Review: Dael and the Painted People by Allan Richard Shickman

ISBN #: 978-0-9790357-6-0

Page Count: 155

Copyright: 2011

Book Summary:

(Taken from back cover)

When Dael, guilty and tormented, came to live with the painted people, he longed for peace and restoration; but without knowing it he made a powerful enemy.

A story of conflict, healing, hate and love.

Mandy's Review:

Cover

The red hand, with what appears to be blood dripping down, belongs assumingly to Dael.  When we left him at the end of Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country, we knew he had a lot of blood on his hands.

I wasn't sure what the black birds had to do with the story, but they do play a role in Dael's life.

Plot

This book picks up where Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country left off ... with Dael traveling away from the Ba-Coro people.  He asked Sparrow to come with him and she acquiesces.

The travel to the land of the painted people where they're welcomed, despite past hostilities.  In search of peace, Dael encounters friction with the clan's shaman.

The tension continues on for several years until an unfortunate accident ends the conflict.

Main Characters

Dael - Once full of hatred, Dael now seeks peace.  He is tired of how it makes him feel and wonders why he was so angry in the first place.  Can he find what he's searching for living with the painted people?

Sparrow - Mute and shy, Sparrow follows Dael to a new land.  She knows there's no love between them, but she still feels a loyalty to him all the same.  Will anything good come of this situation for Sparrow or will she remain her usual muted, shy self?

Overall

This book was a nice change from the first two in the series, which mainly focused on Dael's twin brother, Zan-Gah.

Don't be dismayed, though, for the Ba-Coro people are mentioned and play a role in this book as well.

The author has done a wonderful job of continuing this story.  If I were to be so bold as to make a prediction, I do believe the author may have a fourth book up his sleeve???  I make this prediction from the way the story ended and from nothing told to me by the author.