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Native Ingenuity #1
Native Wind
Native First Chronicle
After his family is killed by thieves, sole survivor Trey McAlister is taken in by a nearby Comanche clan. Trey has a gift for magic and the clan’s shaman, Singing Crow, makes him an apprentice. While learning to control his powers, Trey bonds with a young warrior and shape shifter, Gray Talon. When they are sent out on a quest to find the missing daughter of a dragon, they encounter the same bandits who murdered Trey’s family, as well as a man made of copper who drives Trey to dig deeper into the magics that created him.
It doesn’t take them long to discover a rancher near Cheyenne, Wyoming is plotting to build a workforce of copper men—and has captured the dragon’s daughter they’ve been searching for. Trey and Gray Talon must draw on all their knowledge and skills to complete their quest—one that grows more complicated, and more dangerous, with each passing day.
After his family is killed by thieves, sole survivor Trey McAlister is taken in by a nearby Comanche clan. Trey has a gift for magic and the clan’s shaman, Singing Crow, makes him an apprentice. While learning to control his powers, Trey bonds with a young warrior and shape shifter, Gray Talon. When they are sent out on a quest to find the missing daughter of a dragon, they encounter the same bandits who murdered Trey’s family, as well as a man made of copper who drives Trey to dig deeper into the magics that created him.
It doesn’t take them long to discover a rancher near Cheyenne, Wyoming is plotting to build a workforce of copper men—and has captured the dragon’s daughter they’ve been searching for. Trey and Gray Talon must draw on all their knowledge and skills to complete their quest—one that grows more complicated, and more dangerous, with each passing day.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 19, 2016
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 18, 2016
**2.5 stars rounded down because still no 1/2 stars here on GR and rounding up...just not happening.**
'Native Winds' was a book that definitely intrigued me, while I'm fairly new to the genre of Steampunk. I'm definitely not new to what I like and this had all the elements of something I should have really, really liked.
There was magic, dragons...I love dragons, I believe I have mentioned this on more than one occasion. Strong female characters, shifters which I use to really like but seem to have drifted away from over the years but lately I find myself drifting back and this is cool I find that my reading taste has changed more than once and I expect it will continue to do so. The use of native folklore to enhance the story. Interestingly enough while historical books aren't always my thing I do love folklore and that of North America's Indigenous peoples contains some of the most amazing stories.
The setting for 'Native Winds' is essentially a steampunk version of the old west and while I've read books that have been set in a Steampunked Victorian era and post-apocalyptic worlds this was a totally new setting so again I was excited for this adventure. So many elements to draw me in and maybe, that was part of the problem...but, truthfully I think not..
So here's what happened nothing or at least that's what it felt like for the first half of the story. By the half-way point I felt like a dog chasing it's tail. It seemed like things were going on a loop with no real progress being made. Try as I might and I did try I just couldn't feel the connection to the story that would draw me in and allow me to lose myself in the characters and the plot as I continued to read.
Trey McAlister is a mage who lost his family when he was very young and was then taken in by a nearby Comanche clan who raised him, this is all pre-story beginning. It's here that he also meets and bonds with Gray Talon, again pre-story, and it's here that some of my problems begin. I wanted to feel that bond. I just never felt any real connection between these two characters. They're suppose to be soul-mates, the love of each others lives and I just didn't feel it. Also let me add here that while there was zero on page sex that was not the problem. I have read stories where all it's taken for me to feel that the author has made that emotional connection between two characters is a kiss, a look shared across the room, some kind of intimate moment that feels like they would never share with anyone else.
Having said this it leads directly to what for me was probably my biggest issue with this story and that's the writing in general which for the most part led me to feel like I was reading something intended for a much younger reading audience than me.
Ok, so let's suffice it to say this book didn't work for me, however, I did give it 2.5 stars so I also want to take a moment and mention the things that I liked (please check paragraphs 1 & 2 to save me being repetitive, thanks) but as well as this I need to mention Copperpot, who was a mechanical construct and the only one that I liked. His part of the story was good and I definitely enjoyed it...mostly and no I'm not giving away anything more than that. Individually I really liked both Trey and Gray Talon, I just didn't feel their connection and I wanted to. Also Gray Talon's abilities were pretty amazing and I do feel like Trey has only begun to show his powers so much potential to be worked with there. The dragons...I would have liked more but again potential. After all this is the beginning of a series so the author needs to save something for future stories and last of all, I just want to give a nod to that cover I really liked it. It very much suites the overall feel of the book...which for me ended up being a 'YA Steampunk' series.
Will I continue with this series? I doubt it. I came, I read and I just didn't connect. So for me that's a wrap...peace out!
'Native Winds' was a book that definitely intrigued me, while I'm fairly new to the genre of Steampunk. I'm definitely not new to what I like and this had all the elements of something I should have really, really liked.
There was magic, dragons...I love dragons, I believe I have mentioned this on more than one occasion. Strong female characters, shifters which I use to really like but seem to have drifted away from over the years but lately I find myself drifting back and this is cool I find that my reading taste has changed more than once and I expect it will continue to do so. The use of native folklore to enhance the story. Interestingly enough while historical books aren't always my thing I do love folklore and that of North America's Indigenous peoples contains some of the most amazing stories.
The setting for 'Native Winds' is essentially a steampunk version of the old west and while I've read books that have been set in a Steampunked Victorian era and post-apocalyptic worlds this was a totally new setting so again I was excited for this adventure. So many elements to draw me in and maybe, that was part of the problem...but, truthfully I think not..
So here's what happened nothing or at least that's what it felt like for the first half of the story. By the half-way point I felt like a dog chasing it's tail. It seemed like things were going on a loop with no real progress being made. Try as I might and I did try I just couldn't feel the connection to the story that would draw me in and allow me to lose myself in the characters and the plot as I continued to read.
Trey McAlister is a mage who lost his family when he was very young and was then taken in by a nearby Comanche clan who raised him, this is all pre-story beginning. It's here that he also meets and bonds with Gray Talon, again pre-story, and it's here that some of my problems begin. I wanted to feel that bond. I just never felt any real connection between these two characters. They're suppose to be soul-mates, the love of each others lives and I just didn't feel it. Also let me add here that while there was zero on page sex that was not the problem. I have read stories where all it's taken for me to feel that the author has made that emotional connection between two characters is a kiss, a look shared across the room, some kind of intimate moment that feels like they would never share with anyone else.
Having said this it leads directly to what for me was probably my biggest issue with this story and that's the writing in general which for the most part led me to feel like I was reading something intended for a much younger reading audience than me.
Ok, so let's suffice it to say this book didn't work for me, however, I did give it 2.5 stars so I also want to take a moment and mention the things that I liked (please check paragraphs 1 & 2 to save me being repetitive, thanks) but as well as this I need to mention Copperpot, who was a mechanical construct and the only one that I liked. His part of the story was good and I definitely enjoyed it...mostly and no I'm not giving away anything more than that. Individually I really liked both Trey and Gray Talon, I just didn't feel their connection and I wanted to. Also Gray Talon's abilities were pretty amazing and I do feel like Trey has only begun to show his powers so much potential to be worked with there. The dragons...I would have liked more but again potential. After all this is the beginning of a series so the author needs to save something for future stories and last of all, I just want to give a nod to that cover I really liked it. It very much suites the overall feel of the book...which for me ended up being a 'YA Steampunk' series.
Will I continue with this series? I doubt it. I came, I read and I just didn't connect. So for me that's a wrap...peace out!
June 29, 2016
Received from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Gray Talon and Trey are bloodbrothers and also lovers. The former a Comanche shapeshifter and the latter a white orphan brought up amongst the tribe, they are sent to find a dragon's daughter in the Wild West and along the way meet up with a mechanical man.
I wasn't fussed on Native Wind. It is both confused and simple - the writing style, and the writing itself, reads as something that would be aimed at upper-primary early-teenage-level readers, but the content is more upper-teens/adult. It manages to have some pretty interesting worldbuilding - slapping steampunk together with native American magic and sorcery is a neat idea, plus ermagerd dragons - but the writing consistently brought it down.
The dialogue often switches from 'period'-sounding to modern-sounding very often - a lot of sentences start with "Hey, do you think-" or something similar, a lot of characters say "guys" when referring to a group, and the couple that really ground my gears were "Can he be for real?" and "There are some bugs to work out". 'Glitch' as a technology term is also mentioned a couple of times.
The story itself was entertaining enough and held my interest throughout the book, but it really read as a childrens' book rather than adult fiction - if not for the references to whoring, genocide and general violence/sexuality/murder anyway.
Gray Talon and Trey are bloodbrothers and also lovers. The former a Comanche shapeshifter and the latter a white orphan brought up amongst the tribe, they are sent to find a dragon's daughter in the Wild West and along the way meet up with a mechanical man.
I wasn't fussed on Native Wind. It is both confused and simple - the writing style, and the writing itself, reads as something that would be aimed at upper-primary early-teenage-level readers, but the content is more upper-teens/adult. It manages to have some pretty interesting worldbuilding - slapping steampunk together with native American magic and sorcery is a neat idea, plus ermagerd dragons - but the writing consistently brought it down.
The dialogue often switches from 'period'-sounding to modern-sounding very often - a lot of sentences start with "Hey, do you think-" or something similar, a lot of characters say "guys" when referring to a group, and the couple that really ground my gears were "Can he be for real?" and "There are some bugs to work out". 'Glitch' as a technology term is also mentioned a couple of times.
The story itself was entertaining enough and held my interest throughout the book, but it really read as a childrens' book rather than adult fiction - if not for the references to whoring, genocide and general violence/sexuality/murder anyway.
July 19, 2016
Book – Native Wind (Native Ingenuity: First Chronicle)
Author – A.M. Burns
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 216
Cover – Love it so hard!
POV – 3rd person, dual POV
Would I read it again – Yes.
Genre – LGBT, Steampunk, Dragon, MM, Magic, Shifters, Western, Alternative History
** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
As a first in the series (and my first by A.M. Burns) I loved this book. I struggled to place it into one genre or category, but at the same time, although there was a lot going on (Alternative History, Western, Steampunk, Shifters) it never felt too much or over done. It never felt like the author was unnecessarily throwing things into the mix.
The world building is just incredible. I can't even imagine how hard they had to work to get all of it to work together so seamlessly, to make it all seem so natural and logical.
The best thing is that this is suitable for all ages (though I'd probably cut off anyone younger than 14 due to a few fight scenes). There is a sweet, romantic gay relationship between Gray Talon and Trey, but it's never explicit, I don't remember any swearing and the whole thing is very time appropriate – Old West style.
As for the characters, I really loved the two main characters – Gray Talon and Trey – who were strong, intelligent men, in an open gay relationship with no stigma from the People, and who were at the same time sensitive, talented and sympathetic to the plight of others.
Add in the feisty female Sarah, the silent but still intriguing Daphne, and Sherriff Derr and his Deputy Toby there was one heck of a team here. All with their own part to play and all interesting enough to reappear in the next Chronicle of this series. I certainly wouldn't mind reading about any of them in the next book. Which I'll definitely be reading.
Negatives? Meh. A few issues with spelling/grammar and one instant where Sarah first told us the name of her husband (Gary) only for him to be known as Daniel throughout the rest of the book. Negligible stuff and something that will be spotted in final edits, before release, no doubt. Nothing that interfered with my reading, understanding of the plot or with my enjoyment of the story.
~
Overall, this was a fantastic blend of genres, that took me back to my days of watching John Wayne movies with my dad. It was nostalgic, simple and complex at the same time, well planned, structured and executed as well as thoroughly entertaining.
That cover made me want this the minute I saw it, without even knowing what the book was about. Did it deliver on what the cover promised? You bet your sweet tail it did. Steampunk? Check. Robots? Check. Dragons? Check. Western? Check. Not to mention romance, shape-shifters, ghosts, an all really brilliant, in depth, sympathetic view into the life of Native Americans and their plight with fighting against the Old West White Men who wanted to take over their land.
I could gush about this book for days. Instead, go read it. Then come back and thank me.
Author – A.M. Burns
Star rating - ★★★★★
No. of Pages – 216
Cover – Love it so hard!
POV – 3rd person, dual POV
Would I read it again – Yes.
Genre – LGBT, Steampunk, Dragon, MM, Magic, Shifters, Western, Alternative History
** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
As a first in the series (and my first by A.M. Burns) I loved this book. I struggled to place it into one genre or category, but at the same time, although there was a lot going on (Alternative History, Western, Steampunk, Shifters) it never felt too much or over done. It never felt like the author was unnecessarily throwing things into the mix.
The world building is just incredible. I can't even imagine how hard they had to work to get all of it to work together so seamlessly, to make it all seem so natural and logical.
The best thing is that this is suitable for all ages (though I'd probably cut off anyone younger than 14 due to a few fight scenes). There is a sweet, romantic gay relationship between Gray Talon and Trey, but it's never explicit, I don't remember any swearing and the whole thing is very time appropriate – Old West style.
As for the characters, I really loved the two main characters – Gray Talon and Trey – who were strong, intelligent men, in an open gay relationship with no stigma from the People, and who were at the same time sensitive, talented and sympathetic to the plight of others.
Add in the feisty female Sarah, the silent but still intriguing Daphne, and Sherriff Derr and his Deputy Toby there was one heck of a team here. All with their own part to play and all interesting enough to reappear in the next Chronicle of this series. I certainly wouldn't mind reading about any of them in the next book. Which I'll definitely be reading.
Negatives? Meh. A few issues with spelling/grammar and one instant where Sarah first told us the name of her husband (Gary) only for him to be known as Daniel throughout the rest of the book. Negligible stuff and something that will be spotted in final edits, before release, no doubt. Nothing that interfered with my reading, understanding of the plot or with my enjoyment of the story.
~
Overall, this was a fantastic blend of genres, that took me back to my days of watching John Wayne movies with my dad. It was nostalgic, simple and complex at the same time, well planned, structured and executed as well as thoroughly entertaining.
That cover made me want this the minute I saw it, without even knowing what the book was about. Did it deliver on what the cover promised? You bet your sweet tail it did. Steampunk? Check. Robots? Check. Dragons? Check. Western? Check. Not to mention romance, shape-shifters, ghosts, an all really brilliant, in depth, sympathetic view into the life of Native Americans and their plight with fighting against the Old West White Men who wanted to take over their land.
I could gush about this book for days. Instead, go read it. Then come back and thank me.
August 4, 2016
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review.
“Native Wind” is an interesting mix of Western, Steampunk and Native American mythology. That’s definitely not a mix I’ve come across before, so I was hopeful.
Grey Talon is a very unusual shifter with his ability to turn into any animal he’s ever laid eyes on. Trey’s shaman magic was also very interesting and I loved the time Trey spent practicing it.
Both MCs were very likeable and their bond was obvious. I liked that they were a couple from the start of the book, which left more room for plot outside the romance. There was no need for explanations and flashbacks, their love for each other felt completely natural.
There were a couple of unique minor characters as well, like Copperpot, the metal construct, or Singing Crow, Trey’s shaman teacher.
The great villain, however, was needlessly evil. I don’t like it when the villains only ever do evil things and the MCs only ever do good things. I like my shades of grey. At times, it was also hard to understand certain actions of Grey Talon and Trey. They didn’t always make all that much sense.
The world building was a little lacking. While there were a lot of scenes of Trey talking about and practicing his magic, little things were left unexplained. I’m still uncertain just how Grey Talon communicated in animal form.
I would have also enjoyed a bit more Steampunk. Sure, there was Copperpot, who became a loyal companion of the two, but that’s about it. The world itself didn’t have many steam powered machines.
I’m not sure I entirely understood the part dragons play in this world. They’re definitely nothing like any dragons I’ve come across in literature before.
Overall, “Native Wind” had promise but didn’t quite live up to it. The plot didn’t really grip me. I wasn’t exactly bored, but I never quite felt the urge that I absolutely had to know what happened next. I probably won’t read the sequel.
The cover by Stef Masciandaro shows a drawing of our four heroes, with Trey shifted into a dog and a dragon looming in the background.
“Native Wind” is an interesting mix of Western, Steampunk and Native American mythology. That’s definitely not a mix I’ve come across before, so I was hopeful.
Grey Talon is a very unusual shifter with his ability to turn into any animal he’s ever laid eyes on. Trey’s shaman magic was also very interesting and I loved the time Trey spent practicing it.
Both MCs were very likeable and their bond was obvious. I liked that they were a couple from the start of the book, which left more room for plot outside the romance. There was no need for explanations and flashbacks, their love for each other felt completely natural.
There were a couple of unique minor characters as well, like Copperpot, the metal construct, or Singing Crow, Trey’s shaman teacher.
The great villain, however, was needlessly evil. I don’t like it when the villains only ever do evil things and the MCs only ever do good things. I like my shades of grey. At times, it was also hard to understand certain actions of Grey Talon and Trey. They didn’t always make all that much sense.
The world building was a little lacking. While there were a lot of scenes of Trey talking about and practicing his magic, little things were left unexplained. I’m still uncertain just how Grey Talon communicated in animal form.
I would have also enjoyed a bit more Steampunk. Sure, there was Copperpot, who became a loyal companion of the two, but that’s about it. The world itself didn’t have many steam powered machines.
I’m not sure I entirely understood the part dragons play in this world. They’re definitely nothing like any dragons I’ve come across in literature before.
Overall, “Native Wind” had promise but didn’t quite live up to it. The plot didn’t really grip me. I wasn’t exactly bored, but I never quite felt the urge that I absolutely had to know what happened next. I probably won’t read the sequel.
The cover by Stef Masciandaro shows a drawing of our four heroes, with Trey shifted into a dog and a dragon looming in the background.
June 29, 2016
I fell in love with the two main characters and the writing style of the author. I loved the integration of Comanche lore with magic use. The tale was engaging, the characters likable, and the world let me me right in and I didn't want to leave. I hope that the author plans to explore more of this world, as it has intrigued me to no end. I received this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
August 22, 2016
Burns was a new author for me, and I can say this will not be the last work I read of his. Admittedly, at first I was hesitant to pick this up, but I’m glad I did finally read it. The win for me in this novel was, without a doubt, the fantastic Native folklore—how Burns wove it into the storytelling, but also created a powerful environmental statement with it.
When I see Science Fiction/Fantasy with modern minorities, specifically Natives, I’m a bit leery about the possibility of cultural appropriation, but I didn’t have to worry about that. Burns doesn’t just use actual tribes, but he also takes their actual history and weaves it into his tale, giving proper respect and credit to all parties. The story takes place in the Wild West, and even though there are dragons and automatons and magic, it’s clear that he did some amazing research for this piece. We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg of how much knowledge he has of this time in history, and that ultimately made me feel very comfortable in the world he created.
I was in awe of the aspects of Native folklore. I especially loved all of the conversations Trey and Grey Talon had with the elders and spirits. The way they use language, the magic they wove, and their connection to the Earth was breathtakingly beautiful. It reminded me of when I was a child, and we’d have a local storyteller tell us stories of Raven and Coyote, and a host of other amazing tales. It was the only time I remember a large group of children being completely captivated and still for hours. Her voice still echoes in my mind at times, and I felt a bit of that nostalgia when I was reading.
The one criticism I’d have for this work is that it didn’t feel—to me—as if there was enough character development. The relationship between Grey Talon and Trey was already well established before the book started, and although there were quite a few flashbacks to other points in their life, none were really about how they fell in love. This wasn’t a Romance, so I didn’t mind that it wasn’t all mush and feelings; however, it seemed as if the character with the greatest story and potential for agency and growth was the metal man, Copperpot, who was more of a minor character and wasn’t one of the main points of view. But even he wasn’t as fully developed as he could have been. I wondered, while reading, if this story was supposed to be mainly plot driven, but I’m not sure if the action was fast paced enough to warrant the lack of attention to these characters, who were absolutely fantastic but weren’t utilized to their full potential. The ending could have been used to enhance that missing element, but it was a bit rushed.
All in all, a great read, especially if you love Native folklore and/or steampunk.
Reviewed by Ben for The Novel Approach Reviews
When I see Science Fiction/Fantasy with modern minorities, specifically Natives, I’m a bit leery about the possibility of cultural appropriation, but I didn’t have to worry about that. Burns doesn’t just use actual tribes, but he also takes their actual history and weaves it into his tale, giving proper respect and credit to all parties. The story takes place in the Wild West, and even though there are dragons and automatons and magic, it’s clear that he did some amazing research for this piece. We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg of how much knowledge he has of this time in history, and that ultimately made me feel very comfortable in the world he created.
I was in awe of the aspects of Native folklore. I especially loved all of the conversations Trey and Grey Talon had with the elders and spirits. The way they use language, the magic they wove, and their connection to the Earth was breathtakingly beautiful. It reminded me of when I was a child, and we’d have a local storyteller tell us stories of Raven and Coyote, and a host of other amazing tales. It was the only time I remember a large group of children being completely captivated and still for hours. Her voice still echoes in my mind at times, and I felt a bit of that nostalgia when I was reading.
The one criticism I’d have for this work is that it didn’t feel—to me—as if there was enough character development. The relationship between Grey Talon and Trey was already well established before the book started, and although there were quite a few flashbacks to other points in their life, none were really about how they fell in love. This wasn’t a Romance, so I didn’t mind that it wasn’t all mush and feelings; however, it seemed as if the character with the greatest story and potential for agency and growth was the metal man, Copperpot, who was more of a minor character and wasn’t one of the main points of view. But even he wasn’t as fully developed as he could have been. I wondered, while reading, if this story was supposed to be mainly plot driven, but I’m not sure if the action was fast paced enough to warrant the lack of attention to these characters, who were absolutely fantastic but weren’t utilized to their full potential. The ending could have been used to enhance that missing element, but it was a bit rushed.
All in all, a great read, especially if you love Native folklore and/or steampunk.
Reviewed by Ben for The Novel Approach Reviews
August 15, 2016
After the murder of his family, Trey McAllister found a home among the Comanche. Not only did they give him a place to live and a tribe to support him, but his innate magical abilities led to him being taken on as a shaman's apprentice. The new home also gave Trey the opportunity to bond more closely with his friend Grey Talon. And their relationship quickly became more to both of them than they might otherwise have imagined.
As part of a bargain made by the tribe's shaman, Trey and Grey Talon find themselves on a mission to track down a dragon's daughter. But it's not just a simple tracking mission. It's a task that may bring them face-to-face with people more vile and more powerful than they've faced before. The two of them will need to work together, and they'll need to be willing to rely on any extra help they might find along the way.
--
There's quite a convergence of genre here. There are elements of historical fiction when it comes to place and people. Then one will find some fantasy in the use of magic. There's mythology with the mention of spirits of the elements and dragons. And the mechanical creations that show up early in the book bring in a healthy helping of steampunk. But comes together in a way that really works.
This is one that I finished in a single sitting. Not only is it a relatively easy read, but it's engaging. I had no real desire to put it down and go do something else until it was finished. This is the first book I've read by this author, but I am certainly looking forward to more.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
As part of a bargain made by the tribe's shaman, Trey and Grey Talon find themselves on a mission to track down a dragon's daughter. But it's not just a simple tracking mission. It's a task that may bring them face-to-face with people more vile and more powerful than they've faced before. The two of them will need to work together, and they'll need to be willing to rely on any extra help they might find along the way.
--
There's quite a convergence of genre here. There are elements of historical fiction when it comes to place and people. Then one will find some fantasy in the use of magic. There's mythology with the mention of spirits of the elements and dragons. And the mechanical creations that show up early in the book bring in a healthy helping of steampunk. But comes together in a way that really works.
This is one that I finished in a single sitting. Not only is it a relatively easy read, but it's engaging. I had no real desire to put it down and go do something else until it was finished. This is the first book I've read by this author, but I am certainly looking forward to more.
[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
August 30, 2016
I very much enjoyed this novel. I have to admit, at first I was leery about cultural appropriation, but Burns gave respect to the Native people in the novel, and clearly did his research. It was a bit Wild West steampunk, a bit Native mythology, and a bit fantasy--quite a ride!
My review on The Novel Approach:
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
My review on The Novel Approach:
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...
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