It Wakes in Me [Paperback]

Kathleen O'Neal Gear (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 11, 2006

According to the tradition of the Black Falcon People, each person has three souls: the eye soul, which stays with the body forever, the shadow-soul, where all evil is leeched and shed at death, and the reflection-soul, which lives on among the Blessed in the Land of the Dead, pure and clean. But on rare occasions, a shadow-soul can sneak into a living person's body to commit hideous crimes.

Sora, the High Chieftess from the Black Falcon Nation, has been plagued with blackouts and fits since her seventh winter. As her world went dark, two gleaming eyes burned to life inside her. She named these occurrences the Midnight Fox, and remembered nothing after them. Now accusations are being made against her by rival clans. She has been accused of seven murders, including the murder of her friend and Loon People War Chief, Skinner. With villages rallying against her, and plagued with this terrible spirit illness, she looks for healing of her soul and mind, the strength to lead her people, and the courage to save her own life.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Accused of multiple murders, drugged High Chieftain Sora has been spirited off to the village of their hereditary enemies in the hope that their most powerful healer can reunite her three souls through a series of erotic soul-curing ceremonies. Meanwhile, the High Matron of the Black Falcon Nation grapples with the demands of certain elders on her Council to wage war on yet another group, the Scarlet Macaw People, in order to wrest from them an enormous fortune in jade. Underlying it all is treason at every level and a sinister plot to overthrow their clan's leadership under the guise of recovering hostages from the Loon People. On a more personal level, there's Wink's concern for the well-being of her friend Sora, and Gear's intriguing exposition of the generosity the prehistoric people she envisions extended to the mentally ill. All combine to create a multilayered, complex plot with lushly evocative prose and darkly erotic passages as Gear continues the Florida-based prehistoric saga that began with It Sleeps in Me (2005). Lynne Welch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Once again, Kathleen O'Neal Gear has brought alive with extraordinary vividness and realism the lives of the first Americans in her splendid novel, It Wakes in Me. I read this dramatic and haunting novel in one sitting. Gear is more effective than any time-machine in transporting the reader back to the vast, beautiful, and unspoiled world of prehistoric North America."--Douglas Preston, New York Times bestselling author of Tyrannosaur Canyon

"A tale of sinister passions . . . Suspenseful . . Darkly erotic . . . Spicy."--Romantic Times Book Club Magazine on It Sleeps in Me

"Readers will appreciate the strong female characters and the powerful role women play in the intriguing world of the Black Falcon nation."--Juliet Marillier

"Extraordinary....Colorfully integrates authentic archaelogical and anthropological details with a captivating story replete with romance, intrigue, mayhem and a nail-biting climax." -Library Journal on People of the Owl

"Gripping plot, lots of action, well-developed characters, and a wealth of authentic historical facts."---Booklist on People of the Masks

"Simple prose brightened by atmospheric detail sweep this fluid, suspenseful mix of anthropological research and character-driven mystery to a solid, satisfying resolution."
---Publishers Weekly on People of the Mist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books; 1st edition (July 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765314827
• ISBN-13: 978-0765314826
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,409,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kathleen O'Neal Gear is a former state historian and archaeologist for Wyoming, Kansas, and Nebraska for the U.S. Department of the Interior. She has twice received the federal government's Special Achievement Award for "outstanding management" of our nation's cultural heritage.W. Michael Gear, who holds a master's degree in archaeology, has worked as a professional archaeologist since 1978. He is currently principal investigator for Wind River Archaeological Consultants.The Gears, whose First North American Series and Anasazi Mystery Series, are both international as well as USA Today bestsellers live in Thermopolis, Wyoming.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This story seems to be getting better and better by the moment., December 29, 2006

By 

Jenny J.J.I. "A New Yorker" (That Lives in Carolinas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: It Wakes in Me (Paperback)

This was another amazing book by Kathleen O'Neal Gear. "It Wakes in Me" quickly picks up from her previous book "It Sleeps In Me," which I'd enjoyed just as much. If you're not familiar of this saga it's really focus on Sora, the High Chieftess from the Black Falcon Nation. She has been plagued with blackouts and fits since her seventh winter. As her world went dark, two gleaming eyes burned to life inside her. She named these occurrences the Midnight Fox, and remembered nothing after them. Plagued with this terrible spirit illness, she looks for healing of her soul and mind, the strength to lead her people, and the courage to save her own life.

In this book we continue on Sora and is now suspected of a series of murders, but thanks to the blackouts she suffers, she cannot fully defend herself against the charges. But when she's abducted by the Loon People (so that she may be held accountable for these murders), she's placed in the custody of the kindly priest Strongheart, who, through the use of wisdom and medicines, helps Sora discover the truth about herself and her past. Was she really responsible for the death of her father? Did she really kill Skinner, the Loon People's war chief? Were "wandering souls" responsible for these murders, or was it simple malfeasance? These are the questions Sora must find the answers to if she is to clear her name and find the strength to lead her people.

After reading this book it had help me piece together some of the question that had left me hanging from her previous book at the same time creating new ones which will hopefully be answered by her sequel. Kathleen continues on giving the readers colorful atmospheric description of the Florida panhandle while maintaining full and interesting cultural facts relevant to the time and region. Her story won't be complete by providing us plenty of intrigue as the plot unfolds, and spice up moments here and then with steamy, erotic passages. This book offers a strong, accessible middle volume of a projected trilogy. I highly recommend this book to those who are following up on this story and for those who are curious.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read, January 9, 2007

By 

Makeda "Grandmother" (Houston, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: It Wakes in Me (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this sequel to 'It Sleeps in Me' and look forward to the next book in the series. The book is fast-paced and holds your interest to the very end; leaves you wanting more.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of Kathleen O'Neal Gear's best novels ever, November 12, 2006

By 

Darriel D. Kumbier - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: It Wakes in Me (Paperback)

This is the 2nd of 3 in this series and if book 3 is as good as book 2...
Kathleen has a gift for storytelling. You almost feel like you are there as you turn each page.