Book Review

Hello there Kiddies!

 

In light of the upcoming “New Moon” movie coming out this Friday, I decided to break my habitual secluded silence to share with you a story I feel deserves the type of attention the Twilight series receives! I came across this novel thanks to the web-designing projects that I work on between my job and developing New Nimrod Street Goodies. Because of this I met and worked with Jack Cowardin, author of a brand new book called “Ora and the Gem Star”. The story follows a series of events that lead Ora, a sixteen year old girl of Mayan decent, to find a very tiny, but extremely powerful “Gem Star”.

 

The story takes place during the year 750 in ancient Mesoamerica, or Mexico as you and I call it today, back in a time when the comforts that we are accustomed to did not yet exist! Ora simply enjoyed swimming in the lagoon that was located near her village and spent the better half of her days enjoying life’s simple pleasures.

 

Suddenly the young daughter of the local fishing village’s chief finds herself dazed and confused as her journey begins when a sudden and terrifying bolt of light shoots from the sun during an eclipse that shows Ora the location where the Gem Star has resided for millions of years. The eclipse is merely the beginning, as Ora later finds out that the gods her and her people worship have bestowed a gift upon her that comes with the price of huge responsibilities.

 

Her life will start to set the course that she is meant to travel and she is joined by powerful allies that she encounters along the way, like Agar the jaguar, or Atol, the son of chief Kiko from a neighboring village who ends up winning Ora’s affection. She finds out however, that the path she is to follow ultimately crosses the sights of a ruthless ruler who wishes the Gem Star all to himself. With the help of Wac the Fearless, King Chan attempts to take the gem Ora herself is meant to control.

 

Believe me, the book is worth reading! For those of you interested, there is a sample chapter that can be found on OraAndTheGemStar.com (pdf) and it will give you a taste of the greater story that is “Ora and the Gem Star”. Forget Twilight, pick up a copy at Amazon.com or buy an Autographed first edition from the Author’s website.