Customer Reviews

Seminole Song

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was never a reader of historical romances so I don't know what made me pick up this book. Maybe it was because of my own Seminole heritage or maybe it was the novelty of a romance between an Indian man and a woman who wasn't white. Whatever the reason, I'm glad that I took the plunge. This wonderful book was such a treat that I'm now an avid reader of historical romances. Vella Munn's characters in "Seminole Song" are so realistically drawn that I feel I really know them. She keeps the plot credible, even down to Calida's inability to fully enjoy physical involvement with the man she loves because she has been raped repeatedly by her master. Seminole culture and history are well integrated into the plot and some very realistic details concerning the life of a slave woman are woven in, too. The author also utilizes the Everglades setting so well that the swamp is almost a character itself. I read this book in one sitting and have gone back to it many times to fondly relive Calida and Panther's story. Despite my now rather large and growing collection of historical romances, I have yet to find a book in the genre that surpasses "Seminole Song." Bravo, Vella, and let's have some more Indian romances with heroines of color.

Panther, the War Chief of a small Seminole band, tries to rescue a
member of his tribe from cruel plantation owner Reddin Croon. However,
something goes wrong and Panther ends up becoming a captive of Croon.
Panther is
freed by a slave Calida.
With his wife Liana away, Reddin decides to enjoy the pleasures of
sex with Calida, who though she loathes him has no choice. His spouse
returns home early and catches him with his pants down. In a fit of
rage, he kill
s her and sets it up to appear as if the Seminoles did it. He plans to
silent the only witness Calida, but she flees for her life. Reddin
tells the military and his influential father-in-law what the Seminoles
did to Lian
a. Calida barely survives the wilderness trek, but fortunately is
found by Panther, who recognizes her as the slave who freed him. As she
heals he allows her to stay with the tribe, though most members object
to her bein
g there.
As the military savagely search for the hostile tribe who brutally
murdered Liana and her driver-slave, Calida and Panther begin to fall
in love with each other. However, the tribe, including several former
slaves (and
even Panther), remain very wary of the "pampered" Calida staying with
them. With the military getting closer to capturing or more likely
killing all of them, Calida needs to prove that she belongs not only
with the tri
be, but at Panther's side forever.
No one describes the mid-nineteenth century Everglades like Vella
Munn. Her latest Native-American novel, SEMINOLE SONG, is a fabulous
historical romance filled with a fast-paced story line, authentic
historical data g
racefully and picturesquely woven into the plot, two great lead
characters, and a fantastic support cast. Fans of American romance will
flock to Ms. Munn's latest Florida entry because as usual she writes a
winner.
...Harriet Klausner

I purchased this book because the plot sounded very good and the reviews were great. But, from a Black perspective as soon as I began reading Seminole Song, I could tell that Ms. Munn was of European descent before finding out who she was. The heroine in the book, Calida, although a slave, had to have European features to be beautiful, especially almost straight hair. Becuase in order for Panther and Gaitor "the Negro" to fall in love with her, of course she couldn't have any traces of African features; even if she was supposed to be a person of mixed ancestry. Although this is a well written book in terms of imagery and historical authenticity, the stereotypes that leaped out at me are too numerous for me to type. Hence the two star rating.

Wow, this book was one of the best interracial books that I have ever read. I loved this book. The author wrote very vividly and descriptively. The blend of historical fact, and fiction were outstanding. Both the scenes between Panther and Calida will leave you breathless and as will the scences involving the cruel slave master Croon. This is a book that I know I will read again and again. Buy it! You won't regret it!

I finished this book in about 2 days. It was fantastic. I learned a lot about the history of the Seminole Indians. It was adventurous and it was a great love story also.

I LOVED this book!! It was fabously written and a wonderful novel. This is my favorite book now and I would rate it a 20 or higher if possible. A must read!!