Sandvig’s debut, based on true historical events and people, resurrects a forgotten chapter of American history through the compelling story of Emilie Ferguson, a young woman caught between her Scottish and Dakota heritage. From the outset, Emilie wrestles with her father’s European ideals while staying rooted in her mother’s Dakota traditions. Though alienated in both worlds, she finds solace in her homeland—peaceful mornings in the tipi, festive tribe gatherings, bison hunts, and unique courtship rituals. Nature plays a significant role as Sandvig captures, with sheer sensitivity, the beauty of the Dakota lifestyle. But when the 1851 treaty fails and railroads invade the land, Emilie witnesses her once-serene homeland become a battleground for the bloodiest conflict in Native America: the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War.

With historical astuteness, Sandvig portrays the Dakota revolt as a last stand against years of disenfranchisement and displacement. Readers witness the gut-wrenching aftermath of the conflict—burned settlements and innocent settlers, hanged men, and the gruesome internment of women and children at Fort Snelling. Emilie’s journey—heavy-heartedly leaving her mother to search for her missing father, despite the looming threat of Dakota warriors hunting mixed-bloods, and discovering long-buried family secrets along the way—teems with courage, as she continues to forge her identity and champion justice with an indomitable spirit, amid the violence and grief of losing her loved ones, freedom, and home.

Though certain subplots, such as Paltrey's opportunistic schemes, feel underdeveloped, they underscore the moral ambiguities of war and the selfish exploitation it breeds. More than a story of territorial dispute, this novel delves into the threat of cultural erasure and how injustice fuels hatred. Emilie’s moral dilemma—“But who were the wicked?... Whites who took our land in the first place? Or Dakota warriors who slaughtered innocent settlers and stole our peace?”—resonates deeply, yet Sandvig balances this with an underlying message of cultural preservation, survival, forgiveness, and hope.

Takeaway: Profound tribute to devastating history of the Dakota community.

Comparable Titles: Linda Hogan’s Mean Spirit, Louise Erdrich’s Love Medicine.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A