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Vengeance: The Last Stands of Custer, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull
Not yet published
Expected 12 May 26A dramatic new look at Custer's last stand in time for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, by the #1
New York Times
bestselling coauthor of
The Heart of Everything That Is
.
On June 25–26, 1876, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, commonly referred to as Custer's Last Stand, was fought between combined forces of the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes and the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army. Along the Little Bighorn River in Montana Territory, the battle resulted in the devastating defeat of U.S. forces and was the most significant action of the Great Sioux War of 1876.
Now, for the 150th anniversary of this famous engagement, #1 New York Times bestseller and coauthor of the biography of Sioux warrior Red Cloud, The Heart of Everything That Is, Tom Clavin takes a fresh look at Custer's Last Stand.
This dramatic look at the Little Bighorn battle has to not only include the Native American point of view―with two dynamic Native figures, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, on prominent display―but also the impact it had on the Plains Indians. It turned out to be their last stand too because a vengeful nation quashed any remaining resistance, with a conclusive massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890, almost simultaneous with the murder of Sitting Bull.
In addition, Custer’s character by June 1876 is at the heart of this world-famous disaster. For all his celebrated bravery, especially at Gettysburg 13 years earlier, Custer became a devout media hound, desperate to gain fame. Even, some say, his own demise was a misguided attempt at grabbing national He envisioned a massacre—just not his own. As both the camera and the tabloid came of age, George Armstrong Custer became America’s first bona fide celebrity.
Vengeance is a thrilling listen, filled with action, legendary characters, and poignance for the impact this had on Native Americans and the shape of the American West.
On June 25–26, 1876, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, commonly referred to as Custer's Last Stand, was fought between combined forces of the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes and the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army. Along the Little Bighorn River in Montana Territory, the battle resulted in the devastating defeat of U.S. forces and was the most significant action of the Great Sioux War of 1876.
Now, for the 150th anniversary of this famous engagement, #1 New York Times bestseller and coauthor of the biography of Sioux warrior Red Cloud, The Heart of Everything That Is, Tom Clavin takes a fresh look at Custer's Last Stand.
This dramatic look at the Little Bighorn battle has to not only include the Native American point of view―with two dynamic Native figures, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, on prominent display―but also the impact it had on the Plains Indians. It turned out to be their last stand too because a vengeful nation quashed any remaining resistance, with a conclusive massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890, almost simultaneous with the murder of Sitting Bull.
In addition, Custer’s character by June 1876 is at the heart of this world-famous disaster. For all his celebrated bravery, especially at Gettysburg 13 years earlier, Custer became a devout media hound, desperate to gain fame. Even, some say, his own demise was a misguided attempt at grabbing national He envisioned a massacre—just not his own. As both the camera and the tabloid came of age, George Armstrong Custer became America’s first bona fide celebrity.
Vengeance is a thrilling listen, filled with action, legendary characters, and poignance for the impact this had on Native Americans and the shape of the American West.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 12, 2026
3 people are currently reading
5739 people want to read
About the author
Tom Clavin
45 books531 followersTom Clavin is the author/coauthor of eleven books. His most recent is That Old Black Magic: Louis Prima, Keely Smith, and the Golden Age of Las Vegas.
His articles have appeared in Cosmopolitan, Family Circle, Men's Journal, Parade, Reader's Digest, and others.
He was a contributing reporter for the New York Times for fifteen years.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This period of our history has been inspected from every angle, and this author has combined all of that to give us a complete picture encompassing the entire battle, what caused it and the direct consequences for everyone connected with the battle. There are no punches pulled and no excuses given, the cause and effect is laid bare with no judgment issued. I have read a great deal of the background materials but have never had both sides of the battle laid out so well to see how it all functioned. Highly recommend for those interested in the Plaines Indians and Custer's last command, you won't find any new information but will be able to appreciate the new viewpoint.
March 7, 2026
Review of Vengeance: The Last Stands of Custer, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull by Tom Clavin
Trivia Question for all readers: How many horses have been given a full funeral with military honours by any branch of the United States Military?
The surprising and delightful answer to this question is four (which is four more than I guessed). Even more surprising to me is that three of these came in the 20th century. The first equine military funeral and the only one to take place before 1900 came in November of 1891 when Comanche, a survivor of the Battle of Little Big Horn died at the age of 29 at Fort Riley in Kansas. Found badly wounded after his rider, Captain Myles Keogh, was killed along with many other members of Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer’s Seventh Cavalry, Comanche was nursed back to health and then kept as an unofficial mascot at Fort Meade for the next eight years. The final, unexpected twist in this tale is that rather than being buried, the horse’s remains were preserved and the taxidermy animal has been on display at the University of Kansas Natural History Museum ever since.
The story of Comanche is recounted in the final chapter of Tom Clavin’s new book Vengeance: The Last Stands of Custer, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. It offers a feel good anecdote and a moment of levity in what is not a feel good or lighthearted story. Rather, in recounting the interconnected stories of George Armstrong Custer, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, Clavin crafts a tragic narrative, both for the obvious loser of the battle in Custer, who ends up dead alongside his brother and most members of the Seventh Cavalry, but also for the supposed victors. It is fitting that Clavin closes his book with the massacre at Wounded Knee in December of 1890, well after the three main figures in his narrative have been killed. For, despite Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull leaving the Little Bighorn battlefield in triumph in 1876, the ultimate story of the Lakota Sioux is one of dispossession, betrayal and ultimately, massacre at Wounded Knee fourteen years later.
Clavin ably handles the complexities of the story, weaving together multiple narrative threads that converge at the battle in 1876. He is a talented and accessible writer and the book, despite its dark and sometimes violent subject matter, is easy to read. Clavin has an eye for an engaging anecdote and he keeps the reader engaged throughout, even if it takes more than half the book to get to the actual battle. Further to his credit, he resists the urge to frame any of the key players as villains or heroes. The trope of violent and hostile indigenous people countering heroic white men is a common one, particularly when dealing with the history of the American West, and Clavin reflects the reality that the west was a violent place where the most savage acts were often carried out by the supposed forces of law, order and civilization.
While an engaging writer who has a wealth of material to work with, Clavin relies extensively on the work of other historians and researchers. Vengeance is a work of synopsis and not original research. Luckily for Clavin, there is a massive body of literature published on Custer, Little Bighorn, Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull and the Lakota. Clavin draws on these works and quotes from them extensively, often to the detriment of his work. Especially given the short chapters, when 20% of a chapter is direct quotations from other authors, the reader is sometimes left with the impression that it might be more efficient to read the quoted works instead. The fact that Clavin is simply summarizing existing works in an entertaining manner is further emphasized in the introduction when he states that the fact that 2026 is the 150th anniversary of the battle was his motivation for writing the book. While it is not necessary for an author to have astounding new insight on their topic, when it is a subject as heavily written about as Custer and Little Bighorn, having something new to say on the matter would be appreciated.
Throughout reading the book I kept making a comparison between Vengeance and the podcast The Rest is History hosted by Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland. The two hosts did an eight part series on the same subject in 2024. While both are published historians who have conducted extensive original research for their books, for their podcast, Sandbrook and Holland synthesize other scholars and writers work to present a compelling story to listeners. In that sense, they are doing exactly what Clavin attempts to do. Yet in terms of analysis and engagement, I kept rating the Rest is History series over Vengeance. I was drawn to Clavin’s book after listening to the podcast series and wanting to learn more. I generally (maybe to my detriment?) view podcasts as introductions to topics I am interested in and then if I am hooked, I will seek out a book on the subject (Side note, the two Rest is History hosts often have excellent suggestions for books). Yet, I ultimately found the book in this case more superficial and less informative than the podcast. I do not want to give the impression that Clavin’s work is bad. However, I hesitate to recommend to someone interested in the story of Custer, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull that they sit down and read Vengeance.
Final Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Trivia Question for all readers: How many horses have been given a full funeral with military honours by any branch of the United States Military?
The surprising and delightful answer to this question is four (which is four more than I guessed). Even more surprising to me is that three of these came in the 20th century. The first equine military funeral and the only one to take place before 1900 came in November of 1891 when Comanche, a survivor of the Battle of Little Big Horn died at the age of 29 at Fort Riley in Kansas. Found badly wounded after his rider, Captain Myles Keogh, was killed along with many other members of Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer’s Seventh Cavalry, Comanche was nursed back to health and then kept as an unofficial mascot at Fort Meade for the next eight years. The final, unexpected twist in this tale is that rather than being buried, the horse’s remains were preserved and the taxidermy animal has been on display at the University of Kansas Natural History Museum ever since.
The story of Comanche is recounted in the final chapter of Tom Clavin’s new book Vengeance: The Last Stands of Custer, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. It offers a feel good anecdote and a moment of levity in what is not a feel good or lighthearted story. Rather, in recounting the interconnected stories of George Armstrong Custer, Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, Clavin crafts a tragic narrative, both for the obvious loser of the battle in Custer, who ends up dead alongside his brother and most members of the Seventh Cavalry, but also for the supposed victors. It is fitting that Clavin closes his book with the massacre at Wounded Knee in December of 1890, well after the three main figures in his narrative have been killed. For, despite Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull leaving the Little Bighorn battlefield in triumph in 1876, the ultimate story of the Lakota Sioux is one of dispossession, betrayal and ultimately, massacre at Wounded Knee fourteen years later.
Clavin ably handles the complexities of the story, weaving together multiple narrative threads that converge at the battle in 1876. He is a talented and accessible writer and the book, despite its dark and sometimes violent subject matter, is easy to read. Clavin has an eye for an engaging anecdote and he keeps the reader engaged throughout, even if it takes more than half the book to get to the actual battle. Further to his credit, he resists the urge to frame any of the key players as villains or heroes. The trope of violent and hostile indigenous people countering heroic white men is a common one, particularly when dealing with the history of the American West, and Clavin reflects the reality that the west was a violent place where the most savage acts were often carried out by the supposed forces of law, order and civilization.
While an engaging writer who has a wealth of material to work with, Clavin relies extensively on the work of other historians and researchers. Vengeance is a work of synopsis and not original research. Luckily for Clavin, there is a massive body of literature published on Custer, Little Bighorn, Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull and the Lakota. Clavin draws on these works and quotes from them extensively, often to the detriment of his work. Especially given the short chapters, when 20% of a chapter is direct quotations from other authors, the reader is sometimes left with the impression that it might be more efficient to read the quoted works instead. The fact that Clavin is simply summarizing existing works in an entertaining manner is further emphasized in the introduction when he states that the fact that 2026 is the 150th anniversary of the battle was his motivation for writing the book. While it is not necessary for an author to have astounding new insight on their topic, when it is a subject as heavily written about as Custer and Little Bighorn, having something new to say on the matter would be appreciated.
Throughout reading the book I kept making a comparison between Vengeance and the podcast The Rest is History hosted by Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland. The two hosts did an eight part series on the same subject in 2024. While both are published historians who have conducted extensive original research for their books, for their podcast, Sandbrook and Holland synthesize other scholars and writers work to present a compelling story to listeners. In that sense, they are doing exactly what Clavin attempts to do. Yet in terms of analysis and engagement, I kept rating the Rest is History series over Vengeance. I was drawn to Clavin’s book after listening to the podcast series and wanting to learn more. I generally (maybe to my detriment?) view podcasts as introductions to topics I am interested in and then if I am hooked, I will seek out a book on the subject (Side note, the two Rest is History hosts often have excellent suggestions for books). Yet, I ultimately found the book in this case more superficial and less informative than the podcast. I do not want to give the impression that Clavin’s work is bad. However, I hesitate to recommend to someone interested in the story of Custer, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull that they sit down and read Vengeance.
Final Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
February 5, 2026
As we approach the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn, “Vengeance” presents a timely account of this momentous piece of US History. While not necessarily a new piece of research, author Tom Clavin instead brings together a neatly, detailed retelling of the prelude, climax, and aftermath of Custer’s Last Stand by drawing on many prior lauded works. Easy to read, and fast paced throughout, this would be recommended for anyone looking to be introduced to this topic, which ultimately marked the beginning of the close of the Great Plains. A special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Vengeance is another strong and engaging work from Tom Clavin, an author whose books I have consistently enjoyed. I’ve been fortunate to read and review several of his titles courtesy of St. Martin’s Press and the author, and this one continues his tradition of clear storytelling backed by solid research. Clavin has a real gift for making history feel approachable without stripping it of complexity.
The book is presented in a logical, well-structured way, guiding the reader through events before, during, and after the battle most commonly known as Custer’s Last Stand. Clavin carefully reconstructs the political tensions, military decisions, and personal motivations that shaped what happened. The result is a narrative that feels complete rather than narrowly focused on a single dramatic moment.
Roughly the first half of the book lays essential groundwork, tracing Custer’s career, his early successes, and the missteps that defined his later years. This context is critical, and Clavin handles it well, showing how ambition, reputation, and overconfidence all played roles in the outcome. By the time the story reaches the Little Bighorn, the reader understands not just what happened, but why.
The heart of the book examines the clash itself, detailing troop movements, terrain, and the decisions made under pressure by all sides involved. Clavin also explores the aftermath, including how the event was interpreted, mythologized, and debated in the years that followed. Together, these sections provide a full arc rather than a single snapshot of history.
Having lived in Montana and visited the battlefield multiple times, I found Clavin’s descriptions of the geography especially effective. This book would make an excellent primer for anyone planning a visit, as it brings clarity to the terrain and helps the reader visualize how landscape influenced strategy and outcomes. It deepened my appreciation for a site I thought I already understood.
Overall, Vengeance is a thoughtful, well-paced, and informative account that balances biography, military history, and narrative drive. Clavin respects the complexity of the subject while keeping the story readable and engaging. For readers interested in Western history or military decision-making, this is a rewarding and worthwhile read.
The book is presented in a logical, well-structured way, guiding the reader through events before, during, and after the battle most commonly known as Custer’s Last Stand. Clavin carefully reconstructs the political tensions, military decisions, and personal motivations that shaped what happened. The result is a narrative that feels complete rather than narrowly focused on a single dramatic moment.
Roughly the first half of the book lays essential groundwork, tracing Custer’s career, his early successes, and the missteps that defined his later years. This context is critical, and Clavin handles it well, showing how ambition, reputation, and overconfidence all played roles in the outcome. By the time the story reaches the Little Bighorn, the reader understands not just what happened, but why.
The heart of the book examines the clash itself, detailing troop movements, terrain, and the decisions made under pressure by all sides involved. Clavin also explores the aftermath, including how the event was interpreted, mythologized, and debated in the years that followed. Together, these sections provide a full arc rather than a single snapshot of history.
Having lived in Montana and visited the battlefield multiple times, I found Clavin’s descriptions of the geography especially effective. This book would make an excellent primer for anyone planning a visit, as it brings clarity to the terrain and helps the reader visualize how landscape influenced strategy and outcomes. It deepened my appreciation for a site I thought I already understood.
Overall, Vengeance is a thoughtful, well-paced, and informative account that balances biography, military history, and narrative drive. Clavin respects the complexity of the subject while keeping the story readable and engaging. For readers interested in Western history or military decision-making, this is a rewarding and worthwhile read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Tom Clavin’s Vengeance is like the Cliff Notes version of all the other extensively researched and intricately written books about the events of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. In fact, in the Author’s Note he acknowledges this, and notes the 150th anniversary of the battle and the fame of it as reasons. He also states that he wanted to tell the story from his own lens, without over analyzing and taking detours.
It is true that he doesn’t over analyze things. But he often DOESN’T tell the story from his own lens, as decent parts of this book are direct quotes from the authors who preceded him in writing about the subject, and doing so in greater detail.
In many of his books he is also prone to detours, making his way up to a particular point in the history that is a feature of the book, and then backtracking to cover the life of one of the major players up until that point or providing interesting side history related to the event, but not necessarily pertinent to it. This happens multiple times in this book, though perhaps not to the extent it does in some of his other books.
I think the main reason this book was written was because he is interested in the battle and wanted to write his own version of it. It’s just that so many other people have already written about it, and done a better job. It DOES make me want to go back and read books he quotes extensively by prominent historical writers like Stephen Ambrose, Nathaniel Philbrick, and James Donovan, among others.
The book does do a pretty good job of being objective in explaining the events that played out, as well as pointing out some of the multiple atrocities the people of the United States committed against indigenous tribes, including repeatedly breaking treaties and deliberately murdering innocent women and children to provoke the warriors. I maintain my stance that Custer and all of the men who decided to encroach on the already reduced lands to strip the tribes even more for the benefit of white people looking to get rich shouldn’t have been surprised it ended badly for them. Unfortunately for the Sioux, it ultimately hastened their demise as a free people as well.
I guess if you want an abridged version of the Battle of the Little Bighorn this isn’t a bad book. But there are better books out there. I wish Clavin had chosen to write about something little written about that I could learn from, or at least covered this particular event from a different angle not written from before, instead of rehashing something that seems rooted in his personal desire to cover.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It is true that he doesn’t over analyze things. But he often DOESN’T tell the story from his own lens, as decent parts of this book are direct quotes from the authors who preceded him in writing about the subject, and doing so in greater detail.
In many of his books he is also prone to detours, making his way up to a particular point in the history that is a feature of the book, and then backtracking to cover the life of one of the major players up until that point or providing interesting side history related to the event, but not necessarily pertinent to it. This happens multiple times in this book, though perhaps not to the extent it does in some of his other books.
I think the main reason this book was written was because he is interested in the battle and wanted to write his own version of it. It’s just that so many other people have already written about it, and done a better job. It DOES make me want to go back and read books he quotes extensively by prominent historical writers like Stephen Ambrose, Nathaniel Philbrick, and James Donovan, among others.
The book does do a pretty good job of being objective in explaining the events that played out, as well as pointing out some of the multiple atrocities the people of the United States committed against indigenous tribes, including repeatedly breaking treaties and deliberately murdering innocent women and children to provoke the warriors. I maintain my stance that Custer and all of the men who decided to encroach on the already reduced lands to strip the tribes even more for the benefit of white people looking to get rich shouldn’t have been surprised it ended badly for them. Unfortunately for the Sioux, it ultimately hastened their demise as a free people as well.
I guess if you want an abridged version of the Battle of the Little Bighorn this isn’t a bad book. But there are better books out there. I wish Clavin had chosen to write about something little written about that I could learn from, or at least covered this particular event from a different angle not written from before, instead of rehashing something that seems rooted in his personal desire to cover.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 21, 2026
I’ve always been interested in the history of the West and have always had an interest in General George Armstrong Custer. This book had an astounding view on him and the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Most everybody knows the story about it, but there was so much more at play than what I realized. The book is not just about Custer, but also about the Native American heroes…Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, Gall. It dives into their lives prior to the battle and also what happens to them after the battle. Much of it is tragic and some of it actually made me scratch my head.
Times were different back then, and I have to take that into account when I question the wisdom of some of the acts of the federal government of the time. It is all predicated on greed and the lengths they went to to get what they wanted. It was abhorrent, but we can’t change history. We can only learn from it and do better.
This book was excellent in the facts that were given and depicting things as they were. My only drawback, for the whole thing was the overuse of the word wasichu. The word means white people and has negative connotations. Were the white men the bad guys here? Absolutely, but even the dialogue quoted in the book from the Native Americans called them white people, so why beat the word wasichu to death like this? Is it to shame this generation or just make sure we know what that word means? Frankly, I got a little resentful of it.
It was still a good book and worth the read. I did learn a lot. It was interesting to find out what happened to Marcus Reno and the other officers who were involved with the battle as well as what happened to our Native American heroes.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Times were different back then, and I have to take that into account when I question the wisdom of some of the acts of the federal government of the time. It is all predicated on greed and the lengths they went to to get what they wanted. It was abhorrent, but we can’t change history. We can only learn from it and do better.
This book was excellent in the facts that were given and depicting things as they were. My only drawback, for the whole thing was the overuse of the word wasichu. The word means white people and has negative connotations. Were the white men the bad guys here? Absolutely, but even the dialogue quoted in the book from the Native Americans called them white people, so why beat the word wasichu to death like this? Is it to shame this generation or just make sure we know what that word means? Frankly, I got a little resentful of it.
It was still a good book and worth the read. I did learn a lot. It was interesting to find out what happened to Marcus Reno and the other officers who were involved with the battle as well as what happened to our Native American heroes.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
352 pages
4 stars
Vengeance is a remarkable book about the circumstances that led up to the incident that history recalls as Custer’s Last Stand. It recounts the political, military, Native, cultural and Custer’s own actions at the time of the disastrous confrontation between Natives aligned with Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and their allies in 1876.
The lies told by the American government to the tribes did much to foster mistrust and subsequent perceived negative actions by the Natives. This would only escalate the negative behavior of the government.
While this was going on, we are treated to the history of Custer’s own behavior resulting in court martials and suspensions. His impulsiveness, short-sightedness and hubris are all on display. He was inclined to tout himself in the media as well.
All of these factors combined to lead to the disaster of Little Big Horn. But it turned out to be a pyrrhic victory for Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and their cohorts. For it led to the end of their freedom - and their dreams.
Well written, laid out in easy-to-read prose, this book is a triumph of research and clarity. I applaud Mr. Clavin for his hard work and excellent writing skills. This is perhaps my favorite book of his that I have read.
I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for forwarding a copy of this very good book to me for my reading enjoyment. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
4 stars
Vengeance is a remarkable book about the circumstances that led up to the incident that history recalls as Custer’s Last Stand. It recounts the political, military, Native, cultural and Custer’s own actions at the time of the disastrous confrontation between Natives aligned with Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and their allies in 1876.
The lies told by the American government to the tribes did much to foster mistrust and subsequent perceived negative actions by the Natives. This would only escalate the negative behavior of the government.
While this was going on, we are treated to the history of Custer’s own behavior resulting in court martials and suspensions. His impulsiveness, short-sightedness and hubris are all on display. He was inclined to tout himself in the media as well.
All of these factors combined to lead to the disaster of Little Big Horn. But it turned out to be a pyrrhic victory for Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and their cohorts. For it led to the end of their freedom - and their dreams.
Well written, laid out in easy-to-read prose, this book is a triumph of research and clarity. I applaud Mr. Clavin for his hard work and excellent writing skills. This is perhaps my favorite book of his that I have read.
I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for forwarding a copy of this very good book to me for my reading enjoyment. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As always, Mr. Clavin has written another historical story full of facts. My only complaint is his books are a bit “dry”, not in a bad way but in a history book sort of way, he talks about the characters not like 1st person with the characters. But his research is always on the mark. This book has so many characters, soldiers, military leaders, and especially Indian names that you either need to keep a list or re-read in order to maintain understanding of the scenario.
I have read about Custer’s last Stand before, but I was most impressed with this background and found the descriptions remarkable. My family visited the battleground many years ago on vacation and reading about it always brings back pleasant memories.
This is not a great time in our history for the white man with their treatment of the Indians, I wish the leaders would have done a lot differently.
One of the best parts of the book was the epitaph, it gives the after the times of some of the main characters. Well done, Mr. Clavin, well done.
I thank St. Martin’s Press along with NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. Comes in with 4 stars.
I have read about Custer’s last Stand before, but I was most impressed with this background and found the descriptions remarkable. My family visited the battleground many years ago on vacation and reading about it always brings back pleasant memories.
This is not a great time in our history for the white man with their treatment of the Indians, I wish the leaders would have done a lot differently.
One of the best parts of the book was the epitaph, it gives the after the times of some of the main characters. Well done, Mr. Clavin, well done.
I thank St. Martin’s Press along with NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. Comes in with 4 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Vengeance
by Tom Clavin
This is the story of Custer, Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull and the battle at Little Big Horn. There have been many books written about this battle and its participants. This is a thrill ride where the Indians won - and ultimately lost.
There are many characters here. While it was interesting to learn how they all played their parts, the backstory for each and every one of them became a little tedious for me. I did like the author's painting a more complete picture of the men who where central to the story. The fact that Custer, for instance, was a "blabbermouth" and a jealous man only contributed to making him seem more human and less legend. I think seeing the strengths and foibles of these heroes of their respective peoples made their accomplishments and failures more understandable.
I learned quite a bit about our country and the interactions between white men and Indians. This is a book worth reading.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
by Tom Clavin
This is the story of Custer, Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull and the battle at Little Big Horn. There have been many books written about this battle and its participants. This is a thrill ride where the Indians won - and ultimately lost.
There are many characters here. While it was interesting to learn how they all played their parts, the backstory for each and every one of them became a little tedious for me. I did like the author's painting a more complete picture of the men who where central to the story. The fact that Custer, for instance, was a "blabbermouth" and a jealous man only contributed to making him seem more human and less legend. I think seeing the strengths and foibles of these heroes of their respective peoples made their accomplishments and failures more understandable.
I learned quite a bit about our country and the interactions between white men and Indians. This is a book worth reading.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Vengeance is an aptly named nonfiction account of the Indian Wars that led to the Battle of Little Big Horn or Custer’s Last Stand. The book traces the conflicts, the back and forth battles, the broken treaties and the theory of Manifest Destiny that led Americans to believe all land was theirs for the taking.
The book consists of short chapters, which makes it easy to read. It veers between the viewpoints of the soldiers and the Indians. It provides in-depth looks at each of the central characters.
Clavin describes the battle in all its gory detail. I couldn’t help but wonder if the Indians won the battle so much as the incompetence of the US officers lost it. The book also points out that while the Native Americans won the battle, it ultimately cost them the war.
The book covers a lot of ground, not always in depth. I would recommend it for those, like me, are not already deeply familiar with the time, place and characters.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
The book consists of short chapters, which makes it easy to read. It veers between the viewpoints of the soldiers and the Indians. It provides in-depth looks at each of the central characters.
Clavin describes the battle in all its gory detail. I couldn’t help but wonder if the Indians won the battle so much as the incompetence of the US officers lost it. The book also points out that while the Native Americans won the battle, it ultimately cost them the war.
The book covers a lot of ground, not always in depth. I would recommend it for those, like me, are not already deeply familiar with the time, place and characters.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Tom Clavin, St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
It’s been 150 years since the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the story still fascinates us. The author provide great background of the actions that led up to the battle, details on the battle itself, and the aftermath. This information is important to understand why people acted as they did during the battle.
This book is deeply researched and well written – as all Tom Clavin books are. I especially appreciated information on the battles and other actions that happened before and after the battle, which changes the narrative from what happened to why it happened. This results in a deeper understanding of the battle and why it is remembered to this day. Recommended.
It’s been 150 years since the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the story still fascinates us. The author provide great background of the actions that led up to the battle, details on the battle itself, and the aftermath. This information is important to understand why people acted as they did during the battle.
This book is deeply researched and well written – as all Tom Clavin books are. I especially appreciated information on the battles and other actions that happened before and after the battle, which changes the narrative from what happened to why it happened. This results in a deeper understanding of the battle and why it is remembered to this day. Recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One of history’s stunning events and one that has always grabbed my interest was the Battle of the Little Bighorn. This new account, due out next year which marks the 150th anniversary of the massacre, is one of the best. It is written in clear detail, bringing the participants to life and developing their characterizations to make them more human. The outcome is obvious from the very beginning but the author draws you in and holds your attention all the way through with excellent writing, not just dry, overstated facts. I recommend this book for all, history aficionados or not.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I want to thank NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Tom Calvin manages to take the history of these events that have been written about time and again and given them a new fresher life. He doesn’t just rehash dates and names for a boring history book. He brings the people he is writing about to life with an emotional depth. Also, the ease of reading is incredible. It reminds me of books by Jeff and Michael Shaara without drifting into more fictional dialogues and thoughts. I greatly enjoyed this book and will definitely be interested in more by this author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is about the the events leading up to the Battle of the Little Big Horn, the battle itself and the events afterwords. It is an engaging read that draws on more detailed books about the three primary individuals in this book. I recommend this book for those who are not looking for in depth information on the three, but a good overview.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I went into this book with a light knowledge of Custer and was disappointed. This is the book to read after you’ve read four, five or six books on Custer and the Battle of The Little Big Horn. It’s essentially an overview, a recapitulation of prior research by others. In fact much of the short chapters are quotes taken from prior works. And because of this, it’s assumed the reader possesses knowledge already established which I was lacking. I found myself lost and bogged down at times. Not what I expected but an interesting read of a complex historical figure.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The story of Custer’s defeat at the Lirrle Bighorn is told in vivid details. The author develops the participants with great detail, He creates an ability to understand how the battle happened against the relationship ship between the native Americans and the settlers who came west for riches. My thanks th NetGalley for the ARC and definitely recommend this book for history buffs.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The story of Custer’s defeat at the Lirrle Bighorn is told in vivid details. The author develops the participants with great detail, He creates an ability to understand how the battle happened against the relationship ship between the native Americans and the settlers who came west for riches. My thanks th NetGalley for the ARC and definitely recommend this book for history buffs.
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