Proud Souls by Bobby Ozuna

Bobby Ozuna's novel the Proud Souls is a remarkable read. Seymour is a small town in Texas and it has developed quite a history in the last six years. Justin Olerude Bower, the Rev. Hillard Ray Polk, Ralph Winslow Parison and the so called “ town whore” Tessa Jameson have been living the last six years in their own self induced personal prison.

Justin has lost his wife and son in an accident. He has spent the last six years in a bottle, just waiting to die. Ralph Parison is in the truck that crashes into Justin and his family, for which he just can't forgive himself. The Rev. Polk, lives in his prison, feeling as though he has lost Justin's soul. Tessa's prison is one of torn feelings toward Justin, she’s fallen in love with a man who doesn't want to live.

Each character in this novel will come alive and you will feel their desperation, their sadness and loneliness. You will come to wonder, what if my life was to come to these types of problems. How would I handle such a difficult time? Who would I turn too? Who would really be able to help me? Who would make me make the right decisions in life? And the most important question of all. Would I choose life or death or choose to live with the pain of losing the people you loved the most.

Bobby Ozuna has done a spectacular job in writing this novel. His writing style is one that will bring his characters to life. He has the ability to take your feelings on a roller coaster and leave you needing to turn the pages. This is a must read. You, the reader, will not regret reading this book, even though it will mean you will be sacrificing a few nights sleep just because you can’t put it down. 4.5 stars

Open your minds and go on a journey with the Kamishi. You won't regret it.

Gaddy Bergmann's Migration of the Kamishi is the first book of three in The Feral World series. Though this book is set in the fifty-first century, readers will be transported back to a time when mankind lived off the land and didn't have the modern day conveniences we have come to know and take for granted in our everyday lives. The people of this time have made a conscious choice to live this way so as not to become what the inhabitants of this era consider 'managers'. The managers are the populace of the twenty first century.

During this age of transition the people who live on the Earth after just barely surviving a hit by an asteroid have formed together in tribes. Bergmann first introduces us to the Kamishi tribe who live in modern day's North America. The Kamishi tribe is only two hundred strong as are most of the tribes of this time. They are a friendly and peaceful people who occupy one of the most sought after grounds for food and living conditions. Good for the Kamishi it would seem until their neighbors the Ravashi determine to take control of their lands.

The Ravashi are a warring tribe and attack early in the book without a hint of warning. They annihilate everyone in the Kamishi tribe except for Blake, the son of their chief and Manosh, Blake's closest friend. The only material item saved is their 'Bebel' given to them by their tribe's elder who dies in their arms. The 'Bebel' is sacred and compares to our modern day's Bible. Left alone after the massacre of their people Blake determines they should make the journey to the Warmlands, but not until they rescue Blake's dogs from a handful of Ravashi warriors.

After killing the Ravashi warriors Blake and Manosh set out on their journey to the Warmlands where they find themselves crossing over into other occupied territories until they reach what is known as a 'rubbletown'. A 'rubbletown' is a twenty-first century city that has crumbled away to nothing. While they are there they find themselves rescuing a young lady, Lana, from some dangerous men. Becoming the third member of the group they move on and continue to migrate towards the Warmlands together facing peril and tribulations along the way.

This was a pleasant read. Gaddy Bergmann has woven a leisurely tale that leaves you wondering the impossible. It's intermingled with action and adventures, quietude and contemplation while filling you with a sense of wonder. Could this happen to our Earth? What if this really did happen, could the world of today survive and would they choose to survive as they had before? A book I highly recommend for readers of all genres as Bergmann's book stands out on a sea of many bookshelves. Open your minds and go on a journey with the Kamishi. You won't regret it. - 4.5 STARS