THE JADE BONES

The young royals of Chicome face new threats while grappling with faith, identity, and their roles in the cosmic story.

Picking up where The Seventh Sun (2020) left off, this entry finds Mayana and Ahkin in the mysterious netherworld of Xibalba. Tasked by the Mother goddess, they must traverse a series of challenges—including a giant jaguar and a river of blood—as they make their way to the City of the Dead. Meanwhile, Yemania, the young healer who befriended Mayana while competing for the affections of the young emperor, has her time to shine in the overworld, where Metzi, Ahkin’s twin sister, maneuvers to hold power after her brother’s fall. Whether in the mythical underworld or the overworld, characters must grapple with their identities, including the lies they have told themselves about who they truly are, in order to best the challenges before them. There is plenty of poetic license taken in this blending of Mesoamerican mythologies, from Mayan to Mexica, but the common threads of life and death, sun and water worship blend well to make a rich tapestry on which to build a fantasy world. While aspects of the storyline might jibe more with Judeo-Christian tradition than the actual source material, the book is nevertheless sure to stoke teens’ curiosity about the world’s mythical roots. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers eager for the third installment.

A mythical, magical, and introspective adventure that celebrates Mesoamerican heritage; more, please.