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Stupendous Series!!! - This book and this series is simply stupendous. Part history, part fantasy and part love story is to only touch the surface of these books.” ~ Cecile Croghan “Iluvbooks”

A Romance of the Spirit - I've read this entire book once, and I've read some parts of it twice. Why? Because it's a romance of the spirit, an evolving dance between character, setting, and knowledge.” ~ Von Rupert “Yvonne”

A Holy Man, who lives in both this world and the Spirit world, waits hidden in a cave in the canyons, as a newly made woman runs toward him. She flees her would-be suitor, who wants from her more than she can give.

The Holy Man and his constant companions, a colony of mice, accept the woman within the cave. She worries that he may be crazy, but given her fear of the man who desires her, maybe crazy is not so bad.

In this sequel to Ruby Standing Deer’s first novel, Circles, the main character of Shining Light is now grown and with family. He dreams of the woman and the Holy Man in the canyons, and knows that, after four seasons of calm and peace in the Forest of Trees, he must go to them.

He seeks guidance, but the Spirits tell him only that he must rescue these two people. Yet he need not go alone. Ever Shining Light’s faithful companion and Wolf Brother, White Paws senses he must follow his Human Brother. Thus, one Human, one Wolf, and their two families set out for the unknown.

The adventure exceeds all of Shining Light’s expectations, and he learns more about his place in this world than the Holy Peoples of his band could ever teach him.

EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS the 2nd book in the extraordinary, award-winning “Shining Light’s Saga” series. Take an authentic journey into a culture lost to time and the ravages of “progress.”

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2012

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About the author

Ruby Standing Deer

7 books46 followers
Nature Lover, NEED animals in my life. 1/2 Cherokee 1/2 Irish/Scottish. Love to walk on the prairie. I hear nature, whispers from the Spirits. I have learned to listen to much most people do not hear.

Circles came to me in my dreams. Dreams are important in understanding yourself.

Animals have taught me more about myself that humans. They love you no matter what.

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5 stars
77 (57%)
4 stars
37 (27%)
3 stars
12 (9%)
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6 (4%)
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Author 15 books29 followers
December 31, 2012
A wonderful sequel to Circles. Ruby Standing Deer has written another saga about Feather, now called Shining Light, a holy man among his people even though he's still a teenager, a husband and a father. He leads an ever-expanding group, together with their mustangs, wolves, mice and dogs on a trek. Along the way the reader learns about the natural spirals that connect to the Circle of Life.
Profile Image for Teressa.
500 reviews6 followers
April 26, 2015
Spirals is an esteemed sequel to the audiobook ‘Circles’. I love this story and what it represents. This story not only adds more depth to the characters as they’ve matured, it also introduces several new and integral characters. While I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Circles’, I found even more inspiration from ‘Spirals’. This is a story for all ages and I’m hoping there will be a third audiobook.

This story begins with the young girl Falling Rainbow who goes off for a few days because she doesn’t want to be with the young man Night Hunter who wants to take her as a wife. While she’s gone, the snow turns into a blizzard and she gets lost and slips into a cavern where she meets an elder named One Who Wanders. He plays an important role in the story as a guide or a spirit guide and while each character has their own voice, Wanderer weaves in truths and answers to the questions regarding life and life’s meaning. The true purpose of BEing for ALL Mother Earth’s creatures.

There were several parts of this story that spoke to my heart and the things that I know. I especially liked when Wanderer gave his Great Sky Bead necklace to Shining Light as he explained how he made each bead while walking along the spiral searching for himself. How each stone has special knowledge and in time will show him something as they are the oldest beings on Mother Earth. Wanderer explains to him that he lives both inside and outside the spiral at the same time. Like Wanderer, Shining Light is a young holy man. Shining Light is Feather from the first book ‘Circles’ only many moons have passed and now he is older.

About the author: Ruby Standing Deer is an award-winning author who brings to life the ancient Native American culture. If I could choose an author that I would like to meet, she would be the one I would choose.

About the narrator: Karen Rose Richter is an amazing voice in the audio community. I love her work. She is a true gem and gets it right every time. I can’t wait to listen to more from her.

Audiobook gifted in exchange for review.
28 reviews6 followers
April 19, 2020
Insightful!

I was drawn in by this author being a Native American. I found so much moor. I first read Circles and was delighted to find an author who can not only pull you in, but truly give one a look on the inside of the strong spiritual life of a people who walk and thrall with Mother Earth.
Profile Image for Michael Baca.
2 reviews1 follower
February 13, 2013
I was really excited to find out there was a sequel to Circles, I was hoping that it would live up to the first book and I was not disappointed. The author hit the nail on the head. There are always more lessons to be learned, always some new path to follow and always a new adventure around the corner.
Spirals lessons are deeply rooted in the human journey. While it is a work of fiction there are links to history, links to lives lived and most of all links to our present lives.
The flow of the book is very relaxing and engaging. We follow many characters that come to life within the pages of the book, they seem very real and approachable.
My review is not so much about the story itself, I think others have covered the story very well and I feel I cannot contribute much more to it. My review is about the spiritual side of things, the way it made me feel and the personal journey that experienced; at least a glimpse into my journey.
Profile Image for Marcia  Haskell.
631 reviews11 followers
April 2, 2018
An interesting story of the way Native Americans might have viewed the period when white men, AKA hairy Faces, first entered their land. Many of the spiritual teachings resonate with me and I felt understanding for this band as this story evolved. Some of the people felt as if they moved inside me to take up residence to teach and lead me.

I found reading this book slow, because there is so much that is described in detail, that I frequently lost sight of who each of the people are (and why they were important). I believe Ruby Standing Deer is teaching us, through her writing, as the members of this tribe taught each other. For me, non-native and modern, I struggled, but found it worthwhile.
April 26, 2013
This book is a continuation of the novel, "Circles" and my comments about that book are just the same for this one. Historical novel about indigenous Americans during the infancy of European contact appealed to me because it beautifully and predominantly portrayed the spiritual life of these people. While violent confrontations were incorporated appropiately -- with other tribes and the Spanish -- they were described by inference rather than graphically. The protagonist tribes were peaceful by preference but were willing to do whatever was necessary to preserve their way of life.
Profile Image for Lucy McCoskey.
384 reviews1 follower
February 16, 2015
this is a follow up to Circles, the first book in the Shining Light series of early Native American fiction. many lessons are to be gleaned from Standing Deer's writings. Listen. Go with the flow. be part of the earth and all its creation, not adversaries. and, of course, this is a really good, compelling story.
168 reviews5 followers
July 21, 2019
This is a great book. #2 in the 4 book series that I will read slowly to get it all. Lots of people with visions . I want to know more about the rocks that Shinning Light ( Feather) found .
Profile Image for Teressa.
500 reviews6 followers
December 15, 2014
Spirals is an esteemed sequel to the audiobook ‘Circles’. I love this story and what it represents. This story not only adds more depth to the characters as they’ve matured, it also introduces several new and integral characters. While I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Circles’, I found even more inspiration from ‘Spirals’. This is a story for all ages and I’m hoping there will be a third audiobook.

This story begins with the young girl Falling Rainbow who goes off for a few days because she doesn’t want to be with the young man Night Hunter who wants to take her as a wife. While she’s gone, the snow turns into a blizzard and she gets lost and slips into a cavern where she meets an Elder named One Who Wanders. He plays an important role in the story as a guide or a spirit guide and while each character has their own voice, Wanderer weaves in truths and answers to the questions regarding life and life’s meaning. The true purpose of BEing for ALL Mother Earth’s creatures.

There were several parts of this story that spoke to my heart and the things that I know. I especially liked when Wanderer gave his Great Sky Bead necklace to Shining Light as he explained how he made each bead while walking along the spiral searching for himself. How each stone has special knowledge and in time will show him something as they are the oldest beings on Mother Earth. Wanderer explains to him that he lives both inside and outside the spiral at the same time. Like Wanderer, Shining Light is a young Holy Man. Shining Light is Feather from the first book ‘Circles’ only many moons have passed and now he is older.
continued on my blog at SixthDimension Audiobook Reviews
Profile Image for One-Click.
703 reviews21 followers
July 16, 2015
Audiobook

Narration - Karen Rose Richter - This is a tough one, because she's a fabulous narrator...but, This book has a ton of characters and I could only identify a couple by their voices. I also felt like some of them sounded like children or women, even though they were adults or males. But again, with that said, I thought she was a great storyteller.
Part of the issue may also be with me, in that I have not read the first book in this series.
So...that's my first recommendation. I suppose that it's not necessarily required that you read the first book, but from other reviews I've read, you will have a better understanding of the characters (of which there are many) if you start off with the first.

As for the story? Well, as I said, Karen Rose Richter is an excellent story teller and this is a lovely story. It is filled with charm, a little humor, Native American Lore, some mystery and (did I mention) a large cast of characters and animals!
I really need to go back and get the first book!

I received this audiobook free of charge courtesy of Audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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