When Cotton Fields Burn

by Sara Flower Kjeldsen

173 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2023

Reviews

[Dean Tongue · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading 'The Broken and the Foolish', I was excited to learn that a sequel was on the way and I was not disappointed!

This book picks up some years after the events of the previous book and centres on Lydia (who had a minor role in the previous book) who is on a mission to rescue her daughter. Along the way she drags along Mary (the main character from the previous book) for the ride.

I liked the new characters which are introduced too, Crow, Tyke and a nice elder gentleman called Darcy, who wishes to write Lydia's story. This diverse set of 'outlaws' get into many adventures along the way and there are also some genuine surprises too. It all culminates in another epic, action packed finale!

As with the previous book, this would make a great western movie! I loved how everything turned out in the end and Sara has created enough great characters to write many more sequels and spin offs!

Bring on more Outlaw's Tales!

[Kristina Gallo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read "Sally" and "Broken and foolish", two books from this trilogy. The author continues in the same style, sharp and precise descriptions of outlaws and their way of life. Lydia, a black woman, together with her partners Tyke and Crow, is going to a mission to save her daughter from the slavery. Recruiting her team, she accepts Mr Darcy, The Writer, to join them. Meeting her old friend Mary, Lydia force her to join , because Mary is familiar as a good shooter. What will happen next is a real western movie in vigilante justice style.
I was despising Lydia at first because she kidnapped Mary, who was a family woman. Later, I understood her motives. Breaking law and justifying murders did by Tyke and Crow is something what I did not like. In one part of the book, Tyke admits he could not do anything else than rob and kill.
The book is an easy read and an exciting story for all who love excitement, with a historical touch. A background is a justice for slaves.

[Elle Sie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only realised after reading this that it’s the third final in a series; nevertheless, Kjeldsen writes well, so it can be read as a standalone. Set in the late 1800s, it followed Lydia on a quest to find her daughter. It didn’t shy away from discrimination and violence of the era – it’s a western novel and three of the main characters were minority ethnic – but I thought it was well-written and handled such topics sensitively, particularly shining a light on the reality of the lives of slaves and former slaves in that era. Lydia, described as attractive and black, experienced much judgement on her journey. Along the way, she was helped by a young Mexican boy, Tyke, as well as Crow, a man from a native Miami tribe, and also by Mary, reluctantly at first. The journey wraps up nicely, which is to be expected at the end of a trilogy; I enjoyed the short, quick-paced read.