Golden Spur Award–winner Robson (Ride the Wind) is long on frontier history and Indian lore, but short on drama in this latest, lengthy novel of life in the Old West. Covering 30 years (1850–1880) of Indian warfare between Apaches and white men in the Southwest, the story is a watered-down blend of history, romance and western adventure genres. The heroine, Lozen, is a fierce Apache woman who would rather be a warrior than a wife, a departure from Apache conventions. Lozen can see enemies in the future, a skill that allows her to ride with the likes of Cochise, Geronimo, Mangas Coloradas and her brother, Victorio. One white man who escapes Lozen's wrath is Rafe Collins, a Shakespeare-reciting teamster who weaves in and out of this tale, offering the white man's perspective. Lozen and Rafe meet frequently, but a tender moment of hesitation always keeps them from slaughtering each other. Their connection is vaguely romantic, yet Robson fails to create any spark between them. They're more like frontier saddle pals than lovers. For nearly 500 pages, Apaches and white men slaughter each other in ambushes and revenge killings, creating more bitterness and blood lust with each atrocity. The Apaches are portrayed as honorable men and women, while the whites (with few exceptions) are liars, thieves, cowards, murderers and dullards. Yet for all the violence, the action lacks energy. The only redeeming strength is Robson's detailed panorama of Apache society. (May)
