Historical Fiction Company Five Star Award - Highly Recommended “These Sacred Lands” is a story that captures the imagination, portraying valor and courage evoking empathy for cultures and characters. When the Civil War ended, “Manifest Destiny” crashed upon the frontier like a massive wave, promising new life and a fresh start for thousands of settlers. The Black Hills, “Paha Sapa” to the Lakota, and the river region extending from the Bighorn Mountains to the Yellowstone River are sacred lands from which the native culture emerged. It is the land where the guiding spirits dwell. The Lakota watched the American migration with increasing concern, then anger. Thousands of Indians gathered for treaty negotiations with the U.S. government and military representatives in 1869. A chance meeting of two adventurous youths, Shadow Hawk, the son of a Lakota chief, and Joshua Tremaine Mackenzie, the son of a cavalry officer, grows into respect and friendship over the turbulent years when they become men. Shadow Hawk, a respected warrior and follower of Crazy Horse, believes, like most, that a significant defeat of the U.S. Army will drive the soldiers and the settlers away from the land for good. The Lakota will return to life as it was in years past. Over time, the realization that they are fighting an unwinnable war grows within Hawk. A future confined to a reservation is repulsive. Hawk's wife was lost in childbirth, and he considers what would happen to his young son should the warrior fall in battle. He makes a momentous decision that surprises even Joshua. Lieutenant Joshua Mackenzie, a West Point graduate and newly commissioned cavalry officer, carries out his orders to drive the Indians back onto the reservations. The brutality executing those orders concern him while he profoundly respects the tribes and his close friend. At the heart of the government policy is the Army’s total elimination of Crazy Horse and thousands of followers. Neither Hawk nor Joshua wishes to see the other across a battlefield, but both believe it is destined in the foreseeable future. “These Sacred Lands” is more than a novel about a clash of cultures. It is a compelling story of two friends and two cultures, Manifest Destiny and the Great Sioux War, in which fate plays a cruel and deadly role too many times. The Online Book Club These Sacred Lands by James Harold Kelly is a novel set in the American West. Although it is the second volume in the I am a Soldier, First and Always series, this novel easily stands alone. Perfect for fans of historical fiction, this book takes a reader back in time. Complete with maps and illustrations, this book shows readers how history came about and outlines the battles and events of the Great Sioux War fought in the late 1800s. The historical accuracy in this novel is exceptional. The maps of the Northern Plains featured throughout the book help readers picture names and places. This book tells history fans precisely what one would expect in a historical novel set in this time. The story is woven together with historical facts. The character development in the story is excellent, and I enjoyed how the characters of Shadow Hawk and Joshua developed as they grew to adulthood. Shadow Hawk became a respected Lakota Warrior, and Joshua became a cavalry officer. I found nothing negative to list for this novel. It is exceptionally well edited, and the plot is driven by the truth evident in recorded history. For these reasons, it has achieved a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. This book contains the elements of adventure, action, and romance. It also contains the violence and gruesome scenes one would expect of a novel that includes historical battles fought during this period. It is best suited to a mature audience. It will appeal most to fans of historical fiction. I recommend it to readers who have a particular affinity with stories of a western theme.