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Series
The Peacemaker’s Tale follows families and captives living through prolonged warfare among the Iroquoian nations before the formation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The first four volumes centre on Koracoo and Gonda’s pursuit of the child trader Gannajero, while the later books return to the surviving children as adults confronting the expanding power of Atotarho.
The eight-volume sequence develops into a retelling of the Great Peacemaker tradition. Dekanawida and Hiyawento attempt to replace cycles of revenge, village destruction and captive-taking with a political union founded on peace and collective law. The series combines legendary history with fictional families whose losses demonstrate why confederation becomes both necessary and extraordinarily difficult.
Reading order
Odion and his younger sister Tutelo are captured when Yellowtail Village is attacked and its survivors are marched away. Their parents, War Chief Koracoo and Deputy Gonda, follow the raiders, believing they are pursuing an ordinary captive party. The children have instead fallen into the hands…
Winter closes over the forests as Koracoo and Gonda continue searching for Odion and Tutelo. Gannajero moves her captives towards buyers, using fear and separation to prevent the children from organising against her. Inside the camp, the captives realise that rescue may come too late and…
After Koracoo and Gonda recover their children from Gannajero, they learn that Wrass and other captives remain in the child trader’s camp. Their pursuit continues through winter forests where former enemies have also lost children and must decide whether cooperation is possible. A battle-worn Mohawk war…
Koracoo and Gonda have recovered their own children, but Wrass, Zateri and other captives remain exposed as Gannajero’s control begins to fail. The children flee in separate groups, knowing that capture may mean sale into distant communities from which they can never return. Wrass is injured…
Twelve summers after the earlier child-captivity crisis, the Iroquoian nations remain divided by warfare. Atotarho, the feared leader of the People of the Hills, expands his power through terror, captive-taking and the destruction of villages, preparing a conflict that could overwhelm the entire region. Odion, Wrass,…
Famine and warfare spread among the five Iroquoian nations while Atotarho uses fear and spiritual authority to eliminate rivals. Sky Messenger, an ostracised warrior troubled by visions, believes that the coming destruction can be prevented only if leaders who were once childhood companions act together. Old…
Dekanawida’s message of peace is rejected as Atotarho prepares to destroy the Standing Stone People and then dominate the remaining Iroquoian nations. A violent storm disrupts Atotarho’s attack and gives Dekanawida the authority of a prophet, but it does not end the military threat. Dekanawida turns…
Atotarho’s forces advance across the region, destroying villages and attempting to end the movement for peace before it can unite the nations. Dekanawida foresees a great darkness and calls on Baji, Hiyawento and the surviving companions to make one final effort against military domination. The conclusion…