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leahjanespeare's review against another edition
4.5
I learned a whole lot from reading this book and I think it's a really solid foundation for Southwestern history, especially if you live here. While the subject does angle heavily into taking Kit Carson off the pedestal, I think it's very well-rounded in the history of other people and groups of people in the southwest as well. Honestly, I didn't know anything about Kit Carson going in, so I had nothing to be dismantled. I just assume nowadays that old dead white dudes are terrible, and 95% of the time I am proven right.
At first I was reading bits of this between other books because it's quite the brick, but then I found myself intentionally continuing to read it as my main book because I was so interested in this history. Sides writes with intentional care in representing native tribes such as the Dine (Navajo) and Ute. He reveals quite a complicated web of inter-tribal relationships, as well as the dynamics between Mexicans, the French, and of course, the United States. It was all very messy and violent and horrible, but important stuff to read about. Highly recommend.
At first I was reading bits of this between other books because it's quite the brick, but then I found myself intentionally continuing to read it as my main book because I was so interested in this history. Sides writes with intentional care in representing native tribes such as the Dine (Navajo) and Ute. He reveals quite a complicated web of inter-tribal relationships, as well as the dynamics between Mexicans, the French, and of course, the United States. It was all very messy and violent and horrible, but important stuff to read about. Highly recommend.
jonahbarnes's review against another edition
Another fascinating American history. A good read.
lanid's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Genocide, Murder, Death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, War, Child death, Gun violence, and Animal death
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Medical content, Gore, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry
tea_tomes's review against another edition
5.0
One of my favorite books! Such an great way of writing a biography as a story!
denverluttrell's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic account of Kit Carson's life and how the west was brutally conquered.
nderiley's review against another edition
2.0
Lots of interesting facts, but the tale follows a number of story lines making it difficult to get into if you don't have a lot of time to devote to it. It reads a little more like a history than I prefer out of this genre but still a decent book