Arrow of Lightning

Killer of Enemies #3

by Joseph Bruchac

Months after she has been healed from the Enemy Sickness that afflicted her in Trail of the Dead, Lozen and her family have gathered a community around them in Valley Where First Light Paints the Cliffs and have begun to rebuild. Lozen knows danger still stalks them and she intends to be ready to defend her people, but she hopes to avoid killing another human being--though gemod monsters are not off the table. Miles away, the remaining Ones plot Lozen's demise, and a threat Lozen thought she'd eliminated comes closer. And a newfound power will complicate everything for Lozen. Masterful storyteller Joseph Bruchac delivers a satisfying conclusion of the acclaimed Killer of Enemies series.

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Dystopia, Fantasy, Indigenous, Post Apocalyptic, Survival

392 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 2017

About the author

Joseph Bruchac lives with his wife, Carol, in the Adirondack mountain foothills town of Greenfield Center, New York, in the same house where his maternal grandparents raised him. Much of his writing draws on that land and his Abenaki ancestry. Although his American Indian heritage is only one part of an ethnic background that includes Slovak and English blood, those Native roots are the ones by which he has been most nourished. He, his younger sister Margaret, and his two grown sons, James and Jesse, continue to work extensively in projects involving the preservation of Abenaki culture, language and traditional Native skills, including performing traditional and contemporary Abenaki music with the Dawnland Singers.

He holds a B.A. from Cornell University, an M.A. in Literature and Creative Writing from Syracuse and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the Union Institute of Ohio. His work as a educator includes eight years of directing a college program for Skidmore College inside a maximum security prison. With his wife, Carol, he is the founder and Co-Director of the Greenfield Review Literary Center and The Greenfield Review Press. He has edited a number of highly praised anthologies of contemporary poetry and fiction, including Songs from this Earth on Turtle's Back, Breaking Silence (winner of an American Book Award) and Returning the Gift. His poems, articles and stories have appeared in over 500 publications, from American Poetry Review, Cricket and Aboriginal Voices to National Geographic, Parabola and Smithsonian Magazine. He has authored more than 70 books for adults and children, including The First Strawberries, Keepers of the Earth (co-authored with Michael Caduto), Tell Me a Tale, When the Chenoo Howls (co-authored with his son, James), his autobiography Bowman's Store and such novels as Dawn Land, The Waters Between, Arrow Over the Door and The Heart of a Chief. Forthcoming titles include Squanto's Journey (Harcourt), a picture book, Sacajawea (Harcourt), an historical novel, Crazy Horse's Vision (Lee & Low), a picture book, and Pushing Up The Sky (Dial), a collection of plays for children. His honors include a Rockefeller Humanities fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Writing Fellowship for Poetry, the Cherokee Nation Prose Award, the Knickerbocker Award, the Hope S. Dean Award for Notable Achievement in Children's Literature and both the 1998 Writer of the Year Award and the 1998 Storyteller of the Year Award from the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. In 1999, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers Circle of the Americas.

As a professional teller of the traditional tales of the Adirondacks and the Native peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands, Joe Bruchac has performed widely in Europe and throughout the United States from Florida to Hawaii and has been featured at such events as the British Storytelling Festival and the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro, Tennessee. He has been a storyteller-in-residence for Native American organizations and schools throughout the continent, including the Institute of Alaska Native Arts and the Onondaga Nation School. He discusses Native culture and his books and does storytelling programs at dozens of elementary and secondary schools each year as a visiting author.

Reviews

[Devon Munn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, i really enjoyed this series. It was well written, entertaining and fun. Lozen was a pretty cool and kickass main character (Which btw i think Hally and Coyote might be my favorite characters, even though the latter is kinds minor) with some interesting mythology thrown in. This was quite enjoyable and i would highly recommend it.

[Makayla Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐ I loved how the series ended where it began. I also love how Lozen and Hussein's relationship is so strong and how they are both in charge. Luther's story ended very well and I didn't expect it.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

With Arrow of Lightning, author Bruchac ends this interesting series in a satisfying manner. The mixture of post apocalyptic with Native American (and other cultural) flavors made for a very different spin on the post apocalyptic genre. Certainly, Bruchac is a master storyteller, creating a new fable for the modern age with all that one should contain: action, adventure, a group of characters very much of their time/place, and various morals interwoven throughout.

Story: Lozen knows Luther has survived somehow - and that he is going to come after her. If she stays with her small band, she only brings danger to them. But now that she has found a life worth living, how can she give it up? But even worse, the Jester and Lady Time have a single-minded drive to exterminate Lozen and her crew - and Luther will be one, but not nearly the nastiest, of their weapons.

One of the biggest assets that Bruchac brings to the story is a set of character voices that are incredibly unique and distinct. The perspectives make sense for the characters and there's never a need to read who is speaking - you know instantly. Lozen is grounded but not very smart; the Dreamer always talking like a book, Hussein respectful and empathetic, even Lozen's mother has a very motherly voice that comes through clearly in her dialogue. Some books dramatically increase their efficacy in audio but I can't imagine the KIller of Enemies series would be any better in audio because the written word here is so rich.

Bruchac reaches deep into his storytelling roots to ensure that there are morals in his tales. From discussions about the need for religion, respecting all cultures, dependence on technology and science - these are all reflections of his Native American heritage. Fortunately, they aren't cloying or sledgehammers - he weaves the morals seamlessly into the story so he can make a point but not make it more important than the plot itself. Even subtle issues like Luther - do you kill the poisonous snake in the garden even if it puts you in danger in the attempt - or do you let it be since it is a creation of the environment in which it has to survive and therefore no more evil than anything else in the world?

If I had some nitpicks, it's that the books follow the same format: Lozen fights a monster, Lozen and crew move around and encounter things, Lozen gets hints/help from Hally to conquer/defeat otherwise insurmountable opposition, a low key big bad fight at the end. As well, I never appreciate POVs from the enemy and I felt there was far too much "Luther is eeeeevil" torture porn (especially in the second book). It's toned down here and it's obvious why we got so much Luther from the denouement - but it was still too much. I think in true fables, everyone loves the bad guy as much as the good guy; Luther ended up being the 'big bad' much more than The Ones and it's clear Bruchac enjoyed writing him.

I was most curious about Hally - Lozen's mind reading sasquatch. We do get roundabout answers on who/why he is what he is. It's about what I expected and I respect that we aren't spoon fed his story. It makes sense for the story and how he has interacted with Lozen up to the end of this book. But Lozen's powers, whether granted through Hally or not, were a bit - convenient. Just what she needs when she needs it. And kind of random.

In all, I really enjoyed Arrow of Lightning and the entire series. I have to appreciate that Bruchac resisted romanticizing either Lozen or Native Americans. Our heroine is not the brightest bulb but she feels real and grounded because of that. And never, at any time, does she need to be saved by the hero/is made to sound powerful but doesn't do anything. Lozen carries her group and each provide an asset. For that reason, this isn't a YA novel - it's much too smart for that. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first heard Killer of Enemies described as "post-apocalyptic Apache steam-punk" and I had to read it. The main character Lozen, can track, hunt, and fight with all the skill of her Apache, Navajo, and Pueblo ancestors. She and her family and friends live in a PC world. Not politically correct, but Post Cloud. A strange silvery cloud from space has enveloped the planet and there is no longer anything electromagnetic (hence the steam-punk).

In this third installment of her story, Lozen and some others have escaped from the compound ruled by tyrannical overlords and established a community for themselves. But those rulers are intent on revenge and send various attacks to kill Lozen and the others while also plotting to kill off each other and become the sole ruler. There are also still genetically modified creatures (gemods), that have escaped from the zoos and collections that were contained by electric fences and other gadgets. The characters have to defend themselves against giant crawdads, enormous spiders, and things like camelions that are part camel and part lion. There is also the mercenary Luther Four Deaths who went missing after a battle with Lozen and may also be coming for revenge.

Throughout the series Lozen has added to her combat training and skill with weapons and martial arts. Readers of the first two books will have seen the development of mental powers that she exercises and works to strengthen. Telepathy is just one of these skills; a warning sense of impending danger also comes in handy. In a quiet moment, Lozen speculates that the lack of electricity has allowed these powers to flourish. Not that there are many quiet moments, but still...

I highly recommend the entire series to any readers who like action, adventure, post-apocalyptic settings, female characters that can kick butt and maintain their attitude, or books that show how Native American stories and traditions find a place in whatever setting or time period the action happens to take place. Bruchac weaves in stories and beliefs from various tribes in a way that fits with the internal logic of the story.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know I'm not the only reader who has been anxiously awaiting the conclusion of this series. I was not disappointed. As Lozen heals and builds a community in the Valley Where First Light Paints the Cliffs, she and her allies, including her romantic partner, Hussein, prepare for what's coming. Lozen knows that the remaining Ones won't leave her alone and that efforts will be underway to find her and kill her as well as her family and friends. Lady Time and the Jester are every bit as cruel and insane as they were described in the two previous books, and the brief glimpses readers have of them is enough to remind them of why Lozen had to flee Haven. As happened in the earlier books, Lozen faces threats from genetically modified creatures, including vampire locusts rising from the ground. Author Joseph Bruchac has created such a kick-ass protagonist in Lozen that readers will wish there truly was someone just like her in real life. As she struggles with her vow not to kill another human being, she also knows she must protect those she loves and resists the mantle of heroism that has been placed on her. Lozen never forgets where she came from or what she learned from her father and uncle. I love how Bruchac weaves in Coyote stories throughout the narrative and how even Luther Little Wound is redeemed through the love of a dog. That part really surprised me, but it also made sense and added another layer of complexity to his character. While some of Lozen's special powers made me wonder since they are more than a little bit convenient, I still loved reading this book and found it a satisfying conclusion to a great series. Lozen's physical adeptness and intelligence and how she can outsmart her enemies as well as her vulnerable side and how she's always saying or thinking something snarky, all make her likeable and real. There is little doubt in my mind that this needs to become a movie.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arrow of Lightning by Joseph Bruchac
Aaah . . . there is something so satisfying about an exciting adventure story that also delivers knowledge and wisdom, stories —- and hope! Lozen continues to fight for the People, but she has learned she doesn’t have to do it alone. Family, friends, former enemies join the efforts to right wrongs and build good lives, working together, building consensus in lodge meetings.
Lozen’s gifts are improving, with new abilities arising, and the wisdom to focus on NOW and not get overwhelmed. “I’ll do whatever I can in my little corner to make things better.” Young siblings are growing into skills as well, and even those who seem evil can learn and change.
Easy? no, it’s never been easy, always struggles, but always beauty as well.
“If we humans just leave it alone, the earth can heal itself . . . Uncle Chatto . . . “
Much as I wanted to just keep reading, this line matched my state and sent me to bed, perchance to dream (and wake early to keep reading), “no matter how hard he tried to keep it open, that eye would close.” This was a hard book to put down, the third in a series I heartily recommend.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bang-up ending to the series, and a really fun read. I love how Bruchac effortlessly weaves smaller stories in and out of the larger narrative, and how he talks to us about why that matters in Native culture. It's a different relationship to story than I have ever understood before, and I am glad to gain the perspective. Lozen continues to be gruff and bad-ass, but it is delightful to see her also become centered in her family and her chosen community. I also very much love that there is redemption available for even the most hardened killers -- not structured religious redemption, just peace in the soul that one arrives at as an individual. I admire that Lozen is able to keep her vow not to deliberately kill a human being after her cleansing ceremony, but I do find it convenient that others are willing to do that work for her -- it works, but it dies not absolve the necessity of killing in order to create a harmonious community, and that's complicated. I suppose it ever will be.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book three in the Killer of Enemies books- perhaps not the best place to jump in...
Still Killer of Enemies, the main character and narrator of the book engages us immediately. The premise is that an atmospheric upset has rendered all electrical devices non functional- think about that for a moment... Who better to rebuild the world than indigenous people? Well, rebuild once murderous, petty, despotic leaders are neutralized. Toss into this mix crazy huge, poisonous, dangerous, and fast genetically modified animals and humans with telepathic abilities in case the petty, murderous despots who want Killer of Enemies head in a bag weren't enough of a challenge.
The Native American stories and milieu are a lovely balance for the action and supernatural challenges that Killer of Enemies and her tribe face minute by minute in a battle for survival.

[Aspasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is there anything Lozen can't do? Not only can she strategize, use multiple weapons, read minds, communicate telepathically, in this book she discovers that she can also "travel" with her mind and shoot lightning from her hands (hence the book title and only under the most dire of circumstances). In this last installment,while Lozen has been healed of the enemy sickness, she must deal with multiple threats: Lady Time sends an invading army, Luther Little Wound/Four Deaths is still alive and hunting her, and Lozen and crew decide to liberate Haven from the control of The Jester and Lady Time. This story is also told from the point of view of Luther Little Wound. While he may seem invincible physically and has the mind of the psychopath, the reader is told more of his backstory, and we finally see a "flaw" in his cold exterior.

[LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lozen is becoming more and more a super hero as she comes into her powers. I loved the mixture of sci-fi with Native American mythology and the roles of Hally and Coyote in the story. The character who had been such a sadistic psychopath in book 2 is more sympathetic here as a past loving relationship with a dog is reveled. Not sure that part of the ending is very believable even in the context of the story. There are some sappy wind-up-the-series-and-project-the-future parts at the end that could have been more subtle (and thus less sappy), but all in all I enjoyed the action and in-your-face dialog of this series. Also Hally and Dreamer's cultural rererences to our "ancient" time. The book makes a significant contribution to YA lit that my Ojibwe neighbors can identify with.

[Phair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful series. Love the combination of action, Native American folklore & spirituality and optimistic view of humanity as capable of better things. My favorite character is Hally, the all-knowing "Bigfoot" ancient being who is constantly coming out with 'old' pop-culture references that the reader gets but Lozen and company don't understand at all. Would love to revisit this world even though this seems to be final book in the series.

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy last entry in this series. I so love Bruchac's work because learning through stories is a big part of what helps the story go forward. That and real characters. Great world building sometime in the future when aliens? have taken over the earth and gemod run amuck.

[Syntha Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good ending to the series.

[Tyler Alt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good