book details

Book: A Time for Warriors by John T Kirkpatrick

categories: Book, Cavalry, American Indians, US Army, Swords, Epic Fantasy

John T. Kirkpatrick

about this book: The land of Resa is an island nation of slighted magic and mounted warriors. Faced with an invasion from its oldest, most implacable foe, the Kakoffs, Resa's defending Riders find their swords ineffective against the northern raiders' unprecedented numbers. Ulden, the master of the magician Wrights, sees the problem with conventional defenses and approaches his king with a plan to call likely warriors and fresh tactics from another world. King Rustig is a practical veteran with a distaste for magic, but Ulden is sincere and grudging permission is his eventual reward.

Ulden uses a portal to call forth his carefully chosen warriors -- a band of Kiowa Indians delivered from the hands of the U.S. government. He has observed their mounted talents against overwhelming odds and he is convinced they can help in this difficult war. But it's never that easy. Their backs against the bleak wall of reservation life, the Kiowas are receptive, but in the calling, a cavalry squad sent to chase the recalcitrant braves is accidentally brought through with them. It is a bitter situation, but with the help of his Rider friend Ryle -- as well as that of the visionary Lt. Quenton and the fiery Cold Wolf -- Ulden manages to form a shaky alliance that quickly begins to prove itself a worthy ally.

Rustig, however, is not receptive. He sees the imports as little more than a political ploy, something to divert partisan attention from his proven but costly traditional approach, and Ulden is forced to take his band underground. With the help of the girl, Leva, survivor of a Kakoff atrocity, the imports ride to battle an alien winter and an alien foe, forging bonds even as they gain the attention of the weary Riders. Amid a turbulent atmosphere of invasion and looming civil war the newcomers learn of Resa's secrets--its offerings both magical and malevolent--hurtling all the while toward Flatshore and the final confrontation for enemy and import and king.