Tim Duff (verified owner) – 11 January 2022

Brilliant, hard to put down, and life-changing read!
Absolutely loved this trilogy, easily some of the best books I have ever read. Never have I learned so much from reading with an incredibly well-written and fascinating storyline.
In the first book “Tides of Kawhia” the main character Rou is young, in the 2nd book “Pathways to Taranaki,” Rou is in his prime, in the third book “Shadows of Kapiti”, Rou is aging in years, and with it comes his wisdom. So the trilogy is sequential throughout Rou’s life.
Although Rou is a fictional character, the way he lives is well described in Tom's writing, and it's based on four decades of research into the old ways of Moari at the time. You will learn how they lived, and sustained themselves like catching and growing food, and how they travelled and fought in wars. The incredible thing is that all the events that happen in the book are believed to have happened, as those stories have been passed down through generations and now thanks to Tom have been documented.
These books are true treasures that should be shared and read by everybody who wants to get a better understanding of Maori way of life around the time that Europeans started visiting and then settling in NZ.
I found the way Tom describes detail in his book to be exceptionally accurate, for example, sea fearing. I've spent a lot of time on the water paddling different Waka and Tom nails the description of what it would be like. Some people might find the Moari names used in the book tricky but what is brilliant is Tom has put a map and an index in the book so you can refer to them when you need clarification.
Truly a masterpiece !! If you like these books you should also read Tom’s book “Irish Convict”, I was totally blown away by this book, way better than I expected. It's the same period as the trilogy but this time the fictional character is Irish. Over about a 15-year period he is living with Moari and you gain even more understanding of how they lived at the time.
Fascinating insight into how Europeans were able to settle here in NZ and why and how the treaty was formed.
Incredible read! Should be read in schools as part of the history curriculum, which would make learning fun! Thanks, Tom O’Conner you're an absolute legend in my mind for producing these works. I can't wait for the fourth book, when Rou is old???