Ghost Warrior

by Lucia St. Clair Robson

For more than a century, Apaches have kept alive the memory of their hero Lozen. Lozen, valiant warrior, revered shaman, and beautiful woman, fought alongside Geronimo, Cochise, and Victorio, holding out against the armies of both the United States and Mexico.

Here, at last, is her compelling story, set in the last half of the nineteenth century. Orphaned sister of Victorio, Lozen has known since childhood that the spirits have chosen her to defend Apache freedom. As the U.S. army prepares to move her people to an Arizona reservation, Lozen forsakes marriage and motherhood to fight among the men. Supported by her brother and the other chiefs, Lozen proves her mettle as a soldier, reconnaissance scout, and peerless military strategist.

Rafe Collins is a young adventurer and veteran of the Mexican War. On a dangerous journey between El Paso and Santa Fe, he builds an unlikely but enduring rapport with the Warm Springs Apaches. When his bond to Lozen goes far beyond friendship, he must undertake a perilous course that will change his life forever.

A sensitive treatment of a little-known Native American figure, Ghost Warrior is a rich and powerful frontier tale filled with unforgettable characters.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Native American, Fiction, Westerns, Historical, War, Adult

496 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Lucia St. Clair Robson has been a Peace Corps Volunteer, a teacher and a librarian. Her first historical novel, RIDE THE WIND, appeared on the New York Times best seller list, and in 1983 received the Golden Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. Since then she has written seven more novels set in a variety of times and places. Kirkus Reviews wrote, "Few novelists working today have a better grasp of early American history than Robson.""

Reviews

[Herman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this historical fiction based on real life stories, the Re-construct of the Apache world of the nineteenth century achieved verisimilitude in speech, action, setting, and description
Seamlessly weaving historical fact with the writer's art of reinterpreting personalities and speech based on research and best guess and skill, there were a few things that bothered me but they were relatively nick-picking minor stuff and I am a super-user in regards to Native-American literature so I'm a far harder grader on this than the average reader would be. Lets start off with what I liked most about this book. I'm glad that the focus wasn't about Geronimo or Cochise or any of the other famous leaders in fact this book makes the important point that Geronimo would be consider by many native of the other Apache's as being a Coyote type character a dark spirit who wasn't a good leader for the majority of the Apache people that was a bit of a fresh air look I appreciated that. Second I liked that Lozen wasn't portrayed as some wonder woman super heroine yes a number of things we know that she did would now-a-days place her up there with seal team 6 as far as being a super bad-ass but I felt the personality was pretty close to what the truth might have been I also liked the added details of her death which has never been well described before. Parts that didn't work so well for me were the soft focus sketchiness of so many important parts of the story, the author Lucia St. Clair Robson is like a Ghost-whisper to me. In her book "Light a Distant Fire" the story of Seminole leader Osceola I had the feeling of the writer being able to really capture the life of her subject but in a hazy sort of ghost spirit as if relating a dream and throughout Ghost Warrior I felt this too that just me I can't be too specific as too why I felt this perhaps because the counterpoint story the cowboy Rafe which was maybe more than 50% of this book, (another issue I was annoyed with) his story was more solidly defined, clearer more grounded in time and place than that of Lozen, who's storyline sometimes faded in and out over period of years. The last thing that bothered me was the repeated use of the word "Dineh" (for the people) I'm not a language expert but Dineh is clearly a Navajo word, and while Apache and Navajo is from the same language root just like English comes out of a German/Latin/Anglo root but I'm fairly certain that southern Apache's would not refer to themselves in a term that is today so closely connected to northern Navajo's it's a minor thing but it bothered me every time I saw it. Overall a very good book I enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone wishing to know more about this time period.


weave historical fact with your own compelling plot ideas

[David Canford · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a kid watching ‘Westerns’ on TV, I always wanted the ‘Indians’ to win but mostly they didn’t, as also was the case in reality. America’s movement West brought genocide, and the Native Americans who survived were forced to live on reservations placed on the worst land and the white man’s multiple promises to them were never kept.
I was delighted to discover this author who has written several novels about the subject. In this one, Lucia St Clair Robson writes about the Apache from before the Civil War until they - as well as the Apache scouts who had tracked down the last holdouts for the US cavalry - were placed in irons and shipped to Florida contrary to the promises made by the American authorities.
The two main characters are Lozen, a female warrior and shaman and an actual person, and Rafe, an American who leads wagons across the southwest but who I believe is a fictional character.
The author recounts the struggle of the Apache to survive against bounty scalp hunters and an invasion of their lands by America. All the famous warriors such as Cochise, Victorio and Geronimo feature. At times, all the different names of the others are confusing - there are so many.
This book is not quite as good as her novel, ‘Ride the Wind’, but equally sad.
The ending is rather abrupt.
Next on my list for this author is ‘Walk in my Soul’ about the Cherokee and the 'Trail of Tears’.

[Ramona Hilliard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading Lucia St. Clair Robson books. She has the ability to transform me to that place and time so easily. While she writes fiction, it is obvious that she has done her homework. This story teaches us of a Native American woman who actually existed and was considered by her people to be a Shaman and leader during the last days before their freedom is stolen. Lozen is her name. She helped to hide her people from the US Army for many years. Lozen was considered a horse whisperer, stealing many horses and mules from the whites and Mexicans. She could sense when danger was about to happen thus enabling her people to escape from the enemy. This story has a love story which has been a standard of the books I have read from this author. You will enjoy the ups and downs of the journey of Lozen and the history of a little known sister to a war chief in their last years of survival as a free people. Loved this book. Can't wait to read the next one!

[S. Noël · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Robson is a skilled writer. She makes the reader part of the setting, and one lives in the time in which the story takes place. She illustrates the tragedy of the Apache nation as a people are ground under the heel of the encroaching settlers. In Lozen, she brings alive a little-known historical figure. This woman's books never disappoint.

[Naduah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard for me to write this review because I know what an amazing accomplishment it is to write a book and Lucia St. Clair Robson is one of my favorite authors. Ride the Wind is one of my favorite books of all time. Sometimes reality is more interesting than fiction and that is the case with all the historical characters Lucia St. Clair Robson writes about. These people's lives...they are epic and crazy and just utterly amazing. And real. These people really existed and did these things in a time when it seemed all odds were against everyone. Life was hard in the 1700-1800's yet these characters accomplished the most unbelievable things.

Before you go into this book, you need to remember it's historical fiction. Don't expect some gushy romantic love story with a happy ending. I've read lots of historical books...and even though James A. Michener is a god and won a Pulitzer I swear he's got nothing on Lucia St. Clair Robson when it comes to research and story telling. It's one thing to write a historical novel and give people facts but Lucia St. Clair Robson truly tells a story that takes you back in time -- you really live inside these character's minds. You live with these people, you ride horses along side them, you feel their pain, you experience their hardships, you love their animals as much as they do, you hate their enemies as much as they do, you eat dinner with them, you sleep beside them in the desert. It's hard to describe Lucia St. Clair Robson's books because they aren't your typical historical fiction. They are truly memorizing stories that suck you in and you forget you are reading historical facts.

With all that said, Ghost Warrior fell a little flat for me as compared to typical Lucia St. Clair Robson work, especially in comparison to Ride the Wind. Ghost Warrior dragged on a bit at times. I sometimes wondered where it was going. There were times, I felt it could have been edited down a bit because it was such a long saga. But then after finishing, I don't really know what could have been removed because every part of the story was a learning process for me and important to both Lozen and Rafe's characters and stories. One thing also that can't be helped is that most if not all Lucia St. Clair Robson stories have an unhappy ending. That's just life and how it was for these great people. They experienced hardship, they struggled and then they died. It's awful but true life and how history is.

After reading any Lucia St. Clair Robson book, you will be fascinated with each character. Even if you have no interest in history you deeply respect them and want to know more, not only about the main characters but all the supporting (and real) other characters. After reading Ride the Wind, I swear Lucia St. Clair Robson made me feel like a sister to Naduah/Cynthia Parker. It was like a magnet -- I was pulled and had to know as much as I could about this amazing woman Lucia St. Clair Robson brought back to life for me. I experienced the same thing with Lozen (and all the other characters in this book) in Ghost Warrior. I think I've googled to the end of the internet trying to find out all I can about Lozen, Victorio, Cochise and Geronimo.

Do I recommend this book. Hell yes.
How do I rate? It's a solid 4.5+ start as compared to Ride the Wind.
As compared to other historical fiction it's a 5.

[Vic · Rating 3 out of 5]

A chronicle of the last days of the Apaches and their fight to remain a free people. Built around the legend of Lozen, a woman revered by the Apaches as a warrior and shaman, Lucia St. Clair Robson outlines and fictionalizes the lives of those impacted by this most unusual Apache. Ghost Warrior reads as part fiction and part history lesson leaning heavily into the recorded record of a decades long resistance to surrender a way of life.

There wasn't much romantic about the Apaches. They were a disparate nation made up of bands that hated and fought with each other as much as with Americans and Mexicans. Although many Chiefs succumbed to the inevitable spread of white civilization into their land and gave up the fight to protect those they were chosen to lead, a few held out until the bitter end. Lozen was one of those who refused to surrender.

One fictional element that provided a counterpoint to the slow, agonizing attrition of the Apache nation, was the connection between a white wagon driver, Rafe Collins, and Lozen. Filled with a mix of admiration, awe and attraction, this one white man was able to find his way into her heart. Although never on the same side of the fight, Rafe and Lozen shared a life together without ever being together. Throughout the entire campaign to bring the Apache reign of terror to an end Lozen and Rafe held on to a mutual respect and deep heart connection.

St. Clair Robson managed to keep the embers of possibility for these two alive for almost five hundred pages. In many ways Rafe was the most influential white person the Apaches encountered without ever being the most powerful; that was reserved for a parade of army officers, most of them filled with a deep hatred and animosity for Indians. Over the decades that Rafe and Lozen crossed paths they found themselves in the strange position of 'kill or be killed' as the army doggedly pursued those unwilling to submit to living on a reservation.

Robson's story served as a good reminder that there are good people in the world. People who can be trusted; people who live without the blinders of bigotry; people guided by conscience and compassion regardless of race, religion or nationality. Her story was a reminder that life is about perspective, that judgments of right or wrong, good or evil, exist in the eye of the beholder and can not be generalized. Civilization on the other hand is an unstoppable force often driven by treachery, deceit and ego that is also part of human nature.

At no time were the Apaches in this story romanticized. They stole and plundered and killed as much for sport as out of necessity. They were feared and ultimately despised by both Mexicans and Americans and deservedly so and in the end got exactly what they gave. It was not a story with a happy ending. It was a story with a known ending filled with heartache, sorrow and disappointment.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Ride the Wind, and enjoyed a few other novels by this author as well, but this one was a huge disappointment. It dragged up until the very last page. Way too many characters to keep track of (new ones were being introduced even in the last 10 pages), with very little follow-through or payoff for the reader attempting to keep track of them all. There's a lot of build up for something substantial to happen between Lozen and Rafe, and nothing ever does (I found the book jacket summary very misleading in that regard). This novel was also in dire need of a plot; instead, it plodded along like a collection of short stories about mostly the same group of people where each chapter seems to have very little to do with the one before or after it. I think trying to cover a span of 30+ years in one almost-500-page novel was trying to cover too much ground here; it might have felt like more of a cohesive novel with a more focused approach to the time period and subjects.

[Christina ❤️M❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the rollercoaster of emotions that this book sent me through. I got quite a few chuckles from what is an expectedly sad book. It had beautiful descriptions of the country and I felt a strong connection with both Raif and Lozen. The side characters were well developed and I felt for all of them.

[Naduah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard for me to write this review because I know what an amazing accomplishment it is to write a book and Lucia St. Clair Robson is one of my favorite authors. Ride the Wind is one of my favorite books of all time. Sometimes reality is more interesting than fiction and that is the case with all the historical characters Lucia St. Clair Robson writes about. These people's lives...they are epic and crazy and just utterly amazing. And real. These people really existed and did these things in a time when it seemed all odds were against everyone. Life was hard in the 1700-1800's yet these characters accomplished the most unbelievable things.

Before you go into this book, you need to remember it's historical fiction. Don't expect some gushy romantic love story with a happy ending. I've read lots of historical books...and even though James A. Michener is a god and won a Pulitzer I swear he's got nothing on Lucia St. Clair Robson when it comes to research and story telling. It's one thing to write a historical novel and give people facts but Lucia St. Clair Robson truly tells a story that takes you back in time -- you really live inside these character's minds. You live with these people, you ride horses along side them, you feel their pain, you experience their hardships, you love their animals as much as they do, you hate their enemies as much as they do, you eat dinner with them, you sleep beside them in the desert. It's hard to describe Lucia St. Clair Robson's books because they aren't your typical historical fiction. They are truly memorizing stories that suck you in and you forget you are reading historical facts.

With all that said, Ghost Warrior fell a little flat for me as compared to typical Lucia St. Clair Robson work, especially in comparison to Ride the Wind. Ghost Warrior dragged on a bit at times. I sometimes wondered where it was going. There were times, I felt it could have been edited down a bit because it was such a long saga. But then after finishing, I don't really know what could have been removed because every part of the story was a learning process for me and important to both Lozen and Rafe's characters and stories. One thing also that can't be helped is that most if not all Lucia St. Clair Robson stories have an unhappy ending. That's just life and how it was for these great people. They experienced hardship, they struggled and then they died. It's awful but true life and how history is.

After reading any Lucia St. Clair Robson book, you will be fascinated with each character. Even if you have no interest in history you deeply respect them and want to know more, not only about the main characters but all the supporting (and real) other characters. After reading Ride the Wind, I swear Lucia St. Clair Robson made me feel like a sister to Naduah/Cynthia Parker. It was like a magnet -- I was pulled and had to know as much as I could about this amazing woman Lucia St. Clair Robson brought back to life for me. I experienced the same thing with Lozen (and all the other characters in this book) in Ghost Warrior. I think I've googled to the end of the internet trying to find out all I can about Lozen, Victorio, Cochise and Geronimo.

Do I recommend this book. Hell yes.
How do I rate? It's a solid 4.5+ start as compared to Ride the Wind.
As compared to other historical fiction it's a 5.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fictional story about Lozen and the Apache. Lozen is both a warrior and a shaman. She knows when the Apache are going to be pursued by the American soldiers or the Mexicans. Many a time she saved her people from attack. It is also a story about a white wagoner named Rafe Collins. He works for the U.S. soldiers transporting goods. During his many journeys, Rafe's path crosses with Lozen and the Apaches. There is a feeling of attachment between them, and the spark of it burns brightly throughout the nearly 500 page novel. There are a lot of characters in this book. I don't remember half of them, but the protagonists grounded this reader in the story so I did not feel overwhelmed. Furthermore, this Historical Fiction novel is character driven, not plot driven. I felt as if the author followed a chronological time-line, fitting both fictional and cameo characters into linear, historical events. The descriptions were fantastic; often transporting this reader into the lives of Lozen and Rafe. The dialogue was unique in that it incorporated English, Spanish and Apache languages. For the most part, I was able to figure out what was meant based on the context of the passage or by one of the characters translating it to English.

This is a sad story. The destruction of the Apaches' culture and lives by the U.S. soldiers and government is both heartbreaking and valiant. Valiant in that the Apache warriors stayed free for a time and even in captivity, their sense of dignity and personal honor never varied, despite the many lies they were told. The Apache were both thieves and liars too when their needs arose, but they had a code they lived by while trying to live among the Americans and Mexicans. Lastly, the pace is slow, but not meandering. During the fighting the pace speeds up, but large chunks of the writing is the personal thoughts of Lozen or Rafe. Adult language.

[Zena Ryder · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved the first book I read by the same author, so I was very disappointed by this one. I was even skimming it at the end, just looking for mentions of the two main characters. The biggest problem in the book was that, as a reader, I didn't really care about most of the characters, but they took up a lot of the pages.

Some passages were beautifully written and evocative. But it wasn't enough. I needed either (1) more compelling supporting characters or (2) fewer supporting characters to try to keep track of or (3) the supporting characters to take up less space.

[Ruru · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me three weeks to finish this 'cause I'm not really into historical fiction but this is worth my time. I love how Lucia written every war that happened and how she showed the development of each character, especially Lozen.

And the ending, really made burst into tears.

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Characters well developed. Rich detail. But very sad. I got to know the characters too well and cried for them. Love the strong woman character.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

1850-1880 Lozen is an Apache woman warrior. Very good, but sad

[Michelle Milnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was slow in spots but overall good historical fiction

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this account of Lozen, I had never known about her.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read but enjoyed some of her other books more. The names get confusing.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, around 500 pages, (I read the hardbound version) took my more than a week to read. This week was spent savoring a tale crafted by a master. Robson has done her research well. The story is about the Apache Wars in New Mexico and Arizona during the 1850's-1880's.

First, Robson immerses us deeply into Apache folklore and culture. We learn more about why they had so many names and where some of the names like "Victorio" came from. We already know that the Native Americans revered the land, but Robson shares with us the Native American myths and legends behind this reverence.

Robson doesn't leave out white culture and practices. She speak with knowledge about firearms and even freighting practices. All of this gives us such an intense aroma of the times, practices, and attitudes of various folks that we can feel an attachment and interest. For example, she describes a particularly troublesome mule and the manner in which the mule-skinner handles him. He "roaches" (cuts short) his mane and tale so that all the other drivers know that the mule is an especially cantankerous and stubborn animal to deal with. This is just one example of the rich detail that Robson peppers this story with.

Second, Robson deals with history in a way that balances the viewpoints of the Apaches as "noble redmen" with that of "murderous savage." Even Rafe, a freighter/scout for the army who is sympathetic towards the Apaches is appalled by some of their atrocities and determines that he cannot excuse their murderous behavior. Still Robson manages to tell the story from a viewpoint that leaves the reader feeling bad about the behavior on both sides of those wars.

Finally, Robson writes a crackerjack historical novel which centers on Lozen, a female Shaman/warrior, the sister of Victorio. We see the suffering of her people, their attitude about life, etc. through her eyes. The other main character is Rafe. Through his eyes we see his concern with the treatment of the Native Americans, the conduct of the Native Americans, and even the treatment of the black "buffalo soldiers" by their white officers.

I thought Robson was going to make a bad literary error and turn this great novel into a romance novel. Rafe becomes enamored with Lozen and to some extent vice-versa. However, the line between historical novel and romance is never crossed. Robson stays true to the story she is telling as these two meet each other over and over again throughout the novel. I was deeply impressed by her commitment to the reality that her novel focused on.

I would liken this novel to Lonesome Dove in its gritty and harsh portrayal of the reality of the old west. The characters aren't quite as comical, but they seem to be characters of great dimension. By the time the reader finishes this novel, he cares about most of the characters. Robson manages to do this without glorifying any of the characters too much. The brutality of both sides is clearly depicted. I liked this novel as much for its balance as for its characterization.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robson writes a well researched novel about Lozen, known as the Apache Joan of Arc. Lozen didn't marry, she lived as a spiritual leader, healer and a warrior as she fought for decades with her brother Victorio to maintain their lands. For anyone sweltering in the dessert heat in 2012, imagine what it was like for the Native Americans who lived there before air conditioning, supermarkets, and cars. Robson shows how they lived, their love of laughter, their ribald joking, their love of stealing, and the enmity between them and the Mexicans. She doesn't hesitate to talk about the fact that Apaches, even the women, utilized torture against their enemies. She also details the chain of mendacity, deceit, greed and incompetence perpetrated by representatives of the US government as they made and broke treaties with the Native Americans, enticed them to and moved them from reservation to reservation, and killed, starved and froze the people they were supposed to be helping.

[Hmcdram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ghost Warrior took me into the early southwest with ease! I enjoyed jumping from bands of natives to bands of whites, floating along the story with anticipation. But, the title of the book is indeed ghost warrior and the author fell far short in depicting the miraculous mysterious life of a native medicine woman. I am sure that Lozen had far more power dreams that lead her thru her own self discovery as well as give her the ability to lead her people. I love the mystery of the native shamans and it takes a great understanding of the mysteries of life to bring to life a native american tale. Good story but not special from a spiritual angle!

[Felicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lozen, the Ghost Warrior, completely eluded me. I eagerly began this book, wanting to learn more about the Apache of the Southwest. I did learn about their brutal lifestyle, their wars with Mexico and the United States Army..........every chapter was a new battle, another slaughter.
Lozen was an unusual rider, a woman with visions and great spirit; but as I waited for her life to evolve; I couldn't wait for the book to end. Each foray, each powwow became like the last........an eternal "groundhog day".
I was very disappointed; and it was much too long.

[Deloris Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several years ago I read two books by Lucia St. Clair Robson and loved them. The first was "Ride the Wind" and for the life of me I don't remember the name of the other. BUT......I thoroughly enjoyed them. If you want a feel for what life was like during the settling of the West, this book is an excellent read. It is told from the perspective of an Apache female and an Anglo man. Their lives intersect throughout the book. This gives you the perspective of an Apache whose lands were being gradually taken over by the white man. Very good book!!

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this book as much as I like St. Clair Robson's other books. Although Lozen's life was fascinating and she describes the scenery and action well I didn't connect to the main characters as much. She tried to set up a love story and that didn't really work for me. I wanted more Lozen and less Rafe!

[Gloria Esquerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Lozen, the beloved sister of Apache Chief Victorio. A beautiful, valiant warrior and revered shaman who fought alongside Cochise, Geronimo, and her brother. Apaches have kept the memory of their hero Lozen alive to this day.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not much for Westerns. But this one had me. With it's strong female lead. IF in fact this incredible lady relative of Geronimo did all of this, I bow to her and the great writer Robson who gave her rebirth in these pages. Wow!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've ever read.

[T. Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorites. Read it about a dozen or more times.

[Shawn Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far , its very good , but I wished there was more story about Lozen the woman worrier than rafe Collins , I think i will research Rafe Collins and see what his real story is in all this Fiction

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Incoherent because of all the strange, long-winded names. Kept tripping over all these names. Can't even get to the story; shame.

[Athena Dillenschneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this one a few times. A great historically based story.