Maybe it's just because I like owls, but I actually really enjoyed this book in The First North American series. While it did reference previous books, it gave enough background that it isn't necessary to read it in order, this book can be a stand alone.Mud Puppy, later known as Salamander, has always been a strange child. He prefers to be at one with nature rather than achieve any sort of prestige. So when he is thrust into a leadership role after his brother and uncle die he knows he must tread carefully. He has enemies on all sides, and even his wives don't want to see him succeed. He is also caught between two power beings who want to use them for their own ends. Salamander's life is no longer his own.Salamander has the quickest growth of any character that I've seen. He's smart, thoughtful, and tries to do what is best for the community rather than himself. Which makes him special, as most people think of their own personal gain. Unfortunately it also makes him a bit unbelievable. People are naturally selfish and to be so pure in his intentions, while possible, just doesn't seem that likely. His three wives are all a strange bunch too. They don't particularly like him but then again they all have their own agendas. I actually found them to be very believable as they all had something they wanted out of life and would do anything to achieve. Then there are the "bad" guys, they too are just people who want a little bit of power and to be in a leadership position.While this book covered over a year it didn't really seem like it had that big of a span. It was telling the story of Salamander's life and it meandered through it. But not at so slow of pace that it wasn't interesting. You genuinely wanted to know what was going to happen and how he was going to get himself out of the fix he was in. Although, truthfully, I was a bit disappointed by the ending. There was a lot more about the people's actual culture in this book too, from how they wore their clothing to what they were eating. There usually is a little detail in the other books, but not to the extent that this one had. I appreciated learning a little more about how Salamander's people lived.As I've said before, I think these books get better as they go along. I'm almost disappointed that I'm nearing the end of the series.People of the OwlCopyright 2003598 pagesReview by M. Reynard 2014More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
The People of the Owl is another volume in a series of historical novels depicting the lives of pre-Columbian Native Americans. This tale goes way back 3500 years to the time of the mound-building culture of the Lower Mississippi Valley. Specifically, the authors set their story at Poverty Point, a major archaeological site in Louisiana, which in its time must have been one of the largest settlements in the New World. Author W. Michael Gear is a well-respected archaeologist, and the fictional work is based on sound research (a bibliography of which is provided.)The story revolves around Salamander, a young man chosen by spiritual powers to a pivotal role in determining the future of Sun Town and its whole society. He struggles to keep peace between warring factions and to keep the uneasy balance among clans that make their way of life possible. As the story moves along we meet a few memorable characters, good and bad, including the several wives and other relatives Salamander must deal with. In a time before organized agriculture, it is amazing that these hunter-gatherers were able to build the tall mounds and other earthworks at the heart of their city. The plot suggests one turning point in their survival, stressing the importance of trade, cooperation, and obligation within and without the city. Although the book devotes a lot of space to pseudo-metaphysical discussions between totem animals and spirit beings, and seemingly much of consequence occurs in dreams, perhaps the authors can be excused for such wordiness. A certain amount of this is necessary for the reader to fathom the minds of the native people, to understand their lives and to what extent they were guided by their perception of supernatural goings-on.Likewise, not everyone will appreciate the lengthy and frequent passages of description, but I found the cultural references informative and they helped me picture the characters and the setting. Furthermore, the vivid description of the swampy lowlands, the dense forests, the colorful and sometimes dangerous animal life, made the Lower Mississippi backwaters come alive for me. I especially liked the scenes depicting the characters’ time (much of it) spent in canoes. I think the authors must have paddled a few strokes in their time.
What do You think about People Of The Owl (2004)?
This is a more recent offering of the Gears set in Southeastern America about 3000 years ago. A young boy, Salamander, is thrown into the position of Speaker of his clan and the council through the tragic death of his brother and the political manipulations of another clan speaker. Inheriting his brothers wives and a woman who is a sworn enemy of his people Salamaner must negotiate his growing affinity with the spirit world and the earthly ambitions of the people around him. The Gears tell this tale with a better sense of depth and skill than the previous works of theirs I've read. Though it is still packed with information for the sake of it which is useful to someone researching an area sparsely written about, the characters had more depth and they created a moving and interesting story as a result.
—Kristin Gleeson
Reading People of the Owl, you can almost feel the sweat drip down your neck and smell the mud as you turn the pages. This story is set down in the area of modern day Louisiana, in the murky swamps and bayous. It tells the tale of Mud Puppy, a 15 summers old boy and the struggle for his souls between Masked Owl, who we know as Wolf Dreamer, and his twin brother Many-Colored-Crow, also called Raven Hunter. tDeeper in the swamps, a young woman named Anhinga fights her own personal demons in her dreams. After witnessing the deaths of her younger brother and several young warrior friends at the hands of Mud Puppy’s people, she vows revenge on those in Mud Puppy’s home, known as Sun Town. She plots with her uncle Jaguar Hide to come up with a way to destroy their enemies. tAt the same time, Mud Puppy, now called Salamander is thrust head first into manhood after the death of his older, charismatic brother who was also the new clan speaker. Salamander takes his place as speaker for their clan despite his lack of experience. With this new role, he inherits his brother’s wives, Pine Drop and Night Rain, who make married life miserable for him. Seeking solitude and guidance from clan matters and his annoying wives, Salamander comes to know Masked Owl and Many-Colored-Crow as well as Sun Town’s healer, the Serpent. With the help of the Serpent, Salamander dances with the One and sees how the future will play out for his clan, rivaling clans and his own family.tAnhinga arrives at Sun Town, plot in hand, to secretly get revenge by marrying into Owl clan, more specifically, Salamander. Plotting the whole time of her marriage with her uncle, Anhinga finds herself caring for Salamander but still despising the council. Salamander is still torn between Masked Owl and Many-Colored-Crow, each showing him glimpses of what the future holds if he picks one to commit his soul to. He dances the One again and meets old Heron, who offers advice and guides him on a path on how to handle the twins.tAs you keep reading, you can almost feel the mosquitoes landing on your arm, giving you gooseflesh as they land, but really it’s the story and the secrets that surround this ancient site and the mysteries it holds. Read on about this city and its characters Salamander, Anhinga, and the rest of the clans as their future unfolds in Salamander’s mind and as power once again has its way with the Dreamer and those around him.
—Katie Rhodig
This is the first book I've read by this author, and wow, it was excellent! The plot was fast paced for a pretty long book (I do love long novels). The characters were well developed and intriguing, although it was hard to remember who was who sometimes because of the strange Native American names. The book was educational without being boring and too detail specific, like some books relating to this time period. I really liked the ending, although it wasn't especially a happy one. I would recommend this author's books and plan on reading more from her.
—John Strassel
