War Woman

The Real People #8

by Robert J. Conley

Few writers portray Native American life and history as richly, authentically, and insightfully as Robert J. Conley. Conley represents an important voice of the Cherokee past. The novels in his Real People series combine powerful characters, gripping plots, and vivid descriptions of tradition and mythology to preserve Cherokee culture and history. War Woman spans the late 1500s to mid-1600s.

War Woman, a brave, headstrong, clever Cherokee, is believed by many in her town to be a witch. Having heard stories about the Spanish, and believing there is great profit to be made by trading with them, she leads a small band of youths on the treacherous road to La Florida. This journey, blessed with success and marred by terrible tragedy, marks the beginning of War Woman’s own personal journey as she leads her people by example and by guidance through terrifying times.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Native American, Indigenous

366 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1997

About the author

Robert J. Conley was a Cherokee author and enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, a federally recognized tribe of American Indians. In 2007, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas.

Reviews

[Vanessa Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this and loved War Woman's character, but I wish she wasn't the only woman that was in tune with her magic. Historically, all Cherokee women harnessed magic, dominance, and respect, but War Woman was an outlier among the Cherokee's and other Indigenous people because of this. There was still some matrilineal authority held by the other women in the novel; I just wished the other women could've had the same agency War Woman possessed.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great example of historical fiction. Written by a Cherokee, the novel explores the life of a strong Cherokee woman from 1580 through the mid 1600s. (al)[return]_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [return][return]This historical novel provided a unique view of colonial history (late 1500s to mid-1600s) from two perspectives. An award winning author and poet, Conley http://www.hanksville.org/storyteller... provides a Cherokee viewpoint and the main character is a strong female leader. (lj)

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a delightful and deep example of pre-columbian cherokee ways

[Greg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Author did not do his homework. Many historical errors. Even Historical Fiction should keep facts straight unless there is creative reason to differ.

[Endira77 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Signed by the author.

[Sami · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting story. One thing I didn't care for was how the author kept repeating the same things A LOT. But other than that, it was a good read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW - I can't believe I just discovering Robert Conley's work.