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- Verified Buyer
I hesitated for a long time before I finally resolved to read this book. The reason was that Lonesome Dove, the first and preceding book in this trilogy, was such a great book and so overwhelming, that I suspected that no following book could equal that elevated satisfaction felt after Lonesome Dove and would just spoil that feeling. In retrospect, this concern has a merit. The current book is well written and a page turner by itself. However, the plot is hursh and troubling. The main protagonists proceeded from Lonesome Dove, but the plot has hardly any resemblance to the former one. This time captain Call, an old reputable ranger, is confronted by a sociopath bandit that overshadows Call's legendary qualities. This confrontation is built up to its pick without sparing the reader's concerns for Call and his team's destiny. Sometimes, I wished that the author had selected the "happy end" route, rather than proceeding in what was deemed as inevitable unfortunate ending. But the author has skillfully escaped this trap. Outlining a plot that seems as authentic as possible, without making any concessions to his beloved protagonists, the author skillfully leads us in this gripping rollercoaster. It's not always a feel-good read. Sometimes, I felt like quiting reading because I dreaded the thought of the events that could possibly happen. Yet, I kept reading to the very last page and I'm glad I did. Some of the occurrences are indeed troubling. Still though, and without making any spoilers, the story is well crafted and once competed, it feels like a comprehensive story that leaves you with a strong hope.
