“Blevins’ prose is razor sharp, his characters are clearly defined, and his heart, like so many, is at Wounded Knee. An outstanding novel.” —Booklist. From a three-time Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers Writer of the Year, this tale of lost faith and crowning redemption follows one American Indian’s spirit journey to heal his past and claim his future.“RavenShadow has the … future.“RavenShadow has the impact of a hurled war lance.” —Dee Brown, author of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Joseph Blue Crow discovers why he has spent his life in the shadow of the raven. And now, for the first time, he feels able to walk the good red road. He will dedicate his life to recording the personal stories of the descendants of the Lakota people who died at Wounded Knee. In the light of truth, he says, may all heal.
……………….
Blue was born to carry the sacred ways of the Sioux. But instead he has walked the road of booze, women, and the blues. Now he finds himself on railroad tracks with a train roaring toward his car. Only his best friend’s words can save him: “You got to go on the mountain.”
Blue starts going into the sweat lodge, and then onto the mountain to cry for a vision in the old way. There he sees that he has always lived in the shadow of a raven’s wing, a dark past he has tried ignore.
The student is ready, and the teacher appears. Blue joins a group called the Big Foot Memorial Riders in a challenging journey, riding along the route of Chief Big Foot and his people to Wounded Knee, where the band met a terrible end exactly one hundred years ago.
At the site of the massacre the Riders perform a ceremony to honor the dead and release the spirits of the Lakota people from what happened there. And Blue receives an astonishing gift: A medicine man helps him travel back a century so that he can actually see and feel his ancestors fall under fire of the guns.
After this extraordinary experience, Blue is able to move forward in his life with peace and purpose.
“No one can come away from this magnificent work without feeling humble and meditative. . . . Blevins beautifully and skillfully merges the past and the present.” —El Paso Times
Reviews
“Win Blevins has long since won his place among the West’s very best. RavenShadow adds a new dimension to reputation.” —Tony Hillerman
“An outstanding novel that people from age eight to eighty should read. . . . [Blevins] is a true storyteller in the tradition of Native people.” —Lee Francis, chair of the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers
“Blevins’ prose is razor sharp, his characters are clearly defined, and his heart, like so many, is at Wounded Knee. An outstanding novel.” —Booklist
“A strong, thoughtful story.” —Kirkus Reviews
“[RavenShadow] is destined to become an American classic. . . . [Blevins] raises the genre to a new level.” —Roundup Magazine
“Powerful and poetic.” —Tulsa World
“RavenShadow has the impact of a hurled war lance.” —Dee Brown, author of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
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Great book!
This was book was very interesting. It gave me some insight into Native American culture that I did not know. This book was hard for me to get into and stay with. Not my cup of tea but some one else might enjoy it.
Hard to read, spiritual.
Made me think, but somewhat brutal.
The story is written in first person and is so well researched that it feels like a memoir. The plot is very engaging and gives you a firsthand account of the massacre at Wounded Knee. If you’re interested in American Indian history and the struggles of native people today, you’ll enjoy this book.
didn’t finish this book because I found it slow moving and boring
I learned so much about Wounded Knee. Fiction but historically accurate
Excellent. Much more than native American, but the history and culture portions are vibrant. This is a study of the importance of the Spirit in every life.
Time travel into a historical moment makes this novel unique. The action moves from one century to another, as a man witnesses his ancestors dying in an unjust attack of the cavalry.
Example of “the winner writes the history”. It makes me more aware of current treatment of Native Americans.
I liked learning about the Lakota tribe!
Different outlook on life as a Native American
This is an interesting look at Native American life, written with insight and witt.
I have now read 3 books written by Win Blevin, All very interesting with lots of historical details.
Not what i thought it would be. Too bogged down for
my tastes
Gave deep insight into the Native American life past and present!
What a waste of my time!
This book started slowly then kept on building. Gave an insight into the tragic American Indian history.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I always like reading historical fiction, and this book delivers.
Totally hated this one and didn’t pursue it to the end. BOO & HISS!