Eagle Reviews

A truly great story offering an insight into the deplorable conditions imposed on the original Americans and their religion by the dominant society. We follow Kyle Charging Shield on his return from air combat in Vietnam and his return to his peoples' traditional religion. Meet many truly great Holy men and have their ceremonies explained. This is truly a great learning book that is at the same time fun to read.

This book accomplishes something many writers try but few succeed in doing. Historical fiction has traditionally provided a way for writers to weave real "factoids" together with personal recollection and fantasy. McGaa goes beyond that by weaving factual historical events into the visionary life-world of Native Americans. Even more remarkably, however, he is able to weave personal and historical recollection, vision, and dreams through time without losing the reader! As McGaa tracks the path of a modern-day warrior living his personal vision along the historical path of his ancestors, the reader is at once in today and yesterday, in both the "real" and the visionary world. This IS Mitakuye Oyasin! McGaa and his story are related and connected to the lived world of the Native American in a profound way that literally gives flesh and breath to history.

I enjoyed this book. The fiction woven in with the non-fiction. To me it takes a brave person to stand alone and fight for what they truly believe in. Charging Sheild fought in an unpopular war (Vietnam), then came home for fight for his People, their religion, beliefs, customs. Charging Sheild (Eagle Man) truly deserves the title Warrior. When you read this book, please read it with an open mind and heart.

The plot assumes that ships could land passengers at St. Helena in 1820 to interview Napoleon. Such was not the case. The British fired on any unauthorized ship attempting to approach the island including, in one case, a ship in distress. Other than that, it is an interesting tale.

This is the last novel, chronologically, in the Richard Sharpe series. Sharpe is separated from his wife and living in France with his latest mistress and their two children. His shortage of money indicates his wife in England has everything he stole in Spain. When the Countess of Mouromorto shows up to hire Sharpe to find her missing husband in Chile, his mistress is very receptive to the sight of the money (needed to improve her farm). Sharpe finds himself on his way to Chile with his old friend Patrick Harper, and makes the aforementioned stop at St. Helena to see Napoleon.

Sharpe and Harper become involved, unwillingly, in the civil war raging in Chile between the Spanish royalists and the rebels under O'Higgins (supported by Lord Cochrane). Sharpe's fortunes take some twists and turns, as does the plot. The involvement of Lord Cochrane in Chile is described fairly accurately, including the action at Valdivia. Sharpe, of course, gets his share of the spoils. One can hope that Sharpe will fare better with his latest mistress than he has with earlier women in his life. Having Sharpe acquire bags full of loot always creates the possibility of further action (after all, Lord Cochrane did invite him to go along, and we know from history that Lord Cochrane later served in Brazil and Greece).

Excellend adventure reading. I liked all Sharp stories.

Although I enjoy history and historical novels, I've never particularly cared for military history. But as anyone who has enjoyed the "Sharpe" television (& video) series will attest, there's so much more to these stories than mere military history. This is the first Bernard Cornwell novel I've read, and it certainly won't be the last. Without a doubt, fans of the show will not be disappointed with this novel; in fact, it is a must-read as it is the very last Sharpe novel, and it has not been dramatized (so far).

As for the story (without giving anything away--this is all in the prologue), it is 1820 and Sharpe & Harper are reunited for an expedition to Chile in search of an old friend. En route, they visit St. Helena and have the honour of meeting the imprisoned Napoleon, who entreats Sharpe to convey a gift to an admirer in Chile.

This novel is an absolute page-turner, and Cornwell is truly a master storyteller. Suffice it to say that no knowledge of military tactics or manoeuvres is necessary in order to fully enjoy this gem of a novel. Any action or suspense is seasoned with liberal doses of humour, and there is a most delightful array of entertaining characters. Lastly, the story is made all the more memorable by the historical afterword.

This novel is sure to please. Highly recommended to anyone who loves a thrilling, action-packed read, and particularly to aficionados of historical fiction.

This wonderful book had me in tears as I read. The writing is so fine that I'm surprised that it was not on someone's best-seller list. Switching between past and present is sometimes awkward and annoying to a reader, but Ms. Eagle gives equal emotional truth to both. I have read all of her books I can get my hands on and can only hope for more, more, more. It is, however, a testament to her talent that she is not churning out book after book based upon the same characters some writers develop in the first book of a "series" and in later books just put them in different situations. Ms. Eagle creates original, memorable characters in each story.

I haven't been disappointed in an Eagle book yet, and "Sunrise Song" lived up to my 5-star expectations again. Eagle weaves together past and present to create an unforgettable and poignant story of courage and love in the face of insurmountable obstacles. The descriptions of the events which take place in the Assylum for Insane Indians, though fascinating and educational, is profoundly sad, which may be unsettling to some readers. I turn the last page of an Eagle book with regret (that the story is over) but also with the deep satisfaction of a thoroughly good read and the feeling that I have learned a great deal about American Indian History. The fluidity of Eagle's writing is a pleasure to read, and no detail seems forced or extraneous - never a dull moment.

This book, as all Kathleen Eagle's I've read thus far, is hard to put down. With two parallel stories, you can generally put a book down when the stories switch back and forth. Not this one! Excellent!

"Be careful what you wish for---"

Lord Peter makes a light-hearted wager with friend Charles Parker. To win, he was must prove a murder was committed in the death of a wealthy, elderly lady who had terminal cancer. Said lady, Miss Agatha Dawson, had made no will, and the medical certificate said "heart failure."

True, her young doctor was unhappy about the situation. He had thought Miss Dawson's death entirely too sudden and had made strenuous inquiries, so many in fact, the people of her village turned against him, and he had to give up his practice there. In fairness, it must be stated that the good doctor did seem rather egotistical, and perhaps he was just miffed that his prognosis of six more months was a shade too optimistic.

Further investigation divulges that Miss Dawson's young ex-servant has died mysteriously of a heart attack in a meadow. The more Lord Peter investigates, the more the injuries and mysteries pile up. A young lawyer has a near miss, Lord Peter is drugged, a young village lady is murdered while vacationing by persons unknown, and Lord Peter's associate is held hostage.

Lord Peter wins his wager, but at what a cost! The reader is left with an interesting moral dilemma. Is it better to let a complacent murderer be to avert the consequences of his or her obsession?

This is one of the earlier Lord Peter Wimsey books. It has a great deal of banter---what some would call silly dialogue, and poor Charles, Peter's brother-in-law to be and Scotland Yard detective, looks a bit like a stuffy fool. But in this book the mystery is real and the stakes are high. This will be good news to some Sayers readers who feel cheated when they find nothing of import has happened at all! I was relieved to note "Unnatural Death" is pre-Harriet Vane, as I find her perfection tiresome; other readers may miss her. This is a complex tale and will keep you turning the pages.

I turned to Dorothy L. after exhausting most of Agatha Christie's works (yes, she wrote about eighty novels and plays, and I've read the majority of the novels, primarily the Poirot and Marple tales, as they are my favorites). I was pleased by Sayers's methodical and thourough spinning of a detective story, as well as the charm and wit of her hero, Lord Peter Wimsey.

Unnatural Death has become one of my favorite Wimsey tales. It has the suspense and threat of danger that some of her other books lack. Wimsey and Parker's unravelling of an intricately woven plan of crime is really a literary feat.

If you felt that suspense and chills were lacking in some of the other Sayers tales, give this one a shot. I will grant you, it takes a little while to dig into this story before it really gets going, but it is well worth the effort!

This one did it for me.

Dorothy Sayers had such a brilliant mind, to dream up this one. There is a brooding and tense atmosphere to this novel that is unrelenting and in every sense horrifying. You get the feeling that your worst thoughts about what is happening are continuously being confirmed. Wimsey certainly finds himself in some very eerie territory here.

The characters, the plot, the tension, the humor and the pace are all fabulous.

What more can I say. Pick it up right NOW!

I re-read this book at least three times a year. Clara and Jack are so great together. I love how she grows up through everything that happens. She finds out what a strong and courageous woman she is. Jack is the classic tragic hero. This is the best of all of Robards novels.

"Night Magic" has just the right blend of humor and danger. Romance writer Clara Winston (with her cat Puff) are mistakenly mixed up with CIA agent Jack McCain who is on the run from the KGB. While Jack is very good looking he's not exactly Prince Charming. I really enjoyed this book. If you give it a try and like it, try Karen Robards "Walking after Midnight" as well.

There is nothing slow about this book. It starts out with action. Clara is a romance author, single, and appears to be settled in her dull and quiet life. But all that changes one night when the KGB show up at her home breaking down her door wanting to know where he is- where Magic Dragon is hiding. Her lastest book Magic Dragon is dedicated to the real Magic Dragon (her cat "poof"). She is now on the run for her life with a man she has never met but is thought to be her lover, Jack McClain, code name Magic Dragon - a CIA agent that is on the run for his life after coming across information of Russian spies in government positions. Jack is rough and tough, military all the way, 38 and single. He has had his share of women- and his "type" has never been like Clara- or has it and he just didn't know it. There is never a dull moment in this story. The cat plays an important part in the story, too. If you are a cat lover you'll enjoy it. Lots of fun, adverture, romance... I highly recommend it! Being my first Karen Robards book to read- I look forward to reading more by her.

Kathleen Eagle has crafted an unusual story of tragedy and the healing power of love. I absolutely got swept away by the story that evolves around Jesse Brown Wolf and Angela Prescott. The tragedies that brought them together caught at my heart.

The only thing I would have liked to seen done differently was the way Angela and her former lover's final scene was handled. This scene was the only one that didn't add up to the level of intensity that it deserved. Everything else was excellent.

I'm anxious to read more of Kathleen's work.

THE NIGHT REMEMBERS reminded me a bit of the movie "Sleeping with the Enemy". It had a slow, easy style that is chracteristically Eagle. There was lots of plot, characterization and good "causes". Jesse and Angela had great chemistry! This book stresses the importance of FAMILY, even unconventional ones, as long as they are caring people. I like Kathleen Eagle very much and will return to her when I want a substantial plot and a slower, easier style.

This Kathleen Eagle romance captivated me from page one and didn't let me go until the last page. Angela is on the run from a bad relationship, starting a new life in the city. A charming street urchin, Tommy T, becomes her protector and guide. After Angela is beaten by thugs, a mysterious man with extraordinary eyes shelters her and watches over her. Who is this night visitor, whom she calls Jewel Eyes? By day she befriends Jesse Brown Wolf, a handsome Lakota carpenter with secrets of his own. And then there's Dark Dog, a superhero who single-handedly disarms streetkids and rescues Tommy T from danger. Could they all be the same man? "The Night Remembers" is a complex web of intrigue, drug deals, and satisfying, passionate romance.

Mercedes Lackey can't write badly, but she's written better stuff than this. As this series continues into the third book, we see a diminution of creative fire. There's no real conflict, no character development, no danger, no hard choices. Still, this continuation of the story of the Free Bards will be welcomed by all those who have lost themselves in the magic of the earlier books and want the adventure to continue. With the caveat above in mind - it's an honest read for the money. If you liked the earlier books, you'll enjoy this one. Go for it.

The novel is mislabeled as book three in the series. It is actually the fourth book, following "A Cast of Corbies" and making references back to that novel. It is also incorrectly titled (Nightingale should be singular). The Gypsy Free Bard Nightingale is sent from Kingsford to Lyonarie to carry out an investigation of the problems in the kingdom. Hasperus and T'fyrr (from book one, "The Lark and the Wren") are reintroduced. The story switches back and forth between T'fyrr and Nightingale, and eventually brings them together. The love affair between them is well written without being pornographic. Nightingale assumes a dual personality that takes her into both the lower servants' kitchen and the king's private apartment at the palace. She and T'fyrr become involved in court intrigue that places their lives in danger, but they have an assortment of allies. Events reach a climax as the main villain is exposed, but the novel somehow seems to lack an afterword. T'fyrr reappears in "Four and Twenty Blackbirds," but Nightingale seems to fade away after this novel. Some reviewers have placed the following book, "Four and Twenty Blackbirds," in the Free Bard series. While it uses some of the same characters and settings, that book is really not about the Free Bards.

Mercedes Lackey has not written a better book in the Bardic Choices Series. This book is filled with romance, humor, action, and a well written plot. It leaves you wanting more all through the book

A great book about F-15E pilots experience in that war. It does not however specifically tell you anything much about how the aircraft performs or how it functioned in the gulf war out side of the pilots personal accounts. If you are interested in pilots war time experience - great. If , like me, you are more interested about the aircraft itself you might want to consider some thing else.

Very good description of aircraft's weapons systems. It really changed my opinion of the War in the Gulf. I thought these pilots had it easy but it was a tough hard job flying these machines over extremely hazardous conditions.

A good companion for this book is the Jane's F-15E computer flight simulation. You'll have an excellent hands on experience of what it's like to fly one of the finest Air Force Jets in the inventory.

I have read some books about flight, this is the one make me a "deep" image in my brain in each battle scene it describes. No need to say more, all flight readers or hardcore flight simulation fans can't miss it. One word to say "Cool" :-)

I have always liked Keillor's radio shows and was looking forward to reading WLT a Radio Romance which was given to me by a friend. If I had not wanted to offend my friend who recommended it highly I would never have finished it. I thought it was one of the most gratuitously crude books I have read in a long time. Perhaps I am just a thick skinned New Yorker but I found nothing touching or sweet about it. None of these mitfits evoked my sympathy; they all deserved each other. The only really comical chapter was the final one which made me laugh out loud. But then perhaps I was just happy to have finally reached the end of a very dark, depressing, disappointing and disgusting book.

"WLT" offers an entertaining blend of humor and pathos, with a memorable cast of characters. The story chronicles the life of a Midwestern radio station from the early days of radio to the advent of television, which brought about radio's downfall. "WLT" is a marvelous period piece which transports the reader back to radio's golden age which, in many respects, was also America's golden age. I would highly recommend this book to any reader, as it undoubtedly ranks among Keillor's best.

Garrison Keillor is better known for his Lake Wobegon stories, adapted from his radio monologues. These are charming enough, but I've always preferred his stories about radio, such as those found in "Happy to Be Here" (e.g., "WLT, the Edgar Era," "The Tip-Top Club," etc.).

In "WLT: a Radio Romance," Keillor reworks some of these stories into a novel telling the story of two Minneapolis restaurant owners who start a radio station to promote their struggling business, and see it through from the mid-1920's to the dawn of television - the Golden Age of Radio. Alongside this are tales of others, including a boy from rural North Dakota whose fascination with radio draws him, without his even knowing it, toward a career in broadcasting.

By Keillor's standards, this is a somewhat raunchy book. There is lots of strong language (more than enough to make a Minnesota mom blush), and planty of sexual shenanigans. But there is still a sweetness and an innocence that you might expect from Keillor. And the book is so well written, it really pulls you in. Of all Keillor's books, this one is easily my favorite.

Although John Ensor Harr is not the American Revolution's answer to Hilary Mantel, and "Dark Eagle" lacks the fluid, graceful and intense prose of Mantel's French Revolution-era story "A Place of Greater Safety," Mr. Harr's novel is, however, an interesting and worthwhile piece of historical fiction. It did take me a while to get into the book, due to the clunky pacing and rapid changing of viewpoints- I confused many of the minor characters since many of them are not particularly well characterized. However, unlike the gentleman before me, I had no trouble with the upper-class Loyalist tone of the story. I actually find it refreshing- so many books set in this time period are filled with flag-waving hokum a la "The Patriot" or "Johnny Tremaine," that it's nice to see something that DOESN'T portray the American Revolution as the apex of goodness and light! (I challenge anybody who does think this way to read chapter 4 of Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States.") I thought, all in all, Mr. Harr very sensitively portrayed Benedict Arnold's virtues and failings. The secondary characters- the sophisticated yet clueless redcoat John Andre and the manipulative society belle Peggy Shippen- are fascinating as well. All of them- Arnold, Andre and Peggy- make a wonderful trio, and seeing how they all destroy themselves through lust, pride and greed is the stuff worthy of a Balzac novel. In the end, "Dark Eagle" is about the destructive power of money and pride. There is no place for the conceits of American propaganda in this book; it is devoted to the study of the rise and fall of a proud, talented and- ultimately- pathetic individual. Anyone who would not find this interesting, please look elsewhere.

If you like historical fiction and/or have an interest in knowing what made Benedict Arnold's name synonymous for the word "traitor," Dark Eagle is a book you'll definitely enjoy. Harr demonstrates a strong ability to weave many interesting and little known facts about the Revolutionary War, Benedict Arnold and many other historical figures into a well-written and, at times, suspenseful work of fiction. Further, as some other reviewers have noted, Dark Eagle is rich in visual imagery that makes you feel you are right in the middle of the action. Dark Eagle should find a large audience among those who are fans of books about history, war and even suspense.

I would say about two months ago when I visited Amazon.com to order a book to send to a friend of mine, a recommendation popped up. The recommendation was John Ensor Harr's "Dark Eagle." I must say that the recommendation was right on the nose.

Harr's novel is a masterpiece. In brilliant strokes he painted an accurate and even-handed portrait of the American Revolution and of that tragically reviled character, Benedict Arnold.

Tragically reviled is the term of art and is so because, unless you believe in historic inevitability, his fate did not have to turn out like it did. Harr's portrayal of Arnolds wrangling with the Continental Congress provides great insight into the role and function of that body. The awe and power of Congress' issuance of the Declaration of Independence belies the fact it was an extremely weak body with very little power. The book does well to portray the struggles between Congress and Genereal Washington, between Congress and its citizens, between the newly formed States and Congress, between General Washington and the States and finally, how all of those struggles were inter-related and formed the basis and antagonism for the struggle between Washington and the British. It is against this backdrop that citizens and soldiers like Benedict Arnold had to deal with the Continental Congress and, in the case of Arnold, makes it all the more understandable why he found such difficulty in dealing with Congress.

Second, Harr's portrayal of the Continental Army's Officer Staff provides another source for Benedict Arnold's tragic fall. For those who may wonder whether General Horatio Gates truly was the destructive force for the army that John Ensor Harr made him out to be, he was. His portrayal reminds me of a line from "The Patriot" (an enjoyable, but not truly accurate depiction of the American Revolution) when Mel Gibson asked cynically, "Where's your General Gates now?" after Gates' rout in Trenton.

The intellectual fulcrum of the book actually appears towards the end of the novel: (pg. 431)

Arnold: What do they call it [changing one's allegiance]
Peggy: It depends on who wins
Arnold: What do they call it until someone wins
Peggy: They call it treason.

"They call it treason." One should always bear in mind the fact that we all accept today the proposition as true that what occured upon American soil beginning in 1775 was a revolution fought by patriots. However, in 1779 the issue was not at all clear. Had the "revolution" failed; had Congress been captured and Washington's army defeated, those same patriots who drafted the Declaration of Independence would now be judged as traitors.

"Dark Eagle" is as much historical fiction as it is a good old fashion morality play and demands that the reader make the same hard choices that Benedict Arnold made and in so doing, allows the reader to truly judge Arnold.