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Society of Explorers and Adventurers #1
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is the first book in a globe-trotting adventure that combines high-tech wizardry, old-world legends and a little bit of magic.
Shinji Takahashi is just an ordinary kid. An ordinary homeschooled smart-alecky orphan kid being raised by his aunt Yui. But when a magical guardian decides to use him as a conduit to awaken its power, Shinji’s life takes a turn for the extraordinary. Captured by the menacing Hightower Corporation, which is bent on using the guardian’s magic for its own nefarious purposes, Shinji must team up with a brilliant young tech whiz named Lucy and her robot mouse, Tinker, to escape the Corporation’s evil clutches.
Together Shinji and Lucy turn to the venerable Society of Explorers and Adventurers and its ragtag cast of spelunkers, hackers, mapmakers, pilots, and mythology experts (among other things) to return the guardian to its rightful home and release Shinji from its magic—which seems to be draining his life force. Time is ticking, the Hightower Corporation is hot on their tail, and success or failure might depend on one small thing—Shinji finally coming around to the belief that he is anything but ordinary.
Shinji Takahashi is just an ordinary kid. An ordinary homeschooled smart-alecky orphan kid being raised by his aunt Yui. But when a magical guardian decides to use him as a conduit to awaken its power, Shinji’s life takes a turn for the extraordinary. Captured by the menacing Hightower Corporation, which is bent on using the guardian’s magic for its own nefarious purposes, Shinji must team up with a brilliant young tech whiz named Lucy and her robot mouse, Tinker, to escape the Corporation’s evil clutches.
Together Shinji and Lucy turn to the venerable Society of Explorers and Adventurers and its ragtag cast of spelunkers, hackers, mapmakers, pilots, and mythology experts (among other things) to return the guardian to its rightful home and release Shinji from its magic—which seems to be draining his life force. Time is ticking, the Hightower Corporation is hot on their tail, and success or failure might depend on one small thing—Shinji finally coming around to the belief that he is anything but ordinary.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published April 26, 2022
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1405 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
October 19, 2024
**4.5-stars rounded up**
Julie Kagawa never fails to completely capture my attention with her stories. Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is no exception. This Middle Grade Adventure story was an absolute blast to read!
When he was very young, Shinji Takahashi lost both of his parents in a devastating house fire. Since that time, he has lived with her Aunt Yui.
Aunt Yui and Shinji travel the world in their boat, The Good Tern, searching for rare treasures for her business. In a way, they're real life treasure hunters. It's an interesting life; Shinji can't complain, even though he is a bit surly at times.
While in Africa, they visit the small village of Abenge. Shinji goes exploring while his Aunt does some work. She gives him a bit of cash, so he can pick out a treasure of his own.
In a dusty old shop, he comes across an idol that will change the course of his life. A magical object that binds itself to Shinji and tattoos the Mark of the Coatl on his arm.
Almost as soon as he has the object in his hot little hands, a pair of menacing men approach Shinji and try to get the object from him. When Shinji refuses, it looks like things may turn violent and Shinji decides to run for it.
He's not sure what exactly he has, but obviously it's valuable as heck because these dudes aren't giving up.
Before he can even make sense of it, Shinji is captured and whisked away to an unknown location. Once there, he is able to befriend a girl named, Lucy. She fills him in a bit on the people behind his capture, the mysterious Hightower Corporation.
Lucy seems to be some sort of tech prodigy and Shinji likes her right away, but can he trust her?
It seems Lucy is an ally. She aids in his escape from Hightower and leads him to some people who she thinks will be able to help and protect him: The Society of Explorers and Adventurers, better known as SEA.
It seems the tattoo on Shinji's arm, the Mark of the Coatl, is actually a curse of sorts. In order to break it, Shinji must return to the source of the magic's power and return it.
A team from SEA is assembled, made up of Oliver Ocean, Maya Griffin, Professor Carrero and Zoe Kim, participating via her drone, to help Shinji and Lucy on their quest.
Along the way, the group faces many obstacles, both natural and magical. They're forced to face human villains, as well as creatures of legends. It's a wild ride!
This was such a easy story to get into. Kagawa is a gifted storyteller and this one drew me in from the very start.
I loved Shinji so much. He truly embodies all of the characteristics needed in a hero. Additionally, I loved learning more about the secret organization of SEA. Hardcore Disney fans will find some Easter Eggs in this one. That made it extra fun, but really this story can be enjoyed by anyone.
The intensity builds in a nice, steady pace throughout the story, all leading to an epic showdown in the temple of the Coatl.
There were some scenes where I was biting my nails, edge-of-my-seat, praying for my favorites. Kagawa did a fantastic job of incorporating various folklore from around the world into this, as well as providing a strong message on the importance of protecting the world's cultural artifacts.
This ended in such a great spot for the continuation of the series. I have no idea how many books are slated to be included in this series, or even if there will be multiple authors contributing. Either way, I am in for the long haul.
Bring on more SEA!!!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This was an excellent start to another fantastic Middle Grade series!!
Julie Kagawa never fails to completely capture my attention with her stories. Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is no exception. This Middle Grade Adventure story was an absolute blast to read!
When he was very young, Shinji Takahashi lost both of his parents in a devastating house fire. Since that time, he has lived with her Aunt Yui.
Aunt Yui and Shinji travel the world in their boat, The Good Tern, searching for rare treasures for her business. In a way, they're real life treasure hunters. It's an interesting life; Shinji can't complain, even though he is a bit surly at times.
While in Africa, they visit the small village of Abenge. Shinji goes exploring while his Aunt does some work. She gives him a bit of cash, so he can pick out a treasure of his own.
In a dusty old shop, he comes across an idol that will change the course of his life. A magical object that binds itself to Shinji and tattoos the Mark of the Coatl on his arm.
Almost as soon as he has the object in his hot little hands, a pair of menacing men approach Shinji and try to get the object from him. When Shinji refuses, it looks like things may turn violent and Shinji decides to run for it.
He's not sure what exactly he has, but obviously it's valuable as heck because these dudes aren't giving up.
Before he can even make sense of it, Shinji is captured and whisked away to an unknown location. Once there, he is able to befriend a girl named, Lucy. She fills him in a bit on the people behind his capture, the mysterious Hightower Corporation.
Lucy seems to be some sort of tech prodigy and Shinji likes her right away, but can he trust her?
It seems Lucy is an ally. She aids in his escape from Hightower and leads him to some people who she thinks will be able to help and protect him: The Society of Explorers and Adventurers, better known as SEA.
It seems the tattoo on Shinji's arm, the Mark of the Coatl, is actually a curse of sorts. In order to break it, Shinji must return to the source of the magic's power and return it.
A team from SEA is assembled, made up of Oliver Ocean, Maya Griffin, Professor Carrero and Zoe Kim, participating via her drone, to help Shinji and Lucy on their quest.
Along the way, the group faces many obstacles, both natural and magical. They're forced to face human villains, as well as creatures of legends. It's a wild ride!
This was such a easy story to get into. Kagawa is a gifted storyteller and this one drew me in from the very start.
I loved Shinji so much. He truly embodies all of the characteristics needed in a hero. Additionally, I loved learning more about the secret organization of SEA. Hardcore Disney fans will find some Easter Eggs in this one. That made it extra fun, but really this story can be enjoyed by anyone.
The intensity builds in a nice, steady pace throughout the story, all leading to an epic showdown in the temple of the Coatl.
There were some scenes where I was biting my nails, edge-of-my-seat, praying for my favorites. Kagawa did a fantastic job of incorporating various folklore from around the world into this, as well as providing a strong message on the importance of protecting the world's cultural artifacts.
This ended in such a great spot for the continuation of the series. I have no idea how many books are slated to be included in this series, or even if there will be multiple authors contributing. Either way, I am in for the long haul.
Bring on more SEA!!!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This was an excellent start to another fantastic Middle Grade series!!
May 27, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up! This book is bound to be a great choice for middle grade readers who love adventures and myth.
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl focuses on Shinji who travels around the world with his aunt. While in Zambia, he comes across an ancient relic at a market and feels like it’s calling to him. In great anticipation, Shinji can’t wait to get his hands on the relic not realizing the power it holds. Soon after, he’s pursued and captured by the employees of Hightower Corporation who want the relic for its access to magic. Unfortunately, the relic turns into a tattoo—a mark of the Coatl. With the help of a new friend by the name of Lucy, Shinji embarks on a journey to help return the relic back to its correct place.
This story definitely contains a lot of adventure elements that readers will enjoy including myths and lore tied to Mesoamerica. The character development is spot on with each character bringing something interesting to the narrative. I loved that readers get to see Lucy as a technological prodigy with the ability to combine science and magic. Shinji ends up learning a lot about himself and the work that his aunt does through the process of this book and it makes him really reconsider whether he just wants to play videos games.
My biggest struggle with this book was definitely the pacing. I was more in tune with the ending of the book than I was with the beginning or middle. I felt like the story dragged a little bit and I found myself questioning when the pace would pick up. I wouldn’t say that I was bored, but it felt like I had been reading the book for a long time once I got to the end. There were some interesting aspects to the plot that surprised me during the novels conclusion, but it wasn’t enough to completely make up for the slower parts. This book definitely is a great foundation to the rest of the series which is based on Society of Explorers which can be found throughout various Disney parks.
Overall, this was a solid start to the series which I will continue. I think it does a great job addressing themes of preservation of ancient materials and lands. It calls into question the ethics of explorers who take from communities without realizing their impact. I’m hoping that this is a theme that we will continue to see in the future books. If you or a middle grade reader enjoy adventure stories that tie in myths and legends then I would recommend giving this one a try.
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl focuses on Shinji who travels around the world with his aunt. While in Zambia, he comes across an ancient relic at a market and feels like it’s calling to him. In great anticipation, Shinji can’t wait to get his hands on the relic not realizing the power it holds. Soon after, he’s pursued and captured by the employees of Hightower Corporation who want the relic for its access to magic. Unfortunately, the relic turns into a tattoo—a mark of the Coatl. With the help of a new friend by the name of Lucy, Shinji embarks on a journey to help return the relic back to its correct place.
This story definitely contains a lot of adventure elements that readers will enjoy including myths and lore tied to Mesoamerica. The character development is spot on with each character bringing something interesting to the narrative. I loved that readers get to see Lucy as a technological prodigy with the ability to combine science and magic. Shinji ends up learning a lot about himself and the work that his aunt does through the process of this book and it makes him really reconsider whether he just wants to play videos games.
My biggest struggle with this book was definitely the pacing. I was more in tune with the ending of the book than I was with the beginning or middle. I felt like the story dragged a little bit and I found myself questioning when the pace would pick up. I wouldn’t say that I was bored, but it felt like I had been reading the book for a long time once I got to the end. There were some interesting aspects to the plot that surprised me during the novels conclusion, but it wasn’t enough to completely make up for the slower parts. This book definitely is a great foundation to the rest of the series which is based on Society of Explorers which can be found throughout various Disney parks.
Overall, this was a solid start to the series which I will continue. I think it does a great job addressing themes of preservation of ancient materials and lands. It calls into question the ethics of explorers who take from communities without realizing their impact. I’m hoping that this is a theme that we will continue to see in the future books. If you or a middle grade reader enjoy adventure stories that tie in myths and legends then I would recommend giving this one a try.
December 10, 2022
This was FANTASTIC! Seriously, one of the best middle grade books I've read in the past couple of years. You know it's good when you look forward to reading it during kids bedtime, and they are into it too. Normally reading helps them go to sleep but a few nights the action was so riveting it kept them up.
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is like Lara Croft meets Indiana Jones for kids, but with a lot more diversity and awareness of the problems with cultural theft and environmental degredation. It's a very fast paced page-turner with lots of action and some scary villains/monsters. I worried it might get too scary for my kids (8.5 and 6 years) but surprisingly they just did a lot of theorizing about what was going on during the most intense bits. This was fun for all of us and I definitely want to read the next one. Such a pleasant surprise! Would for sure recommend it. I was sent a copy of this book from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Content warnings include death of parents in a fire (at the very beginning when Shinji is a baby), violence, gun violence, near death, spiders, snakes, perilous situations, bodily harm, kidnapping.
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is like Lara Croft meets Indiana Jones for kids, but with a lot more diversity and awareness of the problems with cultural theft and environmental degredation. It's a very fast paced page-turner with lots of action and some scary villains/monsters. I worried it might get too scary for my kids (8.5 and 6 years) but surprisingly they just did a lot of theorizing about what was going on during the most intense bits. This was fun for all of us and I definitely want to read the next one. Such a pleasant surprise! Would for sure recommend it. I was sent a copy of this book from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Content warnings include death of parents in a fire (at the very beginning when Shinji is a baby), violence, gun violence, near death, spiders, snakes, perilous situations, bodily harm, kidnapping.
Want to read
June 12, 202111.06.2021 from this cover reveal: an action-adventure middle grade series that brings S.E.A. into the twenty-first century through a blend of science and magic, and a focus on two young characters on an epic journey through time and place? sounds so good.
May 6, 2023
who knew that buying a statue (a snake with wings) from a random shop he decided to step into would send him on a dangerous adventure with him doomed to the curse? shinji takahashi is an orphan raised by his aunt yui. when she vanished after he was kidnapped by the hightower corporation for the statue, lucy helped him escape to the society of explorers and adventurers. the SEA have their own team of magic users but they are determined to preserve and protect the artefacts they find while exploring the world.
when shinji started to hallucinate and see spiders, he knew that time is ticking and his time on this earth is counting down. struggling with who to trust after being thrusted into the magical world as a non-magic folk, shinji takahashi needs to gather all his bravery and just continue walking forward. being the conduit to a magical guardian meant that shinji's life is continuously in danger. this curse of the coatl might just be his end.
one thing that i always love in fantasy adventure novels are the history of the magic and the world. if there's curses, the unfolding of that story itself needs to be good and i found it in the first book of the SEA series. julie kagawa did a great job in expanding the curse and its myth without info dumping, weaving it into the characters' dialogues seamlessly. i liked shinji as well. despite not knowing what's going on, he simply just wanted to find his aunt and not die. even when he found out the villain's true intention, he vowed to save the world that he knows.
overall, it was really fun! it seems like shinji will be going on more adventurers with the SEA members and lucy.
when shinji started to hallucinate and see spiders, he knew that time is ticking and his time on this earth is counting down. struggling with who to trust after being thrusted into the magical world as a non-magic folk, shinji takahashi needs to gather all his bravery and just continue walking forward. being the conduit to a magical guardian meant that shinji's life is continuously in danger. this curse of the coatl might just be his end.
one thing that i always love in fantasy adventure novels are the history of the magic and the world. if there's curses, the unfolding of that story itself needs to be good and i found it in the first book of the SEA series. julie kagawa did a great job in expanding the curse and its myth without info dumping, weaving it into the characters' dialogues seamlessly. i liked shinji as well. despite not knowing what's going on, he simply just wanted to find his aunt and not die. even when he found out the villain's true intention, he vowed to save the world that he knows.
overall, it was really fun! it seems like shinji will be going on more adventurers with the SEA members and lucy.
April 8, 2022
This review (along with a giveaway!) and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I’m a huge fan of Kagawa’s YA books, so I was excited to see what her MG has to offer, and I was definitely not disappointed. Apparently this book is a spin-off of existing Society of Explorers and Adventurers lore that you can find in the actual Disney theme parks. I didn’t know anything about that storytelling, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book (and I’m actually headed to Disney World in June, so now I’m motivated to specifically look for SEA-related attractions when I go).
In this tale, a boy named Shinji finds a figurine of a coatl (a serpentine dragon) and immediately finds himself under attack by evil henchmen who want to take it from him. He tries to escape but instead ends up kidnapped and under the coatl’s curse. A girl named Lucy helps Shinji escape his kidnappers and then the two go to the SEA for help, which leads them on a deadly adventure through a Mesoamerican jungle!
The book is fast-paced, and it’s also full of twists and turns and plenty of danger! And there’s always a question of who Shinji can trust (sometimes he’s not even sure he can trust himself since his curse supposedly includes hallucinations). Those mysteries will keep kids turning the pages. And I love that Shinji is a Japanese American character, but the book isn’t about that at all – it’s almost not even mentioned. That’s not to say I don’t love it when I see culture on the page, but kids need to see themselves reflected on the page in all different ways. Not every Asian kid has the same lived experience. Shinji’s adventurous and carefree aunt breaks all the stereotypes of the overbearing Asian parent, which is nice to see sometimes.
This book is a complete story, but Kagawa left the door open for future books in the series, and I can’t wait to read them!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Rockstar Book Tours and NetGalley so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
I’m a huge fan of Kagawa’s YA books, so I was excited to see what her MG has to offer, and I was definitely not disappointed. Apparently this book is a spin-off of existing Society of Explorers and Adventurers lore that you can find in the actual Disney theme parks. I didn’t know anything about that storytelling, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book (and I’m actually headed to Disney World in June, so now I’m motivated to specifically look for SEA-related attractions when I go).
In this tale, a boy named Shinji finds a figurine of a coatl (a serpentine dragon) and immediately finds himself under attack by evil henchmen who want to take it from him. He tries to escape but instead ends up kidnapped and under the coatl’s curse. A girl named Lucy helps Shinji escape his kidnappers and then the two go to the SEA for help, which leads them on a deadly adventure through a Mesoamerican jungle!
The book is fast-paced, and it’s also full of twists and turns and plenty of danger! And there’s always a question of who Shinji can trust (sometimes he’s not even sure he can trust himself since his curse supposedly includes hallucinations). Those mysteries will keep kids turning the pages. And I love that Shinji is a Japanese American character, but the book isn’t about that at all – it’s almost not even mentioned. That’s not to say I don’t love it when I see culture on the page, but kids need to see themselves reflected on the page in all different ways. Not every Asian kid has the same lived experience. Shinji’s adventurous and carefree aunt breaks all the stereotypes of the overbearing Asian parent, which is nice to see sometimes.
This book is a complete story, but Kagawa left the door open for future books in the series, and I can’t wait to read them!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Rockstar Book Tours and NetGalley so I could provide an honest review. No compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
February 23, 2025
if percy jackson and indiana jones had a baby
Read
May 1, 2022A good series to read while you eagerly wait for the next Explorers Academy book, this would have been made better if it included the fact behind the fiction.
April 22, 2022
A copy of the book was provided for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore does not affect the opinion or content of the review.
Julie Kagawa takes us onto one hell of an adventure in Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl, the first novel in the Society of Explorers and Adventurers series. As an avid fan of her other works, I was absolutely excited to dive right into her debut middle-grade novel.
Kagawa's latest novel follows Shinji, who was taken under his aunt Yui's wing in early childhood after his parents died and have been homeschooled by her while he tags along on her globe-trotting adventures. It's in one of these adventures while searching for something in a market that he stumbles across an ancient idol that bonds to him by choosing him as a guardian. What once seemed like something Shinji would find in one of his video game quests all of a sudden has become reality as he gets kidnapped by Hightower Corporation so they can use him to access the power.
The series is based on the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.) lore at Disney Parks, a secret organization dedicated to exploring oceans and lands while acquiring knowledge. I've personally never gone to any of the Disney Parks, so I felt a disconnect with the novel early on -- mostly because I didn't already have the background knowledge and lore. Kagawa touches on this briefly, though, as Shinji meets Lucy (a tech wiz under Hightower), and the two escape with the help of her robot mouse, Tinker, so if you've never been to a Disney park, you won't be getting shoved right in expected to swim.
That being said, while I did feel a disconnect, I was definitely curious enough to go on a little crash course on the internet, even if it means browsing the Fandom Wiki page. (And perhaps one day I will get that chance.)
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is very much a journey novel, focusing on the group traveling to Mexico as they try to restore the idol to its rightful place (and thus lift the magic from Shinji) before Hightower catches up to them. While I normally struggle with these types of novels, there are plenty of high risks for the characters and lore pulled from various mythology interwoven among the pages that made for an engaging story.
Personally, I did expect more of the high-tech wizardry that's being marketed for the book, but this likely just comes down to my overthinking tendencies and disconnect mentioned earlier. This is also the first novel based on the lore, and while this does read as a stand-alone, there's definitely promise for further expansion and exploration in future novels.
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl has all the charm, humor, and adventure traditionally found in middle-grade novels while blending technology and magic together. While it's certainly not my favorite of her works (that's currently taken up by the Shadow of the Fox trilogy), the novel will be perfect for those who already have the background knowledge of the S.E.A. and wish for more and those who have previously enjoyed reading Kagawa's other novels.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
Julie Kagawa takes us onto one hell of an adventure in Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl, the first novel in the Society of Explorers and Adventurers series. As an avid fan of her other works, I was absolutely excited to dive right into her debut middle-grade novel.
Kagawa's latest novel follows Shinji, who was taken under his aunt Yui's wing in early childhood after his parents died and have been homeschooled by her while he tags along on her globe-trotting adventures. It's in one of these adventures while searching for something in a market that he stumbles across an ancient idol that bonds to him by choosing him as a guardian. What once seemed like something Shinji would find in one of his video game quests all of a sudden has become reality as he gets kidnapped by Hightower Corporation so they can use him to access the power.
The series is based on the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.) lore at Disney Parks, a secret organization dedicated to exploring oceans and lands while acquiring knowledge. I've personally never gone to any of the Disney Parks, so I felt a disconnect with the novel early on -- mostly because I didn't already have the background knowledge and lore. Kagawa touches on this briefly, though, as Shinji meets Lucy (a tech wiz under Hightower), and the two escape with the help of her robot mouse, Tinker, so if you've never been to a Disney park, you won't be getting shoved right in expected to swim.
That being said, while I did feel a disconnect, I was definitely curious enough to go on a little crash course on the internet, even if it means browsing the Fandom Wiki page. (And perhaps one day I will get that chance.)
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is very much a journey novel, focusing on the group traveling to Mexico as they try to restore the idol to its rightful place (and thus lift the magic from Shinji) before Hightower catches up to them. While I normally struggle with these types of novels, there are plenty of high risks for the characters and lore pulled from various mythology interwoven among the pages that made for an engaging story.
Personally, I did expect more of the high-tech wizardry that's being marketed for the book, but this likely just comes down to my overthinking tendencies and disconnect mentioned earlier. This is also the first novel based on the lore, and while this does read as a stand-alone, there's definitely promise for further expansion and exploration in future novels.
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl has all the charm, humor, and adventure traditionally found in middle-grade novels while blending technology and magic together. While it's certainly not my favorite of her works (that's currently taken up by the Shadow of the Fox trilogy), the novel will be perfect for those who already have the background knowledge of the S.E.A. and wish for more and those who have previously enjoyed reading Kagawa's other novels.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
March 30, 2022
This book is fun, definitely leaning more towards the middle of the middle grade audience. We get to explore the world, be it a beautiful river village in Africa, a treacherous skyscraper in New York, or a mysterious temple in the Mexican jungle. And not to mention the fun of a secret society like SEA - the Society of Explorers and Adventurers. Shinji is a smart-aleck, but lovable nonetheless, and is full of such tenacity. My favorite character was Lucy for obvious reasons - STEM gal with a mechanical mouse named Tinker? I'm sold. Though short, this book packs a punch and I can't wait to read more in the series.
*Thank you to Rockstar Book Tours and Disney Hyperion for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review*
*Thank you to Rockstar Book Tours and Disney Hyperion for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review*
September 3, 2022
What a fun adventure that was! It’s a great mix of action, exploration and Aztec mythology rolled into one. It’s based on Disney’s Society of Explorers and Adventurers, which I didn’t know was a thing, but I’m sure there’s some very happy Dis-geeks out there.
It has an overall message of conservation and preservation, with a focus on the environment and archaeological sites/items. I liked that it stressed the importance of protecting them and leaving them where they belong, instead of collecting and removing artifacts from traditional places.
Yes, it’s very obvious what’s going to happen, and the bad guys are very stereotypical cookie cutter version: but it’s a kids’ book. There was at least a twist at the ending that was original and creepy, without requiring therapy later.
I can see kids loving this book. I mean, I certainly did.
It has an overall message of conservation and preservation, with a focus on the environment and archaeological sites/items. I liked that it stressed the importance of protecting them and leaving them where they belong, instead of collecting and removing artifacts from traditional places.
Yes, it’s very obvious what’s going to happen, and the bad guys are very stereotypical cookie cutter version: but it’s a kids’ book. There was at least a twist at the ending that was original and creepy, without requiring therapy later.
I can see kids loving this book. I mean, I certainly did.
April 25, 2022
Julie Kagawa is one of those authors who are so talented that she can lend her hand to her go-to, who has been a young adult but can also weave a magical middle-grade adventure story. Shinji discovers an idol when his aunt sends him on a treasure hunt to find something special when they are at a market. He finds more than he bargained for; stuck with the idol now embedded as tattoos are his arm and dangerous men hunting him, he desperately attempts to flee with his aunt on their rusty old boat. Shinji is not so lucky, and what unfolds is a fast-paced adventure full of twists and turns and plenty of excitement. The story is complete at the end but leaves it open for the series to continue with more exciting adventures for the SEA.
Read
June 6, 2022Really good! Like Indiana Jones, but for kids. With respect for the environment and native peoples. Should be a big hit.
April 27, 2022
Updated April 27, 2022:
Shinji Takahashi & the Mark of the Coatl is fun, interesting, adventurous, and enjoyable. Orphan Shinji Takahashi is an ordinary kid who is homeschooled and raised by his aunt and travels the world with her. When a magical guardian decides to use him as a conduit to awaken its power, Shinji’s life turns upside down. Captured by the evil Hightower Corporation, bent on using the guardian’s magic for evil, Shinji must team up with a brilliant young tech wiz named Lucy and her robot mouse to escape. Together Shinji and Lucy turn to the Society of Explorers and Adventurers to return the guardian to its rightful home and free Shinji of its magic as it drains his life force. Shinji Takahashi & the Mark of the Coatl is filled with action, adventure and magic.
Orphan Shinji Takahashi lives with his Aunt Yui traveling the world and during one of these adventures, Shinji finds and accidentally activates a magic idol becoming its guardian. What seemed like an adventure from a video game turned reality when Shinji gets kidnapped by the Hightower Corporation after the idol who wants to use its magic for evil purposes. After being taken to Hightower Corporation, Shinji meets Lucy, a young brilliant tech wiz and her robot mouse Tinker and it is there that Shinji learns that he is cursed by the idol and would kill him unless the idol is returned to where it was taken from. Unable to trust those at the corporation, Shinji with the help of Lucy escape and head to the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.) an enemy of Hightower and could help Shinji before his time runs out.
Their journey takes them to California where they are able to meet a member of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers and others made up of spelunkers, hackers, mapmakers, pilots and various kind of experts. However, Shinji remains untrusting of the society even after agreeing to help Shinji but also concerns about Lucy who has secrets of her own. In order to free Shinji from the idol’s magic and the curse and safe from Hightower, they must return the idol to its rightful home as they travel to the Amazons and New Mexico. However, trying the idol’s rightful home is more difficult then anyone thought as it is protected by traps, magic and monsters out of legend and Hightower is not far behind them who are determined to find them. Shinji is determined to return the idol back however, he is unaware just how changed he and his future will be after this.
Shinji is a good character. He is clever and a little smart mouth, loyal to his aunt and understandably mistrusting of people when the situation calls for it. I adore Lucy. She is tech smart, strong-willed and has morals despite her upbringing. I even like her robot mouse, Tinker. The freinship that developed between Shinji and Lucy was nice. Nothing romantic between them, just two people that met go on an adventure and become friends. Oliver is entertaining. Aunt Yui sounds super cool. I find the S.E.A. to be like the Librarians protecting and preserving for research and respect while Hightower wants to gain and control for power and greed.
Overall, Shinji Takahashi & the Mark of the Coatl was fun. I always enjoy Julie Kagawa books and this one may not be on the same level of awesome as past books but I still liked it. I got a The Librarians and Warehouse 13 feel from this book which is cool. I enjoyed the book and I am eager for what comes next.
A new series. Happy!
Shinji Takahashi & the Mark of the Coatl is fun, interesting, adventurous, and enjoyable. Orphan Shinji Takahashi is an ordinary kid who is homeschooled and raised by his aunt and travels the world with her. When a magical guardian decides to use him as a conduit to awaken its power, Shinji’s life turns upside down. Captured by the evil Hightower Corporation, bent on using the guardian’s magic for evil, Shinji must team up with a brilliant young tech wiz named Lucy and her robot mouse to escape. Together Shinji and Lucy turn to the Society of Explorers and Adventurers to return the guardian to its rightful home and free Shinji of its magic as it drains his life force. Shinji Takahashi & the Mark of the Coatl is filled with action, adventure and magic.
Orphan Shinji Takahashi lives with his Aunt Yui traveling the world and during one of these adventures, Shinji finds and accidentally activates a magic idol becoming its guardian. What seemed like an adventure from a video game turned reality when Shinji gets kidnapped by the Hightower Corporation after the idol who wants to use its magic for evil purposes. After being taken to Hightower Corporation, Shinji meets Lucy, a young brilliant tech wiz and her robot mouse Tinker and it is there that Shinji learns that he is cursed by the idol and would kill him unless the idol is returned to where it was taken from. Unable to trust those at the corporation, Shinji with the help of Lucy escape and head to the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.) an enemy of Hightower and could help Shinji before his time runs out.
Their journey takes them to California where they are able to meet a member of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers and others made up of spelunkers, hackers, mapmakers, pilots and various kind of experts. However, Shinji remains untrusting of the society even after agreeing to help Shinji but also concerns about Lucy who has secrets of her own. In order to free Shinji from the idol’s magic and the curse and safe from Hightower, they must return the idol to its rightful home as they travel to the Amazons and New Mexico. However, trying the idol’s rightful home is more difficult then anyone thought as it is protected by traps, magic and monsters out of legend and Hightower is not far behind them who are determined to find them. Shinji is determined to return the idol back however, he is unaware just how changed he and his future will be after this.
Shinji is a good character. He is clever and a little smart mouth, loyal to his aunt and understandably mistrusting of people when the situation calls for it. I adore Lucy. She is tech smart, strong-willed and has morals despite her upbringing. I even like her robot mouse, Tinker. The freinship that developed between Shinji and Lucy was nice. Nothing romantic between them, just two people that met go on an adventure and become friends. Oliver is entertaining. Aunt Yui sounds super cool. I find the S.E.A. to be like the Librarians protecting and preserving for research and respect while Hightower wants to gain and control for power and greed.
Overall, Shinji Takahashi & the Mark of the Coatl was fun. I always enjoy Julie Kagawa books and this one may not be on the same level of awesome as past books but I still liked it. I got a The Librarians and Warehouse 13 feel from this book which is cool. I enjoyed the book and I am eager for what comes next.
A new series. Happy!
June 9, 2023
This felt like a cross between a new Rick Riordan Presents book and Young Indians Jones. I read The Sun and the Star right before this one and I think I liked this a bit more! They are two of my favourite authors so it’s a close call. I look forward to more in this series!!
Want to read
May 25, 2021woop woop new Kagawa book alert and an opportunity to flex my rusty GR librarian skills
February 20, 2023
Shinji Takahashi lives with his aunt after his parents died in a tragic fire. She travels the world looking for special hand-crafted items to sell at her store. They are currently traveling in his Aunt's boat on the Zambezi River to get to their next stop. On their arrival, Shinji is bored but his Aunt sends him on a quest to find one unique item in the market that speaks to him. Off he goes with little hope of seeing something new when he stumbles into a stall he doesn't remember seeing on their last visit. In there he finds a coatl statue that jumps out to him. Soon after he's purchased it, some men in suits show up demanding he sell it to them or else. Shinji doesn't like these bullies so he tries to evade them, but when he's cornered, in a flash the coatl changes from a statue to a tattoo on his wrist, and the bad guys kidnap him. He wakes up in a long way from Africa in a skyscraper belonging to the Hightower corporation. Who are these people, and why do they want this coatl thing so bad? How can he get away from them and get rid of it? And what was a statue from ancient Mexico doing in Africa in the first place?
This is quite the high action adventure! I wondered at first why a book involving mythology published by Disney wasn't put out by the Riordan press, but as I read it I figured out why. Shinji is Japanese American, but the mythology involved is a hypothetical ancient Mexican (pre-Mayan) called Ximalli. The magic system it is linked to is revealed to be global, so all sorts of cultures and mythologies are linked to it (and will allow SEA to go all over the world and mix in lots of them). Shinji is joined on his adventure by a girl he meets at Hightower named Lucy who has a mechanical mouse that helps her control tech gadgets. They are joined on their quest by Oliver, a reformed pirate and comic relief, Maya, a respectful tough lady/Lara Croft-type figure, and Prof Carrero and Dr. Ramos, who are the background research experts. I liked that the adventurer/archaeology group SEA makes it a point to preserve and protect instead of stealing and destroying and mentions making restitution for past untoward actions. For example, at one point in the story the group crosses a swinging rope bridge and cutting it down would easily stop the bad guys on their tail. Shinji and Lucy fully expect them to cut it down, but they don't, pointing out how it would hurt the local population who use the bridge on a regular basis. This isn't the same ol' adventuring group of the past, and I like how it is different. The adventure is full of twists and turns, and you aren't fully sure who all you can trust. There's some fun tech and magic mixed together, and a good cast of characters. Shinji is a likable main character who is definitely not perfect, but he's doing the best he can and genuinely cares about others. Looking forward to more adventures with this crew. Hand this to fantasy or scifi action adventure fans.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Bad guys with weapons and nasty magical creatures attack and are fought off, injuries are implied and one person is kind of magically absorbed but no one graphically injured or killed. Usually it is more a battle of wits than muscle in the end.
This is quite the high action adventure! I wondered at first why a book involving mythology published by Disney wasn't put out by the Riordan press, but as I read it I figured out why. Shinji is Japanese American, but the mythology involved is a hypothetical ancient Mexican (pre-Mayan) called Ximalli. The magic system it is linked to is revealed to be global, so all sorts of cultures and mythologies are linked to it (and will allow SEA to go all over the world and mix in lots of them). Shinji is joined on his adventure by a girl he meets at Hightower named Lucy who has a mechanical mouse that helps her control tech gadgets. They are joined on their quest by Oliver, a reformed pirate and comic relief, Maya, a respectful tough lady/Lara Croft-type figure, and Prof Carrero and Dr. Ramos, who are the background research experts. I liked that the adventurer/archaeology group SEA makes it a point to preserve and protect instead of stealing and destroying and mentions making restitution for past untoward actions. For example, at one point in the story the group crosses a swinging rope bridge and cutting it down would easily stop the bad guys on their tail. Shinji and Lucy fully expect them to cut it down, but they don't, pointing out how it would hurt the local population who use the bridge on a regular basis. This isn't the same ol' adventuring group of the past, and I like how it is different. The adventure is full of twists and turns, and you aren't fully sure who all you can trust. There's some fun tech and magic mixed together, and a good cast of characters. Shinji is a likable main character who is definitely not perfect, but he's doing the best he can and genuinely cares about others. Looking forward to more adventures with this crew. Hand this to fantasy or scifi action adventure fans.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Bad guys with weapons and nasty magical creatures attack and are fought off, injuries are implied and one person is kind of magically absorbed but no one graphically injured or killed. Usually it is more a battle of wits than muscle in the end.
March 27, 2022
Shinji reminds me of a mix of Percy Jackson and Indiana Jones in all the best ways. This high stakes adventure around the globe had me cheering from my arm chair. Ideal for an armchair explorer or any Percy Jackson fans (or fans of any Rick Riordan presents), Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider.
Shinji is off on another market day with his aunt when she hands him some money and tells him to go find some treasure. He certainly didn't expect to find a long lost temple idol and be swept into an Indiana Jones level quest to put the idol back, break a curse and save magic from the hands of evil (whose hands are the evil one will have middle schoolers guessing until the end!). Shiji winds up in the enemy liar and escapes with a little tinkering (pun intended) and an unexpected ally. He seeks help from SEA (Society of Explorers and Adventurers which leads him to an eccentric group of pirates, bear tamers, professors and hackers. The race is on to break the Coatl's curse and save magic.
Highly recommended for middle school level students!
Shinji is off on another market day with his aunt when she hands him some money and tells him to go find some treasure. He certainly didn't expect to find a long lost temple idol and be swept into an Indiana Jones level quest to put the idol back, break a curse and save magic from the hands of evil (whose hands are the evil one will have middle schoolers guessing until the end!). Shiji winds up in the enemy liar and escapes with a little tinkering (pun intended) and an unexpected ally. He seeks help from SEA (Society of Explorers and Adventurers which leads him to an eccentric group of pirates, bear tamers, professors and hackers. The race is on to break the Coatl's curse and save magic.
Highly recommended for middle school level students!
April 15, 2022
Thank you Disney-Hyperion for an eARC via NetGalley for an honest review.
4.5/5 stars
Wow! This was such a fun read. I flew through it, and I really enjoyed it. Shinji was a funny character, but he was also brave and loyal. I think readers will really like his story, and the adventure that he goes on. While reading it gave me vibes similar to Fablehaven and Percy Jackson in the sense that the main character was on an adventure searching for something mythical and magical and there was lots of excitement.
The story picks up pretty quickly when Shinji finds a statue in a shop in an African village. After he buys the statue, these men in suits approach him and try to bully him into giving them the statue, but Shinji refuses. This leads to him being kidnapped by the men and taken to the Hightower corporation where he meets Lucy.
Lucy was a character I liked a lot. I wish we’d gotten even more of her because she was super smart and interesting. I also loved Tinker and thought he was adorable. I liked the friendship that Lucy and Shinji developed.
Lucy and Shinji escape Hightower and find the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, and with the help of SEA they go to Mexico City in order to search for the temple of the Coatl. I really liked the idea of the magic in the world, and I wish we’d gotten to see more. I also liked the adventuring through the jungle, and the traps that the group faced. The magic and the mythical creatures were super cool, and I liked the ending a lot.
Overall this was a really great and entertaining read.
4.5/5 stars
Wow! This was such a fun read. I flew through it, and I really enjoyed it. Shinji was a funny character, but he was also brave and loyal. I think readers will really like his story, and the adventure that he goes on. While reading it gave me vibes similar to Fablehaven and Percy Jackson in the sense that the main character was on an adventure searching for something mythical and magical and there was lots of excitement.
The story picks up pretty quickly when Shinji finds a statue in a shop in an African village. After he buys the statue, these men in suits approach him and try to bully him into giving them the statue, but Shinji refuses. This leads to him being kidnapped by the men and taken to the Hightower corporation where he meets Lucy.
Lucy was a character I liked a lot. I wish we’d gotten even more of her because she was super smart and interesting. I also loved Tinker and thought he was adorable. I liked the friendship that Lucy and Shinji developed.
Lucy and Shinji escape Hightower and find the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, and with the help of SEA they go to Mexico City in order to search for the temple of the Coatl. I really liked the idea of the magic in the world, and I wish we’d gotten to see more. I also liked the adventuring through the jungle, and the traps that the group faced. The magic and the mythical creatures were super cool, and I liked the ending a lot.
Overall this was a really great and entertaining read.
April 13, 2022
Shinji is kind of bored hanging out with his aunt, so she sends him off to the market to get himself a present or at least to find something that speaks to him. He ends up finding a small Coatl statue that attaches itself to him in the form of a tattoo on his arm. At the same time a group of men show up demanding that he give them the statue and after a struggle, he wakes up at the Hightower Corporation. Shinji learns that he has been cursed by the statue and that the only way to remove the curse is to return the Coatl to the place it was stolen from. The story explores the S.E.A and how the organization has changed their bylaws, focusing on exploring the wonders or relics of the world, and to preserve and protect the artifacts. This is a huge breaking away from past explorers or colonialists who only took things for themselves. Overall, this is a very fast-moving story that takes the reader from the Zambezi River to California and then to Mexico. It's filled with snakes, fire traps, a lake with a scary monster and a hidden pyramid in the jungle. I'd recommend this to a reader whose enjoyed the Rick Riordan presents imprint and someone who's looking for a little adventure, along the lines of an Indiana Jones movie, very exciting. *Thank you to Rockstar Book Tours and Disney Hyperion for an E-ARC in exchange for my honest review*
April 5, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is a Middle-Grade action-packed fantasy adventure written by YA author Julie Kagawa. It pulls you right in from the beautiful cover art to the opening paragraph of the prologue.
The novel is fast-paced with adventure taking place in a myriad of locations, from the ruthless Hightower Corporation stopping at nothing to gain what they want to the SEA (the Society of Explorers and Adventures) hoping to thwart Hightower and help Shinji return the Coatl to its guardian. This book was the perfect combination of Percy Jackson and Indian Jones all rolled into one! The narrative and blending of Japanese and Mesoamerican mythology was beyond intriguing.
Adventure, action, magic, mystery and mythology on every page will have you reading till the very end of what I hope is only the first in this brilliant new series.
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is a Middle-Grade action-packed fantasy adventure written by YA author Julie Kagawa. It pulls you right in from the beautiful cover art to the opening paragraph of the prologue.
The novel is fast-paced with adventure taking place in a myriad of locations, from the ruthless Hightower Corporation stopping at nothing to gain what they want to the SEA (the Society of Explorers and Adventures) hoping to thwart Hightower and help Shinji return the Coatl to its guardian. This book was the perfect combination of Percy Jackson and Indian Jones all rolled into one! The narrative and blending of Japanese and Mesoamerican mythology was beyond intriguing.
Adventure, action, magic, mystery and mythology on every page will have you reading till the very end of what I hope is only the first in this brilliant new series.
March 14, 2022
I've read some of Julie Kagawa's other books and was anxiously awaiting her newest series. It did not disappoint! From the beautiful cover to the fast paced action, Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl was a high flying adventure. Fantastic character development helped to hook you right away. I can definitely see my students clamoring to read this story. I can't wait to see what adventure Shinji and Lucy get into next.
April 10, 2022
Magic, mythology, and secret society woven together into a beautiful story, this book takes you to a dangerous adventure around the world!
Shinji lost both of his parents in a fire when he was very young and he’s been living with his globe-trotter, antique-collector aunt ever since. They are looking for antiques in Africa when Shinji stumbled upon an idol that gives him curse and now he’s being chased by people who wants the power of the idol.
The writing is so good! I keep wondering the entire book and I really have to reach the end to know who the bad guy is and why Shinji is being chosen! The book is pretty short and fast paced, the adventure has so many trials and giving me National Treasure/ Indiana Jones kind of vibes, I usually love that kind of adventure but this one is a little bit bland for my liking, maybe because they instantly figure out what to do in every trials.
I really love Shinji, he’s a smart kid with a very good heart, I really need to see how he becomes in the next book. All of the other characters are interesting and I want to know more about them but unfortunately they aren’t given much attention.
All in all I think this book is a perfect foundation and introduction for the next book! And I can already sense that the next book will have a more epic adventure!
January 30, 2022
Was sent an ARC of this by Disney Books for work, and WOW this was immense fun. Percy Jackson meets Road to El Dorado meets the vibe of Disney adapting their rides into films in the early 2000s. An excellent adventure story for kids and YA lovers alike, and the beginning of a super fun series. Can’t wait for this to hit shelves in April!
May 11, 2022
I am about 10 years older than the target audience for this book, but I picked it up because I’m a huge fan of the Disney Parks and want to keep up with the SEA lore. That being said, this book was super fun! I think the middle-grade audience will absolutely eat it up. It has the perfect amount of adventure and heart, and I loved learning more about the SEA.
May 19, 2022
Review coming soon to Instagram
January 6, 2023
Read this review and others at https://www.readingforsanity.com/2022...
March 12, 2023
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is a highly entertaining adventure story perfect for fans of Indiana Jones-type stories. Throughout the adventure, Kagawa includes lessons for kids about colonialism and respect for other cultures. I really appreciate that this element was included in the book. I highly recommend this for young and older readers alike. I’ll be picking up the next book for sure.
June 21, 2022
You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.
Many thanks to Disney-Hyperion and Rockstar Book Tours for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Overall
When I first saw this book announced, I was ridiculously excited and immediately added it to my TBR for several reasons. One, I absolutely loved Julie Kagawa’s Shadow of the Fox series, so I knew I would want to read whatever she comes up with next. Second, have you read that synopsis?! How can you read that and not want to immediately pick up this book?! I’ve also already been sort of familiar with the Coatl and myths around it, so when I saw that, it really piqued my interest!
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is a fast-paced adventure that is basically Indiana Jones meets Rick Riordan books, with a ridiculously fun squad, Aztec mythology, quirky banter, and unique twists on some common tropes.
I don’t even know how to write this review, guys. I loved this book so much, and I don’t have a whole lot to say other than read it and also gimme the second one already, please! This is one of those books where I sat down thinking I’d get a couple chapters in and ended up reading the entire thing before I had even realized. I didn’t want to put it down, and I definitely didn’t want it to end!
My Thoughts
- Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is like if Indiana Jones and Nevermoor had a baby and then Rick Riordan raised it. It’s a little adventure, some mystery, a pinch of magic, a hint of horror, and utterly, without a doubt, a good time. This book has a little bit of everything is what I’m saying. The overall story is obviously an adventure, and Kagawa plays with some very common adventure tropes (which I’ll talk more about in a minute). But it’s more than just that (as if that’s not enough). There’s also a bit of a mystery, one that isn’t entirely resolved by this book, which will pull the reader into the series. I’m very curious about the overarching plot that starts in this book and where it’s going to take young Shinji Takahashi in the future books.
There is also just a smidge of horror in this book. Not so scary that it will really spook kids, but enough to give readers a slight chill and really make them sit up and pay attention! The first sort of chilly scene I ran into gave me goosebumps, it was done so perfectly (as a nightmare Shinji was having, of course), and I just loved it so much!
Of course, this was one of those books, as I said, that I sat down to start it and ended up reading the whole thing. I was immediately swept into the story and couldn’t put it down!
- Kagawa employs a lot of popular middle grade tropes that, not gonna lie, had me rolling my eyes a little assuming I knew where they were headed. I did not. At all. I really enjoyed how Kagawa ends up twisting these common tropes! If you’re looking at tropes, Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is a fantastic example of how common tropes can be used effectively in unexpected ways. It reminded me of the Kingsman movie in that way. Kagawa makes fun of common action tropes the way Kingsman pokes fun at spy movies.
For example, right off the bat, Shinji is an orphan, which immediately had me rolling my eyes because of course he is. It’s not quite what you think, though! Shinji isn’t really a tragic orphan, though he misses his parents (and of course he does). He lives happily with his aunt, and though he sometimes longs for his old life, his story isn’t framed as a tragic one.
Once the adventure actually gets underway, Kagawa employs a bunch of adventure tropes that will feel familiar, but at the same time pokes fun at the idea that they always appear in these sort of adventure things. It’s a semi-aware sort of narrative that is comedic and fun and I thought worked really well. Even though I sort of knew what to expect a little, I still never knew what to expect!
- The squad in this book is amazing. Meet the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (a.k.a. the SEA). Once you do, you won’t want to adventure with anyone else! From the moment the book introduces this group, I knew I would love them! Think they’d adopt me? I would absolutely love to live in this world, and I’d be fine to join this group. They’re not any more dysfunctional than my actual family, so it’s fine.
The Society of Explorers and Adventurers is exactly what it sounds like. These are people whose entire mission is to explore the world finding rare treasures and locations and artifacts . . . with a twist. Because nothing is ever quite as it seems, right? SEA is actually trying to move away from its historical position of stealing relics and artifacts from countries and, instead, preserving history for future generations. I absolutely loved this narrative. The members explore and go on adventures for the love of it and also to see history in its original environment, but with the added charge of not destroying it in the process.
- I was immediately hooked in this story and absolutely could not put this dang book down! Kagawa hits on some perfect combination that just left me wanting more. Lucky for me, there will be more, since this is book one in a new series. Score! This review has been incredibly hard to write, because I feel like most of the things I can say about it end up being spoilers in some sense, and a good part of the book is just reading it and discovering it at that time.
If everything I’ve said so far isn’t enough, though, there’s also a robot mouse called Tinker. It’s not the traditional cute fuzzy found in books, but it is pretty cute. Also, a lot cleaner than most fuzzies. Not gonna lie, I’m a little jealous.
And if all that doesn’t convince you to read this dang book, I don’t know that anything can. I’m not sure there’s any hope for you at all.
Many thanks to Disney-Hyperion and Rockstar Book Tours for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Overall
When I first saw this book announced, I was ridiculously excited and immediately added it to my TBR for several reasons. One, I absolutely loved Julie Kagawa’s Shadow of the Fox series, so I knew I would want to read whatever she comes up with next. Second, have you read that synopsis?! How can you read that and not want to immediately pick up this book?! I’ve also already been sort of familiar with the Coatl and myths around it, so when I saw that, it really piqued my interest!
Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is a fast-paced adventure that is basically Indiana Jones meets Rick Riordan books, with a ridiculously fun squad, Aztec mythology, quirky banter, and unique twists on some common tropes.
I don’t even know how to write this review, guys. I loved this book so much, and I don’t have a whole lot to say other than read it and also gimme the second one already, please! This is one of those books where I sat down thinking I’d get a couple chapters in and ended up reading the entire thing before I had even realized. I didn’t want to put it down, and I definitely didn’t want it to end!
My Thoughts
- Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is like if Indiana Jones and Nevermoor had a baby and then Rick Riordan raised it. It’s a little adventure, some mystery, a pinch of magic, a hint of horror, and utterly, without a doubt, a good time. This book has a little bit of everything is what I’m saying. The overall story is obviously an adventure, and Kagawa plays with some very common adventure tropes (which I’ll talk more about in a minute). But it’s more than just that (as if that’s not enough). There’s also a bit of a mystery, one that isn’t entirely resolved by this book, which will pull the reader into the series. I’m very curious about the overarching plot that starts in this book and where it’s going to take young Shinji Takahashi in the future books.
There is also just a smidge of horror in this book. Not so scary that it will really spook kids, but enough to give readers a slight chill and really make them sit up and pay attention! The first sort of chilly scene I ran into gave me goosebumps, it was done so perfectly (as a nightmare Shinji was having, of course), and I just loved it so much!
Of course, this was one of those books, as I said, that I sat down to start it and ended up reading the whole thing. I was immediately swept into the story and couldn’t put it down!
- Kagawa employs a lot of popular middle grade tropes that, not gonna lie, had me rolling my eyes a little assuming I knew where they were headed. I did not. At all. I really enjoyed how Kagawa ends up twisting these common tropes! If you’re looking at tropes, Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl is a fantastic example of how common tropes can be used effectively in unexpected ways. It reminded me of the Kingsman movie in that way. Kagawa makes fun of common action tropes the way Kingsman pokes fun at spy movies.
For example, right off the bat, Shinji is an orphan, which immediately had me rolling my eyes because of course he is. It’s not quite what you think, though! Shinji isn’t really a tragic orphan, though he misses his parents (and of course he does). He lives happily with his aunt, and though he sometimes longs for his old life, his story isn’t framed as a tragic one.
Once the adventure actually gets underway, Kagawa employs a bunch of adventure tropes that will feel familiar, but at the same time pokes fun at the idea that they always appear in these sort of adventure things. It’s a semi-aware sort of narrative that is comedic and fun and I thought worked really well. Even though I sort of knew what to expect a little, I still never knew what to expect!
- The squad in this book is amazing. Meet the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (a.k.a. the SEA). Once you do, you won’t want to adventure with anyone else! From the moment the book introduces this group, I knew I would love them! Think they’d adopt me? I would absolutely love to live in this world, and I’d be fine to join this group. They’re not any more dysfunctional than my actual family, so it’s fine.
The Society of Explorers and Adventurers is exactly what it sounds like. These are people whose entire mission is to explore the world finding rare treasures and locations and artifacts . . . with a twist. Because nothing is ever quite as it seems, right? SEA is actually trying to move away from its historical position of stealing relics and artifacts from countries and, instead, preserving history for future generations. I absolutely loved this narrative. The members explore and go on adventures for the love of it and also to see history in its original environment, but with the added charge of not destroying it in the process.
- I was immediately hooked in this story and absolutely could not put this dang book down! Kagawa hits on some perfect combination that just left me wanting more. Lucky for me, there will be more, since this is book one in a new series. Score! This review has been incredibly hard to write, because I feel like most of the things I can say about it end up being spoilers in some sense, and a good part of the book is just reading it and discovering it at that time.
If everything I’ve said so far isn’t enough, though, there’s also a robot mouse called Tinker. It’s not the traditional cute fuzzy found in books, but it is pretty cute. Also, a lot cleaner than most fuzzies. Not gonna lie, I’m a little jealous.
And if all that doesn’t convince you to read this dang book, I don’t know that anything can. I’m not sure there’s any hope for you at all.
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