Wilderness 4: BLOOD FURY

 

In 1828, the Rocky Mountains were wild and treacherous. Anyone daring to travel there faced unknown dangers and adventures at every turn. On a hunting trip, young Nathaniel King stumbled onto a disgraced Crow Indian. Attempting to regain his honor, Sitting Bear placed himself and his family in great peril, for a war party of hostile Utes threatened to kill them all. When the savages wounded Sitting Bear and kidnapped his wife and daughter, Nathaniel had to rescue them or watch them perish. But despite his skill in tricking unfriendly Indians, King might have just met an enemy he could not outsmart.

The story opens with Nate tracking a deer through the woods. He eventually brings down the animal and is forced to scare off a panther who is also vying for the meat. It's here that we're introduced to Sitting Bear, a friendly Crow Indian. He befriends Nate and the two of them venture to his lodge. We meet Sitting Bear's lovely family and find Nate bringing down a buffalo to highlight the deer meat. That night, after they've eaten and a black bear makes an unfriendly appearance, Nate is forced to shoot down an Ute who attempts to get inside Sitting Bear's lodge. Realizing that there are other predators in the woods, Nate decides to stick around for another day. Mostly, in part, because he wants to see Sitting Bear, who has been disgraced by his tribe for falling asleep and allowing an enemy to make off with a group of horses, catch and steal five eagle feathers with his bare hands. I must say, it also left this reader with great interest and forced myself to keep the pages turning.

Eventually, Sitting Bear does obtain the eagle feathers. But it comes at a high price. Soon after, Nate and the Crow are attacked by a group of Utes. They're able to kill the war party, but Sitting Bear is gravely wounded in the process. Taking his newfound friend with him after cauterizing his wounds, Nate is then forced to fend off an attacking wolverine as a thunderstorm rolls across the country. Victorious in his efforts, Nate gets Sitting Bear home. Yet here David Robbins pulls the rug out from beneath the reader. It appears that Sitting Bear's family has been attacked by another group of Utes on the warpath. With his wife and daughter taken prisoner, and his two sons slaughtered, Sitting Bear is in no position to do anything about it. It's left up to Nate to track down the Utes and rescue the Crow's family.

Initially, Nate balks at the idea of leaving Sitting Bear alone. His wounds are far too severe. However, the Crow proves that he is able to take care of himself, and watches as Nate ventures off to rescue his family. The next few chapters detail the harrowing escape from the Utes. Evening Star and Laughing Eyes, Sitting Bear's wife and daughter, prove themselves capable in the escape plan. Nate leads them into the mountains after a furious chase. It's here that he feels he can take a breather, believing he's escaped from the Utes, when nothing could be farther from the truth.

The finale of the tale takes place over a few chapters. Nate is forced to fight the Utes in his escape bid to get Evening Star and Laughing Eyes back to their lodge. David Robbins continues to pour on the emotional involvement you'll have with these characters. And my best advice is not to get too attached to any of them. There are going to be bloody deaths by the end of this book, and you'll have to steel your nerves for the conclusion. It's a masterful stroke by the author to engage the reader in such emotions for these characters, and David Robbins does this in spades. 

Thus far, Blood Fury is my favorite book in the series. The character development is at an all-time high, and I like witnessing Nate having to use all of his freshly acquired knowledge to survive the elements and the Utes. He stands on his own two feet in this book more than he ever has in the previous three. David Robbins should be applauded for this fantastic outing. It definitely has me looking forward to the next book in the series. Easily recommended.