Reviewed by Cheryl

TITLE: Real Warriors

SERIES: When We Were Young #4

AUTHOR: Maggie Blackbird

PUBLISHER: eXtasy Books

LENGTH: 241 pages

RELEASE DATE: August 20 2021

BLURB:

The courage of a warrior is a must on their new path, or they’ll never grasp their happily ever after.

Just when eighteen-year-old Billy Redsky believes he’s holding his happily ever after in the palm of his hand, he must practice what he’s learned in ceremony to face two more tests—share with the world his love for René, and let go of the past.

But that’s not so easy. René is terrified of exposing their secret to anyone but his family. As for Billy’s brother, he has no intention of changing his criminal ways.

Only a miracle can help Billy reach his final destination on the red road his Ojibway ancestors once walked. For his dream to come true, he must look deep inside himself and trust the creator he follows.

REVIEW:

This is the book I have been waiting for. I have thoroughly enjoyed following Billy and Rene on their journey, but this book takes things to a different level. At last, the cover over the Ojibwe culture and beliefs is lifted and we get to take a good look underneath. I absolutely adored the new characters and was utterly fascinated by
Billy and Rene’s journey along the red road.

At first, Rene is skeptical of his own spiritual culture, but through Billy, he is led to Grandpa Chase who helps Rene first realize his two spirits are at war with each other and then to bring them together. Through traditional means, such as a sweat lodge and smoking a pipe, he slowly works his way through, and reconciles, his own feelings and it helps bring him to the point where he is able to live his own truth and finally finds the courage to come out.

Meanwhile, Billy throws himself wholeheartedly into the sun dance, a spiritual journey that culminates in a ceremony where the dancers are pierced with slivers of wood and either tear them out, or use them to drag a heavy weight. The entire journey lasts for a few days during which both Billy and Rene reach important realizations about themselves and each other.

While Rene is learning about himself, Billy is thrown a surprise curve ball in being led by the creator to his brother with whom he has a very bad relationship. Hoyt inhabits a section of his past he thought he had left behind forever, not one he would have chosen to return to. Guided by the creator, he rekindles their relationship and although he fails to do what he had expected/hoped, with some pretty big downfalls along the way, he finally comes to terms with his past, realizes that a connection with his brother does not involve controlling or even changing the path he walks, and in the end he gains a brother, sister-in-law and nephew upon whom he dotes.

I can’t express how much pleasure I experienced reading these fascinating details and stories. The characters are raw and stripped back but so vivid and fascinating. I learned so much about Ojibway culture and it has inspired me to look for more information.

As I said, I have enjoyed the entire series but in this one the author has outdone herself and was entirely inspired in her writing, thereby inspiring her readers. If your interest lies in sweet but weighty coming of age and coming out stories or in learning from a rich and inspiring background story, this book has something for you.  There is a very satisfying ending that brings the series to a close by tying up loose ends and giving the characters the resolution they deserve.

Although the series has ended, I would be more than happy to read other stories about these characters or even the background in which they have moved. It has thoroughly earned the rating.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

eXtasy Books

Amazon