Killer of Witches
Killer of Witches begins in November 1865, when hundreds of Mescalero Apache disappear from the New Mexico concentration camp where they’re guarded by “blue coats.” The book’s narrator, just five when the story begins, escapes with his parents. White men—Indah—are invading the desert lands of New Mexico and Arizona, coming in undefeatable numbers, but there’s always another canyon to slip away into. Author Farmer was smart to begin his book with an episode based on this true event: it’s an exciting beginning for the story of the boy growing to manhood, learning how to be a warrior, a hunter, and, eventually, a killer of witches.
This book is a curiosity. Most historical novels are recognizably modern stories set in past eras. Their heroes and heroines laugh at the same things we laugh at, for instance. We could mostly sit down and relate to the characters in most of the books we love. Killer of Witches, on the other hand, reads like something written not only about the 19th century, but written in the 19th century. The story—its sensibilities, its illustrations, and the style of writing—feels as though it comes out of a different time, reminding me of the old-fashioned books from my father’s and grandparents’ childhoods that I can’t bear to get rid of.
Farmer’s respect for the Apache people and his love of language comes through, and he’s a good storyteller. I’d recommend the book to readers who enjoy old-fashioned Westerns and who are curious about the Apache people. This is a good yarn.
