Bride of the Morning Star

Spanish Bit Saga #19

by Don Coldsmith

When his adopted Pawnee people abduct a young woman from his native tribe, the Elk-dog People, Bear Paws is torn between past ties and loyalty to his new wife's tribe. Reprint.

Genres: Westerns, Fiction, Historical Fiction

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Don Coldsmith was an American author of primarily Western fiction. A past president of Western Writers of America, Coldsmith wrote more than 40 books, as well as and hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. His “Spanish Bit Saga,” a series of related novels, helped to re-define the Western novel by adopting the point of view of the Native Americans, rather than the European immigrants.

Reviews

[Brenda Hicks]

I enjoyed this rescue caper set on the Plains. I was pleased to read that the author, Don Coldsmith, was born in Iola, Kansas which is just up the road from my hometown farm and the site of the Allen County fair. A fellow Southeast Kansan, he made himself an expert of the people who traveled the Kanza Prairie far before our time. Well done, Don. This book (and no doubt the series) is a nice way to honor their lives.

I feel a kinship to this man who was the son of a Methodist preacher and graduate of Baker University. We share a common religion, my father was not a preacher, but my mother and father both were very active lay people in our Methodist church. I currently work at Southwestern College which, along with Baker is one of three Methodist colleges in Kansas. Don attended high school in Coffeyville Kansas just a few years earlier than my father.

Coldsmith, a man of numerous interests sought in his writing to change the way native populations were viewed. His stories are written from the point of view of their native characters in order to humanize them and make them relatable to a European audience. After reading this book, I'd say he succeeded in that goal.

Coldsmith died in 2009. I wish I'd had a chance to meet him.

[sarg]

This is a good quick read. Non cowboy and Indian story but Indian life and action between different tribes. Bear paws of the elk dog tribe helps save a elk dog female from death after her capture by the Pawnees
Gave it 4 stars.

[Partridge Public]

Coldsmith, Don

[Cws]

W Col

[Mary Ann]

Interesting from the perspective of tribal customs and traditions.

[Little Timmy]

Very good "Western" story. It's actually not like your normal American Western tale. Lots of nicely developed characters and a nice continuing storyline. Recommended

[TOTO from Kansas]

Cann't wait to see what happens next

[Quinton Guillaume]

ok