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Adventures in Aakbal: The Nagual Heart
Selvyn can handle his life on the streets…
But when coerced by sinister strangers to search for a quetzal, which wondrously becomes a part of him, how will he cope with life on the run? And when he wakes up in the mysterious world of Aakbal, how about dealing with a reality that he no longer understands?
In Aakbal, a rabbit, a jaguar, and a howler monkey chatting and playing tiles is an ordinary afternoon. Monsters the size of elephants with the dexterity of apes? Better to avoid them, but they are natural nonetheless. A girl who can change herself into a wolf? A Sanunak princess who can fire barbs of light from a magical bow? Just the kind of allies Selvyn will need to stay alive.
But with death as the only way to free him of the transformational powers so many covet, Selvyn’s greatest test will be a terrible and all but impossible choice.
But when coerced by sinister strangers to search for a quetzal, which wondrously becomes a part of him, how will he cope with life on the run? And when he wakes up in the mysterious world of Aakbal, how about dealing with a reality that he no longer understands?
In Aakbal, a rabbit, a jaguar, and a howler monkey chatting and playing tiles is an ordinary afternoon. Monsters the size of elephants with the dexterity of apes? Better to avoid them, but they are natural nonetheless. A girl who can change herself into a wolf? A Sanunak princess who can fire barbs of light from a magical bow? Just the kind of allies Selvyn will need to stay alive.
But with death as the only way to free him of the transformational powers so many covet, Selvyn’s greatest test will be a terrible and all but impossible choice.
446 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 8, 2018
About the author
Dan LaBash
2 books9 followersHi there!
I am a curious traveler, which blossomed into a passion for turning his own extraordinary experiences into unique and epic stories. Inspired by genre-defining authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, Agatha Christie and Miguel Ángel Asturias, I enjoy delving deep into lesser-known cultures, histories and myths in pursuit of my own uncommon tales. I was born in Michigan, lived longest in Wisconsin, and added pieces to my heart in Utah, Guatemala, and many other locales and countries. I was blessed to marry the same woman twice, first in the United States and then in Guatemala. I am fluent in English and Spanish. Finally, while Adventures in Aakbal is my first book series, I hope to hear that you enjoyed it!
Follow me: Instagram @danlabash, or Facebook @danlabashauthor
I am a curious traveler, which blossomed into a passion for turning his own extraordinary experiences into unique and epic stories. Inspired by genre-defining authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, Agatha Christie and Miguel Ángel Asturias, I enjoy delving deep into lesser-known cultures, histories and myths in pursuit of my own uncommon tales. I was born in Michigan, lived longest in Wisconsin, and added pieces to my heart in Utah, Guatemala, and many other locales and countries. I was blessed to marry the same woman twice, first in the United States and then in Guatemala. I am fluent in English and Spanish. Finally, while Adventures in Aakbal is my first book series, I hope to hear that you enjoyed it!
Follow me: Instagram @danlabash, or Facebook @danlabashauthor
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 10, 2020
This is the first fantasy novel I've read, at least as an adult. It took me a bit to get into this story, mostly because of the names and the various creatures (the glossary in the back of the book helps tremendously), but I stuck with it and in the end, I'm glad I did. LaBash has created an interesting world, based on a South American folktale, and did an admiral job bringing this world to life. In the vein of Lord of the Rings, this is a good vs. evil tale and the person who one would least expect to lead this battle, an unassuming teenage street urchin, rises up and finds the courage within himself to stand up to the most ferocious creatures imagined. I could see this as a movie, its a genre audiences seem to enjoy. The ending could lead to a sequel, so we'll see what LaBash comes up with!
June 8, 2019
Dan Labash has succeeded in creating an alternate fantasy world with a sense of having been established long before the reader enters it, with its own history and mythology. This is reflected in the care that has gone into other aspects of the tale, including the map at the opening of the novel and the glossary at the end (which I found helpful, as there are a lot of characters, places, and related names to remember in this expansive story).
The main character ‘Selvyn’ is a nice twist on your typical young hero, struggling with new-found powers, with a series of flashbacks filling you in on both the reasons for his abilities and the history of the world he finds himself within.
I occasionally found the language slightly formal, although this varied between characters, with my new favourite, grumpy half-rabbit ‘Nim Xik Muk’ being far more casual (and acerbic) in his manner.
All in all, I found ‘Adventures in Aakbal: The Nagual Heart’ to be a very enjoyable read, in a deep and well-established world where there is obvious scope for further tales.
The main character ‘Selvyn’ is a nice twist on your typical young hero, struggling with new-found powers, with a series of flashbacks filling you in on both the reasons for his abilities and the history of the world he finds himself within.
I occasionally found the language slightly formal, although this varied between characters, with my new favourite, grumpy half-rabbit ‘Nim Xik Muk’ being far more casual (and acerbic) in his manner.
All in all, I found ‘Adventures in Aakbal: The Nagual Heart’ to be a very enjoyable read, in a deep and well-established world where there is obvious scope for further tales.
June 9, 2019
Adventures in Aakbal: The Nagual Heart is the first Fantasy book written by Dan LaBash of Appleton, WI. Dan does a great job of bringing this world to life, along with introducing some great characters that are easy to fall in love with.
The book starts with the adventures of a young boy, Selvyn Alexander Macz (Cricket), on the streets in a town in Guatemala. He is pushed into a situation that he’s not excited to participate in, but it seems that it was a setup from the beginning. As a result, he finds himself imbued with a Nagual Heart, which not only gives him some special powers of transformation, but the ability to see memories of those that possessed the Nagual Heart before.
I was a little unclear, even later in the book, if he was selected for his adventure due to destiny, or just because of something in his heritage. I went with the later assumption.
He is forced into a battle/confrontation immediately after receiving the Nagual Heart with Hobnil Chun, the antagonist of the story. He winds up falling into a Cenote, allowing him to enter the world of Aakbal.
It seems that he was somehow expected in Aakbal as there were several people looking for him. Selvyn is found by a Man-rabbit character, Nim Xik, that brings him to the relative safety of a Pure Blood, Hunpo Hunmu.
The first part of the story takes place at Hunpo’s hut, until his brother, Hobnil Chun, discovers where he’s been hiding the boy. Selvyn and Nim Xik are forced to leave at the insistence of Hunpo. The place they are sent sets them up with a rag-tag group of beings that befriend the two and work to find safety for the boy together. The remainder of the book is dedicated to their adventures in trying to find allies, while trying to avoid the evil Hobnil Chun.
Aakbal is divided into areas that are dominated by different groups of people, some seem friendlier than others. Dan does a great job of allowing you to visualize the differences between these locations along with their people.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story and was always interested to find out what was going to happen next. I’ll be waiting to see what happens next in the life of Selvyn Alexander Macz.
The book starts with the adventures of a young boy, Selvyn Alexander Macz (Cricket), on the streets in a town in Guatemala. He is pushed into a situation that he’s not excited to participate in, but it seems that it was a setup from the beginning. As a result, he finds himself imbued with a Nagual Heart, which not only gives him some special powers of transformation, but the ability to see memories of those that possessed the Nagual Heart before.
I was a little unclear, even later in the book, if he was selected for his adventure due to destiny, or just because of something in his heritage. I went with the later assumption.
He is forced into a battle/confrontation immediately after receiving the Nagual Heart with Hobnil Chun, the antagonist of the story. He winds up falling into a Cenote, allowing him to enter the world of Aakbal.
It seems that he was somehow expected in Aakbal as there were several people looking for him. Selvyn is found by a Man-rabbit character, Nim Xik, that brings him to the relative safety of a Pure Blood, Hunpo Hunmu.
The first part of the story takes place at Hunpo’s hut, until his brother, Hobnil Chun, discovers where he’s been hiding the boy. Selvyn and Nim Xik are forced to leave at the insistence of Hunpo. The place they are sent sets them up with a rag-tag group of beings that befriend the two and work to find safety for the boy together. The remainder of the book is dedicated to their adventures in trying to find allies, while trying to avoid the evil Hobnil Chun.
Aakbal is divided into areas that are dominated by different groups of people, some seem friendlier than others. Dan does a great job of allowing you to visualize the differences between these locations along with their people.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story and was always interested to find out what was going to happen next. I’ll be waiting to see what happens next in the life of Selvyn Alexander Macz.
May 7, 2019
Dan LaBash’s Adventures in Aakbal: The Nagual Heart is an engaging tale of fantasy adventure and companionship. It begins with what seem to be elements of Magical Realism, which is appropriate owing to the Central American inspiration to the story. It quickly makes a transition to a more classic fantasy form when the action moves to a parallel world.
I really enjoyed this book, and found the dialogue believable, and most of the action well written. There are a number of Spanish and “Other World” (Mayan?) vocabulary terms within the text, however, and while giving flavour they at times seem to break the flow of the narrative. LaBash has provided a glossary, which is helpful, but referring to it further interrupted (at least my) flow.
All in all I liked this book, and I would read more from this author, especially if the story continues.
I really enjoyed this book, and found the dialogue believable, and most of the action well written. There are a number of Spanish and “Other World” (Mayan?) vocabulary terms within the text, however, and while giving flavour they at times seem to break the flow of the narrative. LaBash has provided a glossary, which is helpful, but referring to it further interrupted (at least my) flow.
All in all I liked this book, and I would read more from this author, especially if the story continues.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews