Scan barcode
gsteinbacher's review against another edition
3.0
Louis L'amour will often times go into what I call "thought rambling", especially when he writes in the first person. "Thought rambling" is when the main characters goes on and on about what he is thinking, and he repeats the same thoughts numerous times throughout the book. These are my least favorite books and this is one of those books.
I would have goven it two stars except it was a good adventure story. If you don't mind when he rambles you will probably like this book better than I did.
I would have goven it two stars except it was a good adventure story. If you don't mind when he rambles you will probably like this book better than I did.
birdmanseven's review against another edition
2.0
I would rate that a good solid "Eh..." It started interesting, but as the story progessed (or didn't) it got dull and long. The opening chapter sets Ronan Chantry up to be the tragic figure, but that doesn't really play into the story. Basically Chantry sets off for the west, joins in with some fellas, meets a girl in need and together they help her search for a lost treasure. This would have worked for a short story, but didn't really have the meat for a full novel. Louis L'Amour is hit-&-miss. I loved Borden Chantry and Silver Canyon, but this and Man Called Noon were dull and meandering.
We discuss some of our favorite westerns here: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-35-all-the-books-goes-west
We discuss some of our favorite westerns here: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-35-all-the-books-goes-west
angielisle's review against another edition
2.0
The story didn't feel as put together as other L'Amour stories - there were a few rough patches where the narrative broke/didn't flow seamlessly. And the repetition, sheesh. Ronan Chantry gained the nickname Scholar as he moved west and, every time he was introduced to another character by that nickname, we readers got the story about why he's called Scholar. How many times did I need to hear that story?
The same applied to all of the information given in regard to the plot's mysteries - the same information was repeated multiple times without further development of the information. It felt like L'Amour, when writing the rough draft, couldn't remember if he'd already told us the information so he mentioned it every time he thought we needed it and then forgot to go back and weed out excessive/repetitive passages. This one was a rough read for me, the repetition aggravated me more than normal.
The same applied to all of the information given in regard to the plot's mysteries - the same information was repeated multiple times without further development of the information. It felt like L'Amour, when writing the rough draft, couldn't remember if he'd already told us the information so he mentioned it every time he thought we needed it and then forgot to go back and weed out excessive/repetitive passages. This one was a rough read for me, the repetition aggravated me more than normal.
raehink's review against another edition
2.0
Ronan Chantry and his prized Ferguson rifle are the headliners in this L'Amour. Not his best.
skjam's review against another edition
4.0
"My name is Ronan Chantry, and I am alone upon this land."
He is a scholar and a gentleman, but Ronan Chantry was raised in the wilderness, hunting, trapping and tracking. Now that his wife and son have died in a fire, and pursued by the reputation of killing a man in a duel, Chantry returns to the wilderness. He does not remain alone for long, joining a small band of men also going into the West to try their hand at fur trapping.
Their camp is nearly raided by allies of a treacherous Native American guide; but some time later the group makes friends with the Cheyenne, while trying to evade Spanish soldiers who have not yet gotten word that the Louisiana Purchase has gone through. Then Ronan stumbles across Lucinda Falvey, whose father was murdered for the secret of a lost treasure.
The murderer and his minions have pursued Lucinda into the Dakota Territory, and turns out to have connections to both Lucinda and Ronan’s pasts. Chantry and his allies must evade the killers, find the treasure and get the woman to safety–perhaps an eccentric mountain man has the key to survival?
This is the first novel written in the Chantry family saga by all-time great Western writer Louis L’Amour. (But the last in internal chronology.) The title comes from Chantry’s signature weapon, a firearm given to him by Major Ferguson himself. It’s a customized prototype without the weakness in the lock mortise. Since the story is set about the time of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, a rapid-firing breechloader is a formidable advantage.
This is a fast-moving story with clear but often evocative use of language; not a lot of time is spent on characterization, with bad man Rafen Falvey getting the bulk of what depth there is. Chantry is not just smart and well-educated, but wilderness-savvy and skilled at all forms of combat he turns his hand to. His one weakness is prideful anger, which led him into the fatal duel, and into the knock-down drag-out fistfight that is the climax of the book. The use of coincidence to drive certain story elements does come close to breaking suspension of disbelief.
Recommended to Western fans, and those looking for a good manly adventure story.
He is a scholar and a gentleman, but Ronan Chantry was raised in the wilderness, hunting, trapping and tracking. Now that his wife and son have died in a fire, and pursued by the reputation of killing a man in a duel, Chantry returns to the wilderness. He does not remain alone for long, joining a small band of men also going into the West to try their hand at fur trapping.
Their camp is nearly raided by allies of a treacherous Native American guide; but some time later the group makes friends with the Cheyenne, while trying to evade Spanish soldiers who have not yet gotten word that the Louisiana Purchase has gone through. Then Ronan stumbles across Lucinda Falvey, whose father was murdered for the secret of a lost treasure.
The murderer and his minions have pursued Lucinda into the Dakota Territory, and turns out to have connections to both Lucinda and Ronan’s pasts. Chantry and his allies must evade the killers, find the treasure and get the woman to safety–perhaps an eccentric mountain man has the key to survival?
This is the first novel written in the Chantry family saga by all-time great Western writer Louis L’Amour. (But the last in internal chronology.) The title comes from Chantry’s signature weapon, a firearm given to him by Major Ferguson himself. It’s a customized prototype without the weakness in the lock mortise. Since the story is set about the time of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, a rapid-firing breechloader is a formidable advantage.
This is a fast-moving story with clear but often evocative use of language; not a lot of time is spent on characterization, with bad man Rafen Falvey getting the bulk of what depth there is. Chantry is not just smart and well-educated, but wilderness-savvy and skilled at all forms of combat he turns his hand to. His one weakness is prideful anger, which led him into the fatal duel, and into the knock-down drag-out fistfight that is the climax of the book. The use of coincidence to drive certain story elements does come close to breaking suspension of disbelief.
Recommended to Western fans, and those looking for a good manly adventure story.
thebookishbabbler's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating 4.25
What can I say? I am western trash. I will read anything with a cowboy on a horse set anytime before 1900 and I will give that ish at least 3 stars. I am a simple woman who likes westerns and this was no different. This isn't my favorite Louis L'Amore book but it was a super entertaining one and I flew through it.
What can I say? I am western trash. I will read anything with a cowboy on a horse set anytime before 1900 and I will give that ish at least 3 stars. I am a simple woman who likes westerns and this was no different. This isn't my favorite Louis L'Amore book but it was a super entertaining one and I flew through it.
More...