The Storyteller Trilogy: Song of the River, Cry of the Wind, and Call Down the Stars

Storyteller #1-3

by Sue Harrison

The complete saga of prehistoric Aleut tribal life in one “Under Harrison’s hand, ancient Alaska comes beautifully alive” (The Denver Post).  In Song of the River, eighty centuries ago, in the frozen land that is now Alaska, a clubfooted male child had been left to die, when a woman named K’os rescued him. Twenty years later and no longer a child, Chakliux occupies the revered role as his tribe’s storyteller. In the neighboring village of the Near River people, where Chakliux will attempt to make peace by wedding the shaman’s daughter, a double murder occurs that sends him on a harsh, enthralling journey in search of the truth about the tragic losses his people have suffered, and into the arms of a woman he was never meant to love. In Cry of the Wind, Chakliux has one the beautiful Aqamdax, who has been promised to a cruel tribesman she does not love. But there can be no future for Chakliux and Aqamdax until a curse upon their peoples has been lifted. As they travel a dangerous path, they encounter greater challenges than the harsh terrain and the long season of ice. K’os, the woman who saved Chakliux’s life when he was an infant, is now enslaved by the leader of the enemy tribe against whom she has sworn vengeance. To carry out her justice she will destroy anyone who gets in her way, even the storyteller she raised as her own son. And in Call Down the Stars, a handsome young tribal warrior and sage, Yikaas has traveled across the sea to hear stories of the Whale Hunter and the Sea Hunter peoples. Around the fire, Qumalix, a beguiling and beautiful storyteller, barely old enough to be a wife, catches the eye of Yikaas, and so begins their flirtation through storytelling, which brings to vivid life tales of the Near River and Cousin River tribes. The fates of lovers Chakliux and Aqamdax, and their wicked nemesis K’os, are revealed as Yikaas and Qumalix weave together tales from their ancestors’ past—and tales from their own lives. 

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Native American

1626 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 10, 2013

About the author

Sue Harrison is the author of six critically acclaimed and internationally bestselling novels. Mother Earth Father Sky, My Sister the Moon and Brother Wind make up The Ivory Carver Trilogy, an epic adventure set in prehistoric Alaska. Song of the River, Cry of the Wind and Call Down the Stars comprise The Storyteller Trilogy. Sue’s young adult book, SISU, was released by Thunder Bay Press . Her newest novel, The Midwife's Touch, first book in The Wish Thief Trilogy was released in February 2023. It was chosen as an Upper Peninsula of Michigan Notable Book and selected as a semi-finalist in the Society of Midland Author's 2024 Adult Fiction Awards. In 2025, her middle-grade readers chapter book, Rescuing Crash, the Good Dog was released by Modern History Press.

Sue Harrison was born in Lansing, Michigan. The first of five children, she was raised in the town of Pickford in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where she lives with her husband, a retired high school principal. They are blessed with a daughter and a son, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.

A graduate of Pickford High School, Harrison graduated summa cum laude from Lake Superior State University with a B.A. in English Language and Literature. She was named Lake Superior State University’s Distinguished Alumna in 1992, and served eight years on the university’s Board of Regents.

Harrison’s first novel, Mother Earth Father Sky, was published in 1990 by Doubleday (hardcover) and Avon (paperback). It was nominated in the states of Michigan and Washington for the Reader’s Choice Award among high school students, and was one of ten books chosen for “Battle of the Books,” a statewide student reading competition in Alaska. The novel as had success in both the adult and young adult markets, and was a national bestseller. It was selected by the American Library Association as one of 1991′s Best Books for Young Adults.

Harrison’s second novel, My Sister the Moon, (Doubleday/Avon 1992) has also received recognition by reading and school groups throughout the United States and was a Baker and Taylor top ten in library sales. Both Mother Earth Father Sky and My Sister the Moon were Main Selections of the Literary Guild Book Club and alternate selections of the Doubleday Book Club. Brother Wind, Harrison’s third novel was released in hardcover by William Morrow, October 1994, and in 1995 as an Avon paperback. The novel was chosen as an alternate selection by both the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Clubs. Song of the River and Cry of the Wind were both published by Avon Hardcover/Avon paperback, a division of Hearst Books. The third book of The Storyteller Trilogy, Call down the stars was published by Morrow/Avon in 2001 and 2002. It was featured alternate of the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Clubs.

Harrison’s books have also been published in Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Spain, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Portugal, Japan, France, Finland, and South America.

Harrison is represented by Victoria Skurnick of the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency.

Reviews

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue Harrison's The Storyteller Trilogy (Open Road Media 2013) is the three-book tale of Alaska 8,000 years ago in the area of present-day Iliamna Lake. Life was cold, difficult, and always a struggle but the people were earnest, hard-working, and with many of the same desires as you and I. Two tribes who had historically been friendly find themselves on the verge of war. Chakliux, a man born with webbed feet, is abandoned by his birth mother, adopted into another tribe who comes to believe he has special abilities to bring good luck and prosperity to his tribe. But when Chakliux travels in search of a wife, several people in the village are unexpectedly killed, a rare occurrence in those freezing climates. From then on, Chakliux spends much of the three books fighting problems, rising above them, and then working earnestly for his tribe, trying to treat people well despite their attitudes of him. Above all else, he struggles to come to terms with a mother who abandoned him but weaves her way into his adult life when it seems to her benefit.

"...live in this village until she decided how best to take revenge on a son who had no pity on his mother."

"Coincidentally, when she is around, people die too. More than that, promises are betrayed, evil is taken and given--all in the name of what is for the good of the tribe."

Tribal life ran according to rites, taboos, and superstitions. This sort of world, without science or laws (except those laid out by curses and superstitions), becomes often a dark difficult existence ruled by the basic need to survive:

"...lifted until she brought a root to the surface. Using the stick and her hands, she pulled until she had two arm-lengths of root above ground, then she cut it off and followed it away from the tree, coiling as she walked, pulling, until the root was thin enough to snap."

"It was sea otter, she was sure, with a ruff of wolverine fur and cuffs banded with caribou hide, scraped and softened until it was almost white. The back of the parka came down in a wide pointed tail of some strange spotted skin, a stiff-haired pelt unlike any K’os had ever seen."

"Aqamdax worked quickly, cutting meat, retouching or exchanging her knife blade when it dulled, then cutting again. With each animal, she slit the belly first, removed liver, heart and kidneys, then the skirt of fat that covered the intestines. The stomach, roasted whole, full of the sedges and grasses eaten by the caribou, was a feast in itself, and the intestines, cleaned and scraped, made good carrying tubes for drinking water or to store a mix of fat, meat and dried berries."

Harrison is an internationally-regarded author for her fiction about early people and this book shows why. She has an incomparable ability to write as though she experiences a world none of us has ever seen, wrapping it in the atmospheric details that put the reader right there, shivering:

"The lodge poles were crowded with the skins of sacred animals—white least weasels, flickers, marmot and beaver, and many wolverines."

"For what is storytelling if not ideas brought full and whole to the inner eyes of those who listen?"

"But what village—even the strongest—did not live from winter to winter, praying?"

By the time I was partway through the first book (Song of the River), I couldn’t help but feel that I knew  these people, their customs and desires, their shattered dreams. The plot though interesting was almost secondary--inconsequential--when weighed against the opportunity  to explore these people's lives. Harrison's ability to fold detail and drama together in the uniqueness of a world we'll never be able to see is stunning.

This is highly recommended for those who like the works of Kathleen O'Neill Gear and those who love prehistoric fiction.

[Jane K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue Harrison's trilogy kept me spellbound because of her exquisite character development. There were characters that we loved to hate. Looking back in time, we find (mostly due to the author's extensive research) that mankind has not changed very much. Good, evil, jealousy, hate and love are the nature of human beings.

This is beautifully written - you might have to spend a bit more time reading it - because of the character's names - but whatever time you spend is worth every minute. It's especially an excellent trilogy for long winter nights.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this series was a little slow-moving at first, but the names of the characters were unusual and I sometimes can get caught up with that until they become familiar enough for me to get a mental picture. The title, Storyteller Trilogy, was also not as obvious until the third book. I did become invested in some of the characters, and the lifestyle of these ancient ones was fascinating to me as well.

[Mscheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable

Reading all three books combined takes a while, but I enjoyed it. Amazing how people could have lived in such a cold place so long ago. My only problem was keeping all the different villages straight and who lived where, who was related to whom, and all those names in a different language! If I read this again I will keep a chart, but in the end it didn't really matter. Definitely recommend this.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Story Teller Trilogy

I absolutely loved this trilogy! I got so caught up in the characters that I was sad when it ended. They felt like family, Sue Harrison did a masterful job of fleshing out the stories and characters, I know I'll read this again. I highly recommend this!

[Robert C. smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Enjoyable Journey into Ancient Alaska

Although a bit confusing at times because of the many and difficult names, this was overall an enjoyable and Informative story; actually, more of a great many short stories connected with sometimes hardd to remember people and locations.

[Kathy Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this trilogy set in the Aleut lands of western Alaska. The esteemed storytellers, keepers of the history of the People, are particularly intriguing. I liked the possibility of contact between the Aleuts and inhabitants of the easternmost Japanese islands. I binge read the three books in a week--couldn't put them down!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author and consider her a community friend.Her writing really takes me in and I,m somehoe in her stoies.ThisTrilogy didnt fail to keep up to my expectations .and I oved having all three available .

[Kathleen Oweegon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice, long, and engaging read

Nice storyline that wove across the centuries, but with connecting threads throughout. I stayed engaged for the duration? I also appreciated the accuracy of the herbs referenced.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

impossible to put down

Warning! You will become so engrossed in the story that you won’t be able to leave it alone for long. Thank you, Sue Harrison, for sharing your giftedness with the world through your books.

[Emma Alexander-smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book😊 Highly recommend for all.

[Rey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Test in-app notification!!!

[Bonnye Reed]

Early Bird Books
80,000 years ago in what is now Alaska.

[Shasta Hawker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these books

I love all of these books and have read them many many times. Thank you, Mom, for introducing me to them when I was a teenager.

[Dee Burrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

IF you liked Clan of the Cave Bear, you will love these three books

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story Telling

I enjoyed these stories as a resident of Alaska. My mind traveled with each person only imagining their lives intertwined. Traveling between villages, the wars, the hunts, the trading and the relationships.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have ever read. Please read my review on Goodreads. This is worth reading again and again about the early traditions, hunting, fighting, fishing, and family life of villages on the Aleutians of Alaska.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting trilogy, with stories within stories. Set in prehistoric Aleut lands, it reveals much about the tribal people, their sameness and difference. The story of individual characters draws the reader into ancient lives. There is human good and human evil contained in the stories. As the people hungered for the stories told by their storytellers, so a reader will hunger for the story of the storytellers, themselves. Revealing, earthy and rich; in the spirit of the First North Americans series by the Gears, it is a worthy read.

[Barbara Slater · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent trilogy that moves along even though it is full of information. Great stories.

[vena foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these stories.The characters draw you into their lives. How people survived in the frozen wilderness was intriguing. A crime story ,a love story, a story of young people ,a story of old people.Ancient medicines from nature .How natives built their houses ,boats,was fascinating .I couldn't wait every day to read some more of their stories that were passed by telling ,in storytelling by the people. Told a friend to read these books and the feedback from her was ,thank you for telling her about these books .Loved them. Read them on my kindle