Customer Reviews

Shadow of the Watching Star (The First Americans)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

William Sarabande's "First Americans" series is actually several sets of books related to different generations and different characters. I consider this the 3rd set of characters and this book contains the best story about those characters. The first three books of the series are by far and away the best. The second set is good once you realize that the original characters aren't coming back. This third set really allows the reader to see how myth and history may combine together to create rites and rituals that "people" follow. It is more interesting in these later books how the "truth" of the history gets twisted just enough to make the stories quite different from what really happened. I recommend starting at the first book, "Beyond the Sea of Ice" and reading this series in order, just to get the best benefits and insight out of the stories and the writing style of Sarabande.

I've always liked the First Americans saga, but I have to admit, it can become rather numbing after a while. In this second sequence, especially, virtually all of the characters are pretty much entirely amoral. There are very few with whom the reader can actually sympathize. Still, the imagery is quite vivid--if you've read the others, read this.

OKay I'm hooked on these books and I have to know what happens in the next one. Ban-ya was the only reason I bought Shadow of the Watching Star. The only book that was even slightly happy was the first one, The Sacred stones, where I was compelled by Ta-maya and Masau's love and wondering what would happen to Dankan-eh, but can anyone make up their mind? Cha-kwena loves Mah-ree but he has to follow the white mammoth, to realize he loves her and must return, she means everything to him, for him to return, and he's mad at her again. And what about Kosar-eh he was the hideously scarred one-armed clown of the Red World, now he's a brave newly-healed hunter? Can we have some babies in a book where no one kills them because they were born when the tribe is mourning?! I can barely believe a woman wrote these books.

William Sarabande's "First Americans" series is actually several sets of books related to different generations and different characters. I consider this the 3rd set of characters and this book contains the best story about those characters. The first three books of the series are by far and away the best. The second set is good once you realize that the original characters aren't coming back. This third set really allows the reader to see how myth and history may combine together to create rites and rituals that "people" follow. It is more interesting in these later books how the "truth" of the history gets twisted just enough to make the stories quite different from what really happened. I recommend starting at the first book, "Beyond the Sea of Ice" and reading this series in order, just tog et the best benefits and insight out of the stories and the writing style of Sarabande.

I have just finished reading this book. It is touching, full of irony, and although remindful of Auel, less of your predictable heroic epic. Contrary to the previous reviewer, I think you can make connections with the characters, and find that they change. ie: at first I thought Tsana rocked, but, "my bad" he was a politician. The numerous characters lend excitment... although slightly soap-operaish. However, it is pleasent, and insightful... etc. It sates and yet piques the imagination. I really enjoyed it and now I'm looking for the next one. :D

How many times can the same mistakes be done by the same people in this set? Why do they keep falling for the tricks again? Even the characters seem to be tired of the story. This book plods along with a unsteady plot and strange twists and very few tied up loose ends.I found myself wanting to scream "wise up already!"
They also keep getting close to the new land and turning right around for whatever reason and starting it all over again. This is supposed to be a series about Paleo-Indians comming into the new land, but they haven't even gotten to it yet.
Not one of her best but not her worst.

William Sarabande has written a book, as part of a series, which depicts the earliest inhabitants of the continent.

He has obviously done a lot of research on the subject and is able to convey history in such a riveting way as to keep the reader enthralled with what is happening and to anxiously await what happens next.

If this book is any indication of the series, it will be very interesting to read and own the entire series.