Native

Manifest Destiny #1

by Mike Sparrow

The first book in a dramatic fictional trilogy set in the old west. Takoda, a young Lakota warrior, is compelled to fight for his life after his father is killed in a hunting accident, facing murderous beaver trappers and brutal treatment at the hands of a ruthless band of buffalo hunters. However, his future is to become defined by the dark influence of Theodore Winthrop, a Minnesotan senator who wants to rid the plains of the native tribes. Takoda’s survival depends on a chance encounter with a wagon train, where he meets Carla Kopp, with whom he is destined to unveil the scope of Winthrop’s political and military subterfuge, a plan to steal four hundred million dollars in gold, and strategies designed to challenge the Lakota’s very existence.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Westerns, Fiction

491 pages, Hardcover

Published October 18, 2017

About the author

Mike lives with his wife Adele in their seventeenth-century farmhouse in the Yorkshire Dales, England, their three children having spread their wings. He retired in 2013 to focus on writing following a career in hospitality and construction during which he worked in Europe, the Far East, Australasia, and the United States.

While writing he divides his time between homes in the United Kingdom and Montana, where he is happiest hiking in the back country or watching wildlife in its natural habitat. However, his passion is to draw attention to conservation and the preservation of indigenous culture, so, although committed to entertaining his readers, his novels are always centered on an underlying cause about which he feels passionately, and to which proceeds from his books are donated.

Reviews

[Janette Mcmahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An epic, perfect for readers who enjoy historical fiction in the saga format. The characters are well done and varied. Sparrow shows all the different types of people who had a roll in the Manifest Destiny. it is stated that this is the first of what will be a trilogy. I will be waiting for the next book. Highly recommend.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed reading this debut novel. It only took me five days to read... I was gripped from page 2! The characters have been so well developed that I felt a real rapport with the young Lakota Indians and a passion for the values and culture of their tribe. There are so many wonderful and colorful characters that you get to love or despise and the description of the journey as the settlers travel west is remarkable.
I have learned so much from this author about the period and the migration of the settlers. I am eagerly awaiting book 2.

[Judie Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book until I got to the end. It left so many things unanswered and I wanted more. I'm hoping my questions will be answered in the next book. I received this book from good reads-thank you. Took me more time to read it because I had a serious eye problem and was reading with one eye

[Jeri A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

After 12 years working with the Lakota (Sioux) people, I shared their concern about a book about natives written by a non-native. This historical novel, first in a trilogy, is amazingly well researched and well written. It accurately portrays the culture of the Lakota people and provides vivid descriptions of life, hardships, and dreams of those who chose to move west on wagon trains crossing the US. It also portrays the immigrants who came here lured by the dream of a new life, and the conflicts that occurred as a result of different cultures and different lifestyles. It also vividly describes those who viewed Natives as a group to be dominated and annihilated if necessary to meet a political goal or to pursue personal riches - something that continued long after the time of Manifest Destiny.
The characters are fully developed in this first book and we eagerly await to see them again in the next two books. It is to be hoped that books like this will promote understanding of both the history and the present day life of the Lakota and other Native American tribes.
Jeri Baker, Director, One Spirit

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

First let me say that I received this through Goodreads giveaway program. And with that being said, I am SO disappointed in this book. First let me say, I gave it 2 stars ✨ for what it wanted to say. I LOVE American Native history (so much so, that as a kid, I refused to celebrate Thanksgiving). I have a floor to ceiling bookshelf of Non-Fiction Native history books. But this book is a sleeper. The action is so damn slow and the description of every little thing just over the top! I believe this author should have tackled this subject as a non-fiction book. Or maybe should have picked which points to put into this novel. It KILLS me that I got just over half way through the book and I could not bring myself to continue. I started this book on August 9th and it is now August 23rd...that says it all!

[Thalia Sparrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional and thrilling journey!

A game changing novel for me! As an avid chick flick or crime reader, I was hesistant to read this book, but my goodness I am so beyond delighted I did.

Mike’s novel had me hooked from the first chapter, it was so fast paced and a real thriller. I was completely consumed by the complexity of the characters and tragic tale of the Native Americans that so many have tried to seemingly eradicate from history.

Not only was it thrilling, but also emotionally captivating as Mike so cleverly allows the reader to develop a real empathy and also complete hatred for the varying characters and the individual trials that they face throughout the read.

I cannot wait for the second novel and most definitely recommend this!

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!

Great to have a book that takes the perspective of both the Natives and the settlers! Can't wait for the next one.