Medicine War

by Robert J. Conley

George Panther, a respected medicine man within the Cherokee nation, kills a white man who brought bad medicine into the territory, and begins to use his medicine to elude United States marshals and wage war against the enemy.

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Robert J. Conley was a Cherokee author and enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, a federally recognized tribe of American Indians. In 2007, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas.

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the battle of good vs Evil this book offers a winning story. I loved the good medicine man magic, wanted to be there helping the wife and family as well as be in the trees watching and hunting the evil, which came in the form of the U.S. law, brought on by evil magic. I hated the black magic and was thrilled any time something went wrong with the plan.

A horse race kicks off the story, Lighting a strong, fast horse belonging to the local medicine man wins, while another horse owner reels at the fact his dark house didn't win. while a mysteryous black covered man/figure with red eyes has been seen messing at the track,it appears black magic was in the air and used to hender other racers, but was not strong enough to overcome the good covering Lighting. However the evil magic doer is not willing to sit back and be the loser of the race, in any sense of the word. Soon life is taking a turn for the worse with many of the medicine mans people. Soon, George the medicine man, finds himself wanted by U.S. Marshalls who are out for blood, they stop at nothing beating local towns people for information. George uses his magic to the hilt as well as the protective shield of close family and friends. Mean while evil is working hard against him using a son to provide more trouble. The battle of magic wages on while friends of George fight with rifles from the hills and trees, in the end his friends form a plan to take George out of harms way and off the list of wanted men.

It had been a while sense I read a western of any kind and I'm glad I started with this one. fast paced and intresting. I am ready for another of Mr. Conley's books

[Jonny Phake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it. A little predictable at times, but still a great story.
All the characters seemed so believable to me. I really liked that there are 'goodies' and 'baddies' on both sides of the cultural divide.
I've seen a few movies, but never read a book based in this era.
Something that never occurred to me, was that many different First Nations cultures and languages would exist in the same town. So interpreters were needed not just for English translation.
Clearance shelf in a second hand bookshop! What a find. I'm now on the lookout for more from this author, and other books in this vein.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off great. Got boring as time went on.