I knew this writer was good, but I had never read anything longer than a story. To read this novel is to enter a world both real and ancient, for Native American myths are woven into the texture of this novel (the myth of Elder Brother) in this dazzling story and intricate plot, almost a maze itself but with a clear narrative thread that pulls us through the enchantment. This novel sweeps you up into a story of great psychological depth but it's also action-packed, full of breath-taking suspense. The main character, a cowboy named Guy, is complex, deftly drawn--all the characters are drawn from a truly and richly multicultural palette--and what is more, Kelly's knowledge of the flora, fauna, geology, and cultures of Arizona, her rich treatment of training and showing horses, is unparalleled. I understand that this novel is the first in a series of five novels. Prepare to be spellbound when you discover this wonderful talent and savor this riveting story! A must read.

A debut literary novel combines horse breeding and Native American folklore. Kelly's prose effectively evokes the landscapes of Arizona, both physical and cultural . . . An Arizona-set tale of redemption . . . .

Jan Kelly writes a romantic and adventurous tale of the modern American west in this first book of her Arizona series. From the beginning of the story when we see Guy who is recently released from prison trying to drown his sorrows and his memories in a tavern on the edge of the reservation near Scottsdale Az, his journey is compelling. The story takes the reader, with Guy, into the desert with an old O’odham woman, through the rich and brutal world of Arabian show stables, through relationships both successful and tragic, but ultimately it is Guy’s interior journey, his search for connection and expression that drives the story. What I love about the book: the way Kelly incorporates the ancient native story of Elder Brother’s Maze into the modern western tale, the wonderful detail with which she writes about native plants, animals, myths, her brilliant rendering of the horse world, the variety of sharply drawn characters, and a plot which is NOT predictable. It is a rich, exceptionally well written book, and I look forward to the next in the series.