The Sparrows of Montenegro

The Sparrows of Montenegro is, in short, amazing. The story follows Tree Smith and Cedar Jones from their days in the U.S. Cavalry to the Rolling J Ranch. Tree is a giant of a man, and thinks himself unsightly and undeserving of love due to an unfortunate incident in his past. Cedar has also faced difficulties in his past, but he seems to carry himself through life with a bit more aplomb. The two are an inseparable duo, with a friendship forged in the crucible of battles fought and won.
They end up at the Rolling J Ranch in south Texas, Tree working as a cowhand and Cedar working as the cook. Here Tree befriends a couple of vaqueros who live across the river in the village of Montenegro. They learn of a deadly criminal, Gato Montes, the cat of the mountain, who is stalking the area. Gato Montes kills his victims in a particularly brutal fashion, and after he nearly takes out the sheriff of nearby Rosario, the sheriff asks Tree to go after the killer.

There are some fairly strong descriptions of the violence done by Gato Montes and by the Comanches who capture him and his gang. However, it isn't gratuitous. It serves as a stark contrast to Tree's gentleness, to the kindness of the people of Montenegro. It also accurately portrays the times. And while Gato Montes is a brutal murderer, Mayo shows the Comanche to have their own sense of justice. That justice may be harsh, but they give those they find deserving a fair chance. I thought that was one of the most interesting parts of the story. So often Native Americans are portrayed as wild savages who want nothing more than to hurt white people in the nastiest of ways. That wasn't how the Comanches interacted with Tree. They found something to respect in his actions, and so they gave Tree a chance to survive.

Mayo has, not necessarily a lyrical style of writing, but a style that paints vivid word pictures. I could picture Marco and his goats, Tree, Cedar, the people of the village. Mayo also writes fully realized characters, both good and evil, whose lives clearly illustrate that actions and choices have consequences, and who show us that good can prevail. And faith played a surprisingly strong role in the story. The people of Montenegro speak often of Dios and how His hand may be at work in the events unfolding in and around their town. It's nice to see characters portrayed as having faith in God and in His plan.

This wasn't your usual shoot-em-up Western. The Sparrows of Montenegro is a beautiful tale of a reluctant hero, of perseverance through hardship, of finding the good in things, of forgiveness and acceptance, both of others and of yourself. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a well-written story with heart and spirit and beauty.

Five sparrows...er, stars from me.