The Night Medicine

by Jody A. Kessler

In 2012, Blackfoot tribal member, Dean Wolfsblood, is the reluctant guardian of a centuries old medicine pipe that makes time travel possible. When Dean’s former Marine buddy, Badger Lowell, bribes him to take the arduous trip into the past, the last thing either of them expects during the “Night Medicine” ceremony is for an intruding grizzly bear to chase Kai, a beautiful and complicated Cree woman, into the past with them.

Upon arrival in 1868, the three unlikely companions discover deceit, murder, buffalo hunters, and a kidnapping waiting for them as they travel across mountains and plains to the gold mining town of Helena, Montana. As hidden motivations are exposed, secrets are revealed, and all well-meaning plans for their journey are cast away into the winds of time. Can they survive history and each other long enough to make it back, or will the past change their futures forever?

Genres: Time Travel, Romance

ebook

First published March 3, 2015

About the author

Jody A. Kessler is a USA TODAY bestselling author and the winner of the Readers' Crown Award. She writes in multiple genres and is the author of The Night Medicine (A historical time travel adventure), Granite Lake Romance, Romance with Altitude series, An Angel Falls and more.

When Jody isn't navigating the terrain of her imagination and writing it down, she can be found exploring the wilderness of Colorado with her family, or in the kitchen baking cookies & brownies - and trying not to eat them all.
She loves exploring old ghost towns, riding her mountain bike, hiking with her dogs, and reading anything and everything that catches her interest.

Subscribe to the newsletter and receive a free ebook: The Call - A Chris Abeyta ghost hunting novella - part of the An Angel Falls series. www.JodyAKessler.com

Reviews

[Connie Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicely done time travel adventure infused with American Indian mysticism and Native American characters. The story features complex characters who really don’t get along, an attempt to undo past injustices and an escalating romantic chemistry thwarted by mutual dislike. Oh, and don’t forget the violence, the spectacular scenery of the 19th century West, and the myths of the Cree and Blackfoot. Enjoyed the read.

[Diane Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Night Medicine is a rich, historical time travel novel full of well-crafted elements of magic realism that will make you feel as though you've actually stepped back in time. Author Jody Kessler has clearly done meticulous research on the period of 1868 in the west and in Native American culture and spirituality, and it shows through every line of her novel. But along with her ability to utterly transport her readers to life on the American frontier in Montana, she also creates complex characters who, unbeknownst to them beforehand, encounter much spiritual healing through their remarkable time travel journey. One of my favorite characters is Kai, a single mother who appears cynical about the possibility of love in the novel at first, but whose deep soul harbors an earth-shattering secret that will enable the main character Dean Wolfblood to survive. Along the way, they build a crucial trust in one another, and sparks begin to fly between them. Yet this is a believable romance that is well-earned under the careful pen of Jody Kessler, which comes as a breath of fresh air compared to more far-fetched love stories. Through their path of courage, faith, grit, and tenacity, Kai and Dean become a couple you can root for, and anyone who enjoys historical romance, western fiction, time travel novels, and Native American stories will enjoy this book.

[Nancy Segovia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful adventure that packs romance, action, time travel and mystery all into one package. The characters are intriguing and you immediately want to know what makes them tick, what their issues are, and if they are going to be able to resolve them all by the end of the book.

You also want to know if the two protagonists are going to kill each other, which is quite possible in the Native American culture of the 1800s which is full of braves seeking to prove themselves with knives and rifles, or are they going to fall in love.

It is an incredible journey into the past that is filled with interesting details about Native American culture without being boring, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action/Adventure *Historical* Time Travel & a little romance!

[Elizabeth Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of those books that's been on my TBR for years. I saw it finally had an "audiobook" in the form of free AI narration and decided to try it. As usual, the computer gets confused by homographs (bow, wound). It even made a mistake in the author's name, enunciating her middle initial as "uh" as if it were saying "Jody, a writer." Sadly, that's not all that's wrong with this book IMO. I didn't like either of the main characters. We spend far too long in the present. Despite the gorgeous cover, the past setting is thin, and so is the "romance."

[Mickala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this different perceptive on time travel. I love it when the lead female is strong and can take care of herself, but still wants to have someone there to lean on. Such a good book. I highly recommend. I am starting the next book in the series now. I have to know what happens next.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

By way of full disclosure, I confess I proofread The Night Medicine a few weeks before its release date, so what I read may not be exactly what you will read when you buy the book. But the differences will be only small grammatical ones. The heart of the story is intact.

I won’t retell the story; some reviewers manage to pare a book down to 500 words in a single review. I’ll leave that to them.

What you need to know is this: Jody Kessler is a gifted writer and a marvelous storyteller, and she has written a story worthy of her talents.

The gist of it is this: Dean Wolfsblood is a Blackfoot Indian, an ex-Marine who seeks only the oblivion of drunkenness to bury painful memories.

He is saved from that fate by three people: His cousin Gena, who is a bartender at Growler’s Tavern (don’t you love that name?), and is the one who tries to keep some semblance of order to his life.

His friend Badger, who is a fellow Blackfoot who (“by sheer luck and synchronicity”, says Kessler) wound up serving alongside the protagonist in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are combat-hardened men who know the value of having someone at his back.

But they are as different as two men could be. Dean seeks to bury his past and forget about who he is and where he came from; Badger is a firebrand who seeks to right wrongs done to the Native American tribes, and the one who pushes Dean to come to grips with his heritage.

The third savior is a dark beauty named Kia, a Cree woman who winds up in the same rough Montana back country. She takes a part-time job in the bar and upon their first meeting, says Kessler/Dean, “He decided that she was definitely Native, but looked different than the girls he was used to seeing on the Blackfoot Reserve. Her face was slimmer and more angular, kind of like her body. Her eyes were deeply set, or maybe it was just the way that she looked back at him. There was a shield behind those dark eyes, and it felt awfully familiar.”

(That, friends, is good writing.)

There is a fourth savior, a tribal totem called the Dragonfly pipe, which was owned by Dean’s grandfather, a tribal elder. Dean never knew his parents, but was raised by his grandparents, and his grandfather tried unsuccessfully to teach his grandson the old tribal ways when Dean was a boy.

The pipe is supposedly endowed with a magical quality that makes time travel possible, and Badger compels Dean to use it: “I had a f---ing father who worked himself to death. And a mother who walked on eggshells her whole life, and a sister who couldn’t give a crap about anything except how her hair looked.

“You have the ability to honor your people and your family, but you choose to drink until you’re a worthless s--t pile. And don’t lie to me again that your damn pipe is nothing less than a gift from the Gods. I know what it is. I know the stories are true.”

The stories are true. And through a serendipitous (but totally plausible) bit of timing, Kai is thrown in with the other two as they go backwards in time a hundred years to change the past and, in doing so, perhaps change the present.

That it winds up being a tender love story is also serendipitous, but also inevitable.

If you like adventure, you’ll love the book. If you like love stories – and are patient – you’ll love the book.

But mostly, if you like a good tale well told, you’ll love this book.

(Another confession? I picked up the book to refresh my memory, and was halfway through it again before I remembered I was supposed to be writing a review. It’s that good.)

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really rich descriptive story of Dean Wolfsblood, a Blackfoot Native American who's responsible for protecting an old tribe medicine pipe safe. At a military buddy's urging to go back time with the pipe and an unexpected 3rd companion in the feisty strong willed Kai being brought along seemingly by accident. But secrets between the 3 and threats from warring tribes and wealthy men of the land risk keeping the trio stuck in 1868. That's if they don't anger the Gods along their journey as well.

Not a mix of story-telling pieces I'm usually drawn to, Jody's world building in which Dean, Kai, and Badger navigate between is definitely page-turning. I had not idea what to expect as the story unfolded. And was pleasantly surprised as the story moved from 2012 to 1868 and the depth of the landscape and Native American stories told between the characters on their journey from the Piegan camp to Helena, MT and back to present. Will they get back to 2012? And all in one piece?

[LeMiliere · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy time travel stories, although I had never previously read one set in the wild west, however, this one had a good storyline that seemed well researched and had no difficultly keeping my interest. I always enjoy seeing how a character adapts to living in two timelines, both modern and historical and with the added bonus of the Native American perspective it was especially interesting. The storyline had action, intrigue and romance, the characters were well developed and easy to relate to making this an enjoyable way to pass my time.

Fans of historical fiction and the paranormal should enjoy this one, I know I did.

[David A. Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling, Excellent!

First peoples’ historical and present words are sensitively and masterfully painted. Powerfully developed characters are driven by flaws that spiritual travails wield them to delve into and remake themselves. I was fully swept into their world. The time-traveling premise is uniquely associated with Spirit-enhanced ceremony. Herbal, survival and cultural details richly flavor the story and remind us of what we even now should reacquaint ourselves to use...you never know… Superlative storytelling!

[Random Adventurer]

The time travel aspect was interesting but not overhyped to the point it felt more sci-fi. The plot was intriguing and partially well executed. However every conversation between Dean and Badge fell flat for me. Too many military clichés in every conversation. Majority of the dialog was trite. The ending was rushed. Kai--strong, independent, afraid of thunder?! Really that part was so painful- why ruin all the character development. Too many disconnects like these to actually recommend the book.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dean Wolfsblood and Badger Lowell served together in the US Marines, another thing they share is the Blackfoot Nation. Badger talks Dean into using the medicine pipe so they can travel back in time. Kai knows both men and crosses their path as they travel. I really enjoyed this book. So much to think about as they try to decide what to do in the past and how it could change the future. Their are a lot of surprises for the reader. I know I want to read the next book in the series.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time travel at its best. Dean’s family holds the secrets of time travel. His friend from the Forces talks him into using his secret and go back into the past. Badger is also trying to get Dean cleaned up and quit drinking. There are a few surprises and a big twist to the story. I truly enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book, well paced and always kept me wanting to read more. It’s rare for me to leave a review and it’s even rarer that I stay up late to finish a book these days, but this book did it! It’s a great mix of historical fiction, time travel, romance — a totally new area for me and I enjoyed every second. I can’t wait to pick up the second one in the series!

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting concept of time travel

Five stars for historical romantic novel set in Montana and the past.
Kai and DeN fight each other every step but seem bond at ethereal level.

[Joann Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

I loved the book. I loved the beginning, loved the middle and loved the ending. It had so much information about survival and just hated to put it down...

[Torrie Shaw]

DNF, not my thing.

[Mick Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful take on time travel. I loved it. I adore the main character Kai and cannot wait to start the next book in the series. A must read.

[Katie O'Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jody Kessler weaves an intricate tale of Native American folklore, with damaged characters traveling through time to heal old wounds, both psychic and historic. Filled with action, adventure and complex characters, THE NIGHT MEDICINE makes for an intriguing read.

The main character is Dean Wolfsblood, a member of the Blackfoot tribe who grew up on the reservation. His parents disappeared when he was young, so he was raised by his grandparents. His grandfather was the tribal medicine man and keeper of a sacred object, the Dragonfly pipe, which legend says can make time travel possible. Using a complicated combination of song, dance and cleansing known as the Night Medicine, teenaged Dean traveled with his grandfather 144 years into the past. The grandfather died recently, and the sacred pipe has been passed to Dean.

But Dean himself is a broken man. A former Marine who did several tours in the Middle East, he drinks to forget the things he's seen and done, and the catastrophic losses he's endured. When we first meet him, he isn't likeable. His language is coarse, his thoughts harsh, his actions selfish. I didn't see any redeeming qualities in the guy, and will admit I almost put the book aside - but I'm so glad I stuck with it.

Another former Marine comes to town to find Dean and convinces him to sober up and use the Night Medicine to travel into the past and right old wrongs. Kai works part time at the bar where Dean regularly gets drunk. She seems guarded, bitter, judgmental, and pretty unlikeable. An unlikely connection forms between her and Dean despite themselves. When she stumbles into the Night Medicine ceremony, the reader is not surprised that she gets swept back into the past with Dean and his friend.

The descriptions of life in 1868 are beautiful and interesting and totally compelling to read, as are the lyrical Native American folk tales sprinkled throughout the book. As the story progresses, Kessler peels back the layers of complexity from both Dean and Kai. We learn the secrets that they so carefully shield from the world, and we start to like and root for them to find forgiveness and happiness.

The time travel aspect sucked me in, but this is not a traditional time travel romance. In fact, the romantic tension is a very minor part of the tale. It's more a story of discovery, redemption and human frailty, and in the end I really enjoyed the way it all unfolded. Don't get me wrong, the book is jam packed with action and adventure, as well as plot twists and turns that kept me up and reading after midnight. Not a quick or easy read, as Kessler packs so much Native lore and tradition into each chapter, but well worth the time.

4 stars out of 5, only because I wish the characters of Dean and Kai had been more sympathetic right from the beginning. But once I got invested, there was no going back. THE NIGHT MEDICINE is compelling read.

[Hans Bronkhorst · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Night Medicine is the story of Dean Wolfsblood, a former US marine and member of the Blackfoot indian nation. He´s the only surviving male member of the Lynx clan ever since his grandfather passed away and he holds on to a special pipe that has been in his family for generations. When he loses his little daughter to cancer and his marriage falls apart, Dean starts drinking to forget. An old army buddy appears, badger, who´s also a tribe member and he convinces Dean to believe the legends surrounding the dragon pipe and to travel back in time to help the indian nations survive the onslaught to come by the white people. When Dean finally agrees, during the ceremony, Kai, an indian waitress he had met in a bar, accidentally stumbles into the cerimony and the three of the end up in the year 1868.
I liked the book, it is well written, the story is detailed and well elaborated and the same applies to the characters. So definately a read that´s worth it and will take you back in time.

[Kristy Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

A seldom seen perspective from the Native American viewpoint

I was quite impressed with the obvious research the author took to write this novel. Seeing life, both modern and historical, from the native American perspective is a view I've not read before, but greatly enjoyed. I'd highly recommend this novel to people who love native American love stories. I do wish the novel had gone a bit further to explain what happened to Badger, as well as within Dean and Kai's relationship.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

When reading “The Night Medicine” it’s quite obvious that a lot of thought was put into the mechanics of time travel, as well as the mythology that surrounds it.

Read full review in the 2015 July/August issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun adventure romance with a little sci-fi mixed in. A sacred peace pipe has the power to send people back 144 years. There Kai and Dean must find a way to survive as they try to return to the present. Do Kai and Dean find love in the past and will it be strong enough to continue in the present? Can they chase away there negative events from their pasts to make a better future?

[Grandma Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Story

Good read for those people that like a bit of history with their love story. I like native American stories