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10th out of 110 books
—
146 voters
People of the Lakes (The First North Americans #6)
Clan fighting over a powerful totemic mask has brought the Mound Builder people of the Great Lakes region to the edge of destruction. It is up to Star Shell, daughter of a Hopewell chief, to rid her people of this curse. Along with her companions: Otter, a trader; Pearl, a runaway; and Green Spider, either prophet or madman, she braves the stormy waters of the lakes to rea...more
Paperback, 816 pages
Published
June 1st 1995
by Tor Books
(first published 1992)
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I know the First North Americans books claim to be a series, but they're all standalone books placed in different time periods, with different tribes and obviously different characters. This was the first of the 4 or so that I've read, and hands down the best.
This book has many similarities with fantasy, which I enjoy: one of the main characters, Star Shell, goes on a quest to destroy an evil totemic mask, and along the way meets up with some others who are also in desperate straits; there's a...more
This book has many similarities with fantasy, which I enjoy: one of the main characters, Star Shell, goes on a quest to destroy an evil totemic mask, and along the way meets up with some others who are also in desperate straits; there's a...more
I liked this "People of the Lakes" story more than several other, earlier North America's Forgotten Past series books. The Gears offer a lengthy, and exquisitely interesting voyage around our pre-Columbian Mississippi, Ohio River Valleys and Great Lakes regions. The main characters are interesting and diverse. I also really like how Black Skull matures through the story and how Green Spider is a friendly antagonist for Black Skull as part of his changing character. Star Shell and the haunted mas...more
Stepping back into the time when journeys were measured by moons, I really felt that I had stepped into a life that was also very new. Often I find the essential elements of the history can be understood through fiction. In People of the Lakes, based on the struggles and success of those native to the Great Lakes, the events become personalized and memorable. Very rich creativity and content, such as wondering whether going backwards toward the light meant turning one's back on the Darkness, del...more
Amazing piece of historical fiction, just like all the rest!
I really enjoyed this book because I always wanted to learn more about the Mound Builders and other ancient Native American civilizations. These authors have written a whole series about ancient America, going all the way from the Ice Age to 1200 A.D. or so.
Four characters go on a quest, but each one is a typical Native American of the time. There's Black Skull, the classic warrior, Otter, the sophisticated trader, Green Spider, the Medicine Man/Contrary and then there's . . . the girl. She's a...more
Four characters go on a quest, but each one is a typical Native American of the time. There's Black Skull, the classic warrior, Otter, the sophisticated trader, Green Spider, the Medicine Man/Contrary and then there's . . . the girl. She's a...more
It takes forever for this story to actually start...like 325 pages of forever, before the two main groups of characters set out on their parallel"quests". While I did warm to some of the characters after many a chapter, I found the slogging pace of the story frustrating and the ending left me feeling like I'd just watched the last season of LOST again. Being as the authors (husband and wife) are both archaeologists specializing in Native American sites, they try (too hard) to bring authenticity...more
The Mask of Many Colored Crow has been causing problems, although used to balance the world in in history the mask has developed its own identity. It begins to disrupt the world. THe focus of power it has become has made men go mad. Mica Bird the last owner has murdered, tortured and killed himself because of the influence of the mask. Star Shell his wife is afriad, she wants to protect her young daughter Silver Water from the influence of the mask. Power is at play, sending the High Head Magici...more
I've read The People of the Lakes twice, and it was just as wholesome and fulfilling this last time as it was the first. It is probably my favorite book in the series because it has everything you could want from a novel. The realistic characters were still alive long after I closed the book. Each main character had a core element that I could identify with and I was equally drawn to them all. The lesser characters were developed and easily related to, even if they were only around for a chapter...more
I first read this book in grade 7, I love it! However after reading two other of the authors similar books, and majoring in Indigenous Studies in University.
These books clearly become unrealistic, and the roles of the characters become similar in the series.
Also being Indigenous myself I realize how much of these books lack in real Indigenous humor, and our real lifestyles. It is more like a Disney Pocahontas style of writing about Indigenous people. Outside looking in.
These books clearly become unrealistic, and the roles of the characters become similar in the series.
Also being Indigenous myself I realize how much of these books lack in real Indigenous humor, and our real lifestyles. It is more like a Disney Pocahontas style of writing about Indigenous people. Outside looking in.
this is one of my favorite books by the Gears. its engaging and is hard to put down once you've started. I think I've re-read it so much that the book itself is falling apart. The Gears have an impeccable way of bringing to life the Native American cultures of North America, and this book painted a picture as vivid as if you were there in their shoes.I would recommend this to anyone.
I found this book accidentally...which seems to be the only way I find good books. I was sceptical at first, but the thrill, intrigue, suspense and mysticism made it an excellent read. (The only issue is that the description lists the characters as Star Shell's companions, but they don't actually meet until the end.)
I read all the books in this series and loved them all. The book offers a peek into an entirely different life and times of people in North America. It offers extensive research and detail on Native American tribes without getting weighty. It is a perfect mix of education, romance, suspense, and the spiritual world. Definitely worth the read.
This was my first read by the Gears. It is by far the BEST book of the series! I recommend this as the jumping off point for the PEOPLE OF series by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear. This is action packed, suspensful, and 100% rewarding. You'll want to read it again and again and again. :D
I love this series, but I have to admit this one started very, very slow for me. I stuck with it since I like the authors so much, and I'm glad I did. This book had some parts where I was laughing out loud, and I really grew to love some of the characters in here.
I can't remember frantically reading thru the last 150 pages of a book like this before. It was very well written and the book does an amazing job of putting you right into the story. I didn't realize how attatched I was to the characters until they started to get into risky situations and started saying they were going to sacrifice themselves for the lives of the others. I think in spots it got a bit repetitive, but looking back I think a lot of people run the same important thoughts through th...more
People of the Lakes, by Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W.Michael Gear. More fantasy than I was expecting, but a lush cinematic epic. I plan to read the rest of the series now....more
I tried to stop reading about half-way thru, but finally finished it. Kept me on the edge of my seat a good deal of the time.
This was my favorite. Lost of interesting characters and adventure. I liked them all, but this one stands out to me the most.
This is a long book so I put it off for awhile but I finally finished it and liked it there was some extraneous details but most of it was the convoluted story of two sets of people coming from different directions. Each set is of two groups one chasing the other. The first trying to get to the great water to destroy the mask while other seeks to catch the first and stop them. Finally the four groups meet at the end and we see all the pieces fall into place in a satisfying conclusion.
I have to agree with others, this is so far my favourite of the series.
The storyline is interesting and I loved the characters. Each character was so different which I think added to the great story.
The storyline is interesting and I loved the characters. Each character was so different which I think added to the great story.
This was one of my favs from the series. I loved the characters.
Excelente, me encanto el personaje de araña verde, uno de los mejores locos de la literatura.
I really enjoyed this book. The authors weave together a complex and enthralling narrative surrounding four+ different groups of individuals. Although the book is long, it goes by rather quickly. The only part I found disappointing was the end. I felt that after having followed these characters for 700 pages the end could have been a bit more exciting and conclusive. Still an excellent read though.
Absolutely LOVED this story. The 700 odd pages wasnt enough. I wish it could have gone on and on!
Will definately be finding more books by this author/authors.
Will definately be finding more books by this author/authors.
great series
Interesting, ideas I didn't think of.
Power is everywhere, using humans to move the story! I wonder where power is leading us today?
There are many books in this First North Americans series, or as I call it, the "People of" series. Most are good; entertaining and informative. This is probably the best of the lot, so far. You get a great story while being thrust back into the Great Lakes region of hundreds of years ago, well before Europeans arrived on the scene.
By far the best in this series of archeology- based fiction. The stories are often written on much the same formula, including love stories, friends and foes, the fight between good and evil and struggles (often mystical or religious) that have to be overcome - nevertheless entertaining to a sufficient degree.
I loved it!
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W. Michael Gear was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on the twentieth of May, 1955. A fourth generation Colorado native, his family had been involved in hard-rock mining, cattle ranching, and journalism. After his father's death in 1959, Michael's mother received her Master's degree in journalism and began teaching. In 1962 she married Joseph J. Cook, who taught tool and die making, and the fam...more
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Apr 10, 2013 12:10pm