Trail of the Dead (Killer of Enemies #2) by Joseph Bruchac

She's on the run, just like her ancestor of many years before that she's named for.  She has a handful of people with her but they seem to think she knows what to do.  Lozen is as lost as they are but she's willing to lead them to a place she thinks she is safe where they can recuperate and rest as long as they need to.  At least, they will if they live long enough to get there...

Lee & Low Books sent me an ARC of this book for review (thank you).  It will be published this month.  If you haven't had the chance to read the first in this series, you should.  It was very good and sets the scene for what is going on in Book 2.

This is an apocalyptic world where mad scientists made monsters created monsters, the rich and immortal killed the poor, and it's hard to survive outside cities.  Lozen remembers the tales her father and uncle used to share around the campfires at night.  She feels a lot like those first ancestors visiting new places and trying to find a place they could live in peace.  As was then, it's not easy to do when you have enemies.

Mr. Buchac works Indian history and myth into his stories as well with fantastic monsters and a human killer who is also a monster.  Staying alive is hard.  Living with what you have to do to stay alive is even worse.

I live in the area where Geronimo roamed.  As the author described certain roads and trails, I recognized them.  It made the story even more real to me.  This is a cross between a history lesson and a tale of woe with a hopeful ending.  I enjoyed the read and would read more by this author.

Killer of Enemies by Joseph Bruchac

Mr. Bruchac normally writes about Native Americans.  The thought of how Indians would respond to a disaster that devastated whites intrigued me.  Would they be better equipped to survive or not?

Tu Books and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to download this ebook for review (thank you).  It was published September 17th, so get yourself a copy now.

I've read Mr. Bruchac's work before and his stories are all good.  I found this one to be exceptional because he has created a world in the future where almost everything has been genetically modified, even the people.

A large cloud comes in and covers the earth and all technology quit working.  That plot has been presented before but I like the way this author handled it.  Not only did equipment quit working, those people who had been enhanced died.  The only survivors of those elite folks were the ones who had not completed the full restoration of eternal life.  The four that are left are referred to as "The Ones" and they rule the part of the earth they live in.  They have military-like squads that enforce their rules and everyone else has a job they do for the common good and for the Ones.  As always, dictators are not kind people.  Irritate them and you're dead.  Admit you care about someone and they will use them for leverage and kill them if you don't obey.

In the midst of this chaos is Lozen, a seventeen year old Apache girl who is good at hunting.  Now she hunts the modified animals that hunt anyone outside the protective walls of their prison.  Her goal is to escape with her remaining family members.  It's impossible, but she's going to do it.

It was fascinating to read about Lozen's Apache culture influencing her present activities and how many of her assignments bring her closer to her heritage.  She's a strong, determined young woman and it was a pleasure to read her story.  I'd love to see a sequel.  I'm also buying my own copy of this book for my library.  I can read it again easily and see what I might have missed the first time.

Happy reading.