From New York Times bestselling novelists W. Michael and Kathleen O’Neal Gear comes a landmark new series portraying the devastating clash of cultures that followed the European invasion of early America.
Coming of the Storm launches a series featuring Black Shell, a Chicaza-clan trader, and his struggles with Hernando de Soto, an invader intent on spreading Catholicism at the point of his sword.
Download and start listening now!
"I picked this book up and read the back cover, sounded interesting. It was amazing! The Gears have done their research and really make you feel like you are there with the characters! If you enjoy historical fiction this is a MUST READ! I am anticipating the next book in the series! "
— Natalie (5 out of 5 stars)
“The Gears display their usual narrative finesse as they combine history, archaeology, and anthropology with an irresistibly intriguing story line that brings the past vividly to life.”
— Booklist" It is a good novel. reminds us of things that history whitewashes. mostley we prefer not to call the exploration and settlement of our country genocide. Looking forward to book two. "
— Oleta, 2/16/2014" Probably no more gory thatn the reality was. Interesting insights into the early native Americans of the Florida area-- number of tribes, differences in mores, customs, etc. deSoto certainly not pictured as a kind conqueror-- not=r were his troops. violence begets violence. "
— Sharon, 2/5/2014" Really gets you into the characters. Different set up than People of the Wolf series but I always love reading their books! "
— Roxanne, 2/2/2014" I love the Gear writing team. Their understanding of paleo-indian culture and their background in archaeology set their books apart from any other writers out there writing on the ame subject. You can feel an anrchaeological authentication to their writing that I love. "
— Robin, 1/27/2014" A great look at First Contact from the native perspective. "
— Anne, 1/21/2014" I was really disappointed with this novel as I have loved Gear's novels in the past. The main characters are great but perhaps it was the brutality of the the Kristianos that has dampened my enjoyment. "
— Veronica, 1/18/2014" I loved the history put in detail in this book. Everything was described wonderfully. I'm left cheering for the characters. "
— Erin, 1/10/2014" A different take on history that I was taught in school. "
— Dave, 1/4/2014" I loved this book. The authors are amazing at creating characters that truly come alive. The humor throughout is so appreciated. I am also somber due to the realness written of the devastation and brutalization committed against native americans. "
— Mary, 10/17/2013" Excellent story told from the indios point of view. Sucked me right in and I couldn't wait to read the rest "
— Andrea, 5/26/2013" Love these authors and these books.... "
— Debby, 5/21/2013" Loved it, can't wait for the next book! "
— Marijo, 5/11/2013" looking forward to the next one....ending was a bit abrupt but still an engaging story "
— Linda, 4/3/2013" I was totally enthralled! It was such an awesome story and for it to be told from the Native American perspective was fabulous. I have just had to keep reading these books. "
— Heather, 2/14/2013" The Gears' books are always excellent.s Loved this one as well. It has a slightly different flavor, since it overlaps into history as recorded by the Europeans, still good, though. "
— William, 7/28/2012" Not my favorite Gear book. Probably won't do the others in the series. "
— Susie, 6/18/2012" I picked this book up and read the back cover, sounded interesting. It was amazing! The Gears have done their research and really make you feel like you are there with the characters! If you enjoy historical fiction this is a MUST READ! I am anticipating the next book in the series! "
— Natalie, 3/25/2012" The Gears never fail to capture the historical value and remind the reader that the early Americans fought long and hard to maintain their way of life. Good read. "
— Barb, 6/29/2011" A great look at First Contact from the native perspective. "
— Anne, 1/12/2011" Too much explicit gore. They repeated the same horrible stuff too much. "
— Sweetweeks, 10/14/2010" I have read all of the Gears books and love their style, detail and ability to bring history, native america and native americans to life. This series is the first time they have touched on European contact and is all the better for it... brilliant! "
— Tim, 9/19/2010" I enjoyed the early Florida history and the early colonial conflict - but Pearl Hand and Black Shell have some very modern views and conversations while the rest of the characters flounder around in the 16th century. This was a good book that could have been better. "
— Joe, 8/13/2010" It is a good novel. reminds us of things that history whitewashes. mostley we prefer not to call the exploration and settlement of our country genocide. Looking forward to book two. "
— Oleta, 4/26/2010" looking forward to the next one....ending was a bit abrupt but still an engaging story "
— Linda, 4/25/2010" This is an excellent novel. It tells the story of de Soto and first contact with the indians of the Southeast. The tale is told from the perspective of the indians and is engrossing. <br/> <br/>I highly recommend this novel. "
— JoAnn, 4/9/2010W. Michael Gear is the author or coauthor with his wife, Kathleen O’Neal Gear, of more than fifty published novels. The couple have received the Western Writers of America 2021 Owen Wister Award for Lifetime Contributions to Western Literature, the highest honor bestowed by the nonprofit guild. He is a USA Today and internationally bestselling author whose work has been translated into twenty-nine languages with over seventeen million copies in print worldwide. Both an anthropologist and archaeologist, he brings extraordinary depth and complexity to his characters and settings. He can be found at gear-gear.com.
Kathleen O’Neal Gear is an author and nationally award-winning archaeologist who has been honored by the United States Congress. She is a former state historian and archaeologist for Wyoming, Kansas, and Nebraska for the U.S. Department of the Interior. She has twice received the federal government’s Special Achievement Award for “outstanding management” of our nation’s cultural heritage. With her husband, W. Michael Gear, she is the co-author of many books.
Kevin Orton is a musician, composer, and actor. He performed in the 1999 Broadway revival of Amadeus and has appeared in numerous other New York and regional theater productions, as well as on television and in film. As a musician, he is most noted for composing and performing original music in the Tony Award–winning production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.