3 out of 4 stars
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In The Quetzal's Skull (the sequel to Narwhal), award-winning author Margaret Gill continues the story of Gray Edmund as he learns more about his connection to the spirit world. This young adult novel opens with Gray travelling from his home in the Isles of Scilly to Winchester, England to start his first term at St. Alfred's College. When his friend Julie Heatheringay is not at the airport to pick him up, Gray agrees to have a coffee with a mysterious but friendly stranger while he waits.
The stranger is Juan Paseo and he befriends young Gray. Juan has similar abilities to Gray and takes him under his wing to teach him more about his gift. Gray reluctantly accepts the offer and agrees to be trained as a shaman. Meanwhile, Julie has been kidnapped by members of the notorious Condor drug cartel who are using her as bait to get closer to Gray. Unbeknownst to him, he has a key role in an indigenous Costa Rican prophecy linked to the ancient god Quetzalcoatl. From here the story is a fast-paced adventure including international travel, cat-and-mouse chases and black magic.
The Quetzal's Skull is a good read. It is entertaining and thought-provoking. Ms. Gill uses the story to dramatize social issues that plague much of Central and South America--endangered rainforests, drug cartels more powerful than national governments, and indigenous ways of life threatened by mainstream cultures. She has done her research and presents the complex problems in a way young readers can understand.
Readers who enjoy fantasy/adventure stories will like this one. Ms. Gill quickly whisks her audience into the heart of this magical tale and maintains a swift pace until the very end. It is easy to see why it earned a Global e-book award in 2011.
Readers from some religious backgrounds may not enjoy this book, as it is filled with animism, spirit guides and black magic.
This book is a sequel but it can stand alone, as the reader can easily grasp the background. There are some grammatical errors and editorial oversights in the text. Gray's parts of the story are told from the first person perspective, while the rest of the book is written in third person omniscient; there are some segments that mix the two perspectives and are a bit confusing.
I rate The Quetzal's Skull 3 out of 4 stars. It needs some editing, but overall it is an entertaining novel that raises important real world issues.
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The Quetzal's Skull
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