Interesting story and perspective on the Cheyenne Indians as well as the fictional white women in this story who married them. I liked the premise of the book however it was a hard to keep my interest. I had to start and stop it several times after picking this one up from the library.

This book may be fictional, but it feels real. It will impact your emotions in so many ways. It is the third book in a trilogy. It could be read as a stand alone but all three books are excellent reading experiences, treat yourself and read all three. Historical fiction with the emphasis on historical, the stories cover the journeys traveled by the One Thousand White Women who married into the Cheyenne tribe. Their story is......I can't think of an adjective that would do justice to the depths the stories will stir.

This book places focus on the women survivors after the Battle of Bighorn. They banded together and decided to continue to battle for the rights of their Native American family. Against all odds, they made the decision to carry on the hard earned legacy that would continue into today's ongoing struggle for tribal recognition. The stories include some raw language and instances of what today would be called abusive behavior but was accepted as normal in the era. Like I said.....real. This is not light reading. It is all absorbing. I can hope you enjoy the stories as much as I did.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. though the subject matter was really interesting the writing style was not a favorite of mine.

Strongheart was a soft finish for the One Thousand White Women trilogy. This story took a bit of a turn in focusing on the modern day characters for a good portion of the book. Overall Strongheart was enjoyable, but I'm not sure we needed this addition to the story.

This is such an interesting period of American history and I really appreciate the author trying to cover it from a less biased perspective than most Westerns, for example. Unfortunately I can't really say I clicked with the characters and ultimately it was a bit hard to finish.

Jim Fergus is one of my favorite authors. I have a well read copy of 1001 White Women. This third installment in the series didn't disappoint. I love the intricate way in which he weaves historical detail into superb fiction writing. A must read!

Great final book in the series. Truly enjoyed how most of the loose ends where tied up. Very much enjoyed it. Thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange of an honest review

Fascinating !! Women traded to the Cheyenne for horses, taken from penitentiaries and brothels, these women learnt the ways of the Cheyenne. Although sounding a bit preachy, on the whole this book is a fine ending to the trilogy started so long ago.

Strongheart is the final novel in the One Thousand White Women series about the fictitious brides for natives program. In the first novel we meet May Dodd and her cohort of brides with the novel ending with the murder of the women and their babies during a US Military attack on their tribe. In book two we meet Molly McGill, part of a second cohort that was mistakenly sent, and find out what happened to some of the first set of brides. In this third novel we are reintroduced to May and Molly who we both believe to be dead. This story resolves the what happened question for several of the characters and is told via May & Molly's diaries as well as the chapters about two of their descendants that work to tell their stories to the world.

This is an action packed novel where evil characters get their due and women find their place in the world. It is filled with mysticism and Strongheart Women. While this book is required after the publication of Mothers of Vengeance I do not feel like the second and third were required. The first novel was a great story that stood on its own and these were not as good. Most of the book is how did these women who we saw die survive and then them finding their way to each other. My recommendation is that if you have read book two then you need to complete the story with book three since you are left with a cliffhanger but if you have only read book one you can leave it there.

A strong great finish to a fabulous series. I wish I could erase my mind and read all the books fresh. Wonderful historical fiction.

After reading and being gutted by One Thousand White Women, I thought that was it for May Dodd, the Cheyenne, and the other women’s story. Then I noted a book with a gorgeous cover which had me curious enough to check out the blurb. I gasped with delight and a little trepidation to see that it was the final leg in a trilogy which began 20 years ago with the book I had read. While I wasn’t sure if I could jump in on the third leg of the story, I decided to try since book two seems to follow the story of some of the other women. I felt there was more story and the first one simply ended at a good spot so I was glad to see there was more.



Strongheart was a moving and heartwrenching story, no doubt, but it also told of a band women and their small family tribe who showed strength and resilience that was passed down through each generation. I was curious to see what came of May Dodd and Molly McGill’s descendants and did when JW and Molly Standing Bear interacting in an uneasy collaboration to get the journals published. Molly was determined that the record would be kept straight and would hold JW accountable not to take editorial liberties.

But, framed inside their story was the ongoing saga of the Cheyenne white women wives who determined to fight after Little Bighorn and how they determined that their free band would live free and safe from the soldiers. Hardships were aplenty and things got desperate, but love and happiness came with the trials for both May and Molly. These strong women encountered men who valued and respected them for who they were and what they were trying to do. My heart was in my throat so often and the mysterious reveals nearer the end had me curious whether it was all real or the diaries were fabricated. I definitely wanted to believe that such a fate awaited those women who had captured my imagination.

I enjoyed both timelines and was reminded of the modern thread when there were Molly’s remarks in the journals and the intermissions, but the story that had me riveted was that of the women in the past. Living off the land, skirmishes, and growing closer as they survive against great odds, it was only a matter of time before the greater resources of the US Army would take its toll. I did have one big niggle. Once again, the story has some resolution, but also just seems to end. I was left curiosity intact about Molly Standing Bear most of all.



Word of warning, I want to point out that the author wrote the past storyline attempting to mimic description and thinking of people in that historical time period so there will be obvious offensive behavior and words to our contemporary sensibilities. Just as he presented some heartbreaking uncomfortable facts about current day Native American troubles. It is not meant to be pretty and is meant to make the reader see something of the reality for the Cheyenne and other tribes.



So, in summary, this was a story with great impact on my heart and mind. The story is fictional, but has an authentic tone and details about the American Plains, the plains tribes, and historical events. I would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy American History, Native American History, and don’t mind a dab of magical realism in the middle of it.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a devoted campaigner for this series since I read One Thousand White Women ten years ago. I loved the second book in the series, The Vengeance of Mothers. I was very, very excited to hear the rest of the story.

The final book in this series follows the Cheyenne brides who survived the Battle of Little Big Horn. It is an insightful, incisive read that addresses the effects of cultural destruction and assimilation. The descendants of the women who escaped the battlefield have struggled to preserve their traditions and history. One of the 21st century descendants has incorporated that history into her fight against the abuse and disappearance of indigenous women and children.

The questions I had about the fate of the main character from One Thousand White Women were finally answered in this installment. It is an indictment upon the treachery and cruelty of the U.S. government's treatment of indigenous peoples. It is a reminder that their is deep ancestral pain that has shaped the lives and dreams of tribal members for over 400 years. It is a a call to action to acknowledge the roles that manifest destiny and organized religion played in the subjugation and oppression of an entire civilization.

I highly recommend this book . However, it is not a standalone and should be read in chronological order as part of the series.

I loved, loved, loved One Thousand White Women when it came out. I'm not sure what has changed - the world, my taste, or the author's writing - but Strongheart, the third in the series, was just OK for me (as was the second book that I read right before it). I love this time period but the writing didn't work for me because:
-It was confusing with three different POVs (two diaries and the narrator)
-The vast array of characters also made it confusing
I think I would have liked it more if they had just told the stories from the diaries without connecting it to the present day setting.

Jim Fergus has once again captivated his readers with this third installment of the perilous journey of May Dodd and Molly McGill. When I first read One Thousand White Women years ago, I recall how impactful it was, and how I was so entranced with the voice of May Dodd. It was fascinating how incredibly well Jim Fergus wrote from the perspective of a woman. And this impressive voice was still crystal clear in this, the final novel in the trilogy.

The novel is the continuation of a story about The Brides for Indians Program, initiated in 1873 by a Cheyenne chief to exchange 1,000 horses for 1,000 white women in order to create lasting peace between the Native Americans and the American Government. Although fictionalized, Fergus does such an incredible job, that for most of the first novel, I was convinced this transaction actually happened. With real historical figures strewn in, the series is absolutely captivating. The characterization is so well done and the storyline moves along at a steady clip.

I will say that I wasn't as enthralled in the current-day storyline of this particular novel. It detracted from the historical fiction, and only seemed to break up the momentum for me. I must also admit that Strongheart required a lot more suspension of disbelief than the previous two novels.

However, for a historical fiction enthusiast like myself, this series was absolutely fascinating. My favorite, by far, was the very first, and it can absolutely stand alone. So even if you don't want to invest in a full series, I highly recommend One Thousand White Women.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me with this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Strongheart: The Lost Journals of May Dodd and Molly McGill (One Thousand White Women is the third and final book in the series.
Taking place in modern times this is the follow up to the first two books in the series answering some questions of what happened to some of the characters. We say goodbye to some of the characters but also welcoming some new ones in. Despite thing being a follow up it's also a stand alone book.
The journals we read take the reader through the historical settlement of the west.


Pub Date 06 Apr 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Strongheart is the third book in a series by Jim Fergus. I have not read the previous books. I selected this item as I thought the premise sounded interesting. It was interesting enough that I read about of the book before shelving it. I found the book poorly written, irreverent, and not worth the time to finish.

The first book in this trilogy, One Thousand White Women, has proven to be a hard act to follow. It was interesting to reconnect with the main characters and return to the Montana territory of 1876 but this chapter lacked the “hook” that captured my imagination in the first book. The chapters taking taking place in the present day were filled with stilted conversations and distracted from the narrative. The idea of strong, self-sufficient women was appreciated.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc to read and review.

My chest is heavy and I feel raw as I sit down to write my review for the final novel in the One Thousand White Women trilogy. I feel as if I've just said goodbye to dear friends, knowing I will never see them again. The journals of these remarkable ladies will stay with me for a long time.

Strongheart continues to follow the native and white women characters that readers fell in love with in the first two books, including the beloved May Dodd (who did not die after the morning massacre on her village like we were led to believe). Old favorites make their way back into the story and new characters are introduced (I can't tell you how much I loved Chance). The narrative alternatives between the past -through the journals of May and Molly, and the present- through J.W.'s relationship with Molly Standing Bear. I didn't want the say goodbye to these characters, so while the narratives were wrapped up very nicely, it was bittersweet.

The one downfall of historical fiction, I suppose, is that we already know how the big picture ends. The white settlers conquer the last of the native tribes and force them to assimilate into the white way of life or live on reservations in deplorable conditions. This reality is a heavy cloud over the future of those characters who choose to continue their fight against the U.S. government. While I didn't particularly connect with J.W.'s storyline as much as the women's, I appreciated that Fergus used Molly Standing Bear to share the realities of modern reservation life and crimes against native women. I don't think most people are aware of the statistics shared in the novel since it's not often focused on in the press.

I think most readers will be satisfied with how Fergus ties everything together and ends this exceptional trilogy. It pains me to say this, but if I compare it to the other books in the series, this was my least favorite overall for a few reasons. First off, I would say that J.W. and Molly's relationship slowed down the pace of the novel quite a bit. While I liked their story, I think it detracted from what was going on with the other characters. The novel would have been just as good (if not better) with just the usual introduction and epilogue from J.W. like readers were used to in the first two books. My other complaint is that there is a lot of repetition between the two journals. I understand that Fergus might have done this to make the accounts seem more authentic having been written independently of each other, but it got tiresome rereading dozens of pages about the exact same event from the chapter before. In most of these instances, May's and Molly's perspectives weren't different enough to really warrant so much repetition.

Those small issues aside, Strongheart is the perfect ending to such a memorable story. Save it for a time when you can read uninterrupted for hours because you're not going to want to put this down!

*Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The cover of Strongheart first captured my eye. It is stunning. Then, I was drawn in by the words One Thousand White Women. Several years ago our bookclub read this book and loved it. We had such a good discussion. I did not realize there was a second book and now this new book. I was drawn into the story immediately. I did feel at times it was a little drawn out and I also found I needed to reread sections. I think this book can stand alone. I can see myself going back and rereading One Thousand White Women again and following up with the second book of the series which I have not read. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions are my own.

I am thoroughly enchanted by Strongheart, the last book in the One Thousand White Women trilogy, and frankly sad that the lost journals Of May Dodd and Molly McGill have come to an end. I love these powerful, fierce, bright women, as well as the new characters that came along in this book. Full of Native Indian magic, struggles and a whole different perspective on the white man vs. American native conflicts. This last book certainly did not disappoint, I loved every word of it! Thank you NetGalley, Jim Fergus and the publisher for the early e-book edition for review. All opinions are my own.