Review: Quislings by Poppet - Intense!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 18, 2012
Quisling. It's an interesting title, an unusual word; even sort of fun to say. But what is a Quisling? In its original context it was the last name of a Norwegian military officer in World War II named Vidkun Quisling. He betrayed his people, siding with Nazi Germany and becoming an ally and staunch supporter of Adolf Hitler. The Norwegians hated him for his treason and after the war he was arrested and executed.But his name lived on, becoming synonymous with deceit and treachery. However, with the passing of years, the epithet has fallen out of favor, and now, many do not even recognize it. But still, even the saying of the name denotes a dark, loathsome, slippery creature; one who cannot be trusted. Names are always important clues in Poppet's stories; so even though the reader will never hear the name spoken in the book, it is well to remember the foul title.Usha is the main character in this story, living in Cancun, close by her three male buddies, Ju, Caden and Nemun. None of them are locals, but they've all managed to find a way to make a living in the shadow of this popular resort destination. In this story we don't sit by the pool with the wealthy tourists; we walk the streets with the regular people, letting the culture, the music and the danger settle upon us.One evening the four friends decide to play a dangerous occult game -Spirit in the Glass; attempting to summon and speak to a spirit. The game backfires on them and they are pulled into a dark struggle of good against evil. As lives begin to unravel, Usha finds herself seconding guessing both knowledge and instinct. Though all three men have a dangerous appeal to her, she's always felt safe around them. But now, she's not so sure. Her boyfriend Ju is acting strangely and her other two friends are not themselves either.Usha realizes there is something about this place and time; a confluence of past, present and future roiling in conflict and unraveling her world as the stars, the temples, the Mayans, Aztecs, beliefs both ancient and modern, old world and new, seem to be coming into an alignment that is somehow dependent upon her.  This is a dangerous story; but one that in the end, boils down to trust, love, and a search for truth.Quislings is set against in impressive backdrop of history, legend, and the seemingly effortless blending of the spiritual truths of many cultures. Somehow Poppet navigates us through this frightening journey and at the end we find ourselves whole, loved; wiser for the trip and optimistic of our future. Definitely five out of five stars.