People of the Canyons

A Novel of North America's Forgotten Past

By: W. Michael Gear, Kathleen O'Neal Gear

Narrated by: Nancy Peterson

Length: 12 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

In a magnificent, war-torn world cut by soaring red canyons, an evil ruler launches a search for a mystical artifact that he hopes will bring him ultimate power - an ancient witch’s pot that reputedly contains the trapped soul of the most powerful witch ever to have lived.

The aged healer Tocho has to stop him, but to do it he must ally himself with the bitter and broken witch hunter, Maicoh, whose only goal is achieving one last great kill.

Caught in the middle is Tocho’s adopted granddaughter, Tsilu. Her journey will be the most difficult of all for she is about to discover terrifying truths about her dead parents - truths that will set the ancient American Southwest afire and bring down a civilization.

©2020 Kathleen O'Neal Gear, W. Michael Gear (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC

the story we didn't know we need

People of the Canyons: A Novel of North America's Forgotten Past
by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear
One of the most anticipated books in their series, after multiple requests from fans for a novel about the Fremont civilization the Gears have given the fans the story they have always needed even if they did not know it .
People of the Canyons brings the spiral full circle, and the Gears astounding ability to humanize the past is beyond comprehension. Breaking down the research and artifacts to the human story is part of what makes them one of the premier authors of the genre.
For the long time fans, the book brings back many of the Beloved characters from the series, with their most admirable character Nightshade gets closer to her story-line. Nightshade is a remarkable character. Always was reassuring and scary. I always felt personally she was brilliant and kind.. but scary to those with only personal desires that lead to the destruction of others lives. She is one of the strongest characters, and she survived a lot of impossible situations for that strength. We get to see Poor Singer and his children.
We get live through the end of one of the main villains of the series, Leather Hand. Its all more complex with the addition of a new character, his brilliantly spoiled selfish daughter Blue Dove. Entitlement gets a new definition with her. She is one of those people that you want to have reality smack her down. Just one person to tell her no, that is not Leather Hand. If only the bad guys got their lessons handed out when they can still learn from them.
I have found this book irresistible and could not stop reading and listening to the story. I was doing both, reading and listening to the story, The audible edition Narrated by: Nancy Peterson brings the story to life. I found more meaning in the words and feelings of the characters from her vocal enhancement of the story. I highly recommend it.

Identity crisis but good if you can follow it

There were some gripping moments. The identity of the legendary witch hunter, though intentionally written so as to keep secret exactly which of the characters he actually was, nevertheless seemed to jump from person to person with little clue to the reader, so it was hard to follow. Add that Tsiilu didn't know who she was, and was intentionally written such that her relation to each of the 3 males she traveled with were variously identified by her as father, brother, uncle, grandfather, again with few clues for the reader, it was confusing at times. The story is told in present tense and first person perspective of 5 major characters, and in 3rd person for the remaining one major character and his guards. It was like a hiccup to change back and forth as the story progressed. Then at the end there's a momentous revelation, using names of people and a place that, if they were previously mentioned at all, were not memorable and so felt insignificant. That kind of made the momentous revelation hit with a soft "poof" rather than the weight it could have had. I love the Forgotten America series. But this book wasn't in the ranks of People of the Wolf, the Mist, the Mask, the Fire, and so on. And I recommend you read it because if you can track it, it's entertaining.

started slow but all Gear!

I had trouble at first but after a couple chapters the Gear story telling came through in full fashion.
Same; for me, with the Narrator. My first book of her narration. Because I'm such a fan of the People Of... series I held to it and soon was blessed of another great Lost American novel. I hope many more are still to come, and the talent of these writers continues, as difficult as it may be to find the words for a great story!
please continue creating Audible versions of all the People Of... and other stories, as I struggle with settling down, long enough to read them. Rick

Can't wait for the next one!

I am always just waiting for the next installment, completely enjoyed every single one of this series.

disappointed

have read most of the books in the "people of the series" this is by far the worst one. it just wasn't that good. that's all I really know to say the story was meh. some of the books in the series have been excellent this was not one of them!

Gripping tale of the past

People of the canyons is another detailed and heavily researched tale of people who lived long ago, this time in the canyons of what we know as eastern Utah. The people in the story are alive with personality, each with dreams and fears. I am so happy to have purchased this on Audible because I was able to take it with me over two days of doing chores and tasks, all the while immersed in this tale of long ago.