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Mountain Times #2
Blackfoot Dawn
When giant mountain man Nathaniel Squire brings his small, young brigade to rendezvous, he figures to show the youths a shinin’ time. But a dangerous secret is revealed and the ghosts of the past arise to haunt him, leading to a war with the Blackfeet that could mean the end of even the mighty Squire.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2016
193 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
John Legg
95 books30 followersJohn Legg has had more than 50 Westerns published, including a number of series novels, and one book of Western nonfiction. He has also done a number of articles on Western history for national magazines. He has been a newspaper copy editor for more than 30 years. He also has edited novels, articles, short stories, and other works through his editing/critiquing service, JL TextWorks. He has an MSJ from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 10, 2023
Blackfoot Dawn by John Legg is the middle novel of the Mountain Times trilogy, a western series set in the days of the mountain men (1830s/40s). The main character is a big, burly mountain guide and trapper named Squire. He’s got a mean streak and is called L'on Farouche (the Fierce) by his enemies, the Blackfeet Indians.
This novel is a standalone, but picks up where Book 1, Winter Rage, ends. Hired by an outfitter to trap beaver, Squire and his crew face all the challenges one would expect in the wilderness – wild animals, extreme weather, Indians on the warpath. The author offers a generally exciting and interesting series of adventures. Squire is a bit unlikeable, imo, but the secondary characters are well-drawn and have stories of their own to tell, so it's pretty good writing overall.
Plot: At the annual Rendezvous, Squire sees a long-time foe whom he suspects knows the location of his long-lost son, stolen by the Blackfeet some 16 years prior. The story then flashes back to Squire’s origin story (as a boy, how he became so violent and then as a young man) and how he lost his first wife and child in a raid. The narrative is gritty, ugly, raw, full of violence, torture, scalpings, rape, foul language (too many GD’s and n-words for my taste), and general mayhem.
If you like strong, uncensored and unfiltered action, this series might be for you. I skimmed quite a bit of those scenes and the novel seemed a bit long to me, but again pretty engrossing at times. I was probably overly harsh with my review of the first book in the series - said it was just under 3 starts – but I would rate them both together at 3.5 stars. I’ll eventually finish the trilogy, but I need a break from the violence.
This novel is a standalone, but picks up where Book 1, Winter Rage, ends. Hired by an outfitter to trap beaver, Squire and his crew face all the challenges one would expect in the wilderness – wild animals, extreme weather, Indians on the warpath. The author offers a generally exciting and interesting series of adventures. Squire is a bit unlikeable, imo, but the secondary characters are well-drawn and have stories of their own to tell, so it's pretty good writing overall.
Plot: At the annual Rendezvous, Squire sees a long-time foe whom he suspects knows the location of his long-lost son, stolen by the Blackfeet some 16 years prior. The story then flashes back to Squire’s origin story (as a boy, how he became so violent and then as a young man) and how he lost his first wife and child in a raid. The narrative is gritty, ugly, raw, full of violence, torture, scalpings, rape, foul language (too many GD’s and n-words for my taste), and general mayhem.
If you like strong, uncensored and unfiltered action, this series might be for you. I skimmed quite a bit of those scenes and the novel seemed a bit long to me, but again pretty engrossing at times. I was probably overly harsh with my review of the first book in the series - said it was just under 3 starts – but I would rate them both together at 3.5 stars. I’ll eventually finish the trilogy, but I need a break from the violence.
May 11, 2019
Good story
Good story but way way too much foul language. Really detracts from the authenticity the author produces in the story. Many of the men of the mountains were well versed, educated, literate people. Many were also ignorant... the characters in this story seem to be the well versed type, until they debase themselves with vulgar speech. This would’ve received 5 stars, save for the poor choice of language.
Good story but way way too much foul language. Really detracts from the authenticity the author produces in the story. Many of the men of the mountains were well versed, educated, literate people. Many were also ignorant... the characters in this story seem to be the well versed type, until they debase themselves with vulgar speech. This would’ve received 5 stars, save for the poor choice of language.
February 24, 2017
Very good adventure story.
I'd have given this book 5 stars, but there was too much use of the word G-- d--- in it for me. I just didn't see the need for it. It didn't add anything to the story. Other than that the story had everything a good adventure story should have.
I'd have given this book 5 stars, but there was too much use of the word G-- d--- in it for me. I just didn't see the need for it. It didn't add anything to the story. Other than that the story had everything a good adventure story should have.
February 6, 2017
This would probably be a better read for someone who is into westerns. But I was able to read this and enjoy it.
August 4, 2016
Blackfoot dawn
A pretty good mountain man book. Makes me think I was born in the wrong era. Love them shining times.
A pretty good mountain man book. Makes me think I was born in the wrong era. Love them shining times.
September 8, 2016
Great story
Kept me interested thru the whole yarn. I would highly recommend this story to anybody who reads westerners or old history books
Kept me interested thru the whole yarn. I would highly recommend this story to anybody who reads westerners or old history books
September 16, 2016
Squire
As this story developed I found myself caught up in the drama as well as the action. Very easy read.
As this story developed I found myself caught up in the drama as well as the action. Very easy read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews