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Canadian Author Brian Baynton!
The Heron’s Song by Brian Baynton.
A Tale In The Time Of Pontiac’s War.
Book 1 of 3: The Liam Hicks Series.
Liam Hicks has arrived in Detroit, looking to catch on with the British army as an independent scout. It is the spring of 1763, and Pontiac is in the early stages of putting together his Indian confederacy. Liam’s scouting work with the British army in the recent war against the French, has resulted in a recommendation from Sir William Johnson to the English Commander at Fort Detroit, Major Gladwin. Liam’s unusual upbringing has exposed him to the best and worst of the three cultures—English, French and Native—who continue to fight for their piece of North America. The relationships he has developed with people from these cultures has caused him to take what he believes are the best parts of each and incorporate them into his daily life. As he begins his scouting duties at Detroit, some of his beliefs are challenged, and as Pontiac’s War begins to spread, he is made to reflect on life and death, right and wrong, like he has never done before.
Review by William P. Robertson: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. A Great Adventure! Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2020. Verified Purchase. THE HERON’S SONG by Brian Baynton is told in the first person from the point of view of hunter, Liam Hicks. Hicks had been captured by the Abenaki tribe in his youth but is now employed as a British scout at Fort Detroit that’s been surrounded by Chief Pontiac’s warriors. The reader is privy to Liam’s thoughts as he expresses the spirituality of his adopted Indian ways. For example, he performs a religious ritual each morning by addressing the four points of the compass. He also continually expresses his awe of nature’s beauty along the trails he follows. As a member of the Heron clan, he receives signs from the long-legged birds he encounters, too, and uses them to shape his destiny. He often struggles, though, with killing his enemies and his evil French stepfather who’s skulking about Detroit intending to do Liam harm. His hesitation in these situations complicates his life in many ways and thickens the plot of this excellent novel.
Review by Virginia M. Osgood: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Historical, action, good read. Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2021. Verified Purchase. I was thrilled to read it in a couple of days, as I am not much of a reader. For me, it was a great read, I could immerse myself. I have comprehension trouble, and this was 1 of the few books I could get through. Although, I will add, the last chapter could have been a tad longer.
Review by Larry: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Excellent read! Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2021. Verified Purchase. Excellent read. I liked it so much I immediately read it a second time. While enjoying the read, you also gain knowledge of the time period and Native American culture. Excellent read.
Review by Lance J.: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Great Read! Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2020. I received this for Christmas and was not disappointed. This is a great read, and for someone who grew up in the town of Pontiac, Mi. this book had an extra special meaning to me as the areas in the book are familiar to me. It was nice to see someone write a story about a forgotten piece of our history that had big implications for our young country to be. I truly enjoyed the characters, and I am looking forward in the hopes that there is a sequel in the works. Highly recommended!!!
Review by JB: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. A wonderfully woven tale of fiction and history. Reviewed in Canada on June 13, 2024. Verified Purchase. Through vivid prose and meticulous historical detail, Brian Baynton transports readers to the frontier of 18th-century America amidst the early stages of Pontiac’s Rebellion. Liam Hicks, an independent scout with a unique upbringing, finds himself at the nexus of conflicting cultures and loyalties. This book skillfully navigates the complexities of colonial America, weaving a tapestry of historical intrigue and personal reflection. As Liam grapples with moral dilemmas, his past, and the brutal realities of war, readers are drawn into a gripping tale of resilience, identity, and the enduring human spirit. ‘The Heron’s Song’ is a captivating blend of historical fiction and profound introspection, offering a poignant exploration of life on the frontier during a tumultuous period in history.” A very enjoyable read.
Review by SB: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. A fun and interesting retelling of real events through the eyes of a fictional character. Reviewed in Canada on June 11, 2020. Verified Purchase. The Heron’s song is a great read for those interested in historical fiction. The main character, Liam, is likeable and capable, yet struggles with very relatable problems as he tries to make his way in the world. He is forced to walk a difficult path, where his senses of duty, loyalty and filial piety are put to the test. The author deftly works his protagonist into the real historical timeline of Pontiac’s War in a way that is compelling and plausible. This is an enjoyable read and likely even more so for those with knowledge of events.
Review by Kindle Customer: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Great read. Reviewed in Canada on May 26, 2021. Verified Purchase. Read the 2nd book first and loved it. This one I treated as a prequel, and it didn’t disappoint. Liam and the characters he interacts with is truly relatable. I believe there could be more books about him and his endeavors.
Review by Jason Mills: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Good historical read. Reviewed in Canada on November 20, 2020. Verified Purchase. A great read. The author puts you in a different era and tells a great tale of a local place to me! Well done!!!
Review by Kasey: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Action-Packed Historical Fiction. Reviewed in Canada on September 16, 2020. Verified Purchase. An action-packed historical fiction that caught my interest in the very first chapter and held it the whole way through! I really enjoyed the inclusion of historic figures such as Robert Rogers, Major Gladwin, Captain Campbell and Pontiac in this book and how Liam Hicks, the main character and an independent scout working for the British army interacts with them. I loved following Hicks on his scouting missions in and around Fort Detroit and especially loved reading about his skirmishes with the villainous Daniel Cadotte. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves reading historical fiction.
Review by Dean: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. A great read! Reviewed in Canada on March 30, 2021. Verified Purchase. A great read if you enjoy historical fiction or have an interest in the F&I War/Pontiacs War. I’d put this book with Eckerts the Frontiersman.
Review by Harry Jennings: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Up there with “Last of The Mohicans”! Reviewed in Canada on January 3, 2023. Verified Purchase. Loved the character, dialogue, flow and realism of the writing. I felt I was there, and I’m hard to please with historical fiction. Great writing about a historical period that I love to experience.
Product Details:
Paperback: 257 Pages
Publisher: Independently Published (June 10, 2020)
Language: English
Historical Fiction (Historical French Fiction)
Historical Fiction
Military Historical Fiction
War Fiction
War & Military Action Fiction
Song Of The Blue Jay by Brian Baynton.
Book 2 of 3: The Liam Hicks Series.
Song of The Blue Jay is book two in the Liam Hicks story following closely on where the first book, ‘The Heron’s Song, finishes.
It is the spring/summer of 1764, one year removed from Pontiac’s siege of Fort Detroit. Liam has returned to Detroit to resume his role as a scout for the English Army but first makes plans to go to Aamjiwnaang along the shores of the beautiful St. Clair River he loves, to search for Ashagi’s sister Deedeens (Blue Jay). Liam must determine if Deedeens still believes in the power of Ashagi’s dream in which it was foretold she and Liam would be together forever. Liam made a solemn vow to his Heron brother Ashagi, as he lay dying, that he would seek out Deedeens and make his (Ashagi’s) dream a reality.
Tensions between the English, French and Native peoples of the area remain high one year removed from Pontiac’s attack on Fort Detroit. With his friend Ashagi no longer around to help him navigate through these difficulties, Liam must find a way to make contact with Deedeens without sacrificing his life. The appearance of the hated Frenchmen Armand Ouellette and Guy Allard serve to make his task far more difficult than he could have imagined.
Like Liam’s first adventure, Song of the Blue Jay is set in the wilderness of Aamjiwnaang, on the banks of the St. Clair River, but once again has him travelling throughout the region, including his first trip up the river the French call La Tranche to the site of what is present day Chatham, Ontario. Also, like The Heron’s Song, Song of the Blue Jay examines underlying themes of racism, man versus woman, love, life and death, and the need to live the best life you can while you still have it.
Review by Larry: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Excellent read. Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2021. Verified Purchase. Excellent read. This is book two, but reading book one is not necessary to enjoy this book. Excellent story of living in the Great Lakes area in the late 1700’s. I’m looking forward to the author’s next book.
Review by Virginia M. Osgood: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Great author! Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2021. Verified Purchase. Another good read, thank you!
Review by JB: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. A great continuation of the life and journey of Liam Hicks. Reviewed in Canada on June 13, 2024.Verified Purchase. This captivating sequel to The Heron’s Song continues to unfold against the backdrop of 18th-century America’s frontier. Brian Baynton once again immerses readers in this tumultuous world where tensions simmer between English, French, and Native peoples. As Liam embarks on a quest to fulfill a solemn vow to his fallen friend, Ashagi, an unexpected incident leads him on an adventure up the river La Tranche where he struggles with the complexities of love and survival. Baynton’s prose transports readers to the untamed wilderness of Aamjiwnaang, where every twist and turn brings new challenges. This book offers a compelling narrative that resonates long after the final page is turned. Full of emotion and action. A great read!
Review by Harry Jennings: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Takes you back in time. Reviewed in Canada on January 11, 2023. Verified Purchase. Felt like I was right there in the 1700’s, great characters, storyline, had me tearing up at the end.
Review by Kindle Customer: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Good read. Reviewed in Canada on May 16, 2021. Verified Purchase. Love the story line, the historical period in which it took place. Characters are well developed and relatable. I really Iike the flow leading up to action, well written.
Product Details:
Paperback: 269 Pages
Publisher: Independently Published (January 25, 2021)
Language: English
Historical Fiction (Historical French Fiction)
Historical Fiction
Military Historical Fiction
War Fiction
War & Military Action Fiction
The Raven Calls by Brian Baynton.
Book 3 of 3: The Liam Hicks Series.
The Raven Calls is the third book in the Liam Hicks Series following closely on the story lines established in my first book, The Heron’s Song and my second book, Song of the Blue Jay. The summer of 1764 will soon be coming to a close. It has been a tumultuous two or three months which started with Liam trying to fulfill the wishes of his deceased Heron brother Ashagi, who dreamed his sister Deedeens and Liam would be together forever. Later on, Liam is informed that he is no longer needed by the British army at Fort Detroit due to the absence of Pontiac, which has resulted in relative peace amongst the tribes in the area. After finding Deedeens in the village of Little Thunder, Liam discovers she has already betrothed herself to the Ojibwa warrior Waawaate. With nowhere else to go, Liam decides, with the permission of the village elders, to establish a temporary camp on the St. Clair River across from the Little Thunder’s village while he decides his next steps. A series of events resulting in much death and upheaval, ultimately results in Liam and Deedeens having the chance to consider their future together.
The Raven Calls picks up the story in the final month of the summer of 1764 with Liam, soon approaching his thirtieth year, wrestling with what he wants his future to look like. Will it be built around his newly started relationship with Deedeens? Will he accept the offer to join a fur trading company out of Detroit owned by James Sterling – a man he met through his friend Robert Rogers? Will he plant his roots in Aamjiwnaang, on the beautiful St. Clair River and give up the life he has been living for the past ten years? Just when Liam feels he is ready to make a commitment to a new life, an unexpected message arrives which just might turn all his life considerations upside down.
Review by falconscastle: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Excellent! Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2024. Verified Purchase. A tale reminiscent of “Northwest Passage” but easily exceeds it in its story telling! I am eager to start Book 4!
Review by Larry: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Can’t put it down. Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2021. Verified Purchase. When you receive this book, set aside a lot of time, as you won’t want to put it down. It’s like reading someone’s diary. You’re wondering what happens next.
Review by Kindle Customer: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Delivers again. Reviewed in Canada on May 18, 2022. Verified Purchase. Enjoyed following Liam’s journey once again. Well-developed story and truly relevant even today as to the feelings of the times, towards the first nations people and the way Liam deals with those who do not share or understand his position. Strong character, true to his beliefs. Well written. I could read more. Hint.
Review by bfern 223: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Page turner. Reviewed in Canada on December 31, 2021. Verified Purchase. Great plot. Several times I thought that I could predict the next plot twist and was wrong each time. Suspense created with characters staying true to their established character…never an easy feat, a sequel worthy of the first 2 books. How long is it going to take for this author to be noticed?
Product Details
Paperback: 275 Pages
Publisher: Independently Published (December 13, 2021)
Language: English
Historical Fiction (Historical French Fiction)
Historical Fiction
Military Historical Fiction
War Fiction
War & Military Action Fiction
Trickster Raven And The Trail To Gitchee-Gami by Brian Baynton.
Book 4 of 4: Liam Hicks.
Spring 1766. An infant dead at childbirth. A despondent mother. Trickster Raven. Shifting allegiances. Continuing conflict.
These are the things Liam Hicks must deal with as he navigates his way through a rapidly changing world. Long-held relationships are passing, and new ones need to be formed. Liam soon learns that sometimes his beliefs and the circumstances he is facing do not line up well.
Trickster Raven has fooled the village midwife and Liam’s Ojibwa partner, Deedeens. Raven leads them to mistakenly believe that Deedeens’ newborn son is dead because she was not big enough to carry the baby of a man Liam’s size to term. Even though Ashagi-Manidoo’s dream that Liam and Deedeens will be together forever still holds much power, Deedeens refuses to see a future with Liam if she cannot deliver him future children.
After many attempts to help Deedeens see things differently, Liam decides he must leave Aamjiwnaang to give her time and space to heal. Liam is offered the opportunity to go north with his fur-trader friend Charles de Langlade who is heading for the Ouisconsin Territory where the beaver can still be found in great numbers. On his return to Michilimackinac, Liam is asked by the new fort commander, Robert Rogers, to head out with an expedition that will be searching for the fabled Northwest Passage. As the spectre of winter looms, will Liam survive the treachery, harsh landscape, and continuing skirmishes with the Sioux so he can return to Deedeens and salvage their relationship.
Review by JB: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. An Adventurous Journey North for Liam Hicks. Reviewed in Canada on September 25, 2024. Verified Purchase. This fourth installment in the Liam Hicks series takes our hero on an exhilarating journey northward in search of the legendary Northwest Passage. Packed with adventure, conflict, and shifting alliances, the story also delves into profound themes of grief and loss. If you’re a reader captivated by tales of exploration during a time when harsh conditions and the specter of death loomed large, this book is an absolute must-read. With its skillful blend of history and adventure, it brings to life the challenges of 18th-century North America, making for a gripping and immersive experience.
Review by MJB: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Adventures Abound. Reviewed in Canada on April 23, 2024. Verified Purchase. Baynton keeps us guessing as Liam Hicks is faced with many decisions in book 4 of the series. Always offering additional insights into what life may have been like in the mid-1700s, the author also continues to capture my interest in the character of Hicks. I’ve powered through the first 4 books and am now eager for the release of the next one!! The story line has been engaging and not predictable. Great work, Brian!
Review by Will Pettes: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. The saga continues! Reviewed in Canada on April 16, 2024. Verified Purchase. Another fascinating glimpse into the past through the eyes of the main character, Liam Hicks!
Review by Kasey: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Raw Caw Caw Caw. Reviewed in Canada on April 16, 2024. Verified Purchase. A heartfelt read. I loved it!
Product Details
Print Length: 293 Pages
Publisher: FriesenPress; 1st Edition (January 8, 2024)
Language: English
Historical Fiction (Historical French Fiction)
Historical Fiction
Military Historical Fiction
War Fiction
War & Military Action Fiction
About The Author: Trickster Raven and the Trail to Gitchee-Gami is the fourth book in the Liam Hicks series. It started with The Heron’s Song (2020), followed by Song of the Blue Jay (2021) and The Raven Calls (2022). Brian’s writing started following his retirement, but he has always had a passion for history and historical fiction, beginning when he was a young boy growing up in Chatham Ontario. His family lived on Tecumseh Avenue, and Brian started by learning all he could about the Shawnee war chief the street was named after. Tecumseh was killed at the Battle of the Thames, which took place not far from Chatham during the War of 1812. That war was the culmination of many wars in Eastern North America, starting in the early 1700s, but it was the French and Indian War and the period directly following it that Brian became most interested in reading and writing about.
Brian lives in Heidelberg Ontario with Janice, his wife of forty-two years, and their three springer spaniels-Gryphon, Finnegan, and Tuffy. Three adult children, one daughter-in-law, and one son-in-law all reside in Western Canada.
Website:
https://brianbaynton.netlify.app/
Meta (Facebook):
https://www.facebook.com/D.BrianBaynton
X (Twitter):
https://twitter.com/brian_baynton13
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-baynton-81ba0912/
Author’s Page At Book Marketing Global Network:
https://bookmarketingglobalnetwork.com/book-marketing-global-network/author-brian-baynton/
