The Crystal Skull

I didn't enjoy this book though I am a big fan of Manda Scott and I did not quite finish it. I don't like fantasy or science fiction very much and this was just too much for me. It is nevertheless very well written and I can see it could be the basis for a very exciting movie.

The Crystal Skull by Manda Scott is rare kind of a read. It is both thought provoking and an action packed page turner. Ms. Scott’s most recent tome keeps the reader’s expectations taut for both sets of characters in two different time periods. Each ‘duo’ struggles with their destinies, their duties, and how both of those are bound up in and bound by the strength of their love. The author shows a deft hand at drawing the reader into the depths and struggles of the protagonists’ love relationships without even a tinge of over sentimentality, or, even really Romance with a capital R. She just as skillfully shows us some theories, some backgrounds and conjecture about the mysteries of the crystal skulls without the text coming show more off as another Whack-a-Doo Crackpot treatise. The Crystal Skull is a most highly recommended read if you have ever wondered about the end times, or whether we are the first iteration of humankind on this planet, or if the rational scientific view has the ability to see and encompass the full knowledge of our existence. show less

It was supposed to be the perfect honeymoon, or at least to Stella and her new husband Kit, instead of the usual wine, flowers, and expensive Hawaiian getaway that most newlyweds enjoy, they decide to go caving in hopes of solving a 16th century riddle that leads to the treasure of a blue crystal skull.

They do find it, but at a price. Kit's life hangs in the balance, someone is after them, and the existence of the whole world hangs in the balance.

The novel alternates between the 21st and the 16th centuries following Dr. Stella Cody in the modern day era and Cedric Owen, a Scottish doctor and college founder who dabbles in the mysticism surrounding the Elizabethan era along with famous men such as Nostradamos and Dees.

The premise of show more the book I found was very interesting, especially with the Mayan Armageddon at 2012 which one rarely if ever hears about. The writing felt a bit rushed in many of the modern chapters but tended to drag a bit in the past. I am not sure if Scott meant this, although it would be a great comparison with the fact that in this day we are very rushed.

It took me a while to get into this book but overall it was a very interesting and enjoyable read. I found the illustrations in the book to be very interesting and I kept going back to them as I read in case they might hold clues to the continuing plot. show less

I really shouldn't have read a book that begins with a hair raising account of a caving expedition the week before I was booked on a cave tour. But I did and I was captivated from the first page by this book. I constantly turned a few pages ahead to find out what would happen next and hated to put the book down to go to bed at night. It's an exciting read that put vivid images in my mind of the places, people and the action.

The book moves well from present day to the 16th century and captures the essence of both. Even though I knew that many of the places and people were fictional I could still believe in them as I read. I wasn't familiar with crystal skulls or Mayan legends and beliefs about the End Times so the premise of the book show more was totally new to me and I enjoyed learning about both.

I loved the mix of fantasy and history and would recommend this novel unreservedly. show less

Manda Scott is a helluva writer. Problem for me with this book is it was too far out. As the title suggests, the plot revolves around a crystal skull and it's impact on the 2012 end of the world. The story is told from two timelines, one in the 1500s and the other in 2007. The former was much more interesting but when it got to how the skulls are used to thwart the end of the world 500 years later, it got really out there.

I got this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. I don’t usually go for apocalyptic fiction, but in this case the description that it was a “blend of history, myth, and science” sparked some interest.

Ancient Mayans predicted that the world is going to end on December 21, 2012. Now, a few years before that date, there may be a way to prevent this from happening - all in the form of one blue crystal skull. The blue skull comes into the posession of Stella and Kit, a newly wed couple, who have found clues as to it’s location in journals left by Cedric Owen - the skull’s previous owner who had died trying to hide it. Along with the skull comes not only the job of trying to save the world, but also the fact that show more there are many people who would kill to own this skull and possess the power it has, and at least one of them knows that Stella has it.

It was written so that half of it takes place in the present, and half of it is the story from Cedric Owen’s point of view, during the sixteenth century. I liked the way this was done, because we work with Stella and Kit to uncover the clues to the blue stone at the same time that Owen is discovering magical properties of the stone, or figuring out where it needs to be hidden, or even when Owen is learning what Stella will need to do so many years after his own death to prevent the end of the world.

Scott has taken Mayan mythology, and paired it with the crystal skulls to create an entertaining and riveting read. It was well researched, action-packed, and there wasn’t a dull moment. The characters left a little to be desired - I didn’t find them as detailed as they could have been - but overall, I enjoyed this book quite a bit.

Looking back on it, it reminds me of a cross between an Indiana Jones movie and your typical hero’s journey novel. Best thing about it, though, was that I didn’t even realize that it was the hero’s journey until three quarters of my way into the book, so it wasn’t predictable at all. In fact, even after I realized what it was, there were still a few surprises at the end. It was definitely a good read, and well worth jumping into apocaliptic fiction for. show less

A good story, told well. Not quite a-thrill-a-minute, but plenty to keep me turning pages - in fact I read most of it in one day. The narrative switches back and forth between the late 1500's and 'present day,' neatly threading the two halves of the story together. A satisfyingly exciting climax without being too crazy.