Algonquin Sunset

Algonquin Quest #3

by Rick Revelle

Set twelve years after the events of Algonquin Spring, this book follows the now-grown Anokì, his sister Pangì Mahingan, and the rest of their family as they face a new the Lakȟóta.

Genres: Historical Fiction

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 17, 2017

Reviews

[Toni Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #3, in the Algonquin Quest series

If you are interested in Algonquin history this series brings to life an era rarely written about. Inspired by his own heritage Mr. Revelle provides an accurate description of indigenous life in North America prior to contact with Europeans. The story unfolds in the early 1300’s and is told with an authentic indigenous languages sprinkled throughout. In addition, the Anishinaabe, Mi’kmag, Mohawk cultures, histories and traditions are explored.

Although the book is fiction, according to the author the way the characters live, hunt, harvest, their survival techniques and unique warfare are as accurate as he found during his long hours of research. In “Algonquin Sunset” two native tribes are introduced: the Anishinaabe and the powerful Lakhota. In alternate first person narratives, we follow Anoki, Zhashagi and Waste on their day to day life in a harsh land where they will encounter fierce enemy. The story is full of details of hunting, meal preparation, vision, moving camp and some characters go into long bouts of storytelling making the experience engaging. This novel is not character driven but rather an interesting recreation of Native American life. As I read the book, I had a very realistic feel and a sense of just how Aboriginal people lived, struggled to have enough to eat, keep warm and dry and the need to be alert to the constant threat of enemies.

Although it is always preferable to read series in sequence I did not feel lost to have started here. I melted right into the depiction of Algonquin life. It is so sad that so much knowledge of First Nations culture was lost as a result of residential schools….

I received this ARC for review from Dundurn.com via Netgalleys

[Kazia · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Twelve years after Mahingan was wounded..." WOUNDED! From an emotional perspective, I am absolutely furious with Mr. Revelle for leaving me in suspense at the end of the second novel only to begin this novel with my hope dashed upon finding out that Mahingan had actually died. DIED!

Tortured heart aside...

I enjoyed the tidbits of facts about the various peoples. It was a rich novel, in that sense. I found, per usual, that the writing was a bit repetitive, however. I liked that Mr. Revelle put the effort to included pronunciation guides in this book – helped a lot.

I was wondering if a map could be warranted? to visually see the paths and places the characters traveled and stayed so as to give perspective of distance.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book is for people who like reading about indigenous lifeways, hunting, pooping and farting, Big Foot, and highly graphic descriptions of violence and warfare. I most appreciated the ending poem and Afterward, which took very different tones from the rest of the book.

I prefer books that put a lot of emphasis into character development and thoughts behind actions, so this series wasn't a great fit for me. I do appreciate the author's concern about the loss of native languages, and he's correct that forcing native children into boarding schools for over 50 years decimated the cultures and languages of north American indigenous people as well as ripped families apart. His books in this series are imaginative recreations of life in the early 14th century. Maybe with his passion regarding more recent events, that could be the subject of his next fiction?

[Wayne Inkster · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this book, it lacked something that was in the first two. At times it felt like there was too much information being pushed through in a short period of time.