Dancing on Coals
Dancing on Coals by Ellen O'Connell is a captivating and riveting story that follows Katherine Grant, a young woman who escapes stagecoach robbers only to be captured by a group of Apache Indians. One of the Apaches, Gaetan, has a particular hatred for white men and the evils they have perpetrated against his people, so it's safe to say he's way less than pleased when he ends up having to look after Katherine. They eventually form an uneasy bond of sorts that results in love, but of course they have to endure many hardships that threaten to break them apart.
Set in 1881, this novel is a great glimpse into what life was like during such a pivotal time in America. As the white men began to build and expand, Native Americans still fought for their way of life - often resulting in bitter feuds, hatred, and mistrust as the government either took land or made false promises. With that in mind, it's no wonder that Gaetan harbors deep resentment for the whites - including the white woman who just so happens to fall under his care after Gaetan's brother (who rescued Katherine) is killed. At first, he basically treats her like a dog, refusing to even communicate with Katherine except for one worded commands and hand signals. Katherine is no shrinking violet and balks at this demeaning treatment, and it's safe to say that there's no love lost between this unlikely pair. Gaetan's goal is to drop Katherine off outside of a border town somewhere, but of course things don't go as planned. Basically stuck together, the frost between Katherine and Gaetan eventually thaws enough for them to realize that they have feelings for each other, and they are wed by a Mexican priest. Their love still isn't without its obstacles, of course, but I totally loved the ending and thought it was rather fitting.
Okay, so onto why I loved this work so much. Miss Katherine Grant is definitely one of the main reasons. In an era when women still had little to no rights and were expected to basically stand still and look pretty, Katherine was a total standout. She's used to adventuring in the wild with her father and brothers and would much prefer a pair of trousers to a a corset and skirt, and the girl is a firecracker. She's got a temper and isn't afraid to speak up for herself, although she's got enough common sense to keep her mouth shut when needed. I love that Katherine is a strong character in many ways, but it never feels forced or fake as with some works where the author keeps reiterating how tough and independent a female lead is. She's just really likable and easy to relate to, and as such was a great lead character. Gaetan is equally as interesting in his own mysterious, brooding way, and I love how these two balanced each other out and eventually found true happiness together. Both were essentially outcasts, neither one really fitting in or even wanting to, and they found kindred spirits in one another. I especially liked that neither tried to change the other, instead accepting and loving each other as they were.
This was just an all-around great read with a plot and characters that really grabbed my attention. I will say that the plot unfolds slowly, but I liked the buildup and thought it appropriate given the relationship of Katherine and Gaetan. I'd definitely suggest checking this out!
Set in 1881, this novel is a great glimpse into what life was like during such a pivotal time in America. As the white men began to build and expand, Native Americans still fought for their way of life - often resulting in bitter feuds, hatred, and mistrust as the government either took land or made false promises. With that in mind, it's no wonder that Gaetan harbors deep resentment for the whites - including the white woman who just so happens to fall under his care after Gaetan's brother (who rescued Katherine) is killed. At first, he basically treats her like a dog, refusing to even communicate with Katherine except for one worded commands and hand signals. Katherine is no shrinking violet and balks at this demeaning treatment, and it's safe to say that there's no love lost between this unlikely pair. Gaetan's goal is to drop Katherine off outside of a border town somewhere, but of course things don't go as planned. Basically stuck together, the frost between Katherine and Gaetan eventually thaws enough for them to realize that they have feelings for each other, and they are wed by a Mexican priest. Their love still isn't without its obstacles, of course, but I totally loved the ending and thought it was rather fitting.
Okay, so onto why I loved this work so much. Miss Katherine Grant is definitely one of the main reasons. In an era when women still had little to no rights and were expected to basically stand still and look pretty, Katherine was a total standout. She's used to adventuring in the wild with her father and brothers and would much prefer a pair of trousers to a a corset and skirt, and the girl is a firecracker. She's got a temper and isn't afraid to speak up for herself, although she's got enough common sense to keep her mouth shut when needed. I love that Katherine is a strong character in many ways, but it never feels forced or fake as with some works where the author keeps reiterating how tough and independent a female lead is. She's just really likable and easy to relate to, and as such was a great lead character. Gaetan is equally as interesting in his own mysterious, brooding way, and I love how these two balanced each other out and eventually found true happiness together. Both were essentially outcasts, neither one really fitting in or even wanting to, and they found kindred spirits in one another. I especially liked that neither tried to change the other, instead accepting and loving each other as they were.
This was just an all-around great read with a plot and characters that really grabbed my attention. I will say that the plot unfolds slowly, but I liked the buildup and thought it appropriate given the relationship of Katherine and Gaetan. I'd definitely suggest checking this out!
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