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The Southeast Series #1
Calling Crow
1555. Calling Crow is haunted by his recurring dream of the Destroyer who will one day lay waste to his village. Then Spanish colonial slavers from the island of Hispaniola arrive on the shores of the Southeast, lands that have been home to the Muskogee people for generations. Calling Crow and another brave are taken and bound into slavery. Life in the gold pits and slave camps is humiliating and brutal, but Calling Crow refuses to let them break his spirit. Aided by a kindly priest, Calling Crow vows to learn the language and ways of an overwhelmingly powerful enemy in order to eventually save his own people. But first he must regain his own freedom.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2010
285 people are currently reading
515 people want to read
About the author
Paul Clayton
13 books76 followersPaul Clayton is the author of a three-book historical series on the Spanish Conquest of the Floridas ― Calling Crow, Flight of the Crow, and Calling Crow Nation (Putnam/Berkley), and a novel, Carl Melcher Goes to Vietnam (St. Martin’s Press), based on his own experiences. Carl Melcher Goes to Vietnam was a finalist at the Frankfurt eBook Awards, along with works by Joyce Carol Oates (Faithless) and David McCullough (John Adams). Paul's historical novel, White Seed: The Untold Story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke, was a semifinalist in the Amazon ABNA awards, a Readers Choice Bronze Medalist, an Honorable Mention at the San Francisco Book Festival, and a Finalist at the International Book Awards.
Paul writes sci-fi/fantasy as well, his latest works include: Strange Worlds, In the Shape of a Man, Van Ripplewink, Crossing Over, and Talk to a Real, Live Girl.
Paul currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his son and daughter.
Paul writes sci-fi/fantasy as well, his latest works include: Strange Worlds, In the Shape of a Man, Van Ripplewink, Crossing Over, and Talk to a Real, Live Girl.
Paul currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his son and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 8, 2011
I won a copy on Goodreads First Reads.
There was nothing wrong with the story concept.Unfortunately I could not get invested in the characters or their stories.The first half of the book did not seem to flow very well.Instead of being a smoothly flowing, the story resembled a collection of snapshots from the story.While these snapshots were of the main points,they did not let the reader get to establish a connection with the characters.Therefore their stories just did not catch me and I just found myself not caring one way or the other about them.
It is quite possible others might be able to like this story much more than I did.Like I said, it did not catch me.But it was a decent story and the rest of the trilogy could grow to make an excellent story overall.Unfortunately I will not be following it.
There was nothing wrong with the story concept.Unfortunately I could not get invested in the characters or their stories.The first half of the book did not seem to flow very well.Instead of being a smoothly flowing, the story resembled a collection of snapshots from the story.While these snapshots were of the main points,they did not let the reader get to establish a connection with the characters.Therefore their stories just did not catch me and I just found myself not caring one way or the other about them.
It is quite possible others might be able to like this story much more than I did.Like I said, it did not catch me.But it was a decent story and the rest of the trilogy could grow to make an excellent story overall.Unfortunately I will not be following it.
December 12, 2011
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Just like most of the other books I win in giveaways, I probably wouldn't have bought it. So I'm glad I won it so I had the chance to read it.
I really admire Calling Crow. Through all the things he is thrown into and has to endure he stays true to himself. I think this was a good look into the way the natives saw the people from the other countries. Their "thunder sticks", "demon men" and the "four legged creatures". I'm sure it was all very confusing. He is forced to leave his loved ones and is thrown into a pit and treated as a slave while he is actually a chief. I liked that there were a few likeable characters. Father Luis was kind to Calling Crow and tried to help him and he met Juana there which I was thankful for. My heart sank for him when she was sent back to the island without him and then his own people cast him out. I am looking forward to the next book to see if he gets a chance to be with Juana again and what will happen to the Bishop and Calling Crow's people.
I really admire Calling Crow. Through all the things he is thrown into and has to endure he stays true to himself. I think this was a good look into the way the natives saw the people from the other countries. Their "thunder sticks", "demon men" and the "four legged creatures". I'm sure it was all very confusing. He is forced to leave his loved ones and is thrown into a pit and treated as a slave while he is actually a chief. I liked that there were a few likeable characters. Father Luis was kind to Calling Crow and tried to help him and he met Juana there which I was thankful for. My heart sank for him when she was sent back to the island without him and then his own people cast him out. I am looking forward to the next book to see if he gets a chance to be with Juana again and what will happen to the Bishop and Calling Crow's people.
July 25, 2018
I found this absolutely enthralling, it's such an amazing story about an amazing man, it's a sad but beautiful tale about a Native American man who is tested in many ways throughout his journey. He loses his freedom, his family, then finally makes it back only to be shunned. Gripping and emotional tale, I really enjoyed the story, writing and narration. Great story! Would definitely recommend it, both for writing and narration.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
January 1, 2016
Author Paul Clayton has written presumably autobiographical fiction about the war in Vietnam as well as his own brand of insightful urban fantasy about modern American life. But another favorite subject for him is the interface between Europeans and Native Americans along the southeast coast in the sixteenth century. My first exposure to his work was
White Seed
, which concerns the lost colony at Roanoke. Calling Crow is set in that era, just a few hundred miles to the south. These days, most of my consumption of books involves audio productions, and for this one I am indebted to the generosity of narrator Kevin Arthur Harper (who incidentally also produced the audio version of my own book).
Calling Crow is just entering manhood as a prominent member of a tribe living in an area that would later be known as South Carolina. He has disturbing dreams or visions of the coming arrival of a faceless "Destroyer," and he's also concerned by glimpses of mysterious "cloud boats" that occasionally appear at some distance out on the ocean. Could the two things be linked? He decides to find out.
He learns, to his chagrin, that the cloud boats are manned by mostly-evil people from the other side of the water--people who spread fatal diseases and who take Calling Crow and others like him as slaves to toil on an island in the Caribbean. But which of them is the dreaded Destroyer?
Having been abducted away from his tribe and from the young bride he had just selected, Calling Crow swallows his rage and stays alive by learning the language of his hated captors and forming relationships, notably with a saintly priest and with a woman who schools him in the art of compromise.
But then an opportunity arises to return to the mainland, and just possibly even to escape and resume the life he'd once known. Does that life still exist? What of this new woman, whom he has learned to love, and who appears to be comfortable among the Spaniards? Calling Crow begins to face far more choices than he had imagined possible. And again, where is the Destroyer lurking?
As when reading White Seed, I wondered about the accuracy of the portrayals. That's probably impossible to gauge, but the characters are plausible and that has to be enough. It's a memorable story, about a slice of time that has attracted relatively little attention in historical fiction. I look forward to reading or hearing the sequel!
Calling Crow is just entering manhood as a prominent member of a tribe living in an area that would later be known as South Carolina. He has disturbing dreams or visions of the coming arrival of a faceless "Destroyer," and he's also concerned by glimpses of mysterious "cloud boats" that occasionally appear at some distance out on the ocean. Could the two things be linked? He decides to find out.
He learns, to his chagrin, that the cloud boats are manned by mostly-evil people from the other side of the water--people who spread fatal diseases and who take Calling Crow and others like him as slaves to toil on an island in the Caribbean. But which of them is the dreaded Destroyer?
Having been abducted away from his tribe and from the young bride he had just selected, Calling Crow swallows his rage and stays alive by learning the language of his hated captors and forming relationships, notably with a saintly priest and with a woman who schools him in the art of compromise.
But then an opportunity arises to return to the mainland, and just possibly even to escape and resume the life he'd once known. Does that life still exist? What of this new woman, whom he has learned to love, and who appears to be comfortable among the Spaniards? Calling Crow begins to face far more choices than he had imagined possible. And again, where is the Destroyer lurking?
As when reading White Seed, I wondered about the accuracy of the portrayals. That's probably impossible to gauge, but the characters are plausible and that has to be enough. It's a memorable story, about a slice of time that has attracted relatively little attention in historical fiction. I look forward to reading or hearing the sequel!
November 23, 2011
This was another win for me from the Goodreads' giveaways and it was another excellent book. It is the first book in a trilogy on the arrival of the Spaniards in southeastern America and it's affect on the local peoples. The main character is Calling Crow who is trying to save his people from the Spaniards. I'm always amazed at the inhumanity and cruelty of the Spaniards of this time period and I, fleetingly think that we've grown as a people and wouldn't treat other that we don't understand, or who have different beliefs, like that today. Then I remember all of the terrible things that have happened in recent years in the name of someone's religion or country and wonder if we have grown at all. That all by itself is a good reason to read this book. Are we heading down that same road again?
March 14, 2013
Historical fiction gives me a chance to pretend I was alive in a former time. To picture and try to feel what it would've been like. That's why most of us read it, I think. Also, to observe the lessons that were learned and built upon in future generations. Paul Clayton wrote an "illustration" that encompassed the lives of Indians living in South Carolina In the 1500s, and took the main character, Calling Crow, all the way to Europe and back again. It was a quick trip that spanned many years, but it kept me interested. It appeared to be very well researched, and with the author's added imagination, I was able to empathize and live right along with the main character. I'm going to read the second book in the series.
June 28, 2020
The Muskogee Native American people and several other tribes lived along the shores of the southeast U.S. By 1555 they still had not encountered the Spanish until "cloud ships" were sighted off the coast. Calling Crow, a young man slated to become the next Muskogee chief, goes to investigate and is captured along with another warrior. They are taken to the island of Hispaniola as slaves, and put to work digging in gold pits. Although there is a kindly priest who tries to help, the treatment of indigenous slaves is brutal and humiliating. Contending for several years with unimaginable cruelty, Calling Crow improves his status working for the priest and meets other indigenous peoples of the island, including his lover Juana. He learns Spanish language and ways, vowing to escape and return to save his Muskogee people. When he does escape, he is unable to bring Juana along, since the Spanish bishop has claims on her.
Calling Crow returns to his village and although initially he is welcomed, his strange ideas soon alienate the villagers who cannot imagine such people, creatures, and weapons exist. No one takes his warnings seriously, and his former sweetheart has married his friend who is now chief. Then an illness creeps into the village (smallpox) and they figure Calling Crow brought it, so he must run for his life. The story ends with Calling Crow reaching two realizations: he no longer fits into the culture of his former people, and his destiny lies again with Spaniards and Juana.
This telling of indigenous experiences after European contact is fascinating and appalling. It's not an easy read, but becomes compelling as Calling Crow's inimitable spirit carries him forth. In a mystical irony, he realizes he is "The Destroyer" he saw in a vision quest, and was trying to protect his people against. Unknowingly he carries smallpox infection that devastates the village. Perhaps most tragic is facing the fact that once exposed to European culture, native peoples can never return to their former lives. The next episodes continue Calling Crow's saga.
Calling Crow returns to his village and although initially he is welcomed, his strange ideas soon alienate the villagers who cannot imagine such people, creatures, and weapons exist. No one takes his warnings seriously, and his former sweetheart has married his friend who is now chief. Then an illness creeps into the village (smallpox) and they figure Calling Crow brought it, so he must run for his life. The story ends with Calling Crow reaching two realizations: he no longer fits into the culture of his former people, and his destiny lies again with Spaniards and Juana.
This telling of indigenous experiences after European contact is fascinating and appalling. It's not an easy read, but becomes compelling as Calling Crow's inimitable spirit carries him forth. In a mystical irony, he realizes he is "The Destroyer" he saw in a vision quest, and was trying to protect his people against. Unknowingly he carries smallpox infection that devastates the village. Perhaps most tragic is facing the fact that once exposed to European culture, native peoples can never return to their former lives. The next episodes continue Calling Crow's saga.
January 22, 2022
I was gifted this book as an Audible audiobook in return for a review. Firstly, my review takes into account the narration because of the format I 'read' it in.
I found the narrator's voice quite difficult to listen to at first, although I eventually got used to it. He did repeatedly mispronounce a lot of words, which really jarred and interrupted my enjoyment of the story somewhat.
The story itself was obviously extremely well researched, and I did enjoy it, although sometimes it seemed a little disjointed - it often seemed to jump from one scene to another without a sense of 'flow', and I often found myself rewinding to see if I'd missed something.
Calling Crow the character was quite engaging. It was interesting experiencing the upheavals to his world from his relatively primitive point of view. The clash of cultures was starkly described, as 16th century Europeans with sailing ships and firearms, steel armour and swords - and of course their dominating, accquisitive religious practices - suddenly appear amid an essentially stone-age culture that had remained unchanged for thousands of years.
I think I would have preferred to read more about the tribal way of life and culture and perhaps less about the more modern, religiously-fanatical Spanish invaders. At a guess, 70% of the story is set after contact with the Spanish invaders rather than before, and I would have liked to have had the chance to spend more time in the tribal village before the story changed, and for me this early part of the book worked better than the later chapters after Calling Crow had been captured.
The Spanish political intrigues I found a little disconnected and hard to engage with. In places it did feel like I was reading fan fiction based on James Clavell's Shogun.
I'm a great fan of historical fiction and I am grateful to Paul Clayton for offering me the chance to enter the world of Calling Crow. It's not a period of history that I might have chosen, so this book gave me an opportunity to learn a little about a time and place in history that I would have otherwise missed out on.
I will at some point continue the story with Flight of the Crow, so I'll review that title in the near future.
I found the narrator's voice quite difficult to listen to at first, although I eventually got used to it. He did repeatedly mispronounce a lot of words, which really jarred and interrupted my enjoyment of the story somewhat.
The story itself was obviously extremely well researched, and I did enjoy it, although sometimes it seemed a little disjointed - it often seemed to jump from one scene to another without a sense of 'flow', and I often found myself rewinding to see if I'd missed something.
Calling Crow the character was quite engaging. It was interesting experiencing the upheavals to his world from his relatively primitive point of view. The clash of cultures was starkly described, as 16th century Europeans with sailing ships and firearms, steel armour and swords - and of course their dominating, accquisitive religious practices - suddenly appear amid an essentially stone-age culture that had remained unchanged for thousands of years.
I think I would have preferred to read more about the tribal way of life and culture and perhaps less about the more modern, religiously-fanatical Spanish invaders. At a guess, 70% of the story is set after contact with the Spanish invaders rather than before, and I would have liked to have had the chance to spend more time in the tribal village before the story changed, and for me this early part of the book worked better than the later chapters after Calling Crow had been captured.
The Spanish political intrigues I found a little disconnected and hard to engage with. In places it did feel like I was reading fan fiction based on James Clavell's Shogun.
I'm a great fan of historical fiction and I am grateful to Paul Clayton for offering me the chance to enter the world of Calling Crow. It's not a period of history that I might have chosen, so this book gave me an opportunity to learn a little about a time and place in history that I would have otherwise missed out on.
I will at some point continue the story with Flight of the Crow, so I'll review that title in the near future.
July 16, 2017
Innocence can kill and destroy.
Calling Crow, is a southeastern American Indian whose tribe lives close to the extreme southern portion of Florida. There are several small tribes in there and Calling Crow is in line to be Chief next. He has a teenage girlfriend whom he intends to marry when she is old enough. Then he hears about some white people in boats off the coast and it never dawns on him that they could be hostile. Actually, they are Spanish seeking Indians for slaves. He sees a white man for the first time and a horse and rider. Because of their naivete, the y go to meet the Spanish as they come ashore, who then take them captive. The Spanish also have guns and there are several priests with them. Calling Crow is a big man, so he is over-worked and abused; he is almost beaten to death and he is intelligent and he manages to survive torture and abuse by using his intelligence. The author does an excellent job of bringing in the Catholic priests main intent is to bring them to their God, and Calling Crow is astonished to discover there seems to be more than one God. This book is excellently written, it has depth and is excellent as a background for the history of this era.
There are other books following Calling Crow for those who are interested. I think this is a great read and I recommend it highly.
Calling Crow, is a southeastern American Indian whose tribe lives close to the extreme southern portion of Florida. There are several small tribes in there and Calling Crow is in line to be Chief next. He has a teenage girlfriend whom he intends to marry when she is old enough. Then he hears about some white people in boats off the coast and it never dawns on him that they could be hostile. Actually, they are Spanish seeking Indians for slaves. He sees a white man for the first time and a horse and rider. Because of their naivete, the y go to meet the Spanish as they come ashore, who then take them captive. The Spanish also have guns and there are several priests with them. Calling Crow is a big man, so he is over-worked and abused; he is almost beaten to death and he is intelligent and he manages to survive torture and abuse by using his intelligence. The author does an excellent job of bringing in the Catholic priests main intent is to bring them to their God, and Calling Crow is astonished to discover there seems to be more than one God. This book is excellently written, it has depth and is excellent as a background for the history of this era.
There are other books following Calling Crow for those who are interested. I think this is a great read and I recommend it highly.
August 13, 2018
I love historical fiction that gives voice to the voiceless, so this appealed to me. Calling Crow is a Native American man, torn from his home and made a slave by the invading Spanish. To him, these pale, bearded people are like aliens, with their "demon dogs" (horses) and "thundersticks" (guns). One of their priests (inspired by the real-life Bartolomé de las Casas?) tries to protect the natives against inhumane treatment, but his protests fall on deaf ears among his fellow Spaniards. Calling Crow is admirable and relatable, and his story brings to life an era of history that is too often shown from the viewpoint of the conquerors rather than the conquered.
Unfortunately, the book is in need of a good editor: I caught a few typos and plenty of filler words (e.g. "very", "he saw that"). It's a shame, because the underlying writing and story is solid. There is also an incident where the good Father Luis talks to another priest about something he heard in confession, mentioning the confessor by name. This breaks one of his most serious priestly vows and is out of character.
Despite these issues, I enjoyed the book and will be reading the next in the series.
Unfortunately, the book is in need of a good editor: I caught a few typos and plenty of filler words (e.g. "very", "he saw that"). It's a shame, because the underlying writing and story is solid. There is also an incident where the good Father Luis talks to another priest about something he heard in confession, mentioning the confessor by name. This breaks one of his most serious priestly vows and is out of character.
Despite these issues, I enjoyed the book and will be reading the next in the series.
July 25, 2017
Educational ... but meh!
This is the story of a young Indian Chief who is captured and enslaved by the Spanish on Hispaniola. The book is historical fiction and describes barbaric treatment of the slaves by many including the Church and other Indians, and thinly disguises de Soto in the Spanish quest for gold. I learned a lot and have verified these horrendous practices by the Spanish but I can't say I enjoyed the book. The ending seemed a bit abrupt and seems to attribute a contrived thought process to the Chief.
This is the story of a young Indian Chief who is captured and enslaved by the Spanish on Hispaniola. The book is historical fiction and describes barbaric treatment of the slaves by many including the Church and other Indians, and thinly disguises de Soto in the Spanish quest for gold. I learned a lot and have verified these horrendous practices by the Spanish but I can't say I enjoyed the book. The ending seemed a bit abrupt and seems to attribute a contrived thought process to the Chief.
March 29, 2020
Entertaining
A good read, and an interesting imagining of what it was like to be one of the first Native Americans to encounter the colonising Spanish. I liked the portrayal of the antagonist's point of view as well, even though the switch between points of view was sometimes abrupt.
A good read, and an interesting imagining of what it was like to be one of the first Native Americans to encounter the colonising Spanish. I liked the portrayal of the antagonist's point of view as well, even though the switch between points of view was sometimes abrupt.
July 15, 2017
Sad tale on morality Christian or native alike!
Fascinating tale of Spanish, native American history! Also showed man as alike under the skin. Morality is not the same as ethics . Law's as made by men!
Fascinating tale of Spanish, native American history! Also showed man as alike under the skin. Morality is not the same as ethics . Law's as made by men!
February 13, 2019
Uxutxurxy
Jeff trajectory yfxyrxyd, yy,doyd,yod,he texted your he yd,he h!h f2f God yodlyd, God God yod,oyd, God God God ,our our our our yos,tos,istits, lung tod,oteyod,God our Potts
Jeff trajectory yfxyrxyd, yy,doyd,yod,he texted your he yd,he h!h f2f God yodlyd, God God yod,oyd, God God God ,our our our our yos,tos,istits, lung tod,oteyod,God our Potts
June 12, 2019
Very good reading
Well written account of life for the native Indians in the 1500's. When the story seemed unrealistic, I realized that we cannot fathom the cruelties dealt to them.
Well written account of life for the native Indians in the 1500's. When the story seemed unrealistic, I realized that we cannot fathom the cruelties dealt to them.
March 8, 2021
A well-written and well-researched tale of Native American treatment by the Spanish. Calling Crow is a believable character who experiences the full spectrum of treatment, and who highlights the differing life perspectives of the two cultures.
Something about it read very, very slow for me. I found at the end I had no interest in reading the next book. I can't put my finger on the reason.
Something about it read very, very slow for me. I found at the end I had no interest in reading the next book. I can't put my finger on the reason.
July 15, 2017
Best 4 a long time
There was nothing about this book that I did not like I couldn't stop reading finished in two days sweet
There was nothing about this book that I did not like I couldn't stop reading finished in two days sweet
July 15, 2017
20% read. 1555 along the coast of current day South Carolina. Spanish ships come to capture Indians as slaves. Well written.
January 25, 2021
I couldn't finish this book...too bloody and violent for me. I guess it's based on historical facts, but I just couldn't........
March 20, 2020
As of this writing, 49 states have reported at least one case of CV-19 and considering how fast the virus is spreading, it is very likely that most of us will spend the next few months self-isolating. What with all the extra time I now have, I have been reflecting more on the books I have read and I decided to write about Calling Crow this week. Whereas many historical novels focus upon the trials and tribulations of kings and queens, Calling Crow takes place in the American South of pre-Columbian times, a land where kings and queens do not exist. Instead, there are chiefs and mystics. The latter plays an important role in the story and gives readers a hint of the two events that will shape the plot of the story: a foreign invasion and a devastating pandemic.
Calling Crow, the protagonist of the story and the inspiration for the title, hopes to become Chief one day and looks forward to the day he can marry his childhood sweetheart. After neatly resolving a conflict with a neighboring village, Calling Crow is quickly elevated to Chief but he has little time to celebrate because he is soon informed of a strange sighting. Mountain People have returned from the Far South and claim to have seen things that defy conventional explanation. Nobody in the village knows what to make of their “cloudboat” sighting but Calling Crow believes he has an obligation to investigate.
Worried there might be a supernatural calamity afoot, Calling Crow enlists the help of the village mystic and consumes a noxious drink to travel to the spirit world. When it comes to my own writing, I tend to stay far away from magical divinations, but the novel’s brief turn towards fantasy works well because it foreshadows key plot points in a way that’s intriguing without being over-the-top. During Calling Crow’s drug-induced vision, readers are introduced to an eerie entity known only as the Destroyer. The identity and the motivations of the Destroyer are a mystery to us just as much as Calling Crow, but Calling Crow feels compelled to discover more.
Convinced he cannot do without going to the Far South himself, Calling Crow informs the villagers he will personally investigate the matter of the cloudboats and travels south with a handful of trusted warriors. Calling Crow underestimates the danger involved with getting close to the cloudboats, and they are taken captive by a strange white-skinned people who speak an unknown language called Spanish.
Calling Crow’s captivity dramatically changes the direction of the story and author Paul Clayton introduces us to a fascinating pageantry of characters, some indigenous and some European. In the interests of not revealing all the story, I will avoid delving deep into the details but Calling Crow eventually escapes slavery and makes it back to his village after many years away.
The village folk are pleased to see him again, but they do not know what to make of his ordeal or his unexpected return. Everyone assumed he was dead so a new Chief was elected and his former wife found a new husband. Calling Crow expected to be welcomed back a savior, but he is derided as a crazed fool instead. They have no interest in changing their comfortable lifestyle on account of some shadowy menace nobody has ever heard of and some people begin to question his sanity. After all, none of them have ever beheld the Spanish explorers so his stories regarding horses and cannons and rifles strike them as fantastical.
Calling Crow is tolerated at first, but it does not take long for him to wear out his welcome. A strange sickness is stalking the village, one unlike any they know and one that did not exist before Calling Crow returned to the village. Men and women, young and old, are all susceptible and the sudden specter of death leaves everyone unsettled. Healers are powerless to help the afflicted, and many fear for their health. Aggrieved and angry, the villagers turn on Calling Crow and he is forced to flee the very same village he tried so very hard to save.
Calling Crow had no idea he could transmit smallpox to others simply by returning home and it’s not until he leaves that he realizes he is the Destroyer. The irony of this will be apparent to anybody who reads the book to completion and gives the book an ending both powerful and insightful. I highly recommend Calling Crow to readers interested in North American history, pandemic history, or indigenous history. Check out the book from your local library or find it on Amazon.
Calling Crow, the protagonist of the story and the inspiration for the title, hopes to become Chief one day and looks forward to the day he can marry his childhood sweetheart. After neatly resolving a conflict with a neighboring village, Calling Crow is quickly elevated to Chief but he has little time to celebrate because he is soon informed of a strange sighting. Mountain People have returned from the Far South and claim to have seen things that defy conventional explanation. Nobody in the village knows what to make of their “cloudboat” sighting but Calling Crow believes he has an obligation to investigate.
Worried there might be a supernatural calamity afoot, Calling Crow enlists the help of the village mystic and consumes a noxious drink to travel to the spirit world. When it comes to my own writing, I tend to stay far away from magical divinations, but the novel’s brief turn towards fantasy works well because it foreshadows key plot points in a way that’s intriguing without being over-the-top. During Calling Crow’s drug-induced vision, readers are introduced to an eerie entity known only as the Destroyer. The identity and the motivations of the Destroyer are a mystery to us just as much as Calling Crow, but Calling Crow feels compelled to discover more.
Convinced he cannot do without going to the Far South himself, Calling Crow informs the villagers he will personally investigate the matter of the cloudboats and travels south with a handful of trusted warriors. Calling Crow underestimates the danger involved with getting close to the cloudboats, and they are taken captive by a strange white-skinned people who speak an unknown language called Spanish.
Calling Crow’s captivity dramatically changes the direction of the story and author Paul Clayton introduces us to a fascinating pageantry of characters, some indigenous and some European. In the interests of not revealing all the story, I will avoid delving deep into the details but Calling Crow eventually escapes slavery and makes it back to his village after many years away.
The village folk are pleased to see him again, but they do not know what to make of his ordeal or his unexpected return. Everyone assumed he was dead so a new Chief was elected and his former wife found a new husband. Calling Crow expected to be welcomed back a savior, but he is derided as a crazed fool instead. They have no interest in changing their comfortable lifestyle on account of some shadowy menace nobody has ever heard of and some people begin to question his sanity. After all, none of them have ever beheld the Spanish explorers so his stories regarding horses and cannons and rifles strike them as fantastical.
Calling Crow is tolerated at first, but it does not take long for him to wear out his welcome. A strange sickness is stalking the village, one unlike any they know and one that did not exist before Calling Crow returned to the village. Men and women, young and old, are all susceptible and the sudden specter of death leaves everyone unsettled. Healers are powerless to help the afflicted, and many fear for their health. Aggrieved and angry, the villagers turn on Calling Crow and he is forced to flee the very same village he tried so very hard to save.
Calling Crow had no idea he could transmit smallpox to others simply by returning home and it’s not until he leaves that he realizes he is the Destroyer. The irony of this will be apparent to anybody who reads the book to completion and gives the book an ending both powerful and insightful. I highly recommend Calling Crow to readers interested in North American history, pandemic history, or indigenous history. Check out the book from your local library or find it on Amazon.
December 1, 2015
"Calling Crow: A Good Start in the Series"
"Calling Crow" was a nice listen. It had good characters and good world-building which will be great for the Southeast Series. It started out with a lot of oomph but a few times it was a little slow and that being said, I think this was a great start to a lively new series. Paul Clayton is an attentive author paying attention to detail which I liked. I'll be interested in seeing what direction book two takes. Nice work.
Kevin Arthur Harper had a great voice for Calling Crow. He has a nice tone and quality and speaks clearly at a good pace. I have only one little nit pick. Changing voices threw me off a few times. I know this is really hard to do but I think staying with the same voice is perhaps better. He's a fantastic narrator.
"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."
August 12, 2011
This book by Paul Clayton is one of a series of Indian (American) written about the Southeast, or in this case Florida. I found it to be a captivating read. The story line is exciting and catches your attention from the first and carries you throughout. The characters are interesting and believable. Clayton's book gives you a good, solid, intereting story line and does not bog you down with a lot of cultural anthropology and other studies. The story rests on itself and it rests well. I enjoyed reading this book greatly. Glad to hear there is a series.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"
January 20, 2012
Fun book, well written. I get the impression the author created a story from a rough approximation of history in the early days of the Spanish invasion of the SE - Florida and such. I'm fine with that - makes a good story. The story follows a man as he is captured and enslaved by the Spanish, detailing the days of that slavery in terms that at times seem overly kind. But who's to say - his version of what the Spanish might have been like might be right. Eventually making his way back to his own people, to be rejected by them as he tries to help them prepare for the devastation that lies ahead of them. This part seems realistic and likely to me, given human nature.
January 11, 2016
Calling Crow is the enjoyable first book in the Southeast Series trilogy by Paul Clayton. As an Oklahoman born in Okmulgee, the capital of the Muscogee Creek Nation, I was attracted to the book because the protagonist is a young Muscogee Creek captured in South Carolina around 1555 by Spanish slavers. I sat down, intending to read only a chapter or two only to find three hours later that I had completed what was a thoroughly engrossing account of Calling Crow's encounter with some of the first Europeans, as well as his enslavement and eventual escape back to his village.
September 19, 2016
Calling crow is a Native American person.This story is sad and maybe true.We live ,through this book ,the saga of the people through invasion by the Spanish and then the Europeans. Calling crow loses his family and ends up living as a Spaniard with a wife in a different land.When he returns to his people he is deemed the devil,he brings a foriegn sickness with him.He is being chased by his own people as the book ends.Kevin Arthur Harper does a wonderful job with the voices in this book.
I was given a free copy for an honest review.
I was given a free copy for an honest review.
November 19, 2011
I was delighted to receive this book through Goodreads, and enjoyed gaining some understanding of life in the early years of settlement in the southeastern USA. The story line is good but I found it slow reading. Anyone interested in stories about the early settlement of north America would find this interesting. I was left thinking of words I have heard many times, namely "man's inhumanity to man".
September 13, 2015
Very good stuff
I will definitely be getting the next two books in this series. It's a cracking good historical novel about the Spanish conquest of the Southeastern portion of North America. A pretty good retelling of the ruthlessness of the Conquistadors, the effect of their diseases on the native people, and the futility of stone and wood against steel. If Clayton can keep the high quality of his work intact through the next two novels, it will be a good read indeed.
I will definitely be getting the next two books in this series. It's a cracking good historical novel about the Spanish conquest of the Southeastern portion of North America. A pretty good retelling of the ruthlessness of the Conquistadors, the effect of their diseases on the native people, and the futility of stone and wood against steel. If Clayton can keep the high quality of his work intact through the next two novels, it will be a good read indeed.
November 3, 2015
This was an engrossing story once I got into it.
Indian chief captured and enslaved by the Spanish manages to return to mainland from Hispaniola and escape. Returning eventually to his village he is an outcast even there.
I love Kevin Harper's narration but in this case the Spanish accent was distracting. It reminded me of the old Cisco Kid tv shows.
I was given this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Indian chief captured and enslaved by the Spanish manages to return to mainland from Hispaniola and escape. Returning eventually to his village he is an outcast even there.
I love Kevin Harper's narration but in this case the Spanish accent was distracting. It reminded me of the old Cisco Kid tv shows.
I was given this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2011
Was in two mines about this book when I picked it up. First couple of chapters didn't grab me but from then on I couldn't put it down. Enjoyed reading about Calling Crow and his adventures from his life as a villager to chief to slave etc.... The way he described the invasion of the Spanish and what they did in his eyes. Can't wait to read the next two books in the series.
July 31, 2012
This was an interesting book on the whole, but it was tough for me to get into. It seemed slow at points, and I didn't find the story completely engaging. It was a good book, just not my cup of tea.
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