Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
Twenty years after publishing his groundbreaking "The Spirit and the Flesh," anthropologist Williams teams up with award-winning writer Johnson to produce a work of historical fiction that is striking in its evocation of Navajo philosophy and spirituality.

BOOK REVIEW:
Will Lee is the son of a preacher in Virginia. After being caught in a compromising position with his friend Michael, Will feels he can no longer stay in Virginia under the rule of his very conservative fire and brimstone father. He takes off for Washington, D.C. to get a job and finds himself as an apprentice to the Agent of Indian Affairs out west at Ft. Sumner. On his journey out, he meets Jose and they have a moment of passion in the tent where Will is staying and become friends.

Will arrives at Ft. Sumner and is greeted by some unscrupulous characters, one being the commander James Carleton. He seems on the up and up until Will overhears him talking with his clerk about how he is pilfering money and the Indians are not getting their food.

Will becomes friends with the Indians, and in particular Hasbaa known as a Two Spirit person, which is a person who has characteristics of both male and female. Even though Hasbaa has a male body, he dresses as a female and possesses some powers. Will is smitten with Hasbaa but she keeps him at arm’s length due to the fact that her husband Segundo has died and she cannot love anyone until his spirit comes back.

Will can see the deplorable way the Dine are treated and tries to get them help but none of his letters are being sent to Washington to "The Great Father." Finally he goes to Santa Fe where he meets Dr. Michael Steck, his superior, where he has the man’s ear and they start the ball rolling to make sure the Dine get back to their own homeland and get the much needed food and supplies.

After some underhanded dealings, Jim Carleton has been brought down by Will and Dr. Steck and his Clerk Lt. Bauer takes over at Ft. Sumner. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman comes out and takes over and closes Ft. Sumner and lets the Dine go back to Canyon de Chelly, which is their homeland, so they can prosper as a people once again. Will, who is now called Manuelito, and Hasbaa are now married in the eyes of the Dine and adopt a couple of orphans to complete their family.

What can I say about this book. It was AWESOME. I felt like I was there among the Dine, in the Sweat Lodge, in Santa Fe watching Joelle sing. I could see the mountains and feel the hot air and all the glory of the Southwest. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction with gay characters in it. I'd give this book 10 stars if I could, but definitely 5 stars.

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