Book Review of #3 Call Down the Stars by Sue Harrison
Author: Sue Harrison
ISBN: 0-380-72605-x
Publisher: Avon Books
Part of a Series: Storyteller Trilogy
Type of book: Japan, Alaska, River people, evil, 602 PME, 590 PME, storytelling, 6447 PME-6427 PME, reunions
Year it was published: 2001
Summary:
The Bear-god warriors came like a tsunami from the sea...
On that day of great terror and sadness, the girl called Daughter escaped with her grandfather across the icy North Pacific to find shelter on the islands of the Whale Hunters. But peace was not to be their lot. For here the mad medicine woman K'os was scheming vengeance against her mot despised enemy, the revered warrior and statesman called Cakliux- her son. And this young, innocent female from a far-off place was the key- the final, essential ingredient in a demonic brew of suspicion, hostility, and forbidden love that K'os would prepare with an expert hand...to poison the lives of those she hated and would see dead.
Characters:
The characters are well drawn and well told. I liked all the characters. The story moves on to a different rather than Chakliux and Aquamdax; this time we are focused on Ghaden and Daughter, a beautiful girl who comes from Japan, or Land of the Boat People with a Grandfather that died. Of course there is also K'os who becomes Daughter's adopted mother, Red Leaf and Cries Loud. Ligige' has passed away, but a memorable character will appear at the very end. The story also flip flops to the "present" of 602 PME between Yikaas and Qumalix, similar to Chakliux and Aquamdax. (Technically the third book is the storytelling efforts of Yikaas and Qumalix as well as Kuy'aa.)
Theme:
It takes skill and practice to become a great storyteller.
Plot:
Its in third person narrative and is from almost everyone's point of view. It's not a confusing story and it becomes memorable instead. I liked learning more and reading more about the characters. The book also ties up few previous plots from the 2nd book, (what happened to Gheli,) although on purpose its not revealed what's true ending about the characters.
Author Information:
(from sueharrison.com)
Sue Harrison is the author of six critically acclaimed and internationally bestselling novels. Mother Earth Father Sky, My Sister the Moon and Brother Wind make up The Ivory Carver Trilogy, an epic adventure set in prehistoric Alaska. Song of the River, Cry of the Wind and Call Down the Stars comprise The Storyteller Trilogy. Sue’s young adult book, SISU, was released by Thunder Bay Press .
Sue Harrison was born in Lansing, Michigan. The first of five children, she was raised in the town of Pickford in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula where she lives with her husband, a retired high school principal. They are blessed with a daughter and a son, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.
A graduate of Pickford High School, Harrison graduated summa cum laude from Lake Superior State University with a B.A. in English Language and Literature. She was named Lake Superior State University’s Distinguished Alumna in 1992, and served eight years on the university’s Board of Regents.
Harrison’s first novel, Mother Earth Father Sky, was published in 1990 by Doubleday (hardcover) and Avon (paperback). It was nominated in the states of Michigan and Washington for the Reader’s Choice Award among high school students, and was one of ten books chosen for “Battle of the Books,” a statewide student reading competition in Alaska. The novel as had success in both the adult and young adult markets, and was a national bestseller. It was selected by the American Library Association as one of 1991′s Best Books for Young Adults.
Harrison’s second novel, My Sister the Moon, (Doubleday/Avon 1992) has also received recognition by reading and school groups throughout the United States and was a Baker and Taylor top ten in library sales. Both Mother Earth Father Sky and My Sister the Moon were Main Selections of the Literary Guild Book Club and alternate selections of the Doubleday Book Club. Brother Wind, Harrison’s third novel was released in hardcover by William Morrow, October 1994, and in 1995 as an Avon paperback. The novel was chosen as an alternate selection by both the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Clubs. Song of the River and Cry of the Wind were both published by Avon Hardcover/Avon paperback, a division of Hearst Books. The third book of The Storyteller Trilogy, Call down the stars was published by Morrow/Avon in 2001 and 2002. It was featured alternate of the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Clubs.
Harrison’s books have also been published in Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Spain, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Portugal, Japan, France, Finland, and South America.
Harrison is represented by Rachelle Gardner of WordServe Literary. She is currently writing women’s contempory fiction for the inspirational market.
Opinion:
This is actually a good book, although not as good as the prequels. I remember I tried to read it years ago, but couldn't get past it. Now I could. There are writing mistakes there on purpose, or rather storytelling mistakes. Parts of it were enjoyable, but just not ending. I really did want to know more of what happened to characters at the end. There is an interesting story behind me getting this book: On October 31st, 2008, my ex-friend and I spent the Halloween together, which included Half Price Books. I remember that as I saw this book and was getting it, a memory of my grandmother, G-d rest her soul, flashed on my mind, the part where I was a child and was reading Inuit fairy tales or something like that back in Russia. I was kind of creeped out, but still got the book. Few hours later, as my friend dropped me off at home, I walked inside and learned my grandmother had died.
3 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)
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