Talks Like Thunder (Red With Native Blood Book 1) by Randal Nerhus & Marjorie Carter – Review by Ayla Phipps

Talks Like Thunder: Red With Native Blood: Novella One by Randal Nerhus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Inspirational. This is the first book I have read by this author and while I don’t usually read historical fiction books everything about this book drew me in to give it a read. Primarily told from Desert Flower/ Talks Like Thunder’s perspective we get a few glimpses from her Grandfather Gray Fox.
1871, Desert Flower is only seven years old, her father has long passed and now so has her mother. While he tribe, the White Mountain Apache’s care for her, lack of food and illnesses from the white-eyes (blue coats) has wiped out several leaving her the only child that survived the stomach rot. Enter her grandfather Gray Fox and several of his Chiricahua warriors. Having heard of her mother’s passing he has come to reclaim his granddaughter and take her to his tribe, the Three Hills Chiricahua Apache’s. Very quickly her spirit is strong while she doesn’t want to leave her friends and the family of her tribe, she overhears the fear of starvation if she stays. Riding a horse for the first time she is scared, leaving her people, surrounded by strangers, and going to a place she has never seen or heard of. As part of her assimilation into her grandfather’s tribe she is given a new name, Talks Like Thunder. Finally, she understands and feels her grandfather’s affection for her and in time he calls her daughter as a term of endearment. Mastering many weapons, she is invited to the Warrior’s Society, and she is determined to prove she belongs or at least not go down without a fight. Once she officially becomes a woman, she truly feels that this is her dream tribe, and she belongs.
Can Thunder fulfill her goal of becoming a warrior? Will she get the husband of her dreams Golden Eagle (Sparrow)? With the invaders all around will her tribe be able to survive the battles to come. Learning about our history is only one side of it. This book, while fictionalized, is built upon historical events, and the sadness fills my soul for the loss of so many. The details, world building for the period and growth of the characters leaves you wanting more. Thunder is the female protagonist we all need. She is strong and fierce, and she is a woman that wants a husband and family. Her determination to protect her people and those she loves gives her strength every step of the way. I can’t wait to read more of this series, Falling Star, novella two and see more of this side of history that’s often forgotten.

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