Trae Stratton

Reading Thunder Peak was a refreshingly pleasant surprise and not at all what I expected. Fantasy Westerns are not common, but this one hit every mark. The realistic western life of the late 1800s set up the story nicely and the hint of a fantastical element in the first chapter set the stage for more than just a typical shoot-em-up adventure. In fact, the unpredictability of the story kept me enchanted with both the setting and the unusual characters.

The well-established history of the show more setting and the relatable characters brought a satisfying level to the world-building. From the beginning, I was engaged with the nonstop action as one revelation after another built the layers of the story.

Casey and Jonas, both brave and practical, live a ranch life full of hard work and the danger of the unknown west. A knock on the door could be a test of survival. They rely on one another, and I loved their father-daughter devoted relationship.

One of my favorite characters was Taliko. Without giving too much away, let's just describe him as unique and fascinating. An enigma throughout.

Fantasy creatures, secrets, and history mixed into a western setting, combined with a satisfying ending that set up enough mysteries in the story to make me anticipate book two, made for a wonderful read. Highly recommended. show less

I really enjoyed this book. I've read so much science fiction and horror lately that this book was actually a breath of fresh air. Don't get me wrong - there's mystery in here, but it's also a fun family story, and actually made me feel nostalgic for the 90's. Granted, i was just a young kid back then, but there was much to like about the 90's. It seems almost like yesterday, yet at the same time another century (and I don't mean the fact that we entered a new millennium)

The author makes show more deft use of flashbacks to explore the 1980's as well, and I can easily imagine my parents in the place of these characters, enjoying the decade, enjoying life without the Internet, and all that. The dialogue is also handled well, which is not always an easy thing to do.

Quite a good read from a first-time author, and I give it 4.5/5 stars. show less