The Curse of Cortes by Guy Morris
Blending action, suspense and astonishing historical fact, The Curse of Cortés embarks on a fantastic, nail-biting adventure reminiscent of Indiana Jones or The Da Vinci Code. Author Guy Morris incorporates classic elements such as pirate ships and hidden treasure into a story of modern-day international intrigue, featuring drug runners, corrupt government officials, secret organizations and a few determined protagonists trying to expose them. In addition to a fantastic cast of characters and an electrifying plot, the top-tier literary talent of Morris makes The Curse of Cortés a spectacular read.
A minor earthquake on the island of Roatán, off the coast of Honduras, destroys the family home of a local tour guide, Sophia Martinez. After the quake, Sophia discovers several strange items hidden in the walls of her crumbling home: a strange book written in an ancient language with blood-red ink, an engraved tortoise shell, and a ceremonial dagger with a green obsidian blade. Her great Aunt Carmen warns that the items are cursed but won’t reveal anything else she might know about the mysterious objects. After taking the treasures to a corrupt museum curator in Mexico City, Sophia finds herself the target of powerful men who know the true value and power of these ancient relics and will do anything to obtain them.
AUTHOR’S ADVENTURING INFORMS QUEST FOR HIDDEN TREASURE
Sophia joins a crew of explorers, collectors and long-lost family members to stay one step ahead of scheming warlords while searching for an immense treasure rumored to be hidden on the coast of Central America. On the course of their journey, they learn of the region’s rich Mayan culture, including how natives were ruthlessly plundered and pillaged during colonization by Spanish conquistadores. The protagonists are haunted by the horrible truth behind the treasure they are seeking as well as the ever-present fear of what will happen if the leaders of the drug cartel catch up to them.
The Curse of Cortés moves at a swift pace, following Sophia and her friends throughout the coastal islands off Honduras, onto the Yucatán peninsula, then even further north to California, and back. Morris demonstrates incredible skill as a writer, guiding the reader from one location to the next through assassinations, betrayals and brief history lessons. This is accomplished with captivating dialogue, concise exposition and effective, vivid descriptions of settings. The author also draws on his own notable experience as an adventurer. Morris spent considerable time sailing and scuba diving in Cancun and Cozumel, including a run-in with a Zetas cartel thug named Shay Golan, who happens to appear by name in the novel.
MORRIS PULLS READERS INTO THE ACTION LIKE FEW WRITERS CAN
The most exciting moments of the story are rendered in exquisite, careful detail; descriptions of each bullet finding flesh or blow of the fist make the reader cringe or cheer depending on how the fight goes for the protagonists. It becomes apparent early in the story that not every character will survive their encounters with the bad guys. The high stakes of each exchange pull readers into the action in a way that very few novelists accomplish. Pertinent pieces of Mayan history and gory details of the Spanish conquest of the region are explained by way of dynamic dialogue between characters. The historical details that Morris shares of indigenous people being brutalized by the new settlers make the rest of the story even more interesting and engaging. The tension of the plot is ratcheted higher with each scene, strategically and thoughtfully creating a level of suspense only achieved by the very best writers.
The Curse of Cortés is an adventure story about the search for treasure and power, both in ancient and modern times. This is a perfect title for readers who enjoy an exciting story with great characters and lots of action. It’s also a great choice for anyone who loves exploring the lesser-known, darker corners of history.
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