Fire Cloud [Paperback]

Cassie Edwards (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 7, 2001

From the New York Times bestselling author of Midnight Falcon comes a new Indian romance set in the lush expanse of the Great Plains-an extraordinary tale of divided loyalties and passionate hearts...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A so-called Indian romance, this saccharine tale stretches the bounds of the believable as eight-year-old Janelle Coolidge, the proper daughter of an affluent family, and 10-year-old Fire Cloud, a Chippewa adopted by a group of Missouri Lakotas, fall instantly in love when they momentarily glimpse each other from a distance. Fifteen years later, they meet again when Fire Cloud, now a handsome young warrior, brings his deaf and mute younger brother to visit a Catholic orphanage run by Janelle's aunt, Sister Mary Ann. Janelle, now a beautiful, gently raised young woman, has fled to the convent to prevent an odious marriage arranged by her widowed father. Janelle and Fire Cloud quickly renew and consummate their love, meeting only acceptance from Sister Mary Ann and the Lakota tribe. Janelle's father, however, violently opposes their union, and he concocts a harebrained scheme to abduct Janelle and hold her prisoner until she promises to forget Fire Cloud. A minor plot involving Fire Cloud's brother and his Lakota friends lends some depth to this sweet bit of fluff, but Edwards's (Passion's Fire, etc.) simplified portrayal of life in 19th-century America, coupled with a ham-handed plot and cartoon-like villains, does little to enhance this novel's appeal.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Signet; Regular Print/Single Titl edition (November 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451204565
• ISBN-13: 978-0451204561
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,337,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars BUY USED!!!, November 9, 2001

By 

"curmudgeonii" (Ogden, UT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fire Cloud (Paperback)

I save books. I have different shelves for bathtub books, entertaining me while the husband is watching 'The Simpsons' books, cheering me up books, etc., etc. I'm very forgiving as to place, position, and costume changes. This is the very first book I've EVER thrown away. And it wasn't a saunter past the ashbin. This was a 23-footer. No net. I know the author is popular, which is why I bought her book in the first place. But I don't really understand why she's so popular. Unless there are many more devotees of really bad writing, intrusively poor grammar, lame plot lines, sloppy editing, and shallow characterization than our nation's literacy rate would indicate. Buy used, and for heaven's sake, throw it away. There's really no excuse to promote illiteracy.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is insulting to Indians with its lame stereotyping., April 27, 2005

By 

Nikki "Loves good books" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fire Cloud (Paperback)

As a Native American Indian born and raised on the Reservation, I found this book insulting. It is filled with every wrong stupid stereotype that has ever been written about my Indian ancestors (who were Lakota). Not only is Ms. Edwards NOT "the master of Indian folklore & history" as her book proclaims, but Ms. Edwards obviously has NO IDEA of true Native American culture including Sacred traditions & celebrations. The so-called 'history' of this book is just as fictional as everything else. The plotline isn't plausable; not in the 1800's. Indians appear stupid judging by the lame dialogue she has written. The writing itself is infantile; more the work of a grade-schooler with very poor English skills. This is the worst book I have ever bought. I only paid a .25 and the book isn't worth that much.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I'd rather read a text book, January 2, 2003

By 

Clara (New York State) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fire Cloud (Hardcover)

There are so many talented writers out there you shouldn't have to waste time on this book.
It is very rare that I dislike a book as much as I do this one. The characters in this book are unrealistic and have no motivation, add to that the plot is so dull I'd rather try reading a textbook.