Review: Quite possibly THE BEST novel Michael McBride has written to date!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 22, 2014
Ancient Enemy is, in my humble opinion, possibly the most powerful, all-consuming novel that Michael McBride has written to date!  This is NOT something I say lightly--I've read just about everything I can get my hands on that this author publishes.  He is on my short list of "must-read" authors, because of the unbelievable talent he demonstrates in all of his work.Ancient Enemy, quite simply, blew me away completely!  (Yes, I lost almost an entire night's sleep because I was unwilling to put it down!)This novel is told through the viewpoint of Sani Natonaba, a lonely teenager caring for his alcoholic mother, and his grandfather (a stroke victim, now unable to speak).  Unfortunately, the only one that seems to understand the cause of the vicious attacks and odd claw marks left behind from these encounters, is his grandfather--and the panic and fear Sani sees in the man's eyes are enough to convince him that what they are facing is far worse than any mere predator...McBride takes on the legends left of the feared Anasazi tribe--their legacy of violence, cannibalism, and warfare--and infuses it with modern-day speculation and archaeological discoveries.  The abandonment of their settlements and cliff dwellings are seen in a new, sinister light through the story McBride masterfully weaves.What stands out the most in his stories, in my opinion, is his style of deftly infusing factual information with fiction; leaving readers with the lingering sense that this could just be entirely possible....This is a story that I will definitely be re-reading, again, and again.Highest recommendation!