Apache Sun is a Western that follows Lacey, a determined man on a six-week search across the New Mexico Territory. Lacey is trying to track down a man named Adam Dawson, who is suspected of kidnapping a young girl and committing several other crimes. The journey takes him across barren landscapes and through small, crumbling towns as he grapples with exhaustion, doubt, and the brutal realities of the desert. Along the way, he enlists the help of two Mescalero Apache boys, and together they face treacherous enemies, fierce terrain, and their own moral questions.

The way the author,  Jeffrey W. Tenney, paints the Western landscape is impressive. The opening scene immediately places you in Lacey’s shoes, crossing a desolate desert, which “smoldered like a second sun beneath his feet.” You can feel the heat and desperation from page one. I really liked the gritty tone, and the dusty, harsh reality of the frontier is consistently strong throughout the book. But, the book takes its time lingering in the vastness of the landscape, which adds to the atmosphere, but at times it slows down the momentum of the storyline.

Another thing I appreciated was the character development. Lacey is not your typical gunslinger out for blood. He’s weary, unsure, and constantly battling whether or not he should just give up. He’s not perfect, and that made him relatable. The man is chasing justice, but there’s an emotional toll that feels very real. However, while Lacey is well-rounded, I wish we got a bit more depth on Dawson, the villain of the story.

One of the most interesting parts of the novel is the dynamic between Lacey and the two Apache boys he teams up with, who he nicknames Red and Blue. Their relationship starts as one of convenience. He needs their help tracking down Dawson, and they want money. But their relationship evolves into something more. The Apache boys add an extra layer to the story. They offer insights into their culture and the tensions between the Native people and the encroaching settlers. I liked how the author didn’t shy away from the messiness of these interactions. At one point, the boys negotiate their wages like seasoned businessmen, adding humor and humanity to what could have been a straightforward revenge tale.

Apache Sun is for readers who enjoy the slow burn of classic Westerns. Where the landscape is as much a character as the people themselves. If you’re someone who appreciates a hard-won journey with a bit of grit and a lot of heart, you’ll probably dig this one. It’s not all shootouts and action. Lacey’s quest has a deeper quality that sets it apart from your typical Western.

Pages: 334 | ASIN : B0DDLBS2Z9