Mystic Visions (Mystic Dreamers) [Mass Market Paperback]

Rosanne Bittner (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mystic Dreamers | Publication Date: August 28, 2007

In Mystic Dreamers, best-selling author Rosanne Bittner began a compelling saga with the meeting of Buffalo Dreamer, a holy woman, and Rising Eagle, a warrior whose powers were unmatched, for he had been blessed by the Feathered One.

 

Now, in a new story sure to enthrall both new readers and devoted fans, Bittner follows Buffalo Dreamer, Rising Eagle, and their children through the great Indian wars and the settling of the West, where, in addition to the risks and rewards of daily life, they and their Lakota tribe must face the influx of white settlers and soldiers into their lands and into their lives.

 

In Mystic Visions, we experience Buffalo Dreamer's increasingly powerful visions of the bluecoats and a coming war. We learn the fate of Little Big Boy and Never Sleeps, and of Never Sleeps's mother, Fall Leaf Woman. And we meet the one who is destined to lead the Lakota People in their greatest trial ever, Crazy Horse!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Picking up where she left readers in Mystic Dreamers, the initial volume in this series, Bittner explores the efforts of holy woman Buffalo Dreamer and her warrior husband, Rising Eagle, to fend off encroaching white settlers in the Lakota tribe's Black Hills. The narrative begins in 1836 and spans more than a decade. The heart of the book is the evolving relationship between the Lakota couple as well as the fate of their children, two of whom succumb in a smallpox epidemic introduced by the settlers. Rising Eagle survives smallpox, vowing to avenge his children's deaths. Also central to the story is an Oglala woman who now lives among whites, named Florence. She once loved Rising Eagle, but married an abusive white man, became an alcoholic and gave her son, Little Wolf, to Rising Eagle to raise as his own. When Lakota warriors attack white settlers traveling across buffalo country, Rising Eagle rapes a white woman, Mary Higgins, brings her back as a slave and also captures the woman's 10-year-old blond daughter, whom he renames Yellow Bonnet. Eventually traded back to the white settlers, Mary leaves Yellow Bonnet behind, as well as a newborn son she bears to Rising Eagle, whom Florence, now married to a kind preacher, raises. Bittner's descriptions of Lakota life are impeccably researched, with impressive scenes of visions and ceremonies. But her Lakota characters are all highly idealized, to the point where Bittner justifies Rising Eagle's brutal rape and kidnapping as a culturally viable tactic of war, further portraying the rape victim as weak, hypocritical and self-absorbed. Most of the settlers are treated as one-dimensional perpetrators, while the Lakota are given full range of emotion and spiritual depth. The result is an unbalanced tale stumbling when describing interaction between white and Lakota characters, but bringing a variety of intriguing Native American characters to life. (May)

Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

On Mystic Dreamers

"Filled with suspense and high emotion, quests and visions, this compelling love story is sure to please Bittner's fans and to win over new converts, especially as sequels are planned." --Booklist

"Beautifully written and structured. . . . [Mystic Dreamers] is the West of blood, tears, and transcendent dreams. --Loren D. Estleman, author of Thunder City

"Rosanne Bittner is one of the best writers of Native American romance stories and Mystic Dreamers is one of her best efforts to date" --Janelle Taylor, bestselling author of Lakota Dawn

On Song of the Wolf

"Powerful, mystical and eloquent. . . . Historical fiction at its very, very best." --Romantic Times

"A gentle work, thoughtful and sympathetic."--Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765359383
• ISBN-13: 978-0765359384
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,130,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Welcome! I'm glad to be in touch with you, especially if you love American history and America's Old West of the 1800's. I hope you enjoy stories about that time period, as well as Native American stories. It's what I love to write and currently I've had 57 novels published over the past 28 years. I am still writing and won't stop until the Good Lord requires it. Please check out my web site at www.rosannebittner.com for all the information you could ask for about my books. You can also visit me on Facebook.

I grew up on westerns. They dominated television - shows like The Big Valley, Cheyenne, Wagon Train, Roy Rogers, The Lone Ranger, Rawhide, Bonanza, Have Gun/Will Travel, The Rifleman, Wanted - Dead or Alive, and of course the famous Gunsmoke, which I still watch today on TV Land as well as on the Western Channel. I love the big western stars like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and James Stewart. When I was a teen my idol was James Arness (Matt Dillon of Gunsmoke) instead of Elvis and the like. My all-time favorite western movies are The Guns of Josie Wales, Pale Rider and Hang 'Em High (all starring Clint Eastwood) - The Searchers, Rooster Cogburn and The Shootist (John Wayne). When I was eighteen and watched How The West Was Won, I knew that some day I would write stories about that glorious time period of America's history. Books that deeply impressed me are A Lantern In Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich, and The Proud Breed, by Celeste de Blasis.

No other nation has exploded in exploration and settlement like America, and to this day our Native Americans still suffer culture shock. When I read Dee Brown's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (a must read for anyone who wants to know the truth about America's natives and how they suffered as we settled the West), I knew I also had to tell stories of America's growth through the eyes of the Native Americans, because so much of what we were (and still are) taught in school is completely slanted and mostly untrue. It certainly was NOT all Indian/bad-guy and Soldier good-guy. Many lies were told, many promises broken, and our government horribly abused the Native Americans. But that is another story, and I try to get some of it across in my books.

I also strive to tell an abiding love story between two people whose love holds them together through the trials and tribulations of settling America's frontiers. It took grit and bravery to head into rugged, unknown territory, knowing you will leave family behind whom you will probably never see again. Free land, gold and a better life were strong temptations for men, as well as for many brave-hearted women. I think the best books you can read for a truthful depiction of this country's growth and its affect on Native Americans is Dee Brown's book mentioned above, and the book Disinherited, by Dale Van Every. Also, the true and powerful history of this country as faced by red man and white alike is cuttingly depicted in any book you can get your hands on written by Allan Eckert.

I have lived in Michigan my whole life, but I truly believe that somehow I have a past spirit who lives or lived in the Old West, especially perhaps Colorado, which I love more than any other place in America. I yearn to be there, and I feel I "belong" in the Rocky Mountains. When I go there I feel so "at home." However, the family business as well as our two sons and our grandsons all live close by here in Michigan. I wouldn't leave them. But my husband and I have traveled the West for years and I have visited just about every place mentioned in my books. I am also very active here with fund-raising community projects and am Treasurer for our Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America. Be sure to look them up on the internet, especially in late winter, for news about our group's annual Retreat from Harsh Reality. It's a wonderful experience for any writer.

As I mentioned above, watch my web site and Facebook for news about any new books coming, and about many of my past titles that will soon be printed in trade paperback and as e-books!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Native-American Romance, April 23, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mystic Visions (Hardcover)

In 1836 on the Great Plains, Lakota warrior Rising Eagle learns from the shaman that he is to marry Buffalo Dreamer, a person belonging to another clan who foresees the future. After winning her hand by accomplishing the deeds set forth by her father and earning her love, Rising Eagle and Buffalo Dreamer marry.

Over the subsequent years, the duo's love for one another and their growing family turn into the only thing that keeps them from deep depression. Wherever they and their tribe lives the Whites follow in masses, polluting the land and water, and bringing the deadly small pox with them. Buffalo Dreamer continues to envision the bleak future even as she predicts the one shining moment in their future, a triumphant last stand victory.

Like its predecessor MYSTIC DREAMS, MYSTIC VISION brings alive a bygone era so vividly the audience believes they are observing events first hand. The entire cast provides readers with a feel of the period, especially the gloom felt by Indians as their way of life seemed destined to be trampled under an endless stream of Whites. The story line is crisp and entertaining. However, the characters with their motives, interrelationships, and the emotional stress countered by happiness make this another triumph for Rosanne Bittner and fans of historical romance.

Harriet Klausner

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You must read this one!, April 24, 2000

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mystic Visions (Hardcover)

Begins in June 1836, The Month of Making Fat. We return to the Lakota tribe. Still the same characters as the first book, "Mystic Dreamers". If you have not read the first book, do not worry, you will still understand the entire book. We see what happens to Fall Leaf Woman and her son, Spirit Walker. We witness casualties of war and some new faces.

This book holds back no punches and is extremely realistic! It will make you laugh out loud, smile in joy, and scream in anger! You will feel the loss of friends from the first book and revel in the revenge of the Lakota in way that only the Lakota could do!

*** This book continues where "Mystic Dreamers" (now in paperback) left off! Just as amazing as the last, this book follows history with great accuracy. A powerful and dramatic story that will leave its readers breathless! I was captivated from the very first paragraph! I felt like crying when it ended because I was begging for more! My only consolation was knowing that "Mystic Warriors" would come out. Here is a series that thousands will collect in hardback versions for their "keeper shelf". I will be one of them! ***

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome and Horrible!, January 23, 2008

By 

MRo (NW Montana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mystic Visions (Mystic Dreamers) (Hardcover)

I just finished reading this one, which is the second book in the trilogy.
I like the fact that even though lots of details are given, it doesn't drag on and on over the unimportant stuff.
I understand the reviewer who gave this book only one star, as the story is a little more graphic than what I am used to for this type of book. Although the savage acts in the book were hard to swallow, I realize that the story is simply meant to be a portrayal. I don't necessarily think we are meant to 'cheer' for Rising Eagle as he rapes a captive. I think the author is simply trying to tell an accurate story. I have to admit, that during that part of the book I was tempted to put it down, but I wanted to see how the captive fared afterwards. The book really is good again after that part, so I'm glad I finished it.
That being said, I DON'T think I will read the third book, for two reasons. First of all, this second book hinted at much, much more violence to come. I know its meant to be a 'history' story, but it's not something I want to dwell on any longer. Secondly, the main characters have so many 'visions' (that always come true), that I can pretty much tell you what happens, what main character gets killed, and how. At best, I'll just go to a book store and read the last chapter, so I can hopefully see how Rising Eagle's children fared.
All in all, I fell in love with most of the characters, and I read the book in one day cause I couldn't put it down, so I feel obligated to give it five stars!