Customer Reviews

People of the Raven (First North Americans)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I've read almost all the North American books, and inevitably some are going to be better than others, according to the individual reader's tastes. And in book after book, inevitably one gets really familiar with the authors' style and motifs.

This was just so so. The typical Gear themes are there: hot women, stoic wise Leaders, crazy Dreamers whom nobody believes (even though they are Dreamers!) lots of tribal politics and lots of torn guts and acts of war (including rape). Same stuff, different tribe/geographical location/era. I was hoping there would be more discussion of the red-haired phenomenon but the red hair seems to serve mostly as adjectival fodder to describe the Playboy Bunny women.

What keeps me reading these books, even as the plots grow increasingly indistinguishable, is the anthropological factoids and descriptions woven into each one. And the storytelling formula, while no longer novel or fresh, is certain tried-and-true. The Gears are never less than competent--it's just that sometimes their stories really shone (i.e. People of the Owl, People of the Mist). But honestly, the descriptions of "acrid tang of torn intestines" or "she was THE MOST beautiful woman he had ever seen" are getting a little overdone.

I've read most of the previous "People of..." series and loved every one of them...until this one.

There are so many things wrong with this book it's hard to know where to start. But I'll try. Frist, the characters - there was none of the careful character development of past books. In the past I felt as if I knew each of the characters intimately. In this book we're told one is great, one is evil, etc. but the careful development of showing us isn't there.

The dialog is also lacking...to say the least. It's as if this book was written by an entirely different person then the first 11 of the series.

If you want a good read of historical fiction set in North America then start with any of the previous books and skip this one. My personal, all time favorit from these authors is People of the Lake. The series starts with People of the Wolf. You don't have to read them in order though it is best if you do.

I waited several months for this latest book. It was well worth waiting for! This book was as excellent as the ones before it. The history in the books is outstanding. The characters and story line make the book so believable. Anyone who has not read this book or the previous ones I urge you to start. This series of books is the "BEST" I have ever read on the North American Indians. Some of the stories have brought me to tears so vivid are the details in the book. The Gears have made the characters so real that you can almost feel what they went through thousands of years ago. If I had to register the Gears on excellent writing from (1) to (10) I would give them a (13! After finishing the People of the Ravens I am now (and I mean it) anxiously waiting for the People of the Moon!
Kathy Riley
[...]

A friend gave me this book. I rarely read fiction, but have Raven as a totem animal, so I started to read it. I completely lost track of time, reading over 100 pages at a setting and finishing it in four days. It was mesmerizing and addictive, getting caught up in the many characters and plots of chiefs, seers, dreamers, witches, journeys and battles. It's an extraordinary book! Unfortunately, though, there is absolutely no information on or even mention of ravens! Strange, since Raven
was generally regarded in this area as the Creater, it's image was seen on totem poles everywhere, and there were hundreds of stories created about Raven. Still, a highly recommended book!

The Gear's have put together another rivetting book. Another great book in the series of books written by the Gear's. A definate must read. Terrific!!!

Who knew that pre-history could be utterly enthralling?

The Gears kept me up WAY too late devouring a story that races across the
page, twisting and turning with no break. The research was first rate, the characters unforgettable.

The mystery of Kennewick Man deserves to be explored in fiction.
This thoughtful treatment by two expert writers intrigues while filling in the gaps.

A true keeper.

I agree with several earlier reviews. I actually enjoyed the prelude to the book more than I did the book itself. I felt that the plot and characters were redundant, too similar to previous books, but I did enjoy the setting, and, as always, I love the detail the Gears add to their books to make you feel that you are there, living in the envronment, and are experiencing the intimate connection with the earth that so many people have lost today.

I do wish the Gears would give up the heroines with the heart-shaped faces. That has become a personal joke for me, and an "ah, LOOK! She must be a heroine!" snicker. I have a private wager whenever I start one of their books that has to do with the page number where the first heart-shaped face bombshell will show up.

Great books for suppence and intertainment, but at the same time gives you insite on how our ancesters lived. I have the whole series and enjoy reading them over again. Very well researched and written.

I love historical fiction. I have never read any of the historical fiction by this couple until I saw them on Sunday Morning. I thought I'd give them a try, and I was rewarded by great character development and an all too good read.

I have read all of the Gears' past books and was so looking forward to this one. The Gears are without comparison and I adore their books. But I am increasingly disappointed for one reason: the books are beginning to read like cheap romance novels. There are many ways for a good writer to convey a sexual scene and maintain the harsh, gritty intensity without making it read like a grade-B movie. I am not a prude, and I understand that life was difficult for our ancestors. Obviously earlier peoples must have had different ideas and views on sex than we do today. Their world was a very different one than ours. I'm sure rape, slavery etc. were common. What draws me to the Gears' books is their knowledge, understanding and ability to convey to a modern world the rich histories and mysteries of our ancestors. So why do the sex scenes read like a cheap novel? It's how those scenes are described and conveyed that bothers me - exaggerated romanticism, unnecessarily cheap descriptions. I just wish the writing would stay on level with the subject matter. Sorry, Gears, but I did not even finish this new book. You are too good to write like this.