Review: NO YAWNS WITH THIS BOOK
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 20, 2013
HIGHLANDER, by Zoe SaadiaI wish I could give this novel half of twenty stars but Amazon only issues five - max!A friend gifted me this novel to read.  I took a quick peek and knew it was out my myopic genre. My take on the history of the Aztecs, Incas and Mayans has been a large yawn followed by a lot of smaller yawns until I quit and used those history books for doorstops.This novel, however, is set in a historical era and a historical place.  This IS NOT THE NORMAL HISTORICAL NOVEL.  It's a fast paced, intriguing story written in a contemporary style.  The story line could be about the modern gangs in Los Angeles but the author chose another period for the backdrop.  Learn about warlords, their minions and the contrasting cultures that dotted the Central American landscape back in 1450.Zoe Saadia professionally crafted a story that would usually require an eidetic memory to keep the characters straight.  She simplified the character names but unfortunately couldn't shorten all the locales so there are still names of places that contain twenty-seven constants and no vowels.Country bumpkin (Gomer) meets suave and hip royalty (Fonzi), a damsel in distress, (Daisy May) the intrigue of the warlords, power of the thrones, mistaken identity and family genetic scrambles are just part of this action packed historical novel.  The story includes some fleshy probing and heavy breathing. We learn the obstinacies of women haven't changed in a thousand years and that consequences for bad decisions were a bit more severe in 1450. The absurd of then is the normal of today. Zoe brings the story to life by her well crafted story and excellent writing skills. You remain in her power until the final page.  FIVE STARS (*****)Plus!