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The Masked Owl
New York Times
bestselling authors W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear weave a spellbinding tale of power, betrayal, and survival in Ancient America.
In a world where every alliance is a double-edged sword, the Owl Clan’s future hangs by a thread. What should have been a moment of triumph for White Bird and Owl Clan turns to tragedy, forcing young Mud Puppy—mocked as the city’s fool—into a role he never expected. Transformed into Salamander and thrust into the center of power, he must navigate a web of deceit spun by the cunning Mud Stalker, the Speaker of Snapping Turtle Clan.
Rushed through his brother’s death rites, Salamander marries Pine Drop and Night Rain, his brother’s widows, and steps into the Owl Clan Speaker's role. His own mother’s descent into madness further weakens their grip on power. Meanwhile, a new threat emerges. Jaguar Hide, the war chief of the Swamp Panther people, seeks peace, offering riches and a marriage pact to strengthen Owl Clan’s hand. But his niece, Anhinga, has no intention of peace—only revenge. Coiling like a serpent within Owl Clan, she waits for the perfect moment to strike.
As spirits manipulate from the shadows and enemies gather like storm clouds, Salamander must decide who to trust—before everything crumbles around him.
Will Salamander rise to save Owl Clan, or will the web of betrayal destroy them all?
In a world where every alliance is a double-edged sword, the Owl Clan’s future hangs by a thread. What should have been a moment of triumph for White Bird and Owl Clan turns to tragedy, forcing young Mud Puppy—mocked as the city’s fool—into a role he never expected. Transformed into Salamander and thrust into the center of power, he must navigate a web of deceit spun by the cunning Mud Stalker, the Speaker of Snapping Turtle Clan.
Rushed through his brother’s death rites, Salamander marries Pine Drop and Night Rain, his brother’s widows, and steps into the Owl Clan Speaker's role. His own mother’s descent into madness further weakens their grip on power. Meanwhile, a new threat emerges. Jaguar Hide, the war chief of the Swamp Panther people, seeks peace, offering riches and a marriage pact to strengthen Owl Clan’s hand. But his niece, Anhinga, has no intention of peace—only revenge. Coiling like a serpent within Owl Clan, she waits for the perfect moment to strike.
As spirits manipulate from the shadows and enemies gather like storm clouds, Salamander must decide who to trust—before everything crumbles around him.
Will Salamander rise to save Owl Clan, or will the web of betrayal destroy them all?
- GenresFiction
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2024
114 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
W. Michael Gear
181 books730 followersW. Michael Gear was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on the twentieth of May, 1955. A fourth generation Colorado native, his family had been involved in hard-rock mining, cattle ranching, and journalism. After his father's death in 1959, Michael's mother received her Master's degree in journalism and began teaching. In 1962 she married Joseph J. Cook, who taught tool and die making, and the family lived in Lakewood, Colorado, until 1968. At that time they moved to Fort Collins so that Joe could pursue his Ph.D.. During those years the family lived in the foothills above Horsetooth Reservoir.
It was there that Mike developed a love of history, anthropology, and motorcycles. They would color his future and fill his imagination for the rest of his life. During summers he volunteered labor on local ranches or at the farm east of Greeley and landed his first real job: picking up trash at the lake and cleaning outhouses. It has been said that his exposure to trash led him into archaeology. We will not speculate about what cleaning the outhouses might have led him to. On his first dig as a professional archaeologist in 1976 he discovered that two thousand year old human trash isn't nearly as obnoxious as the new stuff.
Michael graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1972 and pursued both his Bachelor's (1976) and Master's (1979) degrees at Colorado State University. Upon completion of his Master's - his specialty was in physical anthropology - he went to work for Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs as a field archaeologist.
It was in the winter of 1978 that he wrote his first novel. Irritated by historical inaccuracies in Western fiction, he swore he could do better. He was "taking retirement in installments," archaeology being a seasonal career, in the cabin his great uncle Aubrey had built. One cold January night he read a Western novel about a trail drive in which steers (castrated males) had calves. The historical inaccuracies of the story bothered him all night. The next morning, still incensed, he chunked wood into the stove and hunkered over the typewriter. There, on the mining claim, at nine thousand feet outside of Empire, Colorado he hammered out his first five hundred and fifty page novel. Yes, that first manuscript still exists, but if there is justice in the universe, no one will ever see it. It reads wretchedly - but the historical facts are correct!
Beginning in 1981, Michael, along with two partners, put together his own archaeological consulting company. Pronghorn Anthropological Associates began doing cultural resource management studies in 1982, and, although Michael sold his interest in 1984, to this day the company remains in business in Casper, Wyoming. During the years, Michael has worked throughout the western United States doing archaeological surveys, testing, and mitigation for pipelines, oil wells, power lines, timber sales, and highway construction. He learned the value of strong black coffee, developed a palate for chocolate donuts, and ferreted out every quality Mexican restaurant in eight states. He spent nine months of the year traveling from project to project with his trowel and dig kit, a clapped-out '72 Wonder Blazer, and his boon companion, Tedi, a noble tri-color Sheltie.
That fateful day in November, 1981, was delightfully clear, cold, and still in Laramie, Wyoming. Archaeologists from all over the state had arrived at the University of Wyoming for the annual meetings of the Wyoming Association of Professional Archaeologists. It was there, in the meeting room, way too early after a much too long night, that Mike first laid eyes on the most beautiful woman in the world: Kathleen O'Neal Gear. The BLM State Archaeologist, Ray Leicht, introduced him to the pretty anthropologist and historian, and best of all, Ray invited Mike to lunch with Kathleen. It was the perfect beginning for a long and wondrous relationship.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/wmicha...
It was there that Mike developed a love of history, anthropology, and motorcycles. They would color his future and fill his imagination for the rest of his life. During summers he volunteered labor on local ranches or at the farm east of Greeley and landed his first real job: picking up trash at the lake and cleaning outhouses. It has been said that his exposure to trash led him into archaeology. We will not speculate about what cleaning the outhouses might have led him to. On his first dig as a professional archaeologist in 1976 he discovered that two thousand year old human trash isn't nearly as obnoxious as the new stuff.
Michael graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1972 and pursued both his Bachelor's (1976) and Master's (1979) degrees at Colorado State University. Upon completion of his Master's - his specialty was in physical anthropology - he went to work for Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs as a field archaeologist.
It was in the winter of 1978 that he wrote his first novel. Irritated by historical inaccuracies in Western fiction, he swore he could do better. He was "taking retirement in installments," archaeology being a seasonal career, in the cabin his great uncle Aubrey had built. One cold January night he read a Western novel about a trail drive in which steers (castrated males) had calves. The historical inaccuracies of the story bothered him all night. The next morning, still incensed, he chunked wood into the stove and hunkered over the typewriter. There, on the mining claim, at nine thousand feet outside of Empire, Colorado he hammered out his first five hundred and fifty page novel. Yes, that first manuscript still exists, but if there is justice in the universe, no one will ever see it. It reads wretchedly - but the historical facts are correct!
Beginning in 1981, Michael, along with two partners, put together his own archaeological consulting company. Pronghorn Anthropological Associates began doing cultural resource management studies in 1982, and, although Michael sold his interest in 1984, to this day the company remains in business in Casper, Wyoming. During the years, Michael has worked throughout the western United States doing archaeological surveys, testing, and mitigation for pipelines, oil wells, power lines, timber sales, and highway construction. He learned the value of strong black coffee, developed a palate for chocolate donuts, and ferreted out every quality Mexican restaurant in eight states. He spent nine months of the year traveling from project to project with his trowel and dig kit, a clapped-out '72 Wonder Blazer, and his boon companion, Tedi, a noble tri-color Sheltie.
That fateful day in November, 1981, was delightfully clear, cold, and still in Laramie, Wyoming. Archaeologists from all over the state had arrived at the University of Wyoming for the annual meetings of the Wyoming Association of Professional Archaeologists. It was there, in the meeting room, way too early after a much too long night, that Mike first laid eyes on the most beautiful woman in the world: Kathleen O'Neal Gear. The BLM State Archaeologist, Ray Leicht, introduced him to the pretty anthropologist and historian, and best of all, Ray invited Mike to lunch with Kathleen. It was the perfect beginning for a long and wondrous relationship.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/wmicha...
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 17, 2024
Get ready for the next thrilling installment in the Gears newest series —it's an excellent read.
The Masked Owl by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear is the second book in The Earliest Americans series. The story is set in Ancient America and follows the Owl Clan, whose future hangs by a thread after a tragic turn of events. Young Mud Puppy, mocked as the city's fool, is thrust into a role he never expected, transforming into Salamander and navigating a web of deceit spun by the cunning Mud Stalker, the Speaker of Snapping Turtle Clan. Salamander is rushed through his brother's death rites and marries Pine Drop and Night Rain, his brother's widows, stepping into the Owl Clan Speaker's role. His mother's descent into madness further weakens their grip on power, adding to the clan's struggles. The narrative is rich with political intrigue and the complexities of leadership in a time of turmoil.
A new threat emerges as Jaguar Hide, the war chief of the Swamp Panther people, seeks peace by offering riches and a marriage pact to strengthen Owl Clan's hand. However, his niece, Anhinga, has no intention of peace—only revenge. Coiling like a serpent within Owl Clan, she waits for the perfect moment to strike, adding another layer of tension to the story. As spirits manipulate from the shadows and enemies gather like storm clouds, Salamander must decide who to trust before everything crumbles around him. The book is a spellbinding tale of power, betrayal, and survival, showcasing the resilience and determination of its characters in the face of overwhelming odds. Don't miss this exciting adventure. Pick up your copy today!
• ASIN: B0DKGBLY8R
• Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
• Publication Date: 12/17/2024
• File Size: 4362 KB
• Print Length: 309 pages
• Genre: Historical Fantasy Fiction, Native American Literature
The Masked Owl by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear is the second book in The Earliest Americans series. The story is set in Ancient America and follows the Owl Clan, whose future hangs by a thread after a tragic turn of events. Young Mud Puppy, mocked as the city's fool, is thrust into a role he never expected, transforming into Salamander and navigating a web of deceit spun by the cunning Mud Stalker, the Speaker of Snapping Turtle Clan. Salamander is rushed through his brother's death rites and marries Pine Drop and Night Rain, his brother's widows, stepping into the Owl Clan Speaker's role. His mother's descent into madness further weakens their grip on power, adding to the clan's struggles. The narrative is rich with political intrigue and the complexities of leadership in a time of turmoil.
A new threat emerges as Jaguar Hide, the war chief of the Swamp Panther people, seeks peace by offering riches and a marriage pact to strengthen Owl Clan's hand. However, his niece, Anhinga, has no intention of peace—only revenge. Coiling like a serpent within Owl Clan, she waits for the perfect moment to strike, adding another layer of tension to the story. As spirits manipulate from the shadows and enemies gather like storm clouds, Salamander must decide who to trust before everything crumbles around him. The book is a spellbinding tale of power, betrayal, and survival, showcasing the resilience and determination of its characters in the face of overwhelming odds. Don't miss this exciting adventure. Pick up your copy today!
• ASIN: B0DKGBLY8R
• Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
• Publication Date: 12/17/2024
• File Size: 4362 KB
• Print Length: 309 pages
• Genre: Historical Fantasy Fiction, Native American Literature
December 17, 2024
The Masked Owl: A Historical Fantasy Series (The Earliest Americans Book 2)
by W. Michael Gear
The layers of plotting, each group thinking that they have the right choice. They were to be in power, their enemies are within their grasp. The Owl clan was loosing its position, each society thinks they are next to be on top.
Looking at the dynamics of human culture, and the concept of trade. The different clans, tribes, and peoples can only survive through trade. This shows the nature of variation of archeological finds at Poverty Point. The various artifacts, some like copper from the far north, to the buffalo hide, horn or hoof from the west.
This part of the novel, ramps up the story, and shows the variables of trade.
September 7, 2025
W. M. and Francis Gear. What great storytellers. Long ago, I read the Donovan Series, a brilliant look at a very angry, fascinating planet. Since then, I have read many stunning books . Sci Fi, Fantasy, future shock, early Americana, you name it, the Gears have covered them all like some super literate war correspondents from hell and back and each book does its absolute freakin' best to entertain AND enlighten the info starved, fun loving creatures in my head.
This latest series, with Salamander doing is level best to survive the play of gods, men and three wives to tear him asunder, is as good as Amer-Indian fiction gets.
This latest series, with Salamander doing is level best to survive the play of gods, men and three wives to tear him asunder, is as good as Amer-Indian fiction gets.
March 28, 2025
Another success for two of my favorite authors
Another great book series by two of my favorites. The characters are portrayed as human with flaws but also the capacity for kindness and even heroism.
Another great book series by two of my favorites. The characters are portrayed as human with flaws but also the capacity for kindness and even heroism.
October 7, 2025
Meh, not my kind of book. Lots of sex and vicious behavior. The main plot muddles around political alliances and back-stabbing and could be written about any time, place, or people, so the promise of some kind of unique cultural story is false. The writing is mediocre at best, trite and trashy at worst. Not recommended.
January 6, 2025
Excellent. Now I have to wait for Book 3... Tick tock tick tock...
January 14, 2025
As always a great read
These series have been addictive as usual! Love the details they describe along with the personalities that come thru each character.
These series have been addictive as usual! Love the details they describe along with the personalities that come thru each character.
February 20, 2025
awesome job
Love this story as all books by these great writers, glad there is another story coming next. Can’t wait until I read it.
Love this story as all books by these great writers, glad there is another story coming next. Can’t wait until I read it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews