Zadayi Red

by Caleb Fox

A compelling new voice in fantasy brings us a tale like no other in the genre. A young Shaman of the Galayi people has had a powerful and frightening it is of the Eagle Feather Cape, the gift of the Thunderbird, which is worn by the Seer of the People to see the future and gain the guidance of the gods. The cape is torn and bloody, and it will no longer bring visions to the Seer of the People. But the Shaman's vision also tells her of the a child will be born to the People, a hero who will restore the cape and return the goodwill of the gods to the People. Dahzi may be that hero, if he can survive the hatred of his grandfather. He was born after his mother’s death, as she fled from her father’s anger. But Dahzi carries the hope of all of his People, along with the power to become a great Chief. He will be tested--by his family, by his people, and by the Gods. Zadayi Red is a magnificent retelling of a Cherokee legend. It brings to life an ancient people and a time of magic in a warm and intimate storyteller’s voice.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Mythology, Native American, Historical Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2009

Reviews

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zadayi Red is a mythical, fantasy story about the ancestors of Native Americans. The author, Caleb Fox, is himself a Native American of Cherokee descent and this story was inspired by his ancestral legends and myths. Indeed, there are mythical fantasy elements including shape-shifting, spiritual journeys, spirit companions, and ritual magic. It's a good lyrical quest story, though not near as good as say, The Last Unicorn.

Rating: 7.5/10.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunoya is a shaman in her tribe, one of the Galayi tribes. It is almost time for her to replace the village's Medicine Chief but she has been having visions that are troublesome. She decides to make one more trip to the Emerald Cavern to talk to Tsola, the Seer. When Sunoya tells Tsola about her vision, Sunoya is sent to the Land beyond the Sky Arch to discover the meaning of the visions and to find out from the Thunderbird what should be done. It is decided that the visions predict a bad time for the various tribes of the Galayi and that Su-Li, the buzzard, would return with her and give her guidance through the bad times. The troubles commence almost as soon as she returns--it's discovered that her cousin is pregnant, carrying the child of a young man from another tribe and the girl's father threatens to kill the young man. As the pregnant girl attempts to flee their village and reunite with the father of her child, she is killed. Sunoya has been trying to track her cousin and finds her. She is able to save the child--born with webbed fingers which indicate that he is promised one. So begins this retelling of an ancient Cherokee myth. I found it fascinating and imaginative. There were a few places when the characters spoke more like they were living in more modern times--especially the young man with the webbed fingers as he's growing up--but for the most part I felt immersed in an ancient culture where magic, prophecy, and spirit journeys are part of the everyday fabric of life. Very entertaining.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dahzi was born to the Galayi people amidst rage and violence. By the webbed fingers on his left hand, he was known to be the One to Fulfill Prophecy. With the help of a spirit guide, Su-li from The Land Beyond the Sky-Arch, a shape shifter, his grandmother and mother - both Medicine Chiefs - and his own wits and true nature, Dahzi grows into manhood and prophecy overcoming assassins, tradition, and his own self-doubt. But, as was the custom of his people, he wore a Zadayi disc around his neck, blue on one side, red on the other, with the red side facing outward, meaning victory and success.

Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, and Fantasy combine in Caleb Fox's debut novel, a unique and captivating retelling of a Cherokee Legend. History, tradition, and his own imagination take us into the time and world of a people where magic co-existed with reality, tradition was respected and discarded, and the people's very way of life endangered.

Not quite like anything else I've ever read.

[Anne Lundquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book 4.5 stars. It was amazing. You can really tell that Fox did a lot of research for this book. I wished the characters were a bit more full, but Fox did do a great job of making Zeya a complex and fallible, humble hero. Fox was writing a myth and myths often have characters that seem like archetypes only. I liked how he showed the humor of the Cherokee and also appreciated how he noted that the characters slept-nice to know sleep was valued.

Like another reader, I'm curious also about how the Cherokees like this book.

This is a book that I think I would like to read again.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just started, but my husband loved it.

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retelling of a Cherokee legend. I loved the early sections about the shaman and only liked the rest. A beautifully told story about a harsh time and person.

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very creative and fresh fantasy!

[Kelly Flanagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have to say I am a Caleb Fox fan to the ninth degree. Both of his books drew me in instantaneously and kept me reading till the end!

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a neat book however a little more violent and gory then I prefer. Still a good read.

[Nicholas Gourlay]

The Denver Public Library does not carry this one. Bummer.

[Maggie Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy stories based on fairy tales and myths: anything from Robin McKinley's Deerskin to Marissa Meyer 's Cinder to Neil Gaiman's American Gods and Ellen Datlow's retold fairy stories. I was very pleased to find this story based on Cherokee myths (at least for some of the story) by a Cherokee man. The story includes the fantasy/fairy tale elements of people changing into animals, talking beasts, animal gods, and prophecies. The characters are all individuals while still being archetypes. Could easily be a YA book.
Pace: moderate; at some points I was turning pages, however.
Characters: You invested in them, but they never really had a chance to be anything but what they were destined to be.
Setting: beautiful description of tribal life eons ago.
Language: appealed to the senses
Not a lot of humor.
Give to people who like the authors mentioned above.