Thunder in the Sky

The First Americans #6

by William Sarabande

The grassy Great Plains shake with thunder and deadly tornadoes whirl down from storm clouds as the First Americans begin the battle the will determine which peoples--the savage or the gentle--will shape the future or humankind.  On one side is the young shaman Cha-kwena, who has led his tiny band along the trail made by a magnificent white mammoth, the totem he believes will lead the People to a land of safety and abundance.  But they are pursued by enemies, a race of vicious and relentless hunters who want to steal Cha-kwena's magic, kill his sacred mammoth, and possess his passionate woman.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Prehistoric, Fiction, Prehistory, Fantasy, Historical, Native American

464 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1992

About the author

William Sarabande is a pseudonym of Joan Lesley Hamilton Cline.

Reviews

[Level6 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I get it... everyone who started this series on the first book and was dismayed about the eventual [sudden] jump in time, I believe I now understand what is really missing from these later books to make them as endearing - unconditional and unbreakable Love.

I have debated taking a star away just for the constant barrage of complex love triangles and hexagons and points. No one can seem to ever get what they want. And, any Love which we hang in there for, holding out hope while they bud and bud and finally begin to blossom, die a quick death. It's a little ridiculous with all of that, frankly. Sometimes, people DO get to find true Love in life, and the author has already proven that massive amounts of good, enthralling conflict are still possible when telling those tales. Why stop? It just feels lazy.

But, I cannot bring myself to drop a point for that. The continuing saga is still rather amazing, to me, and I truly am getting real history lessons from this series. I have recently much better understood many things in my life due to this and have nothing but gratitude to the author for providing me with this education.

[Tammy Tierney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally finished this a few days ago. It was very compelling. It told the story of the early Americans, pre-historic Native Americans. The story was about the conflict of one man wanting power, another wanting to not be forgotten, and finally of young Cha-kweena, a shaman, trying to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and keeping tradition. It is also the story of revenge, the slave woman Sheela who escapes to plot the downfall of the man who enslaved her and of those who also abused her.

[Andy2302 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat better than book #5 with the same characters three years later. Young Shaman Cha-Kwena follows the white mammoth to a beautiful valley. The old enemies up north war against each other then come after the mammoth & Cha-kwena. Entertaining pre-history drama however bloody. Made me wonder how humans survived killing each other so freely.
3.7 rounded up.

[Inez · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice

[Maggie Shanley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This did get better in the last two chapters, but for most of this book, I did not like the characters or really care what happened to them. I am undecided about continuing the series.

[Sallee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book moves along faster than the preceding, Sacred Stones. Cha-kwena, the shaman of a tribe of people of the Red World is still following the mamouth, the tribe's totem and being hunted by the people of the Watching Star. The people of the Long Grass are also traveling to the Red World, and Shateh, thier chief also wants to find the mamouth totem as he wants to kill it and assume its power. Unkowen to anyone, Cha-kwena had followed the totem to the place where they go to die and killed the great white mamouth to ease its dying struggles. This he keeps a secret but starts to question his shamanic powers. When he and his band meet up with the people of the Long Grass, they agree to join groups to kill the remaining people of the Watching Star who are making covert raids and killing Shateh's people. This is accomplished and they travel to the Red Land to winter. Cha-kwena talks them into traveling into an unknown land. Becasuse game is scare, tensions between the groups come to a head.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 star educational book about the First Americans by William Sarabande. I could not even imagine what life was like for these first Americans if not for the well written and descriptive stories he has written. He writes so well, It's like I'm there living the horrifying life styles of the tribes.

[Scooby · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book, the first i have read of the series. i read this one out of order but didnt seem to affect it at all. will definitely read the other books in the series.

similiar to jean aurel books- which are fantastic

[66yoguy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it but am beginning to tire of the mystic parts.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The whole series is a great read. Hard to put down. Want to read it again.