In The Crimson Path of Honor, the Civil War is over, and a violent period known as the Indian Wars is erupting. Ignoring the danger, a feisty young woman from Boston rebels against her tyrannical father’s plans to marry her off to a family friend, and she seizes an opportunity to go west to teach. On the way to the Oregon Territory, her stagecoach is attacked, and she is captured by a marauding band of Lakota (Sioux) Indians who call the Rocky Mountains home.

Accepting her perilous situation, the young woman courageously confronts the daily hardships inherent in early Native American life. At first treated like an outcast, she eventually adapts to her circumstances and comes to respect the camaraderie of the Indians, even falling in love with her captor. Over time, she begins to challenge her abductor’s traditional views on bloodletting and violence as the path of honor. Torn by her inability to justify her growing feelings for her captor in a culture of violence,she continually wonders why God has abandoned her in such a desolate place.

The theme of The Indian Path Series is how to find life’s purpose and a path of peace, love, courage, and faith in times of trouble. As American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, “If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.”

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My Thoughts

This book has an intriguing and thought-provoking storyline. An independent-minded young socialite heads west across the wild plains to avoid a marriage arranged by her father. Unfortunately, she ends up losing her freedom anyway when she is plucked from her stagecoach and taken captive by a band of Lakota. Her survival now depends on her ability to adapt to a new way of life and a deeper faith than she has ever known before.

This young woman’s journey to find God’s peace and purpose for her life despite her circumstances is truly compelling. The intimate look at the culture of this Lakota tribe is unapologetic, displaying both the beauty and pain of their lives. Themes of faith, romance, and conflict are woven throughout the story and the overall sense of hope shines through. The only downfall to this story for me was the style it was delivered in. I felt the flow was uncomfortable due to the frequent shifts in point of view and repetitious use of certain phrases. Overall I’m glad I had the opportunity to read the story and hope the author continues to highlight Native people groups and their stories.

I requested the opportunity to read and review this title through BookLook Bloggers. The opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

M.B. TOSI is the bestselling author of The Indian Path Series, which includes Book One The Sacred Path of Tears, Book Two The Secret Path of Destiny, Book Three The Crimson Path of Honor. Book Four, The Thundering Path of Spirit, and Book Five, The Solitary Path of Courage.

She also has been an editor of non-fiction books and a weekly newspaper. She teaches piano and has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s degree in education.

Born in Pierre, South Dakota, she has lived in Alexandria, Virginia; Bucks County, Pennsylvania; and Toledo, Ohio. She has three children and five grandchildren.

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