The "Hatfields & McCoys" feud plays out on The History Channel

(CBS News) Bloody. That's one way to describe part one of the "Hatfields & McCoys" miniseries, which premiered on the History Channel on Monday night.

Starring Kevin Costner, Bill Paxton and Tom Berenger, the three-episode show marks the History Channel's first scripted miniseries.

"Hatfields & McCoys" tells the tale of feuding families following Devil Anse Hatfield (Costner) and Randall McCoy (Paxton), close friends until near the end of the Civil War when they return to their neighboring homes - Hatfield in West Virginia and McCoy across the Tug River in Kentucky. That leads to increasing tensions and resentments that soon explode into all-out warfare between their families - from land disputes to kidnappings.

Monday's premiere episode introduced viewers to the main characters and also sets up the feud along with the killings. It also chronicled the love story between Roseanna McCoy (Lindsay Pulsipher) and Johnse Hatfield (Matt Barr).

Costner serves as executive producer and also performs on the soundtrack with his band, Modern West. Parts 2 and 3 of the series will air Tuesday and Wednesday this week at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Reviews for the series have been favorable, and buzz for its premiere has been building for weeks.

Did it live up to the hype? You tell us. Sound off below.