GENRE: Adventure/mystery

BLURB:

This book is number 5 in a 7 book mystery/thriller/adventure series. It can, however, be read as a standalone.  The author is providing a summary of the Arkana series for the tour hosts’ convenience.

Where do you hide a mysterious artifact that has the power to change the course of history? You scatter clues to its whereabouts across the entire planet. Five objects buried beneath the rubble of ancient civilizations point to the hiding place of a mysterious artifact called the Sage Stone. A secret society and a fanatical religious cult vie against one another in a global treasure hunt to claim the prize. Only one can win. More importantly, only one can survive.

 

Excerpt:

Chapter 1—Knot Good

In A Foreign Land – Long Past Midnight

“Watch out!” The Pythia’s warning came too late.

Several dark figures swarmed from behind the boulders lining the trail, jumping Cassie and Griffin. Before the pair knew what was happening, they were body-slammed to the ground.

Half a dozen voices were talking at once, demanding answers in a language Cassie didn’t understand. She blinked as half a dozen flashlights pointed their intrusive beams in her face.

“What’s going on?” she asked dazedly. “Does anybody here speak English?”

More voices joined the hostile chorus. Rough hands reached out to drag her toward some unknown destination. She stumbled up a rock-strewn path and was thrust inside a small tent. Griffin was propelled in after her. Two of their assailants followed and forced them to sit back-to-back against the central tent pole, tethering their hands to the stake with thick hemp rope.

Without a word of explanation, their attackers left and shut the tent flap behind them. The voices outside continued to angrily debate some unknown topic.

Cassie tried to twist around but couldn’t. “Griffin?” she called anxiously. “Are you alright?” She felt the reassuring pressure of his fingers looping through hers.

“I’m fine, all things considered. And you?”

“Other than a few bruises, I’m OK too,” she answered.

The two of them sat back-to-back in silence for several moments, listening to the bellowing match outside.

The Scrivener shrugged philosophically. “On the whole, this night might have gone worse. Whoever they are, at least they didn’t kill us.”

“The night’s not over yet,” Cassie remarked ominously.

My Review:

Ok, this is a great adventure. I’ve experienced it and I am happy for that. I must admit though that this is the first book from the series I’ve read. Even if it was a little difficult to get accustomed with all the characters, I took some extra minutes to follow up on the first pages where the author was kind enough to explain the main titles and characters. Then we are thrown directly into the action.

It is a very complex story, with many characters and an action that takes place in the mystical lands of Tibet and Pakistan. There were times I couldn’t wait to turn the page. There’s an interesting combination between the matured characters and the innocence some of them show.

Even if it is a story of my taste, I wouldn’t recommend reading it as a stand-alone. Even if you will understand the subject, you will not be able to enjoy it on its fullest potential. I mean, the teams are complete, you know the good guys and the bad ones. It is interesting to see how they came together.

I hope you enjoy it, at least as much as I have. Please come back with a feedback if you do.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

“There’s a 52% chance that the next Dan Brown will be a woman … or should we just make that 100% now?”

–Kindle Nation

Nancy Wikarski is a fugitive from academia. After earning her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, she became a computer consultant and then turned to mystery and historical fiction writing. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, the Society Of Midland Authors, and has served as vice president of Sisters In Crime – Twin Cities and on the programming board of the Chicago chapter. Her short stories have appeared in Futures Magazine and DIME Anthology, while her book reviews have been featured in Murder: Past Tense and Deadly Pleasures.

She has written the Gilded Age Mystery series set in 1890s Chicago. Titles include The Fall Of White City (2002) and Shrouded In Thought (2005). The series has received People’s Choice Award nominations for Best First Novel and Best Historical as well as a Lovey Award for Best Traditional Amateur Sleuth.

She is currently writing the seven-book Arkana Archaeology Thriller series. Titles include The Granite Key (2011), The Mountain Mother Cipher (2011), The Dragon’s Wing Enigma (2012), Riddle Of The Diamond Dove (2013), Into The Jaws Of The Lion (2014), and Secrets Of The Serpent’s Heart (2015). The seventh and final volume in the series, The Sage Stone Prophecy is scheduled for publication in December of 2016. All the books have become Amazon bestsellers with an overall average review rating of 4.5.

http://www.amazon.com/Into-Arkana-Archaeology-Mystery-Series-ebook/dp/B00PWZ7C4A

https://www.facebook.com/N-S-Wikarski-111546722263900/

http://www.amazon.com/N.-S.-Wikarski/e/B001K8RR5W

 GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 S. Wikarski will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter to win a $10 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway