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Spirit of the Mountain

by Paty Jager (Goodreads Author)

4.43 of 5 stars 4.43 · rating details · 14 ratings · 8 reviews

Wren, the daughter of a Nimiipuu chief, has been fated to save her people ever since her vision quest. When a warrior from the enemy Blackleg tribe asks for her hand in marriage to bring peace between the tribes, her world is torn apart. Himiin is the spirit of the mountain, custodian to all creatures including the Nimiipuu. As a white wolf he listens to Wren's secret fear...more

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Published (first published July 14th 2010)

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71st out of 156 books — 88 voters

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Oct 10, 2011 Tony-Paul Vissage rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a lovely story and another in which the white man has no part. There’s a vague mention of men with skin the color of the antelope who come rarely to the area but that’s all. The description of Nimiipuu daily life, the chores of the women as well as the men, is fascinating and the fact that in this story, both females and go on vision quests is a new and rarely-known facet of Native American Life. Himiin’s courtship of Wren is a tentative, delicate affair, gently written, lovingly portray...more

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Mar 18, 2011 chanceofbooks rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Linda Lael Miller fans, historical paranormal fans, Bonnie Dee fans, native american fiction fans

Shelves: 2011-keepers, 2011-read, top-100

I’ve been waiting for a book like this for two decades. Back in the early 90s when I began my lifelong love affair with Romance novels, I had a bit of an obsession with Native American romances. I checked Susan Donell’s Pocahontas out from our town library so many times that it became dog eared from my use alone. (And I’m sure that our straight-laced librarian thought that I was checking it out just for the lurid parts, which were pretty darn explicit for the time period). When Pocahontas was vi...more I’ve been waiting for a book like this for two decades. Back in the early 90s when I began my lifelong love affair with Romance novels, I had a bit of an obsession with Native American romances. I checked Susan Donell’s Pocahontas out from our town library so many times that it became dog eared from my use alone. (And I’m sure that our straight-laced librarian thought that I was checking it out just for the lurid parts, which were pretty darn explicit for the time period). When Pocahontas was visiting other users, I checked out our library’s limited selection of other western romances. There was an explosion of category romances in the 90s that dealt with white/Native romance from both a historical standpoint as well as modern day contemporaries, usually exploiting the exotic “other” trope with a Native hero who didn’t fit into either world and a Caucasian female who filled the missing pieces of his soul. Even at the time I recognized that many of these offerings were rather ethnocentric, but they were my guilty pleasure, although I did really want to see a Native/Native romance. In my head, I always ended Pocahontas much happier with her staying with her tribe and a man who loved her there. I longed for Clan of the Cave Bear to be a real romance rather than a Saga. I daydreamed about how awesome a Lonesome Dove or Dances with Wolves would be if the white folk would just stop their darn meddling. And then suddenly ALL Native American romances dried up in the mid to late 90s. Completely. And then nearly all Western historicals dried up. Gone was my favorite genre. Linda Lael Miller went off to spend a decade writing suspense and contemporaries that were only vaguely western before finally returning to her roots. Many great writers disappeared completely. And I never did get the Native American romance I really hungered for. Until now. Spirit of the Mountain is the historical I’ve been hoping for since reading Pocahontas.

Earlier this year, I found Pamela Clare’s amazing Naked Edge, which delivered a sensitive Native American/Caucasian interracial romance that eliminated all the ethnocentric elements of those 90s category romances, but I still longed for a historical that would center around a Native American romance. Then I had a chance to review Jager’s Spirit of the Mountain, the first of her Spirit Trilogy from Wild Rose Press, and from the first chapter, I realized that I was reading something truly special. Not just a well-written romance (Eppie Winner Jager has proven her chops in that arena), but a truly original portrait of Native culture before it was Native American, before White men arrived. It’s slightly reminiscent of Clan of the Cave Bear, but more lyrical and with all the boring parts removed to showcase the love story.

Wren is a Niimiipu maiden, the daughter of the chief, and her father has just promised her to Hawk, a Blackleg Warrior, in an effort to bring peace to warring tribes. But the reputation of the Blackleg* as ruthless raiders repulses Wren. Her heart loudly rebels against her father’s actions, but her sense of duty makes the outcome seem inevitable to her. Long ago, her spirit quest revealed that she would save the tribe, so she feels she has no choice but to carry out her father’s wishes. She spends more time roaming her beloved mountain, seeking the solace only it can provide. She encounters a mysterious white wolf who reminds her of her spirit guide. She gradually realizes that it isn’t her spirit guide, and the wolf seems oddly sentient. Not surprisingly, the wolf IS sentient because he’s actually a man, Hiimin, cursed to live as the Spirit of the Mountain, watching over the people. He assumes the guise of the Wolf, although he has the ability to take other forms, including man. Hiimin is drawn to Wren. An acute sense of longing permeates the novel from their first encounter. He knows he’s not supposed to place the needs of one human over the others in the tribe, but he can’t help himself. Wren’s despair at her impending marriage eventually leads to him revealing his human form to her. Passion sizzles between the two, but it’s initially one of longing for that which can never be, and both try valiantly to distance themselves from their attraction.

This proves impossible even as Wren prepares for her inevitable marriage. In a desperate bid to have something of each other, they give into their passion on the eve of Wren’s marriage. Jager takes some big risks with what transpires next as she pushes the boundaries of some plot “taboos” that tend to pigeonhole authors, particularly historical authors, into following a formula rather than letting a certain amount of historical accuracy drive the plot. These risks pay off big time for the plot, however, as the reader is drawn into an emotional maelstrom that had me tearing up at more than one point. There are multiple black moments as hope appears lost over and over again. The lengths Hiimin goes to give Wren even a glimmer of hope is beautiful, and Wren’s resulting sacrifices and risks are poignant as she draws ever closer to taking the largest leap of all—putting herself first and fighting for a future with Hiimin. There were plenty of moments when I truly wasn’t sure if there would be a happy ending, but rest assured that I was weeping tears of a different sort in the final pages. Every last drop of emotion is wrung from the pages. The characters bleed for each other, both physically and emotionally, and it’s gut wrenching to watch, yet looking away is not an option.

Historical fans are a natural audience for this tale, but it will also resound with paranormal and contemporary fans who crave deeply emotionally stories. Fans of tear jerkers look no further, this is a must read for you. And the emotion is not gratuitous—I didn’t feel jerked around like I do with *certain* contemporary authors who play with my emotions. Each event in the plot is necessary, and the longing realistic. If you loved the Man From Stone Creek, this will resonate with you as this longing is also born of two people determined to do the right thing. Readers who enjoyed Bonnie Dee’s Captive Bride, a previous pick of the week for me and true keeper, will love this unusual historical. The paranormal elements here are subtle—this isn’t a werewolf tale and magic super powers aren’t what saves the day. I’m not a huge paranormal reader, and I felt right at home. Hiimin’s existence as a spirit is so tied to the Native culture that surrounds him that it feels almost . . . normal. I loved him even when he was a wolf because I immediately saw the missing pieces of Wren come to life.

I enjoyed Jager’s Petticoat western historical series, but this is clearly the book of her heart, and like with Dee’s Captive Bride, this only enhances the reader experience. Jager raises her craft to a new level here. With true keeper shelf novels, I *have* to re-read. Immediately. And so I did, and on the second read, I noticed more of the historical details that I missed when my heart was in my throat for Wren and Hiimin. My interest in Native culture led me to take a few anthropology courses in college, but I think I may have learned more about the Native experience pre-white man here. Readers who prefer historical heavy on the research will really love this. This book has broad appeal and deserves a wide audience. I absolutely can’t wait to read books 2 and 3 and be transported back to this unique place and moment in time.

*Jager includes a historical note that the Niimiipu, which is part of the Nez Perce tribe today, and the Blackleg, which is part of the Blackfeet tribe, had a deep seated distrust at the time of the story (1770), but that that is not the case today.

This review also appeared at Cloudy With A Chance of Books-- http://www.chanceofbooks.blogspot.com where it was a pick of the week.(less)

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May 23, 2013 Genie Gabriel rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was intrigued by Spirit of the Mountain when I first heard the concept. The book exceeded my expectations. The journey of Wren and Himiin was touching and heart-wrenching at times, interwoven with the legends and history of Native American people. Thank you, Paty Jager, for a wonderful reading experience!

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May 10, 2013 Maggie Faire rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just finished reading this book and have to say I truly loved the story and will be downloading the other two. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that I thought the beginning was a bit slow. I stuck with it because of the uniqueness of the premise and I'm so glad I did. I found the setting beautiful and the concept of a shape-shifting mountain spirit as the hero one I haven't seen before. I really enjoyed learning about the Native American traditions from eastern Oregon.

The best p...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Maggie Jaimeson rated it 5 of 5 stars

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Feb 08, 2012 Ezinwanyi~For you, Agron (Mira, Crixus, Gannicus & Spartacus) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Ezinwanyi~For you, Agron by: Grammy1

Shelves: urban-fantasy, shapeshifters, ezinwanyi, ezinwanyi-s-bookstore

3.5 Stars.

this was a love story from 1877, between Leiutenant Wade Watts and Spirit/Healer Sa'quan of the Nimiipu (Nez Perce) tribe in Montana. There was great detail and nice story. Review to come

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Sep 11, 2011 Christine Young rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book and I'm anxiously waiting for the sequel in May.

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Oct 21, 2010 Paty Jager rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved writing this book.

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Apr 14, 2013 Collette Cameron marked it as to-read

Mar 23, 2013 Jonel Boyko marked it as to-read

Mar 06, 2013 Michelle marked it as to-read

Feb 11, 2013 Linda LaRoque rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jan 18, 2013 Lindsey ( United By Books Reviews) marked it as to-read

Jan 08, 2013 Franjessca marked it as to-read

Oct 25, 2012 Iiwi rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 20, 2012 Paty Jager added it · (Review from the author)

Shelves: book-written-by-me

Apr 16, 2012 M.K. McClintock marked it as to-read

Mar 22, 2012 Trudy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Feb 13, 2012 Barbara Lee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Oct 20, 2011 Kathryn Merkel marked it as to-read

Sep 20, 2011 Beth marked it as to-read

Oct 21, 2010 Gita marked it as to-read

Oct 12, 2010 Nicole McCaffrey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mar 27, 2011 M. Pax rated it 4 of 5 stars

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