Trail of Lightning

By: Rebecca Roanhorse

Narrated by: Tanis Parenteau

Length: 8 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

While most of the world has drowned beneath the sudden rising waters of a climate apocalypse, Dinétah (formerly the Navajo reservation) has been reborn. The gods and heroes of legend walk the land, but so do monsters.  

Maggie Hoskie is a Dinétah monster hunter, a supernaturally gifted killer. When a small town needs help finding a missing girl, Maggie is its last, best hope. But what Maggie uncovers about the monster is much more terrifying than anything she could imagine.  

Maggie reluctantly enlists the aid of Kai Arviso, an unconventional medicine man, and together they travel the reservation, unraveling clues from ancient legends, trading favors with tricksters, and battling dark witchcraft in a patchwork world of deteriorating technology.  

As Maggie discovers the truth behind the killings, she will have to confront her past if she wants to survive.  

Welcome to the Sixth World.

©2018 Rebecca Roanhorse (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

The person you hire when the heroes fail

“I’m the person you hire when the heroes have already come home in body bags.” -MH

Ii like to listen to Audible books when I am hiking and trail running. I got 25 miles in (with a net elevation gain of 3,967 feet) listening to Rebecca Roanhorse’s “Trail of Lightning” (2018). In two days. When the average temperature was 96 degrees, and the air was thick with smoke from the worst California wildfires in recorded history.

I’m tired, slightly dehydrated, 3 pounds lighter, and as happy as I can be knowing that I’m going to have to wait another year for the next book in The Sixth World Series, “Storm of Locusts” (2019). What’s even more extraordinary? Audible was my second trip with Monsterslayer Maggie Hoskie; the gorgeous, ethereal Healer Kai Arviso and his grandfather Tah; the trickster Coyote (Ma’li); and the immortal monsterslayer Neizgháni, The print edition was released several months before the Audible, and “Trail of Lightning” was so well reviewed I just couldn’t wait. The Audible did not disappoint, and the cover art for the print edition is so gorgeous I’m happy to have both.

The book starts, “The monster has been here . . . I can also smell the child he’s stolen.” What a chilling way to begin a story. Who - or what - is the monster? And who made the monster? Who is the child, who are her parents, who are her clans? Who has what clan powers?

Coyote is always present, preening and dressed in Western finer. He cajoles, diverts, amuses - and as always, tricks and lies.

Coyote’s adversary is Maggie Hoskie, the protege of Neizgháni. Mags (as Kai calls her) has clan powers that make her a warrior. She’s a killer with a conscience, horrified by what she thinks people think of her because of her abilities. Mags is fully armed and as adept with knives as guns. She’s fierce and unforgettable.

A few weeks before I listened to “Trail of Lightning” I happened to take a trip to Dinétah. I was able to geographically set the locations of The Sixth World. It’s serenely, austerely beautiful now, with soaring red gold mesas; and a sere island refuge after the New Madrid fault and the Big Water created a new coast and a new country in the book.

I thought Tanis Parenteau was a wonderful narrator, but to be fair - I’m not Diné (Navajo) and I don’t speak that language. Ms. Parenteau is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, Canada. The Navajo seemed natural in the narration, not forced.

The title of the review is a modified quote from the book.

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30 of 32 people found this review helpful

It’s a long A.

I loved this story and the way it was told. I don’t know if the individual reading this to me was Navajo or not but it would’ve been nice to have a native tongue speak the Diné words used in this book. I cringed every time the word “Hogan” was said.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Worth Reading

The story was very good, very harry dresden esk in the way the mystery builds. The characters are good. I would definitely get the next book if there is one.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A break from my usual

I likd it. Could have ended better, and the language and homosexualaty were obvious plays to appeal to a certain demographic, and brought no value. But the reader did very good. And I really liked the main character.

Brilliant

Loved this from the opening moments to the final scene. It was one of those stories that you get so caught up in that you don’t want it to end. Fallable heroine, strong secondary characters. I am really glad this is a series as I in for the whole ride. Definitely in! The writing is beautiful and feels great to support an indigenous author. This is an amazing story!

Superb world-building, but trigger-warning

This book has an interesting new fantasy setting and I was glad I finished it. I almost didn't because there is an early, violent death of a child. That stopped me and I didn't listen to more until I was desperate for another book. I don't buy books about kidnapped children or abused children, etc. Sorry, but I just can't. The heroine is strong and smart, which I like. Her sidekick has complementary strengths. The underlying mythology is interesting. So, I'll probably buy the next in the series. However, I'm not looking forward to it with excitement like I am to the next in the Akita Witch series.

Incredible

I had read several advance reviews of Rebecca Roanhorse's Trail of Lightning. They all recommended the book in glowing terms. After finishing the Audible version, I feel the reviews did not do the book justice. t I had read several advance reviews of Rebecca Roanhorse's Trail of Lightning. They all recommended the book in glowing terms. After finishing the Audible version, I feel the reviews did not do the book justice.

Tanis Parenteau does a great job narrating. She gives all the characters distict voices. She clearly enunciates all the words including the Dinetah ones. It is one of the best things I have read or listened to this year. Exciting, original, a Native American story written by a Native American. 5 stars are not enough.

LOVED LOVED LOVED IT!!!

I'm in love with this story! and hearing it in a native american voice made it so much better. I can't wait for a sequel!

amazing, strong, broken, real heroine

the story as a whole is very good. Engaging, humorous at times, and unique. It was great hearing some of the Navajo beliefs being worked into such a great, modern story.

mostly I loved the main character, Maggie. Strong, fierce, intelligent, but also broken at times. A very REAL character.

looking forward to the sequel

Descendant of American Gods

If you like Neil Gaiman’s American Gods I believe you will enjoy this book. It’s full of interesting characters, demigods, and urban fantasy. Some of the way the main character’s powers work reminded me of RPGs, which was cool.

My biggest gripe is a fair amount is predictable but the plot clips along quickly and the characters are entertaining and the setting is interesting. I really hope this author keeps writing because I think they have a lot of potential even if as I said some of their writing is a bit derivative. I think they have a lot of promise!

Give it a shot I think you’ll be entertained.