What do You think about The Summoning God (2001)?
This was a Goodreads recommendation, and I really liked it! I have read another book written by the Gears, but for whatever reason I never read another one after that. I wish I had read this trilogy in order (this was the second book), but it definitely hooked me on the series. It is a great mystery, full of red herrings and intrigue set 800 years ago in the American southwest. Very interesting story. My only wish would be that the book just consist of the historical portion, and stop writing every other chapter about modern-day archaeologists trying not to fall in love. I'm going to read the first and third books now. Great recommendation!
—Elaine
The Gears are the best at what they do, which is writing about pre-history based on archeology, creating a plausible fictional story to help us to understand the facts and thus preserve our own Native American history. Kathleen and Michael have been my lamplight in becoming a Native American historical fiction writer. They alone are responsible for peeking my interest in our dim past and have provided a window to that time and place of which they write. If you desire to see the past of our unknown history of the Native tribes of North America, I advise you to make all of the Gear's books your first choice. You can do no better. Kitty Sutton
—Kitty Sutton
Sequel to "The Visitant," alternating a fictionalized event in Puebloan Native American prehistory with the archeological dig of the site. Lots and lots of folklore, emphasis on witchery and the rivalry between the First People and the Made People.I especially like this from the preface:How could such a thriving and sophisticated culture be reduced to a mere handful of survivors? Despite the romantic image that the Puebloan peoples were peaceful farmers, we have abundant archeological evidence to demonstrate that during the thirteenth century the Anasazi were engaged in brutal annihilation-oriented warfare. Massacres, scalping, slavery, torture, and even cannibalism occurred.The vicious cycle that led to the rise and fall of their civilization has become clear as a result of the excavation of hundreds of their towns: the rise began with a warm wet climatic episode that resulted in a period of affluence and scientific achievement. With the affluence came swift population growth. In the process of feeding their people, they exhausted the soil, cut down the trees, over-hunted the animals. Then the climate changed. When their crops wouldn't grow, they expanded their trade routes. When their trade routes were cut, they turned to warfare to keep them open. When they couldn't keep them open, they took what they needed from their closest neighbors. They must have next fought to protect their homes from their victims' wrath, then the fight became a struggle just to stay alive.We leave it up to you to decide where in that cycle our modern civilization stands,but several things are clear: we've over-utilized our resources, the climate is changing, and we've already begun to "fight."
—Kathy Sebesta
