This is a really hard book to read. This book is like a punch to the gut while simultaneously clearing out brain fog you didn't know you had about colonization and all the ensues with it. I think that this is something we should all read no matter how hard it is emotionally.

In All I See Is Violence, Angie Elita Newell masterfully intertwines the lives of three compelling characters—a woman warrior, a ruthless general, and a single mother—to explore the devastating legacy of stolen land and broken promises in Native American history. The novel spans generations, beginning with the harrowing events of the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn, where Cheyenne warrior Little Wolf fights valiantly to protect her people’s land and culture against General Custer’s brutal campaign. Newell's vivid and heart-wrenching portrayal of these historical events provides a poignant backdrop to the enduring struggles faced by Indigenous communities.

A century later, the story shifts to the Pine Ridge Reservation, where Nancy Swiftfox, a descendant of Little Wolf, grapples with the socioeconomic impacts of this violent history while raising her children. Through Nancy's resilience and struggles, Newell highlights the lasting consequences of colonization and the American Indian Movement's fight for justice. All I See Is Violence is a deeply moving narrative that blends love, loss, and truth, urging readers to confront the shadows of the past in pursuit of healing and understanding. This novel is a powerful tribute to the strength of Indigenous people and a call to acknowledge and honor their enduring legacy.

If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times, I love my women like I love my coffee-- fierce, ruthless, and could make my heart stop. There's something beautiful about generational trauma stories that trace these continued themes and violences across time and space, while at the same time making them personal. By beautiful, I mean the skill and style, not the content. The systemic issues represented here are told with such grace that its affecting. I have only good things to say and I can't wait for more from this author.

Thank you to Greenleaf Book Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read a preview copy of Angie Elita Newell’s fierce and compelling novel All I See is Violence. The story features several different narratives that span nearly 100 years, yet are interrelated. The novel starts out with Nancy Swiftfox’s story, introducing us to her struggles as the wife of an incarcerated man trying to work as a professor and raise her four sons with the help of her father-in-law, George Swiftfox’s father. We also learn that they live on the Rosebud reservation, and it is in the mid-1970s when Dick Wilson’s goon squad reigned terror on the reservation. Nancy and George’s oldest son, Timothy, is a Vietnam veteran who returned from the war with the loss of an arm and some undiagnosed PTSD. To further complicate their relationship, Timothy’s father has been locked up for some time while Nancy works in a college nearly 3 hours away. Timothy seems to have latched on to members of the AIM (American Indian Movement), the group that Dick Wilson’s violence sought to counteract in Rosebud. While both Nancy and her father-in-law grow increasingly concerned about Timothy’s well-being, he ends up traveling with the group of AIM members that occupied the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs in DC. Although seeming to make a statement, the real events had limited impact on policy, and Timothy returns to Rosebud dejected, angry, and further upset that his mother has found a new love interest with a white colleague at the college, Joshua. Newell not only establishes the complications of the main characters, but also paints a rather bleak winter setting on the reservation homes, as Nancy and her children battle rats and poor living conditions. Furthermore, Newell also uses real events and figures from history and the AIM movement (and its violent counterpart, the goon squad) the develop a kind of historical narrative fiction from the last 50 years.

Chapter 2 follows a similar pattern where we meet Little Wolf, a Cheyenne warrior who has lost most of her family, but has become a skilled shooter and is determined to save the remaining members of her tribe from starvation and the forced displacement that seems imminent from the advancing US Army. It is nearly 100 years early, around 1876, and the US government is looking to take over the Black Hills, despite previous treaties securing the land for indigenous people. Little Wolf wants to ensure that her people are not relocated to the Red Cloud Agency, but violence is often the answer from the US Army for anyone resisting this forced relocation. In these alternating chapters, we meet some historical figures like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, while we meet Custer, his family, and other members of the 7th Cavalry in a third alternating narrative that tells the story of the Army’s pursuit of the land and forced relocation from the white man’s perspective. Little Wolf eventually meets with Swift Fox, another warrior who is also refusing relocation and is looking to maintain the land of their ancestors with other warriors like Crazy Horse. Swift Fox is also the surname of Nancy’s husband, George, so we can see that George (and his children, including Timothy) are descended from warriors, and there is a connection among the past and the present in these narratives.

Newell’s use of both historical fact and individuals from history helps to establish the reality of the story, while also helping to establish links between the fight to maintain their land from US Government usurpation and the American Indian Movement of the 1970s. Although I have read a little about both the AIM movement and events like Little Big Horn, Newell’s book made me want to learn more about the figures from these historical events, especially whether some of the minor characters in the story were real or invented for the story. Her writing definitely provides some dynamics for them and imbues them with life. In particular, I was wondering about some of the grabbers and scouts who ended up working more with Custer and the Army, and whether these were real figures. Regardless, Newell’s research and attention to detail with ceremonies like the Sundance, clothing, and weapons provide interesting insight into the life of the People of the Plains. It was also interesting to see how the threat of white encroachment and violence (as well as forced relocation) brought many of the different tribes together to fight a common threat. I found myself more engaged with the Little Wolf chapters more than any of the others. I really enjoyed her perspective and storytelling, as well as her observations and experiences with the Sundance and other ceremonies she participated in. There are some moments of violence when during a ceremony she recalls losing her brother as well as the rape of her mother at the hands of Custer’s men. It’s a pretty brutal scene, but also captures the cruelty and barbarity of the men that Custer led (and most likely influenced). I tended to be the least engaged with Custer-focused chapters, where the perspective was either from Custer or one of the men in his Cavalry (some were his brothers or nephews). I’m not sure if that was the purpose, to kind of see how unlikeable these characters were or to possibly try to understand their motivations or perspectives, but I was wondering why Newell included them in the book. However, Nancy’s chapters were more interesting and engaging than the Custer focused chapters. I felt Nancy’s stress and struggles, but it also seemed like her romance with Joshua progressed rather quickly. I can understand that she neglected her own needs to focus on those of her kids while also trying to stay true to her husband, George, even if he wouldn’t grant her a divorce. One of the most unique chapters is when Joshua somehow convinces Nancy to visit George in prison with him. It’s strange, but I was impressed with Nancy’s response. I won’t spoil it here, but I loved the way Newell navigates this strange encounter to bring readers to an understanding about the lack of options for many indigenous men in the 1970s. I was also a little sad to see that Nancy’s story kind of ended suddenly. The last few chapters focus on the Battle of Little Big Horn, and these were some of the most exciting and compelling chapters in the book, as we see how the Indigenous People created a strategy to attract and eventually trap Custer. We see these experiences from both Little Wolf’s perspective and that of Custer’s men. However, Nancy’s chapters end shortly after her visit to George in the prison, and I wanted to learn more about what happened with the birth of her daughter with Joshua. However, I can also appreciate that Newell may be allowing readers to develop their own conclusions about the continuous struggles that indigenous women face and how they are often the warriors as well, fighting with men to maintain not only their land but also their traditions, culture, and their ancestors. Towards the end of the book, Swiftfox and Little Wolf are talking about the upcoming battle, and Swiftfox says “ ‘Things only die if you forget them,’…His words ring through my soul. I let my family, my ancestors, die because I had lost the courage to remember them.” There were some other lines like this as well as how these stories and tales about our ancestors help to keep them alive. In many ways, this reminded me of Toni Morrison and Beloved, how stories nourished Sethe’s children, and even brought the dead back to life. It seemed like Newell’s stories and narratives also serve a similar function that moves beyond entertainment and focuses on the kind of re-memory that Morrison employs in Beloved. It not only keeps the past alive, but it also honors and nourishes them. However, Newell also helps to show how this kind of generational trauma is passed on through the kind of systemic violence and racism that has been employed by the US government. I really enjoyed this story, and Newell’s writing made me want to learn more about the events surrounding Little Big Horn. I look forward to not only learning more about the past, but also reading Newell’s future work.

ALL I SEE IS VIOLENCE by Angie Elita Newell is an indigenous multi-POV novel that both retells the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn and portrays society at the height of the American Indian Movement in 1972. Told from the perspectives of a Cheyenne warrior, General Custer, and a reservation tribal member, the premise of this book is damn brilliant. However, the execution was sub-par. General Custer’s POV felt flat and a bit fluffy, while the tribal member’s felt untethered at times. I believe this would’ve been better with tighter editing of some extraneous information.

I tried so hard to love this book. I had to DNF at 57%. I don't DNF lightly. There weren't any real problems with this book, but I wasn't even annoyed enough to be fueled into finishing it for a scathing review. I was just bored.
This book has three storylines told during two different periods; I only found the modern narrative to be compelling, and the two remaining voices did not feel authentic (especially that of Custer - I can't see a man of his reputation using the word "dashing" to describe other men, which happened more than once). It was often unclear whose POV was being presented at the beginning of each chapter. I wanted to love this book, but alas, I struggled to connect with it so much that I didn't want to pick it up and was reading out of guilt.

An important historical fiction book on Indigenous peoples, written by an Indigenous author. All I see is Violence opens the reader to heartbreak and horror as we read multiple POVs from Newell's characters. The reader feels disdain, disgust, shock, and a sense of "what the heck is happening?" All I See is Violence will leave you wanting to read more Indigenous books, fiction and non, to find the devastating truth of reality vs. muse.

Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt nicht, wie ich dieses Buch bewerten soll, da ich es aufgrund relativ kurzer Ausleihdauer (ohne Verlängerung) nicht lesen konnte.

This book has a special place in my heart as does the author whose passion about the Native culture and history is portrayed thoughtfully and articulately. Angie has the knowledge of the Native culture due to her own ethnic origin of being Native herself and being a professor/instructor of the Native American History. This is such a difficult topic as people are knowledgeable about it with at least the essential fact that Natives had their land taken from them and those privileged enslaved the Natives on Native page they took. The privileged raped Native women, they killed Native men, and they continued to steal with no remorse. What Angie Elita Newell does is take the facts and provides it in a narrative with great description, intellect that causes the reader to feel present in the story. Thank you to the author for providing Native American history in a way that many will connect with and others will have a more enhanced perspective.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #AngieElitaNewell, #AllISeeIsViolence, #GreenleafBookGroup for the ARC.

This historical fiction novel explores the heart wrenching history of the Sioux peoples and indigenous communities in North america. Through vivid descriptions and well developed characters, the reader is invited to witness all that was taken and to honor the resilience of our ancestors.
Many thanks to Greenleaf Book Group and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the same story that was told in the book The Counterfeiters of Bosque Redondo only this version is through the Native Americans viewpoint rather than historical chronology. Logistically it covers the Sioux Nation rather than Comanches and Apaches but it’s the same colonization scheme

I loved this book. This is horror based firmly in real life experience. This book tells three stories that are interwoven together. The Sioux people are being robbed of the Black Hills that they call home, and are being forcibly relocated. This fiction is based on a true story of the Battle of Little Big Horn and the Pine Ridge Reservation upheaval of the 1970's. I would highly recommend this to readers who enjoy indigenous fiction, historical fiction, and horror all mixed into one.

Three supremely unique voices come together to weave the tale of how the Sioux nation had its land taken, violated, and its culture and spirit stomped on. We read from Little Wolf, a Sioux Warrior, Nancy Swiftfox, a strong but desperate mother, and General Custer, an american general under the thumb of forces much larger than himself. I had some mixed feelings about this book. At times I felt the story was moving quickly and I was bracing for plot-twist-impact, while at other times the narrative really slowed down. It was emotional whiplash on page.

An interesting multi POV spanning different generations within a family.

There was a lot to like about this book and it was very well written and easy to follow. My main issues was I wasn't as investing an all the POVS. I felt like one was more compelling than the others and found myself waiting for that POV and having to stop myself from skimming just to get through the others.

In "All I See is Violence" we learn through the eyes of Little Wolf, a warrior; Nancy Swiftfox, a mother; and General Custer, an american puppet; how the Sioux land is taken by force, how it is violated, and how it loses its essence, since the people who nurtured and loved that land are obliged to live sequestered in what was once their home.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It is difficult to describe the emotional rollercoaster this book produces in you when you read it.
It has some plot twists, I didn't see coming near the end of the book, that made me stop reading because it hurt me, it really hurt me.
This is not a book for everybody, but I think is one we all should read at least once in our lives. It's one of those books that gives you an open handed slap in the face, one of those that cleans the fog in your head and makes you wake up. Wake up to the world, wake up to what happened, and keeps happening all around the world.

SPOILER + TRIGGER TAGS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE READING:
This book contains colonisation, confinement, graphical violence, gun violence, racism, rape, animal death, homicide, suicide.

This book balanced three different points of view that all have very different views of the world. Two of our narrators are Indigenous women, Nancy Swiftfox in 1972 and Little Wolf in 1876, who are connected not only by lineage but in many ways by circumstances. These two female characters are so compelling and they make you care for them and their families. The third narrator is General Custer. It is almost shocking to hear from his perspective how he is determined to murder and displace as many nations and tribes as he can on his war campaigns. It is an uncomfortable thing to read honestly... But it does help understand the conflict and action happening on both sides of the planning and battles leading up to the Battle of Little Bighorn. And in that section particularly, the title does seem to be very fitting.
I enjoyed reading the narration of Nancy in the 1970s and felt like her story line ended too abruptly for me. I wish there had been a little more done to tie up some strings on that narrative.
But overall, I felt emotional throughout this book and it has stuck with me days after reading. I am still picking through how it made me feel and what is showed me.
Thanks you NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press for the ARC.

I was so moved by this book . Angie is an incredible writer and she really brought to life the experience of native people who were forcibly displaced and systemically harmed .

Thank you net galley for the eArc .

I loved everything about this book. Strong Indigenous women are my favorite because I aim to be just as strong as my ancestors. This book shows the hard truths of the community. It’s a great read, especially for those who want to learn more and better understand THE TRUTH.

It’s tough when I really want to like a book and just don’t seem to be able to get interested. I think the writing was fine but I felt detached from the story.

ALL I SEE IS VIOLENCE is a tale of historical and present dark realities, its consequences, injustice, generational trauma and how the past manifests in the present, responsibility versus duty, want versus need, choice versus choicelessness, where the characters are being robbed of their homes, forcibly taken, displaced. In the novel, land becomes no longer a means of home but as a mine for plunder and a battlefield for war.

Newell explores who we are, what we are taught growing up, the things that become our truths even though they may be far from the same for others, where one’s victory is another’s loss; it doesn’t have to be that way, yet, it is, and it has always been.

At its core, the book explores ownership, migration, living with the land, living as part of the land, living on the land, and what it means to be removed and uprooted from it.