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The Rock Child
Asie Taylor is a half-blood Indian raised by Mormons, a gifted musician and a sharp-tongued philosopher; Sun Moon is a Tibetan nun who has been kidnapped and sold into prostitution in California. Each is on the run--Asie toward his heritage and the secret of his "Rock Child" name, Sun Moon from her captors, in particular the fanatical "Destroying Angel" of Mormondon, Porter Rockwell.The fate of these two innocents takes its strangest turn when they are thrown together with a man innocent of nothing, the scar-faced Nile explorer Sir Richard Burton who in 1862 is making his leisurely way across the American West.The journey of this remarkable trio, their footsteps dogged by the relentless Rockwell, ranges from Brigham Young's Salt Lake City through the mining camps of the Comstock Lode in Nevada (where a reporter named Sam Clemens befriends them) is a dazzling tour-de-force adventure.At the publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management software (DRM) applied.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
February 5, 2018
Excellent engrossing read with ideas to think about. Good character development and very interesting plot characters. I am curious as to why he made Burton a closet Sufi instead of his avowed atheistic beliefs. It added nothing to the plot or story.
May 1, 2016
I recommend this book very highly. It is my favorite kind of read. It is essentially a character study of the three individuals who are central to the story. With that however are enough plot lines (I hesitated to say action since it is not an action story even if it was a page turner.) to keep me interested right up to the last page. Though set in 1862 it deals with problems that we unfortunately grapple with yet. I'll try additional books by this author.
March 12, 2012
This book is fun, but it's also meaningful and moving. The male protagonist is a musician as well as a Native American. Both are crucial to his identity. The female protagonist, a Tibetan nun, also finds that her sense of identity and goals are larger than she had imagined. I loved the way this book resolved with respect for all the cultures and spiritual paths represented in this novel.
February 17, 2017
Historically whimsical fiction
It took awhile to get into the narrator's voice but once I surrendered to his jimmyjoomy the story flowed nicely. Loved the good guys and hated the bad guys...
It took awhile to get into the narrator's voice but once I surrendered to his jimmyjoomy the story flowed nicely. Loved the good guys and hated the bad guys...
July 23, 2017
Another great story from Win Blevins. Lots of late 1800s western-movement historical value woven into the story as well as the societal problems of racism and human trafficking. I enjoyed the book.
March 5, 2017
THE ROCK CHILD
By Win Blevins
4 stars
The old west as it was at times
The author threw together individuals who once lived and made an interesting novel. The story starts out slowly in 1862 and is a little difficult to understand what is truly transpiring, but then as it progresses, the plot unfolds. A Tibetan nun, young and untouched, named Sun Moon, is kidnapped and brought to the United States to be forced into prostitution for a white man who purchases her. Her owner intends to support himself through her labors, but she insists she won’t do it because she is a nun. An infamously vicious Mormon assassin, Porter Rockwell, who particularly enjoys intercourse with helpless virgins, pays for her to service hin. She fights him, eventually kicking him in the groin and he slashes her in one eye with a knife and vows to get even with her and kill her in a painful way. Everyone thought she’d lose her eye, but a doctor worked hard and saved the eye, but it left a terrible scar on that side of her face.
She meets a young man who is a half-blood Native American, named Asie, who was raised by White foster parents when he was seven, but no one knows what tribe of Indians his mother belonged to. He has special abilities of hearing music in his mind and ears under unusual conditions. Thus, he earns a living playing a banjo and piano with a Black musician, who, through the years has made and saved money playing, and has accumulated property here and there, which no one knows.
They meet a famous British explorer, Sir Richard Francis Burton, who speaks many languages and he can speak to Sun Moon in her language. He does have trouble with indulging often in too much liquor. He knows Brigham Young, and to escape Rockwell, they run to Utah and stay with Young for a while. They know that eventually Rockwell will follow them there. They run into Samuel Clemens, who is also a writer, but he doesn’t want to tell the tales of his life to Burton, who wants to write them down in a book. Knowing that Rockwell is still after them, they take off for Lake Tahoe where they can live with several different Indian tribes there. Traveling from Salt Lake City to Lake Tahoe forces them to run together across the arid desolation of the Great Basin. Death can come at any moment from starvation, thirst or Rockwell’s bullets.
This plot leaps from one wild escapade to another and is unique, to say the least. I recommend this novel for a few fascinating hours of good reading.
By Win Blevins
4 stars
The old west as it was at times
The author threw together individuals who once lived and made an interesting novel. The story starts out slowly in 1862 and is a little difficult to understand what is truly transpiring, but then as it progresses, the plot unfolds. A Tibetan nun, young and untouched, named Sun Moon, is kidnapped and brought to the United States to be forced into prostitution for a white man who purchases her. Her owner intends to support himself through her labors, but she insists she won’t do it because she is a nun. An infamously vicious Mormon assassin, Porter Rockwell, who particularly enjoys intercourse with helpless virgins, pays for her to service hin. She fights him, eventually kicking him in the groin and he slashes her in one eye with a knife and vows to get even with her and kill her in a painful way. Everyone thought she’d lose her eye, but a doctor worked hard and saved the eye, but it left a terrible scar on that side of her face.
She meets a young man who is a half-blood Native American, named Asie, who was raised by White foster parents when he was seven, but no one knows what tribe of Indians his mother belonged to. He has special abilities of hearing music in his mind and ears under unusual conditions. Thus, he earns a living playing a banjo and piano with a Black musician, who, through the years has made and saved money playing, and has accumulated property here and there, which no one knows.
They meet a famous British explorer, Sir Richard Francis Burton, who speaks many languages and he can speak to Sun Moon in her language. He does have trouble with indulging often in too much liquor. He knows Brigham Young, and to escape Rockwell, they run to Utah and stay with Young for a while. They know that eventually Rockwell will follow them there. They run into Samuel Clemens, who is also a writer, but he doesn’t want to tell the tales of his life to Burton, who wants to write them down in a book. Knowing that Rockwell is still after them, they take off for Lake Tahoe where they can live with several different Indian tribes there. Traveling from Salt Lake City to Lake Tahoe forces them to run together across the arid desolation of the Great Basin. Death can come at any moment from starvation, thirst or Rockwell’s bullets.
This plot leaps from one wild escapade to another and is unique, to say the least. I recommend this novel for a few fascinating hours of good reading.
February 25, 2018
The Rock Child
A wild skirmish between a Tibetan Buddhist nun’s family and kidnappers result in the death of an entire family and a nun (Sun Moon) shanghaied and brought to America to be "a hundred men's wives." Mix that with Native-American/Anglo protagonist Asie Taylor and a famous English explorer, Sir Richard Francis Burton, and you have a gripping Win Blevins’ novel.
In The Rock Child, Asie almost dies in a violent flash flood and awakens to the scarred but delicate face of Sun Moon. Sun Moon had escaped the man in Idaho who brought her over expecting to turn a tidy profit. Porter Rockwell, a Mormon who won Sun Moon disfigured her face in frustration and has set about the search to find and exact his revenge.
Sun Moon (Nima) and Asie set off on separate goals, Asie to discover the origins of his (Shoshone) name, she to return home. They cross paths with Sir Richard Burton, a real life British officer who served in the East India Companies army and he undertakes to see them on a safe journey out of Salt Lake City. His sympathy for the main characters, Sun Moon (Nima Lhamo) and Asie Taylor, unfolds in a series of misadventures that result in near death many times. The many exploits with Sir Richard combined with interchanges with Samuel Clemens in Virginia City create a fast moving and sympathetic novel of the times and an expression of the prejudices just prior and during the American Civil War. Sprinkle in a near psychotic vengeful killer and the tale never lags.
Blevins weaves a tale of such masterful prose, you will find it difficult to put down. He borrows freely from the vernacular of the time. The well-developed characters create an artistic tableau and with the exception of antagonist Rockwell, elicit sympathy and emotional engagement.
We got this download from BookBub and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. Recommended to any who enjoy good historical novels, charismatic characters both real and fictional, and gorgeous settings. C. E. Williams
See my full review on https://rosepointpublishing.com
5/5 stars
A wild skirmish between a Tibetan Buddhist nun’s family and kidnappers result in the death of an entire family and a nun (Sun Moon) shanghaied and brought to America to be "a hundred men's wives." Mix that with Native-American/Anglo protagonist Asie Taylor and a famous English explorer, Sir Richard Francis Burton, and you have a gripping Win Blevins’ novel.
In The Rock Child, Asie almost dies in a violent flash flood and awakens to the scarred but delicate face of Sun Moon. Sun Moon had escaped the man in Idaho who brought her over expecting to turn a tidy profit. Porter Rockwell, a Mormon who won Sun Moon disfigured her face in frustration and has set about the search to find and exact his revenge.
Sun Moon (Nima) and Asie set off on separate goals, Asie to discover the origins of his (Shoshone) name, she to return home. They cross paths with Sir Richard Burton, a real life British officer who served in the East India Companies army and he undertakes to see them on a safe journey out of Salt Lake City. His sympathy for the main characters, Sun Moon (Nima Lhamo) and Asie Taylor, unfolds in a series of misadventures that result in near death many times. The many exploits with Sir Richard combined with interchanges with Samuel Clemens in Virginia City create a fast moving and sympathetic novel of the times and an expression of the prejudices just prior and during the American Civil War. Sprinkle in a near psychotic vengeful killer and the tale never lags.
Blevins weaves a tale of such masterful prose, you will find it difficult to put down. He borrows freely from the vernacular of the time. The well-developed characters create an artistic tableau and with the exception of antagonist Rockwell, elicit sympathy and emotional engagement.
We got this download from BookBub and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. Recommended to any who enjoy good historical novels, charismatic characters both real and fictional, and gorgeous settings. C. E. Williams
See my full review on https://rosepointpublishing.com
5/5 stars
December 14, 2018
This was a weird book, good but sort of strange.
America in the second half of the 19th century. A Tibetan nun, kidnapped to work as a prostitute in an American brothel in a mining town. A half white, half Native American young man, who is fascinated with music. When Sun Moon and Asie meet, the unlikely duo make their journey from Utah to California, always fleeing from the threat of Sun Moon's first customer, who vowed to kill her after she escaped by hurting him badly.
The narration meandered like a river, here and there, or as Asie would say, like the rabbit whose path he has to follow. I am still not sure if I know what the plot was, which for some reason does not annoy me at all with this book.
Both Asie and Sun Moon have lost their "self", and are looking for their heritage on the one hand, and their belief and faith on the other.
On their way, they meet quite a lot of famous (and infamous) personalities, who are either helping them, or putting obstacles in their path.
It is definitely a different type of story than what I usually read, and different in a good way. The characters sympathetic (even the big villain, in a way) and likeable, the location and the era are well researched, in my opinion. Sun Moon's thought processes I could not follow at times, as if she held herself aloof (or tried to) from the events unfolding around her.
I think this is one of those book you have to read a second time, to fully understand every little nuance of the protagonists' interactions, thought processes and dialogues.
I would definitely recommend this book, and I might like to find more from this author.
America in the second half of the 19th century. A Tibetan nun, kidnapped to work as a prostitute in an American brothel in a mining town. A half white, half Native American young man, who is fascinated with music. When Sun Moon and Asie meet, the unlikely duo make their journey from Utah to California, always fleeing from the threat of Sun Moon's first customer, who vowed to kill her after she escaped by hurting him badly.
The narration meandered like a river, here and there, or as Asie would say, like the rabbit whose path he has to follow. I am still not sure if I know what the plot was, which for some reason does not annoy me at all with this book.
Both Asie and Sun Moon have lost their "self", and are looking for their heritage on the one hand, and their belief and faith on the other.
On their way, they meet quite a lot of famous (and infamous) personalities, who are either helping them, or putting obstacles in their path.
It is definitely a different type of story than what I usually read, and different in a good way. The characters sympathetic (even the big villain, in a way) and likeable, the location and the era are well researched, in my opinion. Sun Moon's thought processes I could not follow at times, as if she held herself aloof (or tried to) from the events unfolding around her.
I think this is one of those book you have to read a second time, to fully understand every little nuance of the protagonists' interactions, thought processes and dialogues.
I would definitely recommend this book, and I might like to find more from this author.
May 12, 2017
This is the 2nd book by Win Blevins that I've read, and I enjoyed the mix of history and fiction. In this story, we have 3 or 4 central characters with whom we become intimately involved rather quickly. The trials and tribulations of a Tibetan nun who was shanghaied to the US to be sold as a whore, a young, musically gifted half-breed (Paiute perhaps, though he isn't sure), a bold, adventurer from Britain who has lived his life as a spy and is addicted to opium and other pleasures, are revealed as they are thrust together and hounded by a thoroughly scary bad-guy, a Morman "soldier and enforcer" who has all the makings of a memorable villain.
I found the first and last third of the book to be the most compelling, while the middle section, for me at least, slowed down far too much. The ending was a bit too much of a feel-good trope, but it was nevertheless mostly satisfying.
If you enjoy stories from the old West, circa post-Civil war, adventure, and an unusual cast of characters, including Blevin's clever mix of many factual persons and events with his fictional protagonists, you'll enjoy this book.
I found the first and last third of the book to be the most compelling, while the middle section, for me at least, slowed down far too much. The ending was a bit too much of a feel-good trope, but it was nevertheless mostly satisfying.
If you enjoy stories from the old West, circa post-Civil war, adventure, and an unusual cast of characters, including Blevin's clever mix of many factual persons and events with his fictional protagonists, you'll enjoy this book.
February 21, 2018
Very entertaining adventure mix of fantasy and history. Our hero is Asie, a young half breed raised in Deseret with the Mormons but wanting to find his own people and his special gift. Washed away in a flood, he awakens beside a half drowned Tibetan nun. She is running from a life where she was kidnapped and sold in the US for whoring. They meet the intrepid explorer, Captain Burton and travel across the wilds of the Western United States, being hounded and threatened by a famous Mormon assassin.
Asie discovers his talent and love of music. He finds a mentor, Daniel who encourages him to play and learn. He also discovers his love for the celibate Sun Moon. Sun Moon gives us a beautiful view of life in the monastery where she lived before being captured and sold into slavery.Captain Burton adds panache and humor to the party.
The book concludes in beautiful Lake Tahoe. It carried me with it the whole way. Exciting, fun, quirky and satisfying.
Asie discovers his talent and love of music. He finds a mentor, Daniel who encourages him to play and learn. He also discovers his love for the celibate Sun Moon. Sun Moon gives us a beautiful view of life in the monastery where she lived before being captured and sold into slavery.Captain Burton adds panache and humor to the party.
The book concludes in beautiful Lake Tahoe. It carried me with it the whole way. Exciting, fun, quirky and satisfying.
May 7, 2018
Reading this book was a bit of a departure from my norm - generally East coast based and /or early 20th century historical fiction. Western American history is not particularly relevant to me personally but I thought I'd try something a little different. What a surprise!
This story was beautifully told, with well detailed historical references to places, events, and people. The contrasting aspects of the characters and their beliefs lent a heartwarming undercurrent to a very well developed story that I often found difficult to put down - and which I am now sorry has ended. I will surely be reading more by Win Blevins and am grateful for his talent.
This story was beautifully told, with well detailed historical references to places, events, and people. The contrasting aspects of the characters and their beliefs lent a heartwarming undercurrent to a very well developed story that I often found difficult to put down - and which I am now sorry has ended. I will surely be reading more by Win Blevins and am grateful for his talent.
March 13, 2018
This work is full of historical tidbits about the Utah Territory, Nevada and the country surrounding those points. The story of an orphaned Indigenous man, a captured Bon-Po nun and a British adventurer all running from a vengeful Mormon gun for hire sound like a fun premise but for me was just so tedious to read. The reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 2 is that the author went above and beyond fleshing out all the characters which is something that I find lacking in most novels these days. But sometimes there is just too much of a good thing.
June 26, 2018
A beautiful story; a song of the heart
A remarkable storyteller, Win Blevins takes you on a journey of self-discovery, adventure, history, and above all, love. Peopled with characters, some based on real people, some fictionalized, that are inter-woven through the history of the Mormons in Utah; the goldrush days in Virginia City, Nevada; the treatment of Chinese and Native Americans; and the untouched beauty and tranquility of Lake Tahoe. A truly beautiful story, both lyrical and musical in its telling.
A remarkable storyteller, Win Blevins takes you on a journey of self-discovery, adventure, history, and above all, love. Peopled with characters, some based on real people, some fictionalized, that are inter-woven through the history of the Mormons in Utah; the goldrush days in Virginia City, Nevada; the treatment of Chinese and Native Americans; and the untouched beauty and tranquility of Lake Tahoe. A truly beautiful story, both lyrical and musical in its telling.
January 15, 2019
Whimsical in a truthful way
This book is a whimsical story that uses great imagination to unleash many truths about the dark side of human nature. It explores the Wild West as it explores the base truths of racial injustices and how those prejudices affect the lives of everyone, especially the victims. The story also deals with the good side of human nature and offers love, compassion, acceptance, and goodness as the hope for mankind. Very insightful, thought provoking, and memorable.
This book is a whimsical story that uses great imagination to unleash many truths about the dark side of human nature. It explores the Wild West as it explores the base truths of racial injustices and how those prejudices affect the lives of everyone, especially the victims. The story also deals with the good side of human nature and offers love, compassion, acceptance, and goodness as the hope for mankind. Very insightful, thought provoking, and memorable.
March 6, 2022
I would not recommend this book. I considered not finishing a few times. Arrogant male author hiding behind false feelings of women's rights. Too much negative on women & explicitness for me, wrecks any story he may have. Too much sexual perversion & explicitly. Often thought the author wrote so often of it because of his own perversion. The story telling was erratic at times. Multiple times I was ready to quit the book without finishing. Verbage used sometimes was too modern for the storyline. I rated it a three but it might be only a two-star.
October 8, 2018
Wacky, Insightful and Makes You Think!
A fictional tale wrapped around historic people in real places that gives you a birds-eye view of life for many in the western USA during the Civil War period. You will learn loads about the Mormons, Chinese immigrants, Indian peoples, mining and miners, living at altitude, prostitutes and working in a mine etc.
Along with a story line that captivates, Blevins gives you feel human truths to ponder!
Great read!
A fictional tale wrapped around historic people in real places that gives you a birds-eye view of life for many in the western USA during the Civil War period. You will learn loads about the Mormons, Chinese immigrants, Indian peoples, mining and miners, living at altitude, prostitutes and working in a mine etc.
Along with a story line that captivates, Blevins gives you feel human truths to ponder!
Great read!
February 21, 2020
Started once and then something else distracted me; this time, I was captivated early on. The cast of characters is delightful, each with his or her own voice and world-view. Watching the convergence of the two young ones as skillfully told by the author was a master class in characterization and character development. We thought we knew, and hoped for, an outcome, and feared it wouldn't come to pass, and then ...well, you'll just have to read it and see!
February 26, 2018
Page turning read set in the wild west and combining historical facts and characters with fiction. The descriptive writing is wonderful and the characters have a life that makes the reader care about their story. One slight quibble; having read an account by one of the wives of Brigham Young, I felt that there was some revisionism going on here. Otherwise an engrossing read.
March 1, 2018
Wonderful blend of cultures come together in an enlightening historical setting.
Very well written to appeal to thinjers, histirisbs,
Well written to be enjoyed by historians, philosophers, and musicians of all ages. Perfect to be discussed in book clubs and reread again and again.
Very well written to appeal to thinjers, histirisbs,
Well written to be enjoyed by historians, philosophers, and musicians of all ages. Perfect to be discussed in book clubs and reread again and again.
March 16, 2018
Historical fiction that keeps you guessing
This book started a little slow but quickly became a hard to put down read. The cast of multi cultural outcasts illuminate the need we all have to belong, understand our own history and to find others that understand us. Just like these characters life does not always present a neat and easy path for us.
This book started a little slow but quickly became a hard to put down read. The cast of multi cultural outcasts illuminate the need we all have to belong, understand our own history and to find others that understand us. Just like these characters life does not always present a neat and easy path for us.
September 17, 2018
American Tale
What a charming narritive of what might have been once upon a time. The only thing that struck an off note was the insane tracking by the Porter fellow. Did he fancy himself an American Javert? And Sun Moon made some abrupt decisions toward the end of the book. Overall the book was lovely. Do yourself a favor and read it.
What a charming narritive of what might have been once upon a time. The only thing that struck an off note was the insane tracking by the Porter fellow. Did he fancy himself an American Javert? And Sun Moon made some abrupt decisions toward the end of the book. Overall the book was lovely. Do yourself a favor and read it.
October 21, 2018
What a colorful cast of characters in a colorful time and place (the gold rush). Including Mark Twain may have been over the top, but I was interested to learn about Richard Burton and Porter Rockwell (who seem to have been nearly as colorful in real life as in the book, although the actual events are fictional). The story has humor, adventure, and heart.
February 17, 2018
Interesting
This is the first book of this set I've read and it is certainly interesting. It kept me entertained and I enjoyed the ending! All I can say is that you can give it a try and I don't think you'll be disappointed. Enjoy!
This is the first book of this set I've read and it is certainly interesting. It kept me entertained and I enjoyed the ending! All I can say is that you can give it a try and I don't think you'll be disappointed. Enjoy!
Want to read
February 20, 2018Marvelous writing with lots of soul.
This story touches on many topics of the meaning of being human, with all its aspirations, fears and prejudices. Life doesn't always give what you want, but will often provides you with what you need.
This story touches on many topics of the meaning of being human, with all its aspirations, fears and prejudices. Life doesn't always give what you want, but will often provides you with what you need.
February 22, 2018
Beautiful depiction of the heart and spirit.
I loved the way the author wrote. Everyone will understand having "willy-woolies" in their stomach! Beautiful insight into how all humans are really the same inside; we just have different "outsides". I was sorry the story ended.
I loved the way the author wrote. Everyone will understand having "willy-woolies" in their stomach! Beautiful insight into how all humans are really the same inside; we just have different "outsides". I was sorry the story ended.
February 23, 2018
The Rock Child
I absolutely loved this book! And, it is one I just picked on a whim. I don’t read historical fiction as a rule, but I will be looking for more from this author.
Who would like it? Anyone who appreciates storytelling at its best.
I absolutely loved this book! And, it is one I just picked on a whim. I don’t read historical fiction as a rule, but I will be looking for more from this author.
Who would like it? Anyone who appreciates storytelling at its best.
February 24, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It took a while to really get involved but once I did I couldn't stop reading. The characters are well developed and complex. Although it is a little lengthy and "wordy" at times it is a very good read. If you like historical fiction this book is a good one.
March 4, 2018
I read this book under the title The Rock Child. I loved the book from start to finish. I was especially charmed by the beautiful, lyrical prose and the way Blevins used music to move the story along. A very creative piece of historical fiction.
March 11, 2018
History is the foundation of this story.
A wander in search of Hearth and Home; themes of our American history explored in a made-up account containing real persons and events. Very unusual and quite good.
A wander in search of Hearth and Home; themes of our American history explored in a made-up account containing real persons and events. Very unusual and quite good.
March 12, 2018
Wow, what a book. Starting with a child who didn't know where he was from, Mormans take him in. He meets up with several others and the dynamics between all of them and the story line are fascinating.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews