Synopsis:
The most highly decorated Native American in the history of the United States Cavalry, Jolon Winterhawk is a combat veteran of countless bloody skirmishes during the American Civil War. He’s a man of honor, struggling with sworn allegiances to two different nations-the country he’s sworn to protect, and the tribe he’s promised to defend.
During a top-secret mission to escort a military gold train through Oregon’s rugged Cascade Mountains, Winterhawk emerges as the sole survivor of a large-scale ambush. Duty-bound to complete the assignment and honor the sacrifices of his fallen comrades, Winterhawk makes the fateful decision to personally deliver the precious cargo of gold.
While Winterhawk embarks on a treacherous wagon trip across miles of dangerous wilderness, an aerial unit from the Army Balloon Corps has been dispatched to locate the missing train. Soon, the aeronauts seize upon a diabolical opportunity-stealing the gold for themselves.
Outnumbered and outgunned, Winterhawk soon finds himself in the fiercest battle of his life. But he quickly discovers that man is not his greatest enemy. Because there’s something else lurking deep in those woods. A monster of myth, a horrifying creature of enormous size.
Review:
If you’ve ever read any of my reviews, you know that going blind into a book is what I do best. The author David Buzan is an incredible supporter in the indie community, and I have heard so many wonderful things about his book. I devour audiobooks, so I scooped this one up.
Except, this book scooped me up and carried me through the wildest, harrowing events.
Jolon Winterhawk is a Native American in the United States Cavalry. When an escort mission goes horribly wrong, Winterhawk finds himself in the midst of unthinkable events. He’s the only survivor of a train transporting gold. A lot of gold. And he’s determined to get the gold to its destination, even if it means doing it alone.
First, we have a brilliant historical fiction that I highly enjoyed. I grew up in Virginia, where you couldn’t throw a rock a couple of feet without hitting a sign displaying history on the Civil War. Experiencing a story based on that time period was not only familiar but enlightening. I learned some fun tidbits while embarking on this journey with Winterhawk.
Winterhawk is a fierce character with a lot of heart. He fights hard, and he loves his family hard. One of the driving forces behind his actions throughout this heated adventure is that his family’s safety is at stake. Not only is he tough, driven, and an incredible husband and father, but his internal dialogue is quite funny at times.
This story was non-stop action, with only a few moments of introspection placed at just the right times to remind the reader why we are fighting so voraciously. Just when Winterhawk escapes one conflict, something else arises as an obstacle. And every plan he makes to get out of situations ends up flopping.
One of my favorite things about this story was the gruesome detail Buzan provides for the gory scenes. Sometimes, deaths and injuries can be written in cliché ways, but not in this tale. Buzan does not hold back on these descriptions, and while they are not too lengthy, they are described well, painting a perfect picture of brutality.
While Winterhawk faces many adversaries, something lurks in the woods that is far scarier than the idiotic, small-minded foes he tries to escape from. The prologue offers an ominous glimpse of the creature Winterhawk meets later in the book. While never fully explained, Winterhawk compares it to something from his culture called the Nu’numic. These scenes were deeply suspenseful and terrifying as the Nu’numic tore through men like butter and hunted Winterhawk.
I liked that Winterhawk, though he was the main character, wasn’t portrayed as some sort of superhero. Sure, he had a lot of skills from his time at home and his military training, but he wasn’t invincible.
The Native American representation in this story is key. They say it’s important to know history so that it doesn’t repeat itself. In the Lair of Legends provides a great reminder of the prejudice of the time while offering a glimpse at a rich, strong culture.
To place In the Lair of Legends into only one genre is a mistake. This book spans many, making it the best historical action horror of its time. If you enjoy Westerns, cryptids, action, or horror in a historical setting, this one is for you.
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