Killer of Enemies

"This unusual survival story brings a tight, emotionally spare narrative into the often overwrought dystopian genre. Lozen is a captivating heroine who uses her heritage of survival to find hope and strength, and the novel as a whole draws strongly on Apache language and folklore without being heavy-handed. Readers who prefer their warrior heroines with more battle-hardened sass and less self-reflection will find a lot to love here, as will fans of post-apocalyptic survival stories in less well-worn settings."

"This near future dystopia starring an Apache female superhero has the soul of a graphic novel, if not the art... A good bet for fans of superhero fiction and graphic novels and readers in search of superpowered female warriors."

"Author of more than 120 books for adults and children, Bruchac has incorporated his Abenaki heritage into much of his writing. Killer of Enemies is no different. What is unique here is the postapocalyptic twist. Following the coming of the Cloud, which destroyed all technology and plunged the world back into the preindustrial age, 17-year-old Lozen, of Abenaki and Apache ancestry, is one of the few people left with the ancient skills and courage necessary to survive outside the walls of their city, a former prison. . . . This is a serviceable addition to the ever-growing dystopian genre."

"Episodic high-octane chapters alternate between Lozen's battles in the wilderness and the sinister intrigue in Haven. Though the imaginative dystopian mythology is thick and occasionally heavy, the brisk pace and nonstop action keep things moving. This original addition to the dystopian genre ends with the open-ended promise of more to come."

"Bruchac devises ever-more-dangerous battles for his protagonist and intersperses them with steadily worsening conditions on the home front, upping the stakes in the increasingly suspenseful story. What really makes the narrative vibrate is Lozen's sardonic voice, capturing both gallows humor and a very human vulnerability. Admirers of kick-ass heroines such as Katniss Everdeen will definitely want to see more of Lozen, and, since Bruchac ends with a pause rather than a period, a sequel is a tantalizing possibility."