The Sun Dog: A Novel of Native America

A tale of sorcery, witchcraft, and romance set in the heart of Native America--where myth and truth collide, and the line between savior and monster begins to blur. When a Seneca Iroquois town on Lake Ontario is beset by an evil spirit, its female chieftain, Walking Turtle, calls upon seven shamans and seven warriors from neighboring tribes to free her people from the demon. Meanwhile, in an isolated village to the north, a young woman named Found by the River is accused of witchcraft. She and her protector, Willow, face certain death unless they can escape their tormentors. Into this scenario comes Sun Dog, a charismatic magician leading a band of refugees fleeing the collapse of their civilization 800 miles to the south. Sun Dog and his people are survivors of mighty Coosa, a realm destroyed by the army of Spanish conquistador, Hernan de Soto. Sun Dog vows to rid the Senecas of their demon, while wrestling with a sinister force of his own. He alone can decide the fate of those condemned as witches. Brimming with unforgettable characters and grounded in history, "The Sun Dog" is the follow-up to "The Wolf and The Willow", reintroducing Willow and Wolf in an ongoing saga set in Native America during the tumultuous "Lost Century" of the 1500s. "Fans of Robert Downes' ever-expanding series can expect authentic Indigenous culture blended into fast-paced action, emotionally true characters, and a crew you will root for until the last page is turned." -- Victor R. Volkman, UP Book Review "The Sun Dog is a masterful conclusion to Downes's three-book saga of Native America set in the 16th century. His fiction combines top-notch historical research, Native language fluency, fully realized characters, and electrifying plot twists." -- Joshua Veith, author of the Sudden Quiet trilogy "Once again historian, journalist, and novelist Robert Downes has created an inherently fascinating novel that will be of special appeal to readers with an interest in Native American themed fiction." -- Midwest Book Review

Author: Robert Downes
Publisher: Blank Slate Press
Published: 02/17/2026
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.92lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.65d
ISBN: 9781966103042


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 12/01/2025 pg. 72

About the Author
Robert Downes has been a respected journalist and historian for over 30 years. He writes books of travel and adventure and lives the life he writes about. He has backpacked through more than 70 countries, with destinations ranging from the super-cities of the Third World to the heart of the American wilderness. In 1991 he co-founded the Northern Express Weekly in Traverse City, Michigan, which grew into the region's largest weekly newspaper.


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