People of the Thunder: Book Two of the Moundville Duology (North America's Forgotten Past)

By Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear

Book Overview

By 1300 AD, the Sky Hand people had crushed and enslaved the Albaamaha people and built their high-walled capital, Split Sky City, to dominate towns up and down the Black Warrior River. But a violent wind is brewing that may topple the city's mighty walls. Great armies are on the march, and a cunning new leader, Smoke Shield, has risen. He will lead the Sky Hand people either to stunning triumph or to bloody doom. Old White, Trader, and the mystical Two Petals are journeying across the Choctaw lands straight into the chaos. Old White, the Seeker, must play a delicate game of espionage. For Trader the slightest indiscretion--let alone the temptation of forbidden love--could lead to disaster. Two Petals, the Contrary, faces the toughest choice of all : She must betray herself and her friends to Smoke Shield or live forever in the backward grip of madness. And Spirit Power has laid a far deadlier trap for them in the rainbow colors just beneath the rolling surface of the Black Warrior River. A novel of desperate political intrigue and spiritual power, People of the Thunder once again demonstrates the Gears' mastery of American prehistory. Explore the ancestral heritage of the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Yuchi peoples as the majesty and genius of the vanished Mississippian mound builders' civilization comes to life.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765314398
• ISBN13: 9780765314390
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Forge Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.3" x 6.4"

Customer Reviews

Long Wait Justified

I have every single book from their Native American series. I am so glad that they made this particular story into two parts. The plot is rich, full and intricate. Each of the characters is interesting and well developed. The social interactions among the groups is interesting and believable. And the authors' love of the environment is there throughout the book. After reading People of the Weeping Eye, I waited impatiently for this book to be published. And it did not disappoint. They successfully wove all the plot lines together and tied most of them up in the end to give a satisfactory ending, while leaving a couple things unresolved for future development.

North American Series

All of the books in this series are wonderful, I cant put them down. When I read these books its almost like i'm there in that time period. They are superb writers and i am always looking for the next book to come out.

LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

i LOVE THESE BOOKS, THIS ONE WAS IN WONDERFUL CONDITION AND ARRIVED IN VERY GOOD TIME, SMOOTH TRANSACTION!!

A surprise ending

Second and final book of The People of the Weeping Eye; outcome of the Albaamaha and the Chikosi tension, the destiny of Two Petals, and the fate of Morning Dew. You will also find out who Trader really is and The Seeker's haunting secret. And as usual the ending will startled you and leave you aching for another ancient read. Again the Gears take you from present day on an adventurous journey thousands of years ago to ancient America around 1300 AD. The story revolves around the Mississippi Mound Builders of present day southern America. I really liked this book as the Gears have put excellent research into an intriguing story. I love how the authors mix adventure, action, mystery, and even a little bit of romance into one book. There is much insight on what life would have been life living among the Mississippi Mound Builders. I have read all of the Gear's Indigenous reads and found People of the Thunder is much like People of the Weeping Eye when it comes to violence. Both reads have war and a few murder scenes but nothing drastic, nothing so gruesome that will turn anyone's stomach. In fact the scenes were realistic and written in moderation. I just wanted to add this because too many times in the past I have read other readers complain about the amount of violence in the Gear's work which should not be a problem considering the era and culture these novels take place. The Gear's military knowledge is quite fascinating. You definitely must read People of the Weeping Eye first.

incredible Forgotten People saga

By 1300 in an area now known as Alabama and Mississippi, the Sky Hand People rule with an iron fist controlling territory for vast miles from their Split Sky City. Their Chief Flying Hawk is devious and ambitious with plans to expand the tribe's land. His nephew War Chief Smoke Shield is a brilliant merciless strategist, who expedites his uncle's plan. Together they are intelligent, abusive and deadly; complementing one another They attack their peaceful neighbors the Albaamaha tribe with a blood thirsty assault. The "most dangerous man alive" Old White the prophet, Trader a man with dark bloody secrets and the enigmatic female shaman Two Petals seek peace. To achieve peace in their time, the trio knows they must end the reign of terror of Flying Hawk and Smoke Shield. This completes the tale first started in THE PEOPLE OF THE WEEPING EYE. As always in the incredible Gear North American Forgotten People saga, readers obtain an insightful look at Native American culture and everyday living inside an exciting action-packed thriller. Although extremely but appropriately graphic with murder, rape, torture and the abuses of war, fans will relish the fifth Mississippian story as the Gear duet bring to life the early fourteenth century through fully developed characters leading to a confrontation that will determine whether peace or war will dominate the region. Harriet Klausner