Escape From Elysian Fields by C. Forrest Lundin is a western drama novel set in the aftermath of the American Civil War. After the Union defeats the Southern rebels, Izzy MacCullough is desperate to reach home before his older brother Buster throws a fit and takes their half-sister Lace for himself. However, Izzy arrives as a witness to a scene of destruction as his father has burned down the house and killed himself, his mother, and their maid Satin in the act. Izzy tracks down Lace, and after confirming Doc Allen to be his biological father, proceeds to have a romantic relationship with Lace. As raiders pillage the Elysian fields, Izzy sets off for California with Lace, Doc Allen, and the freed slaves. But his brother Buster is soon on his heels alongside a dangerous woman named Adisla.

Author C. Forrest Lundin's enthralling western drama is bound to appeal to lovers of historical fiction. This is slow-burn storytelling at its finest. Due to the character-driven narrative style, the plot moves deliberately slowly, taking a while to set things in motion. The characters are salt of the earth people who are easy to relate to. Escape From Elysian Fields deftly explores the ways life for freed slaves was still a constant battle for survival even after the end of the Civil War. It also examines how the descendants of Cherokee and White people were considered lower-class citizens in 19th century America. If you're interested in westerns or historical fiction, this is the book for you.

After fighting for the bluecoats in the Civil War, the protagonist, Izzy, is desperate to get to his home in the Elysian Fields before his redcoat brother, Buster. There he hopes to find his family, tell them they are finally free, and reunite with the woman he loves, Lace. But he arrives to find his homestead burned to the ground, his family dead, and Lace in hiding from his brother, Buster, who is only a day behind him and is likely to kill him and claim Lace for himself. No brotherly love, nor paradise here! Izzy hopes to take Lace (and whoever else of his family is willing to go) to California. Does Izzy succeed? Will Lace and others agree to go with him? Or will Buster beat him home? With Izzy and Lace, readers face hardship, hunger, and danger as they seek a new paradise.

Occasionally, when you select a book from a genre you don’t usually read, you surprise yourself by enjoying it. That’s what happened to me when I decided to read the Old West adventure Escape From Elysian Fields by C. Forrest Lundin. There were several aspects of Escape From Elysian Fields that caught me by surprise. The first was the names Lundin ascribed to his characters: Lace, Leather, Satin, Jim, and Dogger, just to name a few. The second was the terms of endearment that Izzy used when speaking with Lace: so charming in an old-fashioned way. The third was what I learned about the beliefs and relationships between the Cherokee nation and black slaves. It was quite an insight. I’ve always believed a good book should not only entertain but enlighten. C. Forrest Lundin has done both by using plenty of revealing and emotional dialogue between his colorful characters. An interesting and different read.