Review: Unique Story Using Native American Lore
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 27, 2014
When I read the synopsis for Entrusted, my curiosity was certainly piqued. I love Native American folklore and having visited the Pacific Northwest a few times, these particular legends were of particular interest. While I liked Entrusted, it wasn't everything I was hoping for.The story incorporates the Native American legend of the Raven. Long ago, he chose to travel the 'wrong' path and was punished. The Great Spirit took Raven's heart and placed it into a vessel for safekeeping until Raven's day of reckoning.The human vessel is Emma. Emma has led a challenging life to say the least. She wants to be normal but that is something she can't seem to attain. Every time she gets close to someone they've left her, or disappeared, or worse. She's recently been involved in an relationship and was kicked out of her foster home. She's now been placed with Bidi, a Native American woman, on a reservation. And there, she meets the boy who's been starring in her dreams. There is a connection between them, but Emma doesn't understand it. And after what she's endured with Luke, she's not sure if she can trust Solomon.Solomon, the boy who began showing up in Emma's dreams, remains rather mysterious and enigmatic for awhile. Emma meets him in her dreams nightly, but he's standoffish and cryptic in real life - speaking in her mind quite often, and only offering that he's meant to be her protector.Luke, the boy whom Emma thought loved her, has been toying with her. It seems it's all been in an effort to claim her. Luke is violently possessive, and Emma is grateful to have been put in a home so far from him. But Luke also comes to Emma in her dreams. Emma doesn't seem to be able to escape him.I really, really enjoyed the Native American folklore element of the story. I liked the inclusion of Native American ceremonies, a potlatch, the histories, and eventually, the explanation of Emma's life. I only wished there had been a bit more description of Emma's life prior to Luke's appearance in it. I would have liked for Emma to have been made aware of her situation sooner in the story. The slow reveal of her part in the legend made the story a bit convoluted. It was frustrating that I didn't understand. And I wish Emma had been more decisive. I understood her logic to a point and I understood her hesitation to trust Solomon, but the indecision made me want to shake her.I did enjoy Entrusted, despite my wish list. Ms. Michael did a nice job with researching the Native American lore, wrapping a story around it, and incorporating the language, ceremony, dance and tradition. I also liked the characters, particularly Solomon and his brothers. The story made me care about Emma and Solomon. And I wouldn't mind another story involving some of the side characters. Entrusted just wasn't all I was hoping it would be.