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Honore Greenwood #1
Moon Medicine
When Honoré Greenwood sits down to tell his tale, people listen. Friend of such stalwarts of the West as Kit Carson, Thomas Fitzpatrick, John Hatcher, and the Brent brothers, Charles and William, Honoré, at ninety-nine, has lived the life that has become the dime novel.
As a young schoolboy, Jean Guy was considered a genius. The only thing distracting him from his love of books was his love for a kitchen maid, Nicole. When Nicole is raped and brutalized, Jean exacts revenge, murdering the rapist and stowing away on an English packet bound for New Orleans. It is there that the young Jean Guy changes his name and becomes Honoré Greenwood, soon to become one of the legends of the American West.
New Orleans is an exciting place for the young Honoré, but falling in love with Gabriela Badfillo-a beautiful young woman from Taos, New Mexico, who is promised to another in an arranged marriage-forces Honoré to flee, brokenhearted into the wilderness. He volunteers for a most dangerous project, building a fort right in the heart of Comanche country. His orders are to establish trade with the warlike, horse-rich Comanches.
The Mexican War and the California Gold Rush usher chaos into the plains. And the Comanches are a proud, powerful, and unpredictable people, but Honoré earns their trust, but the vile whiskey trader, Bill Snakehead Jackson, is happy corrupting the Comanches and breeding violence between them and their ancient enemies, the Apaches.
It will take all of Honoré's genius and his strange power to hold the trade together. Because his power follows the phases of the moon enabling him to go without sleep for days, the Comanches dub it Moon Medicine. Through it all, Honoré becomes a successful trader and ransom negotiator, earning the title Plenty Man. But when Gabriela desperately calls for help, Honoré will risk everything he has for the woman he still loves.
As a young schoolboy, Jean Guy was considered a genius. The only thing distracting him from his love of books was his love for a kitchen maid, Nicole. When Nicole is raped and brutalized, Jean exacts revenge, murdering the rapist and stowing away on an English packet bound for New Orleans. It is there that the young Jean Guy changes his name and becomes Honoré Greenwood, soon to become one of the legends of the American West.
New Orleans is an exciting place for the young Honoré, but falling in love with Gabriela Badfillo-a beautiful young woman from Taos, New Mexico, who is promised to another in an arranged marriage-forces Honoré to flee, brokenhearted into the wilderness. He volunteers for a most dangerous project, building a fort right in the heart of Comanche country. His orders are to establish trade with the warlike, horse-rich Comanches.
The Mexican War and the California Gold Rush usher chaos into the plains. And the Comanches are a proud, powerful, and unpredictable people, but Honoré earns their trust, but the vile whiskey trader, Bill Snakehead Jackson, is happy corrupting the Comanches and breeding violence between them and their ancient enemies, the Apaches.
It will take all of Honoré's genius and his strange power to hold the trade together. Because his power follows the phases of the moon enabling him to go without sleep for days, the Comanches dub it Moon Medicine. Through it all, Honoré becomes a successful trader and ransom negotiator, earning the title Plenty Man. But when Gabriela desperately calls for help, Honoré will risk everything he has for the woman he still loves.
- GenresFiction
416 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
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26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 19, 2021
Wow, I had somewhat low expectations of this book and author, both of which I’d never heard of before I picked this up at the library.
Don’t know what else to say other than it was fantastic, I was blown away.
Excellent story telling, pacing and details made me feel like I was crossing the Atlantic, in a wagon on the prairie, and fighting and trading with Indians like the main character.
I’ll even say the writing quality was up there with McMurtry which is saying something.
I’m excited about the sequel “Comanche Dawn”.
Look forward to reading everything by this author.
Don’t know what else to say other than it was fantastic, I was blown away.
Excellent story telling, pacing and details made me feel like I was crossing the Atlantic, in a wagon on the prairie, and fighting and trading with Indians like the main character.
I’ll even say the writing quality was up there with McMurtry which is saying something.
I’m excited about the sequel “Comanche Dawn”.
Look forward to reading everything by this author.
May 22, 2025
This book frustrated me.
There were so many good moments with lots of action, fascinating story, and good character development. I also enjoyed when the characters were around the area where I live. Hearing the names of real locations and real historical figures that I’m super familiar with made the book better in my opinion. Not only is St. Vrain a fascinating character in this book, but he was also a real person that’s buried a few miles from my house.
Unfortunately, there were also moments where it read like a boring autobiography that was unnecessarily long. Some parts were just over explained and made certain parts of the story hard to get through. I also hated that ending. What could’ve easily been wrapped up or explained in a couple sentences was completely ignored. The author really said, wanna know what happened to this person and this person? Too bad! I’m tired and I’ll tell you some other time. Bruh.
There were so many good moments with lots of action, fascinating story, and good character development. I also enjoyed when the characters were around the area where I live. Hearing the names of real locations and real historical figures that I’m super familiar with made the book better in my opinion. Not only is St. Vrain a fascinating character in this book, but he was also a real person that’s buried a few miles from my house.
Unfortunately, there were also moments where it read like a boring autobiography that was unnecessarily long. Some parts were just over explained and made certain parts of the story hard to get through. I also hated that ending. What could’ve easily been wrapped up or explained in a couple sentences was completely ignored. The author really said, wanna know what happened to this person and this person? Too bad! I’m tired and I’ll tell you some other time. Bruh.
October 16, 2009
This is a MUST READ for everyone who loves good historical western literature. Mike Blakely writes many different types of Texas Westerns, but "Moon Medicine", I believe to be the start of a series because the book I am now reading, "Come Sundown" starts four years after the end of "Moon Medicine".
Although I had though that by now I knew history, this book enlightened me somemore about how the Mexican War affected Santa Fe, Taos and......California.
I have read another book or two about Adobe Walls and the Canadian River. But once again, Mike Blakely has taught me still more about it.
I have become 'hooked' on reading Historicals. Whether Western, Colonial, or European.......I keep on learning from all these very well researdhed novels.
Although I had though that by now I knew history, this book enlightened me somemore about how the Mexican War affected Santa Fe, Taos and......California.
I have read another book or two about Adobe Walls and the Canadian River. But once again, Mike Blakely has taught me still more about it.
I have become 'hooked' on reading Historicals. Whether Western, Colonial, or European.......I keep on learning from all these very well researdhed novels.
October 18, 2020
Another romantic western from Mike Blakely. Absolutely one of the best western writers still active.
December 9, 2013
Title: Moon Medicine: A young genius learns the ways of the old west
Story:
This is the story of a man that has had many names during his long life. Plenty Man, Honeree Greenwood, and Jean Guy to name a few. The story starts with the young
French man Jean Guy and his troubled childhood in France. Jean Guy has always been different. For one he is very intelligent, he picks things up quickly and has a photographic memory. Leading some to call him a genius.
Secondly, Jean Guy does not follow the normal rhythms of the day as most people do. He follows the movements of the moon. As the moon cycles toward a full moon, Jean Guy begins to exhibit strange symptoms such as terrible dreams, trances, mood swings and going for days without sleep. As the moon waxes he falls into to deep sleeps that may last for days at a time.
All of this makes Jean Guy a outcast from normal society and he is eventually sent to a boys school in the hope that maybe he will find a place to fit in there. While he excels at the academics, he still cannot find a place to fit in. His time there though, at least for awhile, is made more bearable with his discreet meetings with a young kitchen maid.
One day this comes to an end when the young maid is attacked by one of the staff whose advances she refuses. Jean Guy in a fit of passion kills the the man and is soon on the run. In a final act of kindness the maid finds a boat for him that is going to America and arranges that he be on it.
When he arrives in America a new boy steps off the boat that will soon have the name of Honree Greenwood. This young man will deal with legends of the west such as Kit Carson, the Bent brothers and others. He will come to understand the ways of the west and live through the ever expanding push to the west. Finally he will find his destiny on the great plains and become known as Plenty Man, trader, Indian Ransomer, and much more.
*_*
This is another book that I randomly picked up and I'm glad I did. I am not usually a western reader but once I got into this one it really got my interest. The main character is definitely different and he grows and expands as the story goes along. As with any decent western there is a fair bit of history mixed into the story along with real life characters. In this case though Greenwood is more in the background when events happen. He learns about the outcomes of various events from the people that were there. Which I like better than when the character is supposed to be the answer to some historical mystery about how exactly a battle was won that shouldn't have been. I recommend this book to anyone who likes westerns, adventures, and stories with main characters that are a little different.mac
Story:
This is the story of a man that has had many names during his long life. Plenty Man, Honeree Greenwood, and Jean Guy to name a few. The story starts with the young
French man Jean Guy and his troubled childhood in France. Jean Guy has always been different. For one he is very intelligent, he picks things up quickly and has a photographic memory. Leading some to call him a genius.
Secondly, Jean Guy does not follow the normal rhythms of the day as most people do. He follows the movements of the moon. As the moon cycles toward a full moon, Jean Guy begins to exhibit strange symptoms such as terrible dreams, trances, mood swings and going for days without sleep. As the moon waxes he falls into to deep sleeps that may last for days at a time.
All of this makes Jean Guy a outcast from normal society and he is eventually sent to a boys school in the hope that maybe he will find a place to fit in there. While he excels at the academics, he still cannot find a place to fit in. His time there though, at least for awhile, is made more bearable with his discreet meetings with a young kitchen maid.
One day this comes to an end when the young maid is attacked by one of the staff whose advances she refuses. Jean Guy in a fit of passion kills the the man and is soon on the run. In a final act of kindness the maid finds a boat for him that is going to America and arranges that he be on it.
When he arrives in America a new boy steps off the boat that will soon have the name of Honree Greenwood. This young man will deal with legends of the west such as Kit Carson, the Bent brothers and others. He will come to understand the ways of the west and live through the ever expanding push to the west. Finally he will find his destiny on the great plains and become known as Plenty Man, trader, Indian Ransomer, and much more.
*_*
This is another book that I randomly picked up and I'm glad I did. I am not usually a western reader but once I got into this one it really got my interest. The main character is definitely different and he grows and expands as the story goes along. As with any decent western there is a fair bit of history mixed into the story along with real life characters. In this case though Greenwood is more in the background when events happen. He learns about the outcomes of various events from the people that were there. Which I like better than when the character is supposed to be the answer to some historical mystery about how exactly a battle was won that shouldn't have been. I recommend this book to anyone who likes westerns, adventures, and stories with main characters that are a little different.mac
March 7, 2012
This is probably the greatest book i have ever read. Mr. Blakely makes it seem like you are in the middle of all the action. This book kept me hooked from start to finish. The historical references make this book also educational along with a little fantasy mixed in. I highly recommend this book to anybody who loves western books along with romantics and fantasies.
March 16, 2009
This book about a young Frenchman who travels to America and become a trader with the Indians captured my interest, although it is not my usual fare.
December 5, 2013
Incredible book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews