Book Blurb:
Dive back into the gripping, frontier chaos. Snarling Wolf is the fourth adventurous installment in the Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail series.
The famed Snake River marks the point the wagon master claims that all the greenhorns turn loco. After twelve hundred grueling miles and four relentless months on the trail, the expedition teeters on the brink. Frayed nerves, exhausted patience, and the specter of doom cast a dark cloud over the travelers.
At every turn, new dangers emerge. A young man who is like a brother to Dorcas Moon is ravaged in a mountain lion attack. A heat wave grips the dusty, barren plains and spreads sickness. The wolves that lurk in the shadows edge closer. Even the rattlesnakes seem emboldened.
Dorcas' daughter, Rose's descent into madness can no longer be ignored. What began as an eerie preoccupation with death takes a shocking turn when Rose reveals her truths. Dorcas is thrust into a realm of disbelief, and her worst fears about Rose's mysterious suitor become a stark reality.
As weary emigrants yearn for respite, tales of murderous outlaws spread like wildfire across the prairie. Passing strangers share the latest terrifying news. It's only a matter of when, not if, the notorious highwaymen will strike. Which bend of the mighty snake shelters the feared outlaws?
Grab your copy of Snarling Wolf now and unveil the next chapter in Dorcas Moon's relentless saga. Sink your teeth into this tale of survival, madness, and the unyielding spirit of those who brave the treacherous migration.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/YT4mH
Author Bio:
David Fitz-Gerald writes westerns and historical fiction. He is the author of twelve books, including the brand-new series, Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail set in 1850. Dave is a multiple Laramie Award, first place, best in category winner; a Blue Ribbon Chanticleerian; a member of Western Writers of America; and a member of the Historical Novel Society.
Alpine landscapes and flashy horses always catch Dave’s eye and turn his head. He is also an Adirondack 46-er, which means that he has hiked to the summit of the range’s highest peaks. As a mountaineer, he’s happiest at an elevation of over four thousand feet above sea level.
Dave is a lifelong fan of western fiction, landscapes, movies, and music. It should be no surprise that Dave delights in placing memorable characters on treacherous trails, mountain tops, and on the backs of wild horses.
Editorial Review:
Editorial Review: “Snarling Wolf”
Author: David Fitz-Gerald
Book 4 of 5: “Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail” Series
“When Rose steps from the wagon, I blink off to sleep and begin to dream. I wander through emerald mountain valleys towards a distant peak. The sky grows dark as I continue walking, and in the gloaming, moving spots of light dart recklessly about the gulch. They gather into bright yellow pairs and begin moving more purposefully.”
“Snarling Wolf” is the intense fourth instalment in David Fitz-Gerald’s “Ghosts Along the Oregon Trail” series. The author’s writing style is rich with symbolism. As the title indicates, wolves are an integral part of the storyline, signalling nightmares, scavenging and danger. Dorcas Moon and her family and friends have been traveling together now for some four months as they head west. Life on the Oregon trail is austere and harsh with little respite. The narrative’s focus is on people, some of whom are overt threats. Most though are simply jaded; having left the life they had, the promised new life still seems unattainable. Dorcas starts to plan, perhaps, for a home in Oregon, but the conversation with her children seems to contain both celebration and also doubt.
Feuds and friendships are now established in the group and the dynamics over the journey form a solid background for this part of the series. Various secondary characters are a highlight of “Snarling Wolf” and the reader will enjoy the range of side plots that are developed throughout, particularly when the true meaning of the title is revealed. Over the span of four connected novels, Fitz-Gerald has taken the opportunity to showcase compelling challenges, some of which are resolved and some of which linger throughout the series. A journey of four months, where everyone is cast adrift from what they have known, seems like much longer when the reader considers the skilfully written character arcs woven throughout these novels. It is as though the pioneers are within their own isolated community, travelling through a void, repelling invaders and predators while trying to survive.
There is an increased focus in “Snarling Wolf” on Dorcas’s children, and Rose’s continuing struggles, and her distance from Dorcas, are never more apparent. The depiction of Dorcas’s grief as she realises this, and acknowledges Rose’s adulthood, is an authentic aspect of a story that shows the starkness of wagon life. Dorcas has been in close proximity with all of her children as they travel, and yet she still cannot “reach” Rose to talk with her in any meaningful way. The judgment from the rest of the wagon community at Rose’s circumstances is unfortunately all too real. Dorcas in turn is also more direct, with social politeness and patience in short supply. As their final destination draws closer, there is still time for Dorcas – and the reader - to notice the landscape and natural features. This appreciation is a continuing theme throughout Fitz-Gerald’s series.
“All that everyone can talk about are the landmarks ahead. The scouts have promised we’ll spend the evening at Beer Springs, where bubbly water seeps from the earth, like a sorcerer’s fountain. It’s hard to believe that such a magical place exists, yet we have seen a drawing of it in the guidebook and read about it in the newspaper back home.”
A significant feature of this series for the reader is the authoritative window it provides into pioneer life. “Snarling Wolf” emphasizes the tension that has developed within Dorcas, as she acknowledges the loss of many of the social customs she relied on and wanted for her own children. Dorcas instead must focus on survival and reality on what seems like a never-ending journey into the unknown. But even on the Oregon trail there are moments of levity, and these are well-written and immersive for the reader.
“Fiddles beckon as we finish bathing and dress in fresh clothing. As the sun edges towards the horizon, the assistant wagon master jubilantly calls the celebratory sequence of moves. Enthusiastic dancers spiral in floral patterns. The festive sounds of laughter and amusement join the wail of strings and the beat of drums.”
The final paragraphs of “Snarling Wolf” may be seen by many as more of a pause in the narrative rather than a definitive ending, but it is clear that the journey west will continue. The intensity of the ending matches the emotional upheaval and changes portrayed so well by the author throughout this story.
“Snarling Wolf” by David Fitz-Gerald is a rugged, adventurous read that grabs the reader’s attention from the start. The symbolism of wolves is used to great effect in this fourth instalment in a five book series, infusing the novel with the danger, ruthlessness and wildness of that famed predator. The author’s strengths in writing and describing visceral emotion are obvious, and this makes for a rewarding but also difficult read that will linger in the mind. This reviewer will not be alone in wishing for happier fortunes for Dorcas and her family; but happiness on the trail currently seems a mirage. Book Five of this incredible saga awaits!
*****
"Snarling Wolf" by David Fitz-Gerald receives 4 stars from The Historical Fiction Company
To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year contest, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
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