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An Exceptional Hound: Book II of the Ryland Creek Saga
Something darker than a moonless night has emerged from the shadows to terrorize the Lands of the Painted Post, and a king and his master must face this threat.
"So you want to be a coon hunter?” Nathan asked gruffly. “Y-y-yes, sir, I do!” Jason stuttered. Nathan nodded. “Be at my house tomorrow night around sunset. Your parents know where I live. Wear some good boots and a warm coat. Painted Post won’t care how cold you get.”
Thus begins 12-year-old Jason Canton’s tutelage under the guidance of Nathan Ernst, with his legendary coonhound Seth and somewhat eccentric Uncle Arthur.
Jason and his close friends, Bobby and Tara, soon learn the ways of the woods and life, following the call of the hounds in the darkened forests.
But something powerful and not entirely of this world has brought malice to the woods of the rural Upstate New York town of Painted Post. This cunning menace will test the skills and courage of Nathan, Jason, and his friends.
They must rely on one another to face this threat.
They will need the strength of the bond between hunter and dog.
They will require an exceptional hound.
"So you want to be a coon hunter?” Nathan asked gruffly. “Y-y-yes, sir, I do!” Jason stuttered. Nathan nodded. “Be at my house tomorrow night around sunset. Your parents know where I live. Wear some good boots and a warm coat. Painted Post won’t care how cold you get.”
Thus begins 12-year-old Jason Canton’s tutelage under the guidance of Nathan Ernst, with his legendary coonhound Seth and somewhat eccentric Uncle Arthur.
Jason and his close friends, Bobby and Tara, soon learn the ways of the woods and life, following the call of the hounds in the darkened forests.
But something powerful and not entirely of this world has brought malice to the woods of the rural Upstate New York town of Painted Post. This cunning menace will test the skills and courage of Nathan, Jason, and his friends.
They must rely on one another to face this threat.
They will need the strength of the bond between hunter and dog.
They will require an exceptional hound.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 16, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 4, 2026
Seth was a black coonhound, an ebony cur, King of Hounds, absent of fear, "the true exception to all hounds." His owner, if you can call their relationship owner and owned, was Nathan Ernst. There's a special bond between hunters and their dogs that this spellbinding story makes clear.
Nathan, a bachelor, has recurring dreams, with messages from his Sharon (who was lost so soon): "These children need you." "Listen to Gray Eyes." Gray Eyes is a Seneca Chief who raised Nathan's Uncle Art, an expert with leather viper (bullwhip). Three teenagers get permission from their folks to coon hunt with the adults. They learn so much more than hunting from Nathan and Uncle Art.
There was also evil in the forest, ghosts in the mists around Painted Post, most especially a certain terrible bear. Scar Paw. Nathan struggles with whether all revenge is wrong, in relationship to Scar Paw. The Author's Note at the end is especially profound.
Nathan, a bachelor, has recurring dreams, with messages from his Sharon (who was lost so soon): "These children need you." "Listen to Gray Eyes." Gray Eyes is a Seneca Chief who raised Nathan's Uncle Art, an expert with leather viper (bullwhip). Three teenagers get permission from their folks to coon hunt with the adults. They learn so much more than hunting from Nathan and Uncle Art.
There was also evil in the forest, ghosts in the mists around Painted Post, most especially a certain terrible bear. Scar Paw. Nathan struggles with whether all revenge is wrong, in relationship to Scar Paw. The Author's Note at the end is especially profound.
October 14, 2023
Like the first one in this series, I very much enjoyed reading this! The quaint vibes of the story make me so calm and at peace. Of course, it's not all sunshine and rainbows, so don't let the tranquility of the book deceive you. Our new characters Jason, Bobby, and Tara were all such great characters. I loved how despite Nathan not being a father, obviously not by choice, he was able to take on a fatherly role for these kids.
I also very much enjoyed the return of Mead. I had expected him to not be included in this book, as the focus is mostly on Nathan, but as they are brothers, I guess I should've expected him to be in it haha.
Seth was such an amazing character. I love how we were able to understand him as if we were Nathan (if that makes sense). I also loved Lil's relationship with both Nathan and Seth.
Like the first one, there were parts that made me want to scream and cry, but I honestly don't mind. I think everything that happened in the book that made me angry and/or sad, were necessary, not just for the plot, but for the reader as well.
It was a little weird to not have Jacob in this book in the same way he was in the first, but I take comfort in knowing he's back with his wife.
Overall, I'd recommend this to everyone, kids, tweens, teens, adults, elders, even dogs, though I wouldn't recommend it for cats lol.
I also very much enjoyed the return of Mead. I had expected him to not be included in this book, as the focus is mostly on Nathan, but as they are brothers, I guess I should've expected him to be in it haha.
Seth was such an amazing character. I love how we were able to understand him as if we were Nathan (if that makes sense). I also loved Lil's relationship with both Nathan and Seth.
Like the first one, there were parts that made me want to scream and cry, but I honestly don't mind. I think everything that happened in the book that made me angry and/or sad, were necessary, not just for the plot, but for the reader as well.
It was a little weird to not have Jacob in this book in the same way he was in the first, but I take comfort in knowing he's back with his wife.
Overall, I'd recommend this to everyone, kids, tweens, teens, adults, elders, even dogs, though I wouldn't recommend it for cats lol.
July 29, 2018
An exceptional coonhound . . . an exceptional story . . . an exceptional author. This is probably the most heartwarming novel I've ever read about the unbreakable bond between a man and his dog. Close family ties and values also play a big role in this story. The author's prowess as an extremely gifted writer makes this book even more enjoyable to read. The plot is very well constructed and smoothly presented. It is a brilliant story line with amazing characters, not the least of which is the villain, Scar Paw, a monstrous bear with a diagonal scar on its left rear paw, hence the name. Intensely suspenseful at times, it also contains some very tender moments and plenty of witty banter. The profound love between the main character, Nathan, a coon hunter, and his coonhound, Seth, is both undeniable and, at times, overwhelming. The pacing is superb and the action, dynamic. The descriptive settings are so spot-on, you feel as though you are actually there. This book is a page turner from the very beginning, a must-read masterpiece. There is no doubt in my mind that it will reach best-seller status the moment it hits the market. This is a real gem, one that you definitely won't want to miss!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews