No Man’s Land is the first book in the Hyde Corner Trilogy, a historical fiction series by JB Bergstad. Featuring several generations of two families known as the Hydes and the Burks, the book focuses on clashes of culture as the expatriate British Hydes seek to civilize and classify the inhabits of the wild prairie of Oklahoma. Spanning nearly a hundred years between the 19th and early 20th centuries, this family-driven saga is soaked in blood and vengeance as the pursuit of power and dreams spirals into a tense vendetta, for which the only solution seems to be total destruction of one family or the other.

Part wild west tale and part historical family drama, it took me a little while to get into the culture and varied cast of characters in No Man’s Land, but it was well worth the journey of discovery. JB Bergstad describes the world of No Man’s Land in colourful detail, including tribal warriors, brutal methods of survival in harsh conditions and the trust that must be nurtured between husbands and wives. I found this book to be a well written and well researched account of life at the time, with the exciting added dimension of the rival families and their deadly vendetta. The gradual creation of the monstrous Selmer Burks sets this series up to do wonderful things, and I’d fully expect future books to be even better than the first. Overall, an excellent read for fans of gritty realism, complex social relationships and vivid historical fiction.

Hyde's Corner Trilogy: Book I - No Man's Land by JB Bergstad is an exciting multi-generational family feud saga. This book is the first in a series of three books, and provides the background and introduction to the clan rivalry and feud between the Burks and Hyde families. Set in the last century and spanning several decades, we learn how the Burks family migrated in search of a better future and settled in Oklahoma. However, shortly after that bitter rivalry and enmity arise with the well-to-do Hyde family who are already settled in the area. This leads to several skirmishes and quarrels between the two clans, and the Burks family suffers some severe losses. Selmer Burks, the youngest of the Burks family, grows up with these memories and plots revenge. The boy, when grown, becomes the sheriff of Sundowner County in Oklahoma. However, old feuds are still alive and, with revenge in his heart, Selmer becomes what some might consider a ruthless monster. This is a story of vengeance and what happens when the old feuds of yesterday affect the people of today.

Hyde's Corner Trilogy: Book I - No Man's Land by JB Bergstad is an exciting tale and gives a glimpse into the life and world of the old, untamed West. I thought the character of Selmer Burks is superbly drawn and although he does things that are “wrong”, I couldn’t help but sympathize with him at times. The plot is engrossing and the writing style makes for a fun and exciting read. I would definitely like to read more about these families and what happens next in future books of the series.

In Hyde’s Corner by J.B. Bergstad, No Man’s Land is the place where families are striving to create a good life. Among them are the Hyde and Burks families, who both have similar dreams of success and happiness. Mathilda and Silas Burks have come to No Man’s Land all the way from Tennessee. They have a family dream and they are going to make it happen, no matter what. Cedric and Jared Hyde are here on a vendetta. They come from the land of the Queen and they want to create the same British aristocratic system here in No Man’s Land. They are ready to use any means necessary to get what they need, even if that means they will have to kill a person or two.

Just as soon as the issue is raised, conflicts are ignited. They escalate so much that Jared’s first born son is killed in it. The death of the little boy marks the beginning of a rivalry that is going to end with the lives of all the Burks. The Hyde family believes that they have finished the Burks, but one of them still remains. Selmer Burks is alive. Will Selmer Burks keep the memory of his family’s blood alive in his mind? Will he take revenge? Or will he become a victim of the Hyde family’s vendetta?

J.B. Bergstad did a great job with Hyde’s Corner. The story was hair raising and terrifying. Jared is a mean man, so you cannot feel sympathy for him, nor can you feel any sympathy for Cedric, but at least he tries to reason with him. Nevertheless, the novel was pretty good. I enjoyed it immensely.