Monday, November 24, 2008

Bearkiller by D.J. Stephens--Book Review



An engrossing, fast-paced adventure novel that explores past lives and their connections to the present is what you'll find in Bearkiller by D.J. Stephens.

Jeff Barkil--who I first met in HALO--is hunting in the mountains of Montana when he is attacked by a grizzly bear. Severely wounded, Jeff uses his survival instincts gained from years of military training to attempt making it back to camp.

Awakening in a teepee, Jeff is not quite sure what happened or who he is. Gray Buffalo, chief of the Blackfoot Nation, accepts Jeff into the tribe and christens him Bearkiller for his bravery in mortally wounding the great grizzly.

Bearkiller becomes a brave Blackfoot warrior, adored by the people of his village and despised and feared by the Crow, the Shoshone, and other enemy tribes who seek to kill him and regain the honor he has stolen from them along with their horses and weapons.

Will Jeff ever make it back to his own time? And if he does, will he remember Bearkiller and all his coups or will he think them only the dreams of a delirious mind?

Stephens shows his strength in creating adventure stories that draw the reader in with Bearkiller, his first novel. Similiar in some ways to his novel, Death Rider, the reader explores Jeff's past life as a Blackfoot warrior. This helps to give insight into Jeff's actions and instincts in HALO--which is a big bonus.

Non-stop action fill the pages of Bearkiller, making it a book that you will never want to put down until you have read the last word. Stephens's research of Indian customs is evident throughout and his descriptions allow the reader to experience everything right alongside Bearkiller/Jeff. In addition, Gray Buffalo, Smiling Otter, Sweet Water, and Morning Star become memorable, real characters whose lives captivate the reader.

Fans of western adventure stories and those interested in exploring past lives and Indian customs will find much to enjoy in Bearkiller.


Title: Bearkiller
Author: D. J. Stephens
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
ISBN: 0-7414-4966-8
U.S. Price: $16.95

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