2017 North Carolina Historian of the Year2016 nominee for the Sir Walter Raleigh Award for Fiction, Historical Book Club of N.C.- Cox Historical Fiction Award, North Carolina Society of HistoriansThroughout, this novel engagingly presents the traditions and beliefs of the Cherokee and other Native American tribes, as well as historical detail about early Spanish explorers, who aren't often addressed in fiction. - Kirkus Reviews As a fictionalized tale of the historic 16th century confrontation between Native Americans and Spaniards in the new world of North America, this book is recognized for its "glimpses of brilliance..marvelous character, imagery and plot." (Historical Book Club of N.C.) Tawodi ("Hawk") was raised the Cherokee Way in the Blue Ridge Mountains of present day western North Carolina. Tawodi's life begins as Imperial Spain invades North America and, as a young warrior, he encounters the army of La Florida Governor Hernando de Soto. Twenty-five years later as town chief of Cauchi, Tawodi learns of the Spanish forts constructed across the Carolinas into Tennessee by soldiers of Captain Juan Pardo. It will be the Cherokee, along with Catawba and Creek, who challenge these Outsiders and end Imperial Spain's ambitions in North America.