The Estelusti Trail — Roy V. Gaston

AWARD WINNING AUTHORIt is Florida in 1835 during the time that would come to be known as the Trail of Tears. Andrew Jackson's army is on the march to enforce The Indian Removal Act. The Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek and Choctaw have already been marched to the western territories beyond the far Mississippi River. Only the Seminole and Estelusti, the descendants of centuries of escaped slaves, resist.Estelusti leader John Horse and Seminole chiefs Osceola, Alligator and Wild Cat fight back. Bloody ambushes fill the swamps of west Florida and slave revolts leave the east coast sugar plantations in flames.Seen through the eyes of Pete Horse, a fourteen-year-old Estelusti boy-warrior, the Second Seminole War rages. In vicious, desperate jungle warfare from the Cove of the Withlacoochee to the shore of Lake Okeechobee, the Estelusti and Seminole frustrate and defeat the American generals time after time.After each defeat, a new general with a larger army comes, slowly forcing the defenders deeper into the treacherous Everglades. Facing annihilation and enslavement, the Estelusti must fight to the bloody end.Praise for Beyond the Goodnight TrailA wild and thrilling, offbeat ride through a rough Texas and New Mexico landscape . . . Bigfoot Wallace, Bass Reeves, Britt Johnson, and all the legendary characters of the West are here. This tale of adventure, bloodshed, violence, and unlikely friendships in the old West should win Gaston plenty of fans. —Booksiren rates it: AmazingA captivating, frequently philosophical page-turner that delivers a visceral portrait of the Wild West —Kirkus ReviewsThe world building is wonderful . . . in a setting that is not just rough but lawless. Beyond the Goodnight Trail is captivating and written in elegant prose. Rating: 5 Stars Reviewed by —Ruffina Oserio for Readers' FavoriteThis action-packed Western is a gift that keeps on giving...It's been years since I read a traditional Western, and this one surpasses all expectations. Rating: 5 Stars —Joelene Pynnonen The Independent Book ReviewVery atmospheric . . . an exciting storyline about trust, honor, and valiance in this classic western. Beyond the Goodnight Trail reminds us of the adventure a good cowboy story can bring...this western novel will please readers looking for tension, adventure, and, of course, cowboys. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars —The Book Review DirectoryI would certainly recommend Beyond the Goodnight Trail to fans of classic westerns . . . plenty of action-packed events to keep you on the edge of your seat. Rating: 5 Stars —K.C. Finn Editorial Book Review for Reader's Favorite