Cries from the Lost Island

January 20, 2020
O’Neal Gear (Maze Master) delivers an entertaining central mystery, but plays fast and loose with the supernatural in this romantic coming-of-age fantasy. In a slightly confusing alternate present where teenage witches and Satanists practicing the occult are commonplace, but other occult entities are deemed fanciful, 16-year-old Hal Stevens, three-time Colorado state ancient history champ, falls in love with Cleo Mallawi, who believes herself to be a reincarnated Cleopatra. When Cleo is murdered, Hal and best friend Roberto (the “Biker Witch”) join an archaeological expedition to Egypt led by Cleo’s shady uncle, where they hope to track down the graves of Marc Antony and Cleopatra to recover a sacred dagger that they hope will free Cleo’s soul from being forced to reincarnate yet again. O’Neal Gear brings a historian’s flair for details to the dig site and manages to keep her present-day story from becoming overshadowed by ancient Egyptian myth with convincingly flawed young protagonists and numerous red herrings surrounding Cleo’s murder. This fun story will hold more appeal for YA readers than adult fantasy fans. Agent: Matt Bialer, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.

March 1, 2020

At 16, Colorado schoolkid Hal is obsessed with ancient Roman and Egyptian history and mythology. Cleo Mallawi, his best friend, is from Egypt and believes she is Cleopatra reborn. She also believes she is being stalked by an ancient demon, Ammut. She calls him in danger; he and his friend Roberto rush to help but are too late. Cleo dies in Hal's arms. Not knowing who murdered Cleo and having a difficult time with grief, Cleo's uncle suggests that Hal and Roberto go to Egypt to work on his archaeological dig. The boys set out on an expedition with no idea of whom to trust or what might happen, enthusiastically embracing the challenges. VERDICT This stand-alone from Gear (coauthor with husband W. Michael Gear, People of the Canyons; Star Path) is a great adventure with lots of suspense and danger, well researched and bringing history to life with vivid descriptions.--Cynde Suite, Bartow Cty. Lib. Syst., Adairsville, GA

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2020
Historian and prolific author Gear (Star Path, 2019) returns with a new standalone fantasy. Sixteen-year-old Halloran Stevens has spent his young life immersed in ancient history, growing up in a small Colorado town with fellow outcast Roberto and the beautiful, tormented Cleo, the reincarnation of Queen Cleopatra herself. Cleo's greatest wish is to reunite with her love, Marcus Antonius. But before she can do this?by finding her own grave and placing a ceremonial dagger there?Cleo is mysteriously killed, and Hal becomes plagued by visions of her. Cleo's archaeologist uncle offers to take Hal and Roberto to Egypt, but will Hal be able to find Cleopatra's grave and restore the dagger so Cleo can rest forever? As Egyptian and Roman ghosts and demons haunt the narrative from the first page, readers will not be quite sure what is true and what the characters are imagining. History-lovers will enjoy Hal's incredible journey from outcast kid to artifact expert. Gear leaves room for a sequel, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)