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Maxwell Barnes #1
Mayan Shadows: The Crystals of Ahrum
Maxwell Barnes is an archeologist and the son of an archeologist. He and his companion, friend, and brother since youth, Axel Morales, have been treasure hunting for their benefactor Myron Crabtree, in the jungles of Guatemala.
This area, not coincidentally, is also rumored to be the location of the last great city of the Maya, the legendary Ahrum. When Max meets a man who appears to be a young Mayan skateboard punk, his entire world is turned upside down as he hears the true story of the city’s demise, and of the Crystal of Ahrum, lost then but supposedly capable of restoring the ancient Mayan empire.
Along the way he also meets Isabel García, a Spanish beauty who is far more than meets the eye, and a man named Estrada – who could be the evilest person on the planet.
Adventure, romance, and more than a little excitement all await you in book one of The Crystal of Ahrum: Mayan Shadows!
This area, not coincidentally, is also rumored to be the location of the last great city of the Maya, the legendary Ahrum. When Max meets a man who appears to be a young Mayan skateboard punk, his entire world is turned upside down as he hears the true story of the city’s demise, and of the Crystal of Ahrum, lost then but supposedly capable of restoring the ancient Mayan empire.
Along the way he also meets Isabel García, a Spanish beauty who is far more than meets the eye, and a man named Estrada – who could be the evilest person on the planet.
Adventure, romance, and more than a little excitement all await you in book one of The Crystal of Ahrum: Mayan Shadows!
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2022
789 people are currently reading
1086 people want to read
About the author
Craig A. Hart
127 books331 followersCraig A. Hart is a writer of thrillers. In a past life, he was also director for Northern Illinois Radio Information Service, a broadcast outreach that brought daily news and information to the visually impaired.
In 2015, Kindle Press published his literary novel BECOMING MOON. NPR affiliate Northern Public Radio featured BECOMING MOON in their Winter Book Series, and it won Best Novel of Summer 2015 from Pinnacle Awards. He is also the author of the historical mystery NIGHT AT KEY WEST, which is based on true events.
In 2016, he publishing SERENITY, the first book in the popular Shelby Alexander Thriller Series. Serenity alone has been downloaded over 400,000 times by eager readers.
In 2022, he launched the Maxwell Barnes Adventure Thriller Series, co-written with S.J. Varengo. The award-winning first book in that series, MAYAN SHADOWS, was published on May 11, 2022. Two more books follow in that series: MAYAN THUNDER and MAYAN TEMPEST.
A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Craig lives in Iowa City, Iowa with his wife, sons, insane dog, and anti-social cat.
In 2015, Kindle Press published his literary novel BECOMING MOON. NPR affiliate Northern Public Radio featured BECOMING MOON in their Winter Book Series, and it won Best Novel of Summer 2015 from Pinnacle Awards. He is also the author of the historical mystery NIGHT AT KEY WEST, which is based on true events.
In 2016, he publishing SERENITY, the first book in the popular Shelby Alexander Thriller Series. Serenity alone has been downloaded over 400,000 times by eager readers.
In 2022, he launched the Maxwell Barnes Adventure Thriller Series, co-written with S.J. Varengo. The award-winning first book in that series, MAYAN SHADOWS, was published on May 11, 2022. Two more books follow in that series: MAYAN THUNDER and MAYAN TEMPEST.
A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Craig lives in Iowa City, Iowa with his wife, sons, insane dog, and anti-social cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
February 13, 2023
This is a pretty well-written, nonstop adventure novel that reminded me a bit of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt books. It's been many a year since I read those, but the quick-paced action seemed reminiscent of that series to me. The characters are colorful and the story was interesting. The writing has a snark and jocularity to it that took me a bit to get used to but was kind of endearing after a while.
The downside for me personally was all the sexual innuendos and a couple instances of vulgarity. There were also numerous mild swears, though to be fair, the language was pretty tame compared to much contemporary fiction these days. The other negative for me was there was a handful of little things that were never explained at the end. I assume some things were intentionally left open-ended as this is a series, but a few items were just nagging at me.
Oh, one final note, it didn't seem like our two male protagonists, Max and Axel, had a unique enough "voice". The dialogue of each was pretty interchangeable in that their vocab and speech patterns were so similar as to be indistinguishable from one another to me, making it feel as though they lacked character. I suppose some of it could be explained by the fact that were close friends for many years and people tend to adopt the manner of speaking of their peers, but I would have liked to see a bit more separation between these characters.
Overall, not a bad book at all and I did enjoy the ride. I'm not sure if I will continue the series yet or not. We shall see.
The downside for me personally was all the sexual innuendos and a couple instances of vulgarity. There were also numerous mild swears, though to be fair, the language was pretty tame compared to much contemporary fiction these days. The other negative for me was there was a handful of little things that were never explained at the end. I assume some things were intentionally left open-ended as this is a series, but a few items were just nagging at me.
Oh, one final note, it didn't seem like our two male protagonists, Max and Axel, had a unique enough "voice". The dialogue of each was pretty interchangeable in that their vocab and speech patterns were so similar as to be indistinguishable from one another to me, making it feel as though they lacked character. I suppose some of it could be explained by the fact that were close friends for many years and people tend to adopt the manner of speaking of their peers, but I would have liked to see a bit more separation between these characters.
Overall, not a bad book at all and I did enjoy the ride. I'm not sure if I will continue the series yet or not. We shall see.
June 6, 2022
Mayan Shadows - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
Second-generation archaeologist Maxwell 'Max' Barnes has been in the Guatemalan Jungle with his pal, Axel Morales, for six humid, insect-ridden weeks, tasked by Myron Crabtree with finding the lost Mayan city of Ahrum.
Who's Bembe? How does he know Max's Dad?
With much confusion, due to people (and things), sometimes not being as they seem, the opportunities for mischief, mayhem and skulduggery aplenty ramp up exponentially, throughout this fast-paced, character-led romp.
Craig Martelle and Scott Varengo's flair for grabbing the eager reader by the imagination, is in full flow, from the first page to the very last word, making Mayan Shadows an unputdownable, 5-star winner that will keep you guessing for sure. Grab yourself a copy today!
Second-generation archaeologist Maxwell 'Max' Barnes has been in the Guatemalan Jungle with his pal, Axel Morales, for six humid, insect-ridden weeks, tasked by Myron Crabtree with finding the lost Mayan city of Ahrum.
Who's Bembe? How does he know Max's Dad?
With much confusion, due to people (and things), sometimes not being as they seem, the opportunities for mischief, mayhem and skulduggery aplenty ramp up exponentially, throughout this fast-paced, character-led romp.
Craig Martelle and Scott Varengo's flair for grabbing the eager reader by the imagination, is in full flow, from the first page to the very last word, making Mayan Shadows an unputdownable, 5-star winner that will keep you guessing for sure. Grab yourself a copy today!
January 29, 2023
Mayan Shadows is an action-packed adventure searching for the lost Mayan civilization with some interesting characters. Max and Axle are the main well-developed characters surrounded by quite a cast of characters. Archeology is Max’s profession, just like his dad. Axle is Max’s best friend. Together they find themselves in an Indiana Jones-type adventure. Through the book, Max and Axle get involved with some real characters.
Mayan Shadows is a non-stop suspenseful adventure. Some characters are odd. The author does a great job of using the characters to add to the suspense. This is an easy book to read and moves fast.
I hope Max goes on other adventures. I look forward to seeing what's next with my fingers crossed.
Mayan Shadows is a non-stop suspenseful adventure. Some characters are odd. The author does a great job of using the characters to add to the suspense. This is an easy book to read and moves fast.
I hope Max goes on other adventures. I look forward to seeing what's next with my fingers crossed.
May 27, 2022
I received a copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
This book was a fun read. Plenty of action, great characters, hateful criminals, everything you want in a Hart/Varengo adventure book. Jungles, beasts, treasure and ancient tales. In the tradition of these writers the tales are exciting and grab you right from the start. I love the humor interspersed with dangers.
Max and his best friend Axel are in it again. Up to their necks in danger while seeking a lost Mayan civilization, they encounter ruthless criminals who will do anything to get there first. Their ambition knows no bounds. They want to rule the world.
If you love adventure, danger and romantic interests, you might want to grab this one. It will fulfill your reason for reading. I highly recommend this exciting book.
This book was a fun read. Plenty of action, great characters, hateful criminals, everything you want in a Hart/Varengo adventure book. Jungles, beasts, treasure and ancient tales. In the tradition of these writers the tales are exciting and grab you right from the start. I love the humor interspersed with dangers.
Max and his best friend Axel are in it again. Up to their necks in danger while seeking a lost Mayan civilization, they encounter ruthless criminals who will do anything to get there first. Their ambition knows no bounds. They want to rule the world.
If you love adventure, danger and romantic interests, you might want to grab this one. It will fulfill your reason for reading. I highly recommend this exciting book.
September 7, 2022
Fantastic adventure!
Fresh and unique is how I would describe this book. I love these characters so much. The camaraderie and banter between them is hilarious. Oh and don’t forget surfer dude “Bra”. A well written story that brings the past & the present together seamlessly, and even adding some time in between.
The narration was wonderful. The voice acting talents of Phil Tron are highlighted in this story, with the accents and emotions of each character. Sometimes I forget there’s only one narrator. I believe this is my first book by this narrator but I’m sure it won’t be the last. Well done everyone. 👏👏
This is book 1 in this series and I’m looking forward to the next book.
I highly recommend this book.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
Fresh and unique is how I would describe this book. I love these characters so much. The camaraderie and banter between them is hilarious. Oh and don’t forget surfer dude “Bra”. A well written story that brings the past & the present together seamlessly, and even adding some time in between.
The narration was wonderful. The voice acting talents of Phil Tron are highlighted in this story, with the accents and emotions of each character. Sometimes I forget there’s only one narrator. I believe this is my first book by this narrator but I’m sure it won’t be the last. Well done everyone. 👏👏
This is book 1 in this series and I’m looking forward to the next book.
I highly recommend this book.
Sisters Spotlight 💜
August 30, 2022
I received a free copy of this audio book, at my request, and am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review.
This was a fun story. It's relatively short, to the point and flows well. The story never feels like it bogs down and no parts of it feel like they are going on too long. It was a pleasure.
The plot is very Indiana Jones-ish. An archeologist who does the results thing, instead of the book thing, stumbles into a mystery. He gets himself into trouble and has to rely on the secondary characters to get him through. There is plenty of sarcasm and punchy dialog. There is a sense of chemistry between the characters and overall it is a pleasant listen.
The main character is on a physical journey, more so than an emotional one. So character growth isn't really strongly emphasized. However, the characters felt real enough to be believable, if a little outrageous at times.
The main character is well developed, with complex emotions and drives. The secondary characters have back stories, but are definitely not as well rounded.
The settings are mostly jungle or small village on the edge of the jungle. Even the brief Mayan Ruins are in low light and not well explored. There is little new or exciting about the settings themselves, however this does make for a tense backdrop, at times.
The plot is predictable. However, it's the "I bet this..." and "ha, I knew that" kind of predictable. Rather than the "uggg, it's so obvious that...." and "well that took forever to be what I knew". The book is fast paced and fun, so while the twists and turns are definitely not shocking, they don't slow the story down and allow for a good time. The feel is very much like an adventure movie, you know where it's going, the fun is how you get there.
The voice narration, by Phil Thron, is first class as always. He has a range of male and females voices and his accents are excellent. Where Phil truly shines is his comedic timing. When reading a funny or humorous story (like this), he is able to bring out the comedic elements and make them hit home, more than any other narrator I've listened to.
All in all, this was a great book. Predictable but fun, with some great characters and an interesting plot. It's fairly safe, in terms of twists and turns, but it is a fun ride. The narration is amazing and brings the characters to life, and I can't wait for the next one.
This was a fun story. It's relatively short, to the point and flows well. The story never feels like it bogs down and no parts of it feel like they are going on too long. It was a pleasure.
The plot is very Indiana Jones-ish. An archeologist who does the results thing, instead of the book thing, stumbles into a mystery. He gets himself into trouble and has to rely on the secondary characters to get him through. There is plenty of sarcasm and punchy dialog. There is a sense of chemistry between the characters and overall it is a pleasant listen.
The main character is on a physical journey, more so than an emotional one. So character growth isn't really strongly emphasized. However, the characters felt real enough to be believable, if a little outrageous at times.
The main character is well developed, with complex emotions and drives. The secondary characters have back stories, but are definitely not as well rounded.
The settings are mostly jungle or small village on the edge of the jungle. Even the brief Mayan Ruins are in low light and not well explored. There is little new or exciting about the settings themselves, however this does make for a tense backdrop, at times.
The plot is predictable. However, it's the "I bet this..." and "ha, I knew that" kind of predictable. Rather than the "uggg, it's so obvious that...." and "well that took forever to be what I knew". The book is fast paced and fun, so while the twists and turns are definitely not shocking, they don't slow the story down and allow for a good time. The feel is very much like an adventure movie, you know where it's going, the fun is how you get there.
The voice narration, by Phil Thron, is first class as always. He has a range of male and females voices and his accents are excellent. Where Phil truly shines is his comedic timing. When reading a funny or humorous story (like this), he is able to bring out the comedic elements and make them hit home, more than any other narrator I've listened to.
All in all, this was a great book. Predictable but fun, with some great characters and an interesting plot. It's fairly safe, in terms of twists and turns, but it is a fun ride. The narration is amazing and brings the characters to life, and I can't wait for the next one.
June 22, 2023
I'm a big fan of Clive Cussler and James Rollins and this showed up on my recommended list, supposedly being in that same wheelhouse. The blurb sounded interesting enough and since it's on KU I gave it a shot.
This seems like a young adult book rather then the more serious Cussler style adventure story I was hoping for. The characters and dialogue are all very.... cute is probably the best description I can come up with, and you never get the feeling that this won't end happily or that any of the good guys are in serious jeopardy. Main characters Max and the beautiful and mysterious Isabel spend the bulk of the book together and there's a constant stream of quips between them, with her mispronunciation of sayings ("I'm as serious as a heart assault") being a trademark. This banter is actually pretty amusing early on but over the course of a couple of hundred pages it quickly wears out its welcome. Its hard to get into the action scenes when they are constantly broken up by multiple lines of back and forth dialogue. There's also the reoccurring sexual innuendos between the pair that just come off as juvenile high school stuff (Max! is that a tamale in your pants or are you just happy to see me?)
A lot of the story is rather nonsensical - Max and company are looking for an ancient Mayan magic crystal before the typical evil rich bad guy can acquire it for his own nefarious purposes. Along the way they pick up a Mayan kid who aids them and is able to use his magical skateboard to disable drones and helicopters (yes, really) and it just gets goofier from there. Of course being the first in the series there's no real ending either and no explanation about how any of the events here are possible. I'm assuming more will be revealed in the sequels but this is just a little too silly for me to continue with
This seems like a young adult book rather then the more serious Cussler style adventure story I was hoping for. The characters and dialogue are all very.... cute is probably the best description I can come up with, and you never get the feeling that this won't end happily or that any of the good guys are in serious jeopardy. Main characters Max and the beautiful and mysterious Isabel spend the bulk of the book together and there's a constant stream of quips between them, with her mispronunciation of sayings ("I'm as serious as a heart assault") being a trademark. This banter is actually pretty amusing early on but over the course of a couple of hundred pages it quickly wears out its welcome. Its hard to get into the action scenes when they are constantly broken up by multiple lines of back and forth dialogue. There's also the reoccurring sexual innuendos between the pair that just come off as juvenile high school stuff (Max! is that a tamale in your pants or are you just happy to see me?)
A lot of the story is rather nonsensical - Max and company are looking for an ancient Mayan magic crystal before the typical evil rich bad guy can acquire it for his own nefarious purposes. Along the way they pick up a Mayan kid who aids them and is able to use his magical skateboard to disable drones and helicopters (yes, really) and it just gets goofier from there. Of course being the first in the series there's no real ending either and no explanation about how any of the events here are possible. I'm assuming more will be revealed in the sequels but this is just a little too silly for me to continue with
July 3, 2023
Mayan Shadows
The Crystals of Ahrum
By
Craig A. Hart and S. J. Varengo
4 ★★★★
This is an adventure series about two treasure hunters, Maxwell (Max) Barnes and Axel Morales, who are employed by a wealthy mysterious sponsor to find and retrieve long-lost artifacts where ever they may take them. Their current mission takes them to the deep jungles of Guatemala in search of the lost ancient Mayan city of Ahrum and the crystals that are rumored to have special powers. In their quest to locate the lost city and its treasure, the two adventures encounter a young, Mayan skateboarder with a story concerning the lost city, a beautiful but dangerous Spanish senorita who has her own agenda, and a deadly adversary who will do anything to claim the crystals and gain their power.
This is a story with plenty of action and adventure to keep the reader glued to their chair in anticipation of what is coming next. With danger around every corner and coming from both the jungle and the deadly foes, Max and his group must transverse numerous and various obstacles to succeed in their mission. The plot was well written with suspense and tension at an all-time high throughout the story. The world-building was fantastic with the addition of comic and romantic scenes intertwined between the characters throughout the story. This was a fast-paced adventure that I totally enjoyed and would recommend. I am looking forward to the next installment in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy
The Crystals of Ahrum
By
Craig A. Hart and S. J. Varengo
4 ★★★★
This is an adventure series about two treasure hunters, Maxwell (Max) Barnes and Axel Morales, who are employed by a wealthy mysterious sponsor to find and retrieve long-lost artifacts where ever they may take them. Their current mission takes them to the deep jungles of Guatemala in search of the lost ancient Mayan city of Ahrum and the crystals that are rumored to have special powers. In their quest to locate the lost city and its treasure, the two adventures encounter a young, Mayan skateboarder with a story concerning the lost city, a beautiful but dangerous Spanish senorita who has her own agenda, and a deadly adversary who will do anything to claim the crystals and gain their power.
This is a story with plenty of action and adventure to keep the reader glued to their chair in anticipation of what is coming next. With danger around every corner and coming from both the jungle and the deadly foes, Max and his group must transverse numerous and various obstacles to succeed in their mission. The plot was well written with suspense and tension at an all-time high throughout the story. The world-building was fantastic with the addition of comic and romantic scenes intertwined between the characters throughout the story. This was a fast-paced adventure that I totally enjoyed and would recommend. I am looking forward to the next installment in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy
July 9, 2023
Mayan Shadows: The Crystals of Ahrum (Maxwell Barnes #1) - by Craig A. Hart
This is the first installment in a series, but it's a stand-alone book.
Maxwell (Max) Barnes is an archeologist and the son of the archeologist, Anderson Barnes. He and his long-life friend, Axel (Ax) Morales are in La Libertad, Guatemala doing work for their boss Myron Crabtree. After they return from an assignment, Ax runs over to his girlfriend, Rosita, but Max gets very drunk and wakes up the next day and meets Bembe, a young Mayan skateboard punk who tells Max about the true story of the Ahrum’s demise, and of the Crystal of Ahrum, its legend and how it is supposedly capable of restoring the ancient Mayan empire.
Along the way, Max is captured by Francisco Estrada de León (Estrada) who forces Max to work for him on his quest to find the crystal. Saved by Isabel García, a Spanish beauty who is far more than meets the eye, they have to run for their lives. Isabel was a mole in Estrada's camp and she, Bembe, and Ax agree to work together to find Ahrum.
What follows is a series of adventures in the jungle and ends in the Matan ruins.
The book is narrated from the universal point of view - alternating here and there with the third-person point of view. The characters are shallow and non-descript. They felt like caricatures and not real. The plot is not believable and is somewhat of a cliche. The book is a fast read and may be a nice beach read.
I would not recommend it and will not read the rest of the series.
This is the first installment in a series, but it's a stand-alone book.
Maxwell (Max) Barnes is an archeologist and the son of the archeologist, Anderson Barnes. He and his long-life friend, Axel (Ax) Morales are in La Libertad, Guatemala doing work for their boss Myron Crabtree. After they return from an assignment, Ax runs over to his girlfriend, Rosita, but Max gets very drunk and wakes up the next day and meets Bembe, a young Mayan skateboard punk who tells Max about the true story of the Ahrum’s demise, and of the Crystal of Ahrum, its legend and how it is supposedly capable of restoring the ancient Mayan empire.
Along the way, Max is captured by Francisco Estrada de León (Estrada) who forces Max to work for him on his quest to find the crystal. Saved by Isabel García, a Spanish beauty who is far more than meets the eye, they have to run for their lives. Isabel was a mole in Estrada's camp and she, Bembe, and Ax agree to work together to find Ahrum.
What follows is a series of adventures in the jungle and ends in the Matan ruins.
The book is narrated from the universal point of view - alternating here and there with the third-person point of view. The characters are shallow and non-descript. They felt like caricatures and not real. The plot is not believable and is somewhat of a cliche. The book is a fast read and may be a nice beach read.
I would not recommend it and will not read the rest of the series.
January 2, 2025
MAXWELL BARNES ADVENTURE SERIES:
MAYAN SHADOWS, #1 - I have so much fun reading anything written by Mr. Hart. The first three books follow the same quest while lots of danger, adventure, and some silliness (humor) happen during the hunt. Good characters. Interesting story lines. Gamut of characters. Source: My Kindle library. 4*
BURIED DANGER - A quickly read, humorous novella with the usual interesting story lines with armed bad guys and a powerful talisman and some interesting characters. Source: The author, ARC. 4*
MAYAN THUNDER, #2 - Picks up where MS ends. Entertaining. Same review as MS. Same source. 5*
MAYAN TEMPEST, #3 - Sob, I don't have this book.
TIBETAN SECRETS, #4 - Sob, ditto.
TIBETAN GAMBIT, #5 - Although, I missed TS, it didn't matter while reading TG. Mr. Hart's writing style made up for my deficit, keeping me interested and without confusion. Not much rehash, just bits of TS when needed. Looks like there's a possible third part to this quest. Source: The author, ARC. 5*
MAXWELL BARNES ADVENTURE SERIES.
Night at Key West - While not in the same ballpark as the Shelby series and lots better than the Assignment series, this is a good start to a new series. Set in 1937 and using real background material, Mr. Hart weaves a substantially interesting and partly humorous story. All the characters are interesting, quirkly in some cases, but all hold the reader's interest, along with their realistic dialog. The story lines are entertaining and well thought out; yes, there are a few kinks, but the story moves along at a good pace. Key West has always been interesting during this time period and Mr. Hart keeps that interest going with this story. 5*
MAYAN SHADOWS, #1 - I have so much fun reading anything written by Mr. Hart. The first three books follow the same quest while lots of danger, adventure, and some silliness (humor) happen during the hunt. Good characters. Interesting story lines. Gamut of characters. Source: My Kindle library. 4*
BURIED DANGER - A quickly read, humorous novella with the usual interesting story lines with armed bad guys and a powerful talisman and some interesting characters. Source: The author, ARC. 4*
MAYAN THUNDER, #2 - Picks up where MS ends. Entertaining. Same review as MS. Same source. 5*
MAYAN TEMPEST, #3 - Sob, I don't have this book.
TIBETAN SECRETS, #4 - Sob, ditto.
TIBETAN GAMBIT, #5 - Although, I missed TS, it didn't matter while reading TG. Mr. Hart's writing style made up for my deficit, keeping me interested and without confusion. Not much rehash, just bits of TS when needed. Looks like there's a possible third part to this quest. Source: The author, ARC. 5*
MAXWELL BARNES ADVENTURE SERIES.
Night at Key West - While not in the same ballpark as the Shelby series and lots better than the Assignment series, this is a good start to a new series. Set in 1937 and using real background material, Mr. Hart weaves a substantially interesting and partly humorous story. All the characters are interesting, quirkly in some cases, but all hold the reader's interest, along with their realistic dialog. The story lines are entertaining and well thought out; yes, there are a few kinks, but the story moves along at a good pace. Key West has always been interesting during this time period and Mr. Hart keeps that interest going with this story. 5*
July 13, 2022
My Blog
Mayan Shadows: The Crystals of Ahrum by Craig A. Hart and S. J. Varengo is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure tale. Not a single page is devoid of action. Thanks to the duo’s visually descriptive writing, it felt as if I was the one trudging through the jungles of Guatemala.
The book also has bits of romance. Moreover, I liked all the characters but Max and Bembe were my favorite. I liked Max’s fearless attitude. Despite several obstacles, he never grew morose and kept on hunting for the treasure, albeit with help from his friends. On the other hand, Bembe’s funny antics injected humor into the story.
Further, the dialogs between the characters pack a lot of punch and wit. However, I felt this to be a tad overdone. I honestly think it is not possible to come up with a witty reply in every dangerous situation.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this adventurous story set in Guatemala. I recommend this book to lovers of the action/adventure genre.
Mayan Shadows: The Crystals of Ahrum by Craig A. Hart and S. J. Varengo is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure tale. Not a single page is devoid of action. Thanks to the duo’s visually descriptive writing, it felt as if I was the one trudging through the jungles of Guatemala.
The book also has bits of romance. Moreover, I liked all the characters but Max and Bembe were my favorite. I liked Max’s fearless attitude. Despite several obstacles, he never grew morose and kept on hunting for the treasure, albeit with help from his friends. On the other hand, Bembe’s funny antics injected humor into the story.
Further, the dialogs between the characters pack a lot of punch and wit. However, I felt this to be a tad overdone. I honestly think it is not possible to come up with a witty reply in every dangerous situation.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this adventurous story set in Guatemala. I recommend this book to lovers of the action/adventure genre.
August 16, 2025
Surf's up! Dude
A great story! Lots of action and thrills! In general, I liked the characters, the book is an easy read and provides a few hours of light relief. So, why did I rate it 3 out of 5 stars? Mainly it was due to the out of character behaviour and unbelievable magical interventions. There was no surfing just a mysterious character acting like a surfer and featuring a surfboard. How come the main character survived poisoning with an ancient remedy not known to the modern world, but which, suddenly and highly coincidentally, was at hand just in time? No explanation, no matter how tenuous, as to why we are expected to believe that at least three of the characters were hundreds of years old. I found the main character's attempts at humour were lame. There is still a lot of enjoyment in reading this book, the archaeological hunt and discovery are exciting and would have been better if treated in a more serious manner with humour injected only as needed and with greater skill.
A great story! Lots of action and thrills! In general, I liked the characters, the book is an easy read and provides a few hours of light relief. So, why did I rate it 3 out of 5 stars? Mainly it was due to the out of character behaviour and unbelievable magical interventions. There was no surfing just a mysterious character acting like a surfer and featuring a surfboard. How come the main character survived poisoning with an ancient remedy not known to the modern world, but which, suddenly and highly coincidentally, was at hand just in time? No explanation, no matter how tenuous, as to why we are expected to believe that at least three of the characters were hundreds of years old. I found the main character's attempts at humour were lame. There is still a lot of enjoyment in reading this book, the archaeological hunt and discovery are exciting and would have been better if treated in a more serious manner with humour injected only as needed and with greater skill.
May 19, 2022
Mayan Shadows: The Crystals of Ahrum (Maxwell Barnes #1) by Craig A. Hart and S. A Varengo has the expected great characters and style, but takes place in a new location and new type of story line. There's also plenty of humor. It all takes place in Paraguay ultimately searching for long lost Mayan village of Ahrum. There are several characters who seem to be an original conquistador and an original Ahrum inhabitant. You be the judge. The Mayan appears as a Californian skate board punk and the conquistador is a blood thirsty general with a band of cut throats who do his bidding. And there's much much more to enjoy. Can't wait for the following books in the series Craig and Scot have come up with a thrilling start to a new series.
I was given an ARC of the book by Craig Hart. I am voluntarily posting an honest review.
I was given an ARC of the book by Craig Hart. I am voluntarily posting an honest review.
August 17, 2024
Mayan Shadows
For me, a great read. The concept of the story is one I find most appealing, and the story is well-told. There's just enough wit within the narrative, and the delivery of that wit comes across as if it's coming from Max Barnes. This, yet bundled up in third person perspective, coupled with Max's constant internal arguments makes for good entertainment. All cleverly done.
The characters, regardless of the page-time each is afforded, present as real people; both in dialogue and action, and this is key to a good read.
The read-flow is smooth and well-paced, which guarantees the pages keep turning.
Being book 1 in a series, the perfect amount of information-withhold keeps you guessing, yet doesn't shut you out.
I'm looking forward to getting into this series.
For me, a great read. The concept of the story is one I find most appealing, and the story is well-told. There's just enough wit within the narrative, and the delivery of that wit comes across as if it's coming from Max Barnes. This, yet bundled up in third person perspective, coupled with Max's constant internal arguments makes for good entertainment. All cleverly done.
The characters, regardless of the page-time each is afforded, present as real people; both in dialogue and action, and this is key to a good read.
The read-flow is smooth and well-paced, which guarantees the pages keep turning.
Being book 1 in a series, the perfect amount of information-withhold keeps you guessing, yet doesn't shut you out.
I'm looking forward to getting into this series.
April 19, 2022
ARC epub: 220 pages on kobo
A rattling good yarn to introduce a new series. Here we have an intrepid archaeologist/treasure hunter (and the inevitable Indiana Jones comparison is made in the text),along with his life-long friend in Guatemala on the trail of a lost Mayan city. Along the way we encounter villains, also after the city's whereabouts, who seem to be the descendants of the conquistadores who sacked the city centuries ago, and also a mysterious Mayan skater who seems to be ageless...
Good fun, as always with these writers - and the book ends with a hook for the next instalment while being complete in itself.
A rattling good yarn to introduce a new series. Here we have an intrepid archaeologist/treasure hunter (and the inevitable Indiana Jones comparison is made in the text),along with his life-long friend in Guatemala on the trail of a lost Mayan city. Along the way we encounter villains, also after the city's whereabouts, who seem to be the descendants of the conquistadores who sacked the city centuries ago, and also a mysterious Mayan skater who seems to be ageless...
Good fun, as always with these writers - and the book ends with a hook for the next instalment while being complete in itself.
May 17, 2022
For the 1st book in the series this really kicks ass. You're taken on a wild adventure in search of treasure. Along the way you meet some decidedly odd characters from a skater kid who is ageless to decedents of the conquistadores. The main characters are not only strong & instantly likeable but have great depth that you don't often come across in the 1st of a series. A definite winner that had me actually lol. Read it far to fast & can't wait for the next one. As always brilliant writing from Scott & Craig. Thoroughly enjoyed it & highly recommend.
April 2, 2023
Interesting and Entertaining
A quasi Indian Jones with an eclectic ensemble of characters. Max and Alex are treasure hunters working for a wealthy collector. After a fruitless foray in the jungles they return to home base where Max meets a skateboarding local that shares a tale of a conquistador in search of Mayan treasures. Despite the occasional typo, causing the flow of the story to come to a screeching halt as you are forced to re-read the passage again, I liked the adventures and the characters well enough to check out the next book in the series.
A quasi Indian Jones with an eclectic ensemble of characters. Max and Alex are treasure hunters working for a wealthy collector. After a fruitless foray in the jungles they return to home base where Max meets a skateboarding local that shares a tale of a conquistador in search of Mayan treasures. Despite the occasional typo, causing the flow of the story to come to a screeching halt as you are forced to re-read the passage again, I liked the adventures and the characters well enough to check out the next book in the series.
May 17, 2023
"It was okay, 'Brah.' It was a good, light, entertaining, fun read. I enjoyed it. Max is a second-generation archaeologist, although he didn't do much archaeology during this book. He did do a lot of running away and got chased a lot. They do say it's not the destination; it's the journey!
The characterization was fun, and the dialogue was vaguely amusing. I enjoyed his self-internal dialogue, which oscillated between paranoia and pride. I found it amusing. The plot was straightforward, a race to find the crystal. No need for rocket scientists here."
The characterization was fun, and the dialogue was vaguely amusing. I enjoyed his self-internal dialogue, which oscillated between paranoia and pride. I found it amusing. The plot was straightforward, a race to find the crystal. No need for rocket scientists here."
April 21, 2022
A good read something different from the authors.
Maxwell Barnes is a archaeologist and his father before him. Maxwell and bis friend since they were both young have Bern treasure hunting in Guatemala.
The area is rumoured to be in the region where the city of Maya many years ago.
On his journey Maxwell meets a strange man on a skateboard who tells him the true story of the once great city..
This leads to a great adventure fir the friends but also puts them in great danger.
Denise
Maxwell Barnes is a archaeologist and his father before him. Maxwell and bis friend since they were both young have Bern treasure hunting in Guatemala.
The area is rumoured to be in the region where the city of Maya many years ago.
On his journey Maxwell meets a strange man on a skateboard who tells him the true story of the once great city..
This leads to a great adventure fir the friends but also puts them in great danger.
Denise
November 16, 2022
This book continues where the last one left off and includes all the major characters and a few new ones. It answers a lot of the questions about Bembe's age. The story moves around Europe and the Middle East this time. It is well written, although I found some of the descriptions over long and found myself skipping some paragraphs and as a result have given it 4 stars. However, I did enjoy it and look forward to the next book in the series.
January 17, 2024
Craig Hart and S.J. Varengo Blew Me Away With The Ending (And so much more!)
I was hooked straight from the beginning and could not stop reading. the author created a unique masterpiece of historical and modern experiences with a touch of the supernatural blended into one story!
The ending was brilliant in that it leaves you wanting to know more so badly I immediately ordered the second book in the series and started reading!
I was hooked straight from the beginning and could not stop reading. the author created a unique masterpiece of historical and modern experiences with a touch of the supernatural blended into one story!
The ending was brilliant in that it leaves you wanting to know more so badly I immediately ordered the second book in the series and started reading!
December 1, 2022
Brilliant!
I loved this book from the start! Great characters and storyline, excitement mixed with a dash of attraction, which smothered the evil trying to triumph.
Great start to the series, left me wanting more - I'm so looking forward to the next one in the series, especially how this one ended!
I loved this book from the start! Great characters and storyline, excitement mixed with a dash of attraction, which smothered the evil trying to triumph.
Great start to the series, left me wanting more - I'm so looking forward to the next one in the series, especially how this one ended!
December 29, 2022
Decent start to the series. Not a lot of character development yet, but there are hints of where it could go. The characters are interesting and their interchanges tend to humor and sarcasm. The plot is a bit out there, but it is a story in the mold of classic archeological thrillers. A good way to spend an afternoon or two.
February 14, 2023
Great action packed adventure! Treasue hunters, Maxwell and friend Axel, have found themselves unwittingly in the middle of a Myan legend. Well written with vivid details, I really enjoyed this story. Maxwell's inner dialog with himself had me cracking up. Terrific job on the audio narration as well!! Looking forward to more!
February 22, 2023
Mayan Shadows Jungle Book
The story and characters were okay but a little silly at times. I enjoy humor in mystery thrillers but it sounded more like high school kids. There was a certain predictability to the story. I did appreciate the authors keeping the story profanity free. A good book, just not great.
The story and characters were okay but a little silly at times. I enjoy humor in mystery thrillers but it sounded more like high school kids. There was a certain predictability to the story. I did appreciate the authors keeping the story profanity free. A good book, just not great.
April 9, 2023
Maxwell Barnes an archaeologist and his friend Axel Morales are seeking the lost Mayan civilization in search of the Crystal of Ahrum. They are financed by Myron Crabtree. While searching for the treasure Max and Axel meet Isabel Garcia on their journey and encounter criminals. I really enjoyed this action-packed fiction thriller novel.
June 30, 2023
Adventure, mystery
The Spanish invaded the Mayan population in Central America centuries ago. This novel picks up factors that remain between a Spanish thug vs a Mayan that live today searching for the Mayan crystal. A Indiana Jones type action , adventure, intrigue searching for this crystal with the assistance of a archeologist and his friend.
The Spanish invaded the Mayan population in Central America centuries ago. This novel picks up factors that remain between a Spanish thug vs a Mayan that live today searching for the Mayan crystal. A Indiana Jones type action , adventure, intrigue searching for this crystal with the assistance of a archeologist and his friend.
July 19, 2023
Great Mayan adventure!
Having traveled through Guatemala to the ruins of Tikal, this story grabbed my attention. The descriptions of the jungle - the sounds, the incessant bugs, and the leeches - were very accurate. I know that there are many, many Mayan cities yet to be discovered under the jungle. I look forward to reading more books from this series.
Having traveled through Guatemala to the ruins of Tikal, this story grabbed my attention. The descriptions of the jungle - the sounds, the incessant bugs, and the leeches - were very accurate. I know that there are many, many Mayan cities yet to be discovered under the jungle. I look forward to reading more books from this series.
October 26, 2023
Treasure Lost
A couple of adventurers are hired to find a lost crystal that was part of a Mayan culture.
The task of locating this prize requires many dangerous trekes to locate it but this. Is a prize also wanted by another powerful organization which results in many side ventures.
A couple of adventurers are hired to find a lost crystal that was part of a Mayan culture.
The task of locating this prize requires many dangerous trekes to locate it but this. Is a prize also wanted by another powerful organization which results in many side ventures.
May 10, 2024
Adventure is their life treasure hunting is their game
Max and Axle are out to find a Mayan pyramid, a chance meeting with a skateboard rider gave him a clue, but he's not the only one searching so danger is on the horizon. A fast paced adventure well worth the read I enjoyed the fun and puns
Max and Axle are out to find a Mayan pyramid, a chance meeting with a skateboard rider gave him a clue, but he's not the only one searching so danger is on the horizon. A fast paced adventure well worth the read I enjoyed the fun and puns
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