Reviewed by True

TITLE: The Ballad of Crow and Sparrow

AUTHOR: V.L. Locey

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 264 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2021

BLURB:

Sometimes a man’s biggest blunder can turn into his greatest triumph.

Orphaned at fourteen, Crow Poulin now has to hunt and trap the White Mountains of Arizona, as his father had taught him, all alone. It’s a lonely existence, until one morning, while checking his trap line, Crow finds more than a rabbit in a snare. He stumbles across the outlaw Jack Wittington lying half dead in the wilds. He takes the wanted man in, heals him, and in return for saving his life, the smooth-talking criminal invites Crow to join his family. Starved for human interaction and a father figure, Crow leaves the mountains behind for what he assumes will be a brighter future.

Six years pass. Crow is now a man, as well as a member of the Wittington Gang. He may be considered an outlaw, but his father’s morals are warring loudly with the lifestyle of his adopted family. When the gang decides to rob a train, Crow has no choice but to go along to keep a tight rein on the more bloodthirsty members. It doesn’t take long for the scheme to go horribly astray.

Instead of gold-filled coffers, the gang finds Spencer Haughton, son of cattle baron and railroad tycoon Woodford Haughton, cowering in the family’s opulent private car. The outlaws grab the sickly heir in hopes of ransoming him off. Things then go from bad to worse for them when the law rides down on the Wittington hideout and Crow is given Spencer to hide until the ransom is paid. The pretty young man is nothing at all like anyone Crow has ever met before. Delicate, refined, well-educated, and possessed of a singing voice to rival the songs of the birds in the trees, Crow slowly finds himself falling for the winsome rich boy. But can two such opposite souls find the love they’re both seeking in each other’s arms?

REVIEW:

I don’t think I’m able to express what a magnificent story this is. Read it, read it yourself!

It starts in 1879, White Mountains, Arizona where fourteen-year-old Crow just buried his father, lost him to the pox. His only companions are his loyal dog Gin and feisty horse Wind. He’s lonely, surviving in the wilderness.
He has a secret, he likes the physics of men more than women, it’s a sin his deep religious dad told him.
Crow is half an Indian, from a Canadian father and a Mohawk mother. Being a half Indian meant you’re seen and treated as a lower human, in the eyes of the white men.

Crow hunts and sets trap to eat, he trades peltry. On one of his days outside to inspect the traps, he finds an injured man, more dead than alive. Crow takes care of the man and he offers him a family and business for saving his life. Crow leaves his mountains expecting a better life.
Only, they are outlaws and Crow refuses to work with them. So he’ll hunt and find food.

When one of their business goes terribly wrong, they all have to split up. Crow has to take care of a hostage, Spencer. He returns to his mountains with Spencer, a beautiful delicate fine young man, he’s educated, coming from a wealthy family.
They are opposite but have one thing in common, they both like to lay with men.

Hiding but finally back in his own windowless cabin, every day Crow falls deeper in love, if only Spencer didn’t felt trapped.

So much is happening, I want to say again, read it! I know it’s going on my ‘highly recommended’ shelf.
What a ride, beautifully written, taking place in stunning scenery, living what nature gives, the roughness of the mountains, the smell of the earth. It felt authentic, it was reality, I was there, it was breathtaking! I loved Crow and Spencer deeply, I loved Gin and Wind they were so magnificent in this narrative.

It’s an emotional story, the further the story went the more emotional it got. The story is told by Crow and what a glorious character he is, the author did such a great job creating this man in this particular setting.
Crow is a huge, strong Indian man, so heartbreakingly pure and easily hurt, convinced of all he wronged was unforgivable, my heart cracked at times for him. His journey is rough, but it leads him to the love of his life. Spencer is such a delightful character his light, his voice, and beautiful personality is a joy to behold.
The story made me quite emotional, people can wrong others deeply, thank goddess for the real families, they made me cry by their beauty and warm-heartedness.

High praise for this story and highly recommended!

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon