When Tahiska of the Lakota Indian Tribe father is returned home dead along with one of his father's friend from a hunting party, Tahiska along with his companions Wahtapah of his own tribe and his cousin Neeheeowee from the Cheyenne tribe set on a journey for revenge. After learning the descriptions of the two men responsible for killing his father from the other two in the hunting party they set out to the closet fort to find them. There he meets Kristina and after he meets her and gets to know her, he discovers after thinking things through that he must claim her for is own... Kristina never had any animosity towards Indians and it had everything to do with the relationship she had with her Indian nanny, Many Moons, who was a mother, a friend, and who she loved as a sister. During the time Many Moons was her Nanny she taught Kristina many things of her Indian heritage and sign language. Before Many Moons was dismissed as her nanny she shared a vision she had about Kristina. She told Kristina in her vision, "She was Indian. You were still you, but you were no longer living in the White Man's world nor were you living in my world or anything resembling our village. I believe you were living somewhere out west among the free tribes that still live there and roam as their ancestors did long ago. And Kristina there was much happiness for you there..." Kristina never told anyone, but she had her own vision as well. "In her vision she saw buckskin and leather, skin-covered lodges, and a man with flashing black eyes that looked straight through her..." When Kristina met Tahiska for the first time she thought he looked familiar to her and after talking to him and becoming his interpreter under the most unusual circumstances she discovers he was the one from her vision... This is the first book I read by Karen Kay and I really enjoyed it. Tahiska and Kristina seemed to fall in love at first sight, though they both weren't sure what they felt for each other at first. They were able to get to know each other when Kristina became Tahiska's interpreter and after coming to terms of his feelings for Kristina wanted her to be his wife. When Kristina find out Tahiska had married them through the way of his people and it was hard for Kristina to come to terms with it, do to it not following her customs, but after figuring out her feeling for him comes to accept their marriage. I liked how the author had them figure out how to work out their differences from belonging to two different cultures and how they were able to overcome the boundaries that kept coming up. I liked how the author integrated how they Indians were treated back then, but not a lot where I can't wait to finish it or want to stop reading it because it was too much. All in all it was a good book to read and one I will read again in the future. I plan to read author titles by the author, especially the story for Neeheeowee and Kristina's best friend Julia, which was introduced in Tahiska and Kristina's story. Truly touched by the love of an Indian and his wife.The honor that the young Indian showed to the young woman in this story was heart warming and deeply touched. The lengths he would go to show his love and preparing her for a life with him really stood out the most. Understanding her even if their cultures was different.The strong characters of the Indian brave and his companions against the back drop of prairie life and seeking revenge for the murder of his father kept me glued to the book. A father who had to admit the truth. A young willful woman who defies her upbringing and culture to be with her heart made this a wonderful romance. A book I enjoyed extremely.
What do You think about Lakota Surrender (1994)?
As embarrassing as this cover is, the author is a great American Indian writer, so.....
—Vicki
Dragged a bit in the middle but I still loved the story. Free on amazon!
—Patpo
