REVIEWS for BEARKILLER

What Dances With Wolves did for the Plains Tribes, Bearkiller does for the mountain tribes.

Not since Will Henry have I found an author who really understood the culture of the Native Americans of the West.  I felt the cold winds blowing off of the snow packed mountains, and tasted the cool water from the icy streams. 

This is an incredible adventure in the culture of the Blackfoot Tribes of the Rocky Mountains.  Go on a raid to get the spotted horses of the Nez Perce, escape from capture by the Flatheads, and rescue the beautiful woman of your dreams from the Crow.  It is like sitting around the fire listening to the tale of the great warriors of the tribe.

Edd Voss - Author - Washington

Author D.J. Stephens takes you on an adventurous and wondrous journey, and entices us to join him in a way of life few would recognize and could only hope to dream of experiencing in reality, even if just for a moment.

By taking what was once for him a blank canvas of paper, he has masterfully painted a picture; in words, of life in America in another place and time. As seen through the eyes Jeff Barkil; a modern day man, he paints a portrait of the only true Americans; the Native Americans, and through his eyes they seem to spring off of the pages and come to life.  Mr. Stephens' love and respect for nature shines through. 

Bearkiller is a must read for anyone who loves the great outdoors and the challenges it poses.  It also gives those of us; whose dreams at times seem all too real, something to ponder...

G.L. Parker - Author - (New York)

Story Telling At It's Best: D.J. Stephens has done an excellent job of pulling the reader right into the story with the characters!  The author has given very close attention to details and has an uncanny ability to entwine accuracy within his story telling.

Bearkiller is an adventure that caught my attention on the first page and drew me so deeply into the story I could not stop reading.  I was one with the characters, experiencing the Native American life page after page.  The story is at times raw and rough as life was in the days the Native Americans roamed free in the Montana mountains.  I held my breath through gruesome battles that were handled with delicacy for all who read.  I expereinced great hunts and felt the thrill of the kill!  This book is full of action and adventure yet invovles love and caring. 

Throughuot the entire book I appreciated the respect the author displayed to the Native American and their beliefs.  This was brought out in such a clear and tender way.  I was captivated from the first page and the pace of the book remained true to the end. 

This is by far one of the best by a new author that I have had read.  D.J. Stephes proved to be an artist with words.  He took the tiniest details and made them become real to my eyes.  If I were to recommend just one book as a must read, Bearkiller would be my choice.  The only disappointment I felt with this book was the fact that I came to the end and there was no more to read!  When I did read the end, D.J. Stephens did not disappoint me.  The story ended as well as it began and as well as it read all the way through.  I walked away from this book feeling I had been blessed with a very up close and personal glimpse into the life of my ancestors.  I knew when I put this book down I had just read the work or a real professional!

Sherry L Gibson - Reader and Author

D.J. Stephens has authored two fiction books to date and, though I have only reviewed Bearkiller so far, I am certain that readers will see the author’s name on their bookstore shelves beside novels like She Who Remembers, Antelope, and Follow The River.

In only 232 pages Mr. Stephens combines elements of reincarnation and time travel with action, adventure, and romance.  There are also threads of spirit visions and other mystical aspects of the Blackfoot Nation.  Bearkiller could be considered a historical fiction in that the author seems to have a real understanding for Native Indian culture and hunting techniques of both today, and those used 200 years ago.  This skill is certainly enhanced by the fact that Mr. Stephen’s is an avid hunter and outdoorsman, spent time in the military, and actually conceived of the book during an outdoor excursion.  I believe this combination was a perfect recipe for this wonderful tale.

Jeff Barkil, the main character, survives a violent grizzly encounter and travels back in time to another life some 200 years ago, when he became a white warrior among the Blackfoot Nation.

Tender and sophisticated love scenes are blended with the author’s ability to describe nature, the hunt and life for people that lived in those times. A continuous flow of adventure that just does not end until the very last page makes Bearkiller quite difficult to put down.

I definitely recommend this book to readers.

Lillian Brummet - Book Reviewer: 

Exceptional:

The tribal life of the American Indian is portrayed brilliantly with Don Stephen's book, Bearkiller.

Action begins on the very first page. While hunting elk, Jeff Barkill is attacked by a grizzly. He kills the bear, but is severely wounded. In his delirium, he is rescued by the Blackfoot Indian tribe and nursed back to health. He is given the name, "Bearkiller" and is accepted as a member of the tribe. His subsequent heroic exploits make him a legend.

Don Stephens provides a vivid description of tribal life. Survival necessitates continuous action. Stalking of prey, both animal and human, keeps the reader in suspense. The fights are bloody and described in minute detail.

Stephen's writing style is similar to Zane Grey with simple language and graphic characterization.

If you want high adventure and can handle bloody drama, you will love this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Abe F. March - Author - "To Beirut and Back" (Germany)