The Dark Prairie Series

 

Through richly descriptive, meditative prose, the Dark Prairie series transcends conventional Westerns, offering readers a mystical, introspective look at the frontier landscape and the complex inner lives of its characters.

The Dark Prairie Series

 

Through richly descriptive, meditative prose, the Dark Prairie series transcends conventional Westerns, offering readers a mystical, introspective look at the frontier landscape and the complex inner lives of its characters.The books follow the harrowing journeys of two young men facing violence and moral dilemmas on the American frontier. From James Tuck’s pursuit to save his sister along the Santa Fe Trail to Kenny Eckhart’s quest for vengeance after his parents’ murder, this series explores themes of justice, redemption, and the bonds that tether us to one another in times of hardship.

Cover of the book The Dark Prairie by John W. Jarrett. The image features a desolate prairie landscape under a dark, ominous sky at dusk. A winding path stretches through the barren terrain, with faint hints of trees and bushes on either side. The title, 'The Dark Prairie,' appears in large, bold letters across the top, while the author's name, John W. Jarrett, is displayed at the bottom.
Cover of The Dark Road Home, the second book in the Dark Prairie series by John W. Jarrett. The image shows a moonlit, desolate landscape under a vast starry night sky with the Milky Way visible. A horse-drawn wagon with two shadowy figures travels down a dusty road toward a small, dark church standing isolated in the wilderness. The title, 'The Dark Road Home,' appears prominently at the top, while the author's name, John W. Jarrett, is displayed at the bottom. The scene evokes a sense of mystery, isolation, and the rugged spirit of the American West.

"Smoke clung to Co'a and me, rising into the ether like a smoldering mist, finding us to be unfavorable alms to the gods of wretchedness. Smoke laced thick through the street, too, torches like fireflies, glowing as they swarmed in twisted paths."

Close-up of a horse's eye, capturing the fine details of the eyelashes and the subtle textures of the surrounding fur. The image emphasizes the horse's intense gaze and quiet strength, with light reflecting in the eye, creating a sense of depth and emotion. The overall tone is soft yet dramatic, evoking a connection to the animal’s spirit.

"After reaching the river, we turned into the morning sun and rode east. Gazing about, I was mesmerized by the kaleidoscope of morning glitter shining from dewy chaparral- and mineral-rich hills. Every change in my position brought an ebb and flow to the gleaming phantasmagoria, and for miles, I allowed the horses' gallops to draw me down to a meditative inner state. We rode without speaking, and I beheld creation all around me—the ceaseless surrender of one entity into another; new forms, aptitudes and expressions, one tumbling out of another; the eternal sequence of antecedents ever so faintly pressing forth into the present like the breath of a thousand ghosts, the past and future of all creatures and elements—a seamless spreading and morphing like swells on a river top."