was interesting, however, a bit fast-paced, in my opinion, to be completely credible. For example, Joseph very quickly adapts to the Indian culture - to the point of dreaming in the Iroquois language and having trouble remembering the English language in a few short months. Additionally, without a lot of thought [decided in mere moments], Joseph submits to tattooing his face - which would clearly ostracize him from his own culture and certainly cause a rift with his family/friends. However, overall, I found this story to be well-written and well-researched.
The narrator, Shamaan Casey, is the narrator for the entire series. He has a deep baritone pleasant voice. He does a great job with the various characters and emotions of this story.
This is the third book in the Tales from a Revolution series. Each book is a standalone book with no cliffhanger ending. The series can be read in any order. Each book focuses on a specific state, a few characters, and the effect of the American Revolutionary War. I have read other books in this series [in no particular order] and would recommend them.
This book is a fictionalized account of the effects of The American Revolutionary War on the Iroquois Confederacy (an alliance of five Indian nations), and more specifically, the Tuscarora tribe within that alliance in New York who were trying to stay neutral but initially allied themselves with the British and then with the Patriots. I was particularly captivated by this tale as I grew up in upstate New York and while I do remember touching upon the Iroquois in my high school history class, we certainly did not spend a lot of time on the topic. I found the exploration of the Iroquois culture and their politics to be fascinating. The integration of Joseph, a Patriot soldier, into the tribe was interesting, however, a bit fast-paced, in my opinion, to be completely credible. For example, Joseph very quickly adapts to the Indian culture - to the point of dreaming in the Iroquois language and having trouble remembering the English language in a few short months. Additionally, without a lot of thought [decided in mere moments], Joseph submits to tattooing his face - which would clearly ostracize him from his own culture and certainly cause a rift with his family/friends. However, overall, I found this story to be well-written and well-researched.
The narrator, Shamaan Casey, is the narrator for the entire series. He has a deep baritone pleasant voice. He does a great job with the various characters and emotions of this story.
March 1, 2020
This is the sixth book I’ve read/listened to by this author and I would listen to anything he writes. I think all of his books are an excellent companion to our older children’s history education. All of them give an expansive perspective upon events and always makes me want to learn more. I often find myself researching the people and events after listening to one of his books.
I love his historical insight and unique angle he approaches with each story. It’s not the typical characters of the historical event that are the highlight in his books...it’s the average person, the common people, those that were trying to survive and lead a normal life amongst these tumultuous events. This book is no different. Many people got caught up in and swept away during major events. This one tells the story of some of our native Indians and brings a bit of insight into what they experienced and how they were affected. We get this glimpse through the eyes of a soldier who gets taken in by one of these tribes.
This is the seventh book I’ve listened to by this narrator ( Shamaan Casey ) and I would always listen to another. I like the tone of his voice. He does well differentiating the characters and brings out the emotion in the story.
There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.
I love his historical insight and unique angle he approaches with each story. It’s not the typical characters of the historical event that are the highlight in his books...it’s the average person, the common people, those that were trying to survive and lead a normal life amongst these tumultuous events. This book is no different. Many people got caught up in and swept away during major events. This one tells the story of some of our native Indians and brings a bit of insight into what they experienced and how they were affected. We get this glimpse through the eyes of a soldier who gets taken in by one of these tribes.
This is the seventh book I’ve listened to by this narrator ( Shamaan Casey ) and I would always listen to another. I like the tone of his voice. He does well differentiating the characters and brings out the emotion in the story.
There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.
February 24, 2020
I enjoyed this ,book 3,of Tales of the Revolution.We are taken into the Tuscorra tribe where they adopt a man to take the place of a lost warrior.It is a wonderful story.Shamaan Casey was the perfect narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
August 13, 2020
The Smoke is an immersive, compelling addition to Lars Hedbor’s Revolutionary War series. Told from the points of view of an Iroquois warrior and a Pennsylvania militiaman, it offers a glimpse of the potential for friendship as well as conflict when people from these two cultures crossed paths amid the war that birthed a new nation at a terrible cost to the First Nations.
January 29, 2022
"The devil's in the details," and the details are what make great historical fiction. Hedbor will transport you to the sights and smells of the forest and the lives of the Haudenosaunee. Everything felt authentic. Because this is a novella, events moved quickly and there wasn't as much character depth as I'd like, but that's not what Hedbor is doing. What he is doing, he does very well.
April 27, 2023
interesting glimpse from different perspective
What would happen to a young soldier taken in by Indians, his supposed enemy, during the Revolutionary War? How would his fellow soldiers and family react? Interesting but rather slow moving, I had a hard time getting invested in the story.
What would happen to a young soldier taken in by Indians, his supposed enemy, during the Revolutionary War? How would his fellow soldiers and family react? Interesting but rather slow moving, I had a hard time getting invested in the story.
October 4, 2025
I found this An enjoyable piec3 of historical fiction with enough twists and d turns to keep me engaged. Readers find a. Interesting take on a group of native people adjusting to the conflicts generated by the American revolution
June 20, 2014
This book was an informative and riveting look at the uneasy interactions between the American Colonials, The British Red Coats and the Iroquois and other tribes during the American Revolution. The story alternates from the vantage points. One perspective is of Iroquois warriors who are faced with the choices of choosing allegiances in a battle that will not consider their needs as fellow human beings. A secondary perspective allows for insight into the situation of a scout and foot soldier who is part of George Washington’s troops.
As both groups wrestle with the justifications for their reactions to one another the element of shared humanity is juxtaposed into a struggle for survival and the creation or preservation of a way of life.
The Colonials seek to separate from British rule to form a new country. They follow George Washington’s commands from afar and seek to eradicate the population of native people to render the land safe for their new way of life. The envision themselves protecting against a war like people and making the land safe from their influence.
Conversely, The Native People find themselves attempting to live in union with the land in small tribal units as they had for the total store of their cultural memory. They are scattered among battles between the British and American forces who fight a war around them that is not truly theirs. The native people also seek to defend their homes, families and ways of life from the threat to the warring pale invaders. They are left with many choices; to join one group or another, to stand their ground and fight whichever foe come their way, to hide, to abandon their homes or to chose an allegiance that may put them at odds with other tribes.
The book offers a unique perspective on the historical account of the Revolutionary War. It depicts the uncertain times the native people faced as changes that ultimately damaged and destroyed their way of life.
As both groups wrestle with the justifications for their reactions to one another the element of shared humanity is juxtaposed into a struggle for survival and the creation or preservation of a way of life.
The Colonials seek to separate from British rule to form a new country. They follow George Washington’s commands from afar and seek to eradicate the population of native people to render the land safe for their new way of life. The envision themselves protecting against a war like people and making the land safe from their influence.
Conversely, The Native People find themselves attempting to live in union with the land in small tribal units as they had for the total store of their cultural memory. They are scattered among battles between the British and American forces who fight a war around them that is not truly theirs. The native people also seek to defend their homes, families and ways of life from the threat to the warring pale invaders. They are left with many choices; to join one group or another, to stand their ground and fight whichever foe come their way, to hide, to abandon their homes or to chose an allegiance that may put them at odds with other tribes.
The book offers a unique perspective on the historical account of the Revolutionary War. It depicts the uncertain times the native people faced as changes that ultimately damaged and destroyed their way of life.
June 14, 2014
Reading Lars Hedbor's series of books about the Revolutionary War reminds me so much of one of my favorite American authors, James Fenimore Cooper. To be sure, Hedbor in his latest literary offering, The Smoke: Tales From a Revolution, not only takes us back in time to the Revolutionary War, but also brings the period to life with his keen eye for detail and his ability to capture the language (his background in linguistics and languages pays off dividends again) and culture of Native Americans.
Of the three books I have read in this series, this by far is his best. He has really come into form as a masterful storyteller in the same vein as Cooper. His love for history really shines through again.
It's a wonderful story filled with lots of action and drama and a window on America's past.
Of the three books I have read in this series, this by far is his best. He has really come into form as a masterful storyteller in the same vein as Cooper. His love for history really shines through again.
It's a wonderful story filled with lots of action and drama and a window on America's past.
January 31, 2020
Again with the calling this series as for children just because there is no erotica! Really!
These tales are for all of us, not just those of us who spent our summers reenacting the war between the upstarts and the oppressors (aka the rebels and the Redcoats). It is important to remember that the war involved many who never heard of the Boston Tea Party or Francis Marion or even Bloody Tarleton. The many clans and tribes of those who were in North America long before the European invaders were caught up in the war and lost as much as the Europeans gained. Well researched, well presented, and realistic. But I'm glad that I have the audio (and not just because Shamaan Casey has a marvelous voice and interpretation) because I wouldn't be able to pronounce the names.
I won this audiobook in a giveaway! I really win!
These tales are for all of us, not just those of us who spent our summers reenacting the war between the upstarts and the oppressors (aka the rebels and the Redcoats). It is important to remember that the war involved many who never heard of the Boston Tea Party or Francis Marion or even Bloody Tarleton. The many clans and tribes of those who were in North America long before the European invaders were caught up in the war and lost as much as the Europeans gained. Well researched, well presented, and realistic. But I'm glad that I have the audio (and not just because Shamaan Casey has a marvelous voice and interpretation) because I wouldn't be able to pronounce the names.
I won this audiobook in a giveaway! I really win!
June 6, 2014
So far this is my favorite of Lars Hedbor's books. Though I was upset about 1 section (just an emotional response to part of the story line, I will not spoil the story).
I love that Lars takes ordinary people, tells their story about an extraordinary time and he does it well. It is so easy to place myself in these stories and wonder what I would have done under similar circumstances. Anyone interested in American history, and in particular the Revolution should read these books.
I love that Lars takes ordinary people, tells their story about an extraordinary time and he does it well. It is so easy to place myself in these stories and wonder what I would have done under similar circumstances. Anyone interested in American history, and in particular the Revolution should read these books.
December 22, 2023
This book has a lot going for it but I didn't find the writing very strong. Nonetheless, the story was great, showing the relationship between white settlers/soldiers and one tribe from The Five Nations. I really appreciated that so much of the book focused on the tribe, their decision-making about which side to back during the Revolution, their internal workings, and a bittersweet love story. I only wished for writing/editing that made the story more compelling.
June 30, 2015
3.5 A Revolution story told more from the Native American perspective. There were parts I wondered about as far as authenticity, but some of the author's notes addressed some of that. I did like that it told a story of sacrifice and community from the Indian perspective.
April 11, 2017
This is a highly readable and fascinating account of the Indian tribes who were displaced and forced to align themselves with either the British or Colonial forces during the American Revolution. It presents the Native American perspective as well as that of an Indian captive, the latter through the character of Joseph Killeen. This duology marks it as an intelligent and poignant work of historical fiction. I definitely intend to read more of this series!
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