Leland R Nelson

This book is my favorite of the series so far. Nelson's narrative style has grown a lot with this book and it feels less like a Mormon Huckleberry Finn on the Western Frontier than the previous 4 books. The plot and characters were much more mature. The shifting between narrators and POV's did not annoy or unsettle me and made quite a deal of sense for the story.

This book deals with the beginning of the end of polygamy in the Mormon church. When the US made it illegal, there was quite a bit show more of persecution. This book is about the families torn apart by the law and the officers who enforced that law. While this book was slightly more "preachy" about the Mormon faith than the previous books, it didn't really bother me. The preachy moments were coming out of the mouths of fairly preachy characters, and it did more than just preach - it drove the plot forward. And while the author and even the characters make a strong case for polygamy in many circumstances, the author and characters are quick to show that just as it could be a way to make sure that destitute women and widows are cared for, it was frequently used for men, particularly church leaders, who were dirty old men and needed a new woman (sometimes very young woman) to bed.

All of these viewpoints are shown against the backdrop of Utah frontier life. Though it primarily is a human interest story about the moral issues of polygamy and the trouble caused by the law making it illegal, there is more than enough adventure for the western genre fan. show less

Another page turner in the same formula as the first one. This one takes place about 5-10 years after the first one ends. The main character has the ability to get into and escape from more trouble than most people will encounter throughout their whole life. While it bothered me somewhat during the first one, I was able to suspend disbelief until about halfway through this book when I thought it had gotten to the rediculous end of the spectrum.

This book deals with the building of the temple show more of Nauvoo and the early westward migration of Mormons. This book seemed to be more faith promoting than the first one, though it was reasoned and critical at times. Additionally, the concept of polygamy is a main theme in this book. I appreciated that it was shown in both lights - the institution legitimizing lecherous old men's behavior as well as a loving way to care for widows or women who did not have a husband, father, brother or older son to help them farm, build a house, and so forth.

But, as I mentioned, it is a page turner, and the romance is very sweet, so I didn't dislike the book and in fact, liked it enough to continue reading the series. show less

I borrowed this book from my grandmother. It is Mormon fiction, though there is no overt Mormon message in this book. The story uses the beginnings of the Mormon church as its background, but the story is really about a teenage boy's survival as he flees the fighting between Mormons and non Mormons in Missouri. He deals with slave owners and steamboat captains, trappers and fur traders (both the kind ones and the not so kind ones), and unfriendly Native Americans, and even friendly Native show more Americans. He seems to jump frequently from the frying pan into the fire, narrowly escaping one danger only to face an even bigger one, so the book kept my rapt attention.

The book was written in clear and easy to understand language and is very suitable in language and subject matter for teens. While it was not the most well written book, not the most realistic (I know life was different back then, but he fit more adventures into a year of his life than most people ever see), and I question some of the historical accuracy, it was entertaining and quite a page turner. show less

I loved this book. My attention was held by all of the action, I was interested in the history, and my heart was taken by the love story. This is the story of a great chief of the Utes in what is now Utah. He was a warrior and one of the most accomplished horse thief. But he was chief at the end of an age. As he became a man, the white pioneers started coming across the great plains for trapping and trading, later the gold, and finally, the Mormons who settled in Utah. He was chief at a very show more troubling time and faced the end of his people's way of life.

Ultimately, it was a very sad story about the effects of the white settlers taking away native land and killing or scaring off the native game the Utes relied on. Their religious values and morals differed as well and those caused additional conflicts. Walkara dealt with these things in stride. He was proud and wishy washy and it is hard to tell if he handled things the best way possible. He did what he knew to do; he did what he could do.

Throughout the tale of his life and the death of his people's way of life, there is a love story as well. Without giving away too much, it was this love story that was at the heart of the story because despite what else was going on and affecting his people, Walkara was frequently motivated by his emotions of his favorite wife.

I will admit, I teared up at the end. show less