Lindsay McKenna’s latest work centers on a Cherokee tribe
in the Sierra Nevadas, and a ceremonial pipe - the
Storm Pipe. The Storm Pipe is incredibly powerful, and
can be harnessed for deadly purposes. When the pipe is
stolen, the main characters come together for the
sole purpose of retrieving it before it is used to
harm again. The book is so incredibly focused on this
aspect that it left the characters
only superficially developed, and their supposed
journey to love only passably interesting.
Dana was to inherit the Storm Pipe from her mother.
But Rogan Fast Horse murdered her mother, the guardian of
the pipe, and somehow used it to kill the vice
president of the United States. Dana, having fled the
reservation to mourn the death of her mother, is
called upon to retrieve the pipe. She has just a few
weeks to train in order to confront Rogan. Former
Delta Force soldier - and psychic - Chase Iron Hand is
brought in to prepare her to fight Rogan, and get the
pipe back.
What I liked most about the book was the complete
focus on Native American culture, including main
characters who are both Native American. They are not just
Indians by birth, they are completely committed to maintaining
and sustaining their way of life, including their
complex traditions. The Storm Pipe is an important
part of this tradition, and Dana and Chase are
intensely committed to ensuring its return. Ms. McKenna
is clearly knowledgeable about Native American
culture, and uses this knowledge to expose the reader
to a culture most, including this reviewer, know
little about.
However, this book suffered from a few major issues,
the most prominent of which was the complete lack of
any development of character development for its leads.
As I read this book, I found myself asking many
questions about Dana and Chase, questions that never
were answered or were addressed in such a superficial
manner that I was never convinced that they were in love.
I applaud Ms. McKenna’s foray into this subject area.
Not very many authors come across as knowledgeable and
credible as she does in this novel. However, I do read
these books for the romance, the process of two people
falling in love, their trials, tribulations, and
ultimately their redemption. The author does a poor
job writing a balanced story. There is plenty of
suspense, and very little romance. While I can give this book a grudging recommendation for its wonderful depiction of Indian culture, I would get it from the library.
-- Keisha Hudson
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