Review: The Alchemist meets Harry Potter Via  Romancing The Stone  and Star Trek .
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 6, 2013
A partly fictitious account of the Medieval conquests of the Moors who held much of the Iberian Peninsula until the Fall of Granada in Spain in 1492 ;  The twist is it includes time travel and the legendary "lapis philosophorum", the holy grail that could literally  turn  iron  into gold .Deft, clever and extremely well researched , this book  has  a gripping narrative and solid plot line .Majid  the pivotal character and Pedro come from two distinct cultures and are borne of two faiths Majid  is  Muslim and Pedro is not  but they are united in their grief and united in their struggles .Together they explore the panoramic beauty of Iberian territory and  become involved in an action packed adventure that sees Majid pitted against the forces of mythical history .Offering a deeply valuable insight into the historical legacy and cultural richness of Moorish life - the symbolic nature of Muslim society living in peace with its neighbours is both welcome and unifying .Brings topical issues right up to date in an animated adroit style .With a flair for composition and poetic gouaches that describe scenery, action and characters  the writer has created a book of  depth , skill  complexity  and outstanding beauty.Will appeal to adults and teens alike .