IT WAKES IN ME

Author: Kathleen O'Neal Gear ISBN: 0765314827 6/2006 FANTASY Publisher: TOR

According to the tradition of the Black Falcon People, each person has three souls: the eye soul, which stays with the body forever, the shadow-soul, where all evil is leeched and shed at death, and the reflection-soul, which lives on among the Blessed in the Land of the Dead, pure and clean. But on rare occasions, a shadow-soul can sneak into a living person’s body to commit hideous crimes. Sora, the High Chieftess from the Black Falcon Nation, has been plagued with blackouts and fits since her seventh winter. As her world went dark, two gleaming eyes burned to life inside her. She named these occurrences the Midnight Fox, and remembered nothing after them. Now accusations are being made against her by rival clans. She has been accused of seven murders, including the murder of her friend and Loon People War Chief, Skinner. With villages rallying against her, and plagued with this terrible spirit illness, she looks for healing of her soul and mind, the strength to lead her people, and the courage to save her own life.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Kathleen O'Neal Gear is back with her follow up to IT SLEEPS IN ME, titled IT WAKES IN ME. It is the continuing story about Sora, the High Chieftess of the Black Falcon Nation.

Sora is accused of seven murders and cannot recall anything about them. Rivaling clans are out for justice and she must find a way to awaken her memory and heal her soul. Her former husband, Flint, tries to help with the healing process, but she ends up being kidnapped by one of the rival clans out to claim their justice. With help from Flint and the healer, Strongheart, can Sora remember those murders and heal her soul before it's too late for her and her clan?

I suggest reading IT SLEEPS IN ME before reading IT WAKES IN ME. I found myself lost quite a bit at the beginning of this story, and I ended up going and buying the first book to read. The two books flow nicely together and the story doesn't lose any of its continuity.

However, as talented a storyteller that Gear is, I didn't feel any connection with the characters and more than once I questioned their motives and their actions. I found IT WAKES IN ME a very confusing and eventually a very less than satisfying read.

Julie Kornhausl