Product Description

Think the Maya gods are dead and buried? Think again...

What if they're only sleeping? Spine tingling action combines with breathtaking suspense in Ninth Lord of the Night.

In less than eight hours, seventeen-year-old Zack goes from California, the land of fun and sun, to the third world nation of Guatemala, where his life is changed forever. He expects to be bored, not tangle with murderers and artifact smugglers. He wants to go home, instead he's swept into the world of Mayan myths and legends -- a world that is his to claim if he only has the courage. Hated by his brother, distrusted by his uncle, and seen as a troublemaker by other members of the archaeological study group, the only person Zack can turn to is the beautiful Maria, a girl fighting the demons of her own heritage. Driven by unseen forces, Zack must choose to fulfill his destiny -- a destiny he neither wants nor desires -- and go against the vicious smuggler, or resist change and leave things as they are, allowing others to reinvent his character. Then, he must make the larger decision. Let go of the precious Mayan artifact? Or use it to redeem himself in the eyes of his family? In the steamy jungles of Guatemala, Zack will learn that every choice has consequences and he won't always get what he wants, but that what he does get is better than anything he ever imagined.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #131030 in eBooks
• Published on: 2007-03-25
• Released on: 2007-03-25
• Format: Kindle Book
• Number of items: 1

Review

Shirley Wetzel - Librarian -- Rice University

NINTH LORD OF THE NIGHT By Diana L Driver

Seventeen year old Zack is one unhappy surfer dude when his folks sit him down and give him some very bad news, then top that off by telling him that he and his older brother Kyle are being shipped off to the jungles of Guatemala to stay with their uncle at an archaeological excavation. Zack plans to live up to his reputation as a teenage screw-up, and is determined to hate everything about this experience. It doesn't help his mood that on his first night in Guatemala he witnesses a murder and gains the attention of a major bad guy who wants something he thinks Zack has. Zack does, in fact, have it--a crude map leading to a priceless artifact--but it takes him awhile to realize that. As time goes by, Zack finds himself strangely drawn to the ruins, even having visions that both terrify and excite him. He has to deal with the usual teenage problems: standing up to bullies, fighting with his big brother, trying to understand teenage girls, and so on, while staying one step ahead of a band of vicious smugglers, finding the precious treasure, and, and learning who he really is.

Diana does a great job on every level--getting into the head of a teenage boy, creating realistic characters, and depicting the Maya culture and the lush jungle setting by showing, not telling, the reader. Her research is meticulous. I know that because in my misspent youth I did graduate work in anthropology as a Maya specialist.

About the Author
Diana L. Driver was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming and has lived all over the world. A former geophysicist, with passions for both the natural and social sciences, she now lives in a suburb of Houston, Texas. She is married, has two wonderful daughters, three cats, and Malibu – her American Eskimo dog.

Customer Reviews

Rousing good fun!
I was lucky enough to get an advance look at this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's got action, adventure, mystery and lots of excitement as Driver takes you into the world of the Maya. And the ending knocked my socks off.

If you like action/archeaology books, this is for you. And if you like to read across the genres, this is also for you. :-)

Mad Dash
Mystery, intrigue and Mayan history await the reader of this exciting book. As I read, I was enveloped not only with Zack's problems but also with the Guatemalan jungle, which wrapped about me and drenched me in sweat, heat and history. In fact, Diana Driver's descriptive writing pulled me into the story so well that in reading the last few chapters I was caught up both in the mad dash of Zack and my own need to see how it ended. I literally was reading on the edge of the couch, I was so excited by the story. Diana Driver obviously knows about the Mayan civilization and that area of the world. She also knows how to spin a great yarn. I can't wait to read her next book! Mucho bueno!

A great read!
This is a great read for older teens AND adults. When 17 yr old Zack is sent to Guatemala to visit his uncle, he doesn't realize he's starting an amazing adventure. And it IS amazing. Driver knows her stuff, but the knowing never gets in the way of the story. I just really enjoyed this book!