The Fight Within

I will begin by saying that I really liked the first book, The Good Fight. I truly felt that it explored the relationship between a white man and a Native American man in a way that did justice to both cultures.
With that said, I was very disappointed with The Fight Within for many different reasons. I felt that the way it began by jumping the reader immediately into grief and then just as suddenly moving along was extremely unrealistic. The fact that when we met Bryce in book one he had just graduated from college and was still a shy, nerdy kid who hadn't grown up a lot yet. To then see him just three years laters as this mature man with ageless wisdom was just not something I could wrap my mind around. Hence, I couldn't relate to Bryce's character in any way shape or form.
Paytah could have been an incredible character except, once again, the fantasy land of meeting him and he's a strong opponent to the white man and then two weeks later he's completely embraced his white lover and is saying \"I Love You.\" Didn't hit true for me.
I had a problem with the fact that in some ways this book mirrored book one almost exactly. Once again, the white man has come onto the reservation and \"saved it\". It was tried to be played off by Bryce (and the author) as modesty but that didn't ring true for me either.
There was more occurring in the story than what i've addressed here, but these are the main points as to why I was unable to relate to the characters and thus, the story.
On a side note this really saddens me. The last few new releases by Andrew Grey I have jumped at as i've been a fan for quite some time. Unfortunately I have been equally disappointed by each of them. It makes me wonder whether the speed with which books are being released has somehow impinged on Mr. Grey's story quality?

The Fight Within starts with a look back at how Bryce lost his partner and the flash-forwards to now. You will need a box of Kleenex nearby! This story had me at page one and didn’t quit for days after I read the last word. The Fight Within is a gripping journey of loss, love, learning to both let go of the past and stand up for yourself in the now and future.
Paytah is such a multifaceted character that I truly wish I could go meet him in RL! His emotions run deep, his heart is huge but has been so abused that he can’t let anyone near for fear that his past will destroy him.
Bryce is a moody sweetie, but then loosing your partner seems like a good reason for the attitude to me. But after being bullied by Jerry Lincoln and Akecheta (John) Black Raven’s kids (their story is in The Good Fight) into going on a road trip to the reservation John’s family lives on, his heart and world are rocked and spun on end.
What do you get when you mix two proud men, a past of abuse and pain, and a love that won’t be denied—no matter how many insults or miles lay in the way? A world rich in textures; characters so vibrant you laugh, cry, and swoon with them; and a story that not only touches you deeply, but is one that truly needs to be told.
I can not say enough good about Andrew Grey’s The Fight Within! In my opinion this is Mr. Grey’s best story to date. It touched me deeply and will be one I read again and again both for it’s love and for it’s power. There will be a 3rd in this series, The Fight for Identity, in May. . . I can’t wait!