The Scorpions of Zahir

June 1, 2012
Combine a complicated and not entirely explained premise involving the link between a mysterious planet and a half-buried desert city, giant scorpions with the power to communicate, and an eccentric cast of characters, and you've got a wild ride indeed. Long ago, the Azimuth people thrived in the beautiful city of Zahir, which was protected by a pyramid that absorbed energy from a planet called Nar Azrak. When a stone was removed from the apex of the pyramid, deadly scorpions invaded the city, and Nar Azrak began to veer off course in a path that would ultimately result in a collision with Earth. Fast forward to present day, and readers find 11-year-old Zagora, her brother, Duncan, and their father, archaeologist Dr. Charles Pym, venturing into the Moroccan desert to rescue Dr. Pym's long-lost partner and to save Zahir and what remains of the Azimuth people. Although the focus is on the fast-paced, suspenseful plot, some welcome character development is also present. Zagora's confidence grows, and she and her brother Duncan bond in a way that didn't seem possible in their previous, ordinary lives. Loose ends and a fuzzy mythology are flaws that will likely be overlooked by readers who enjoy immersing themselves in adventures featuring creepiness of both the historical and otherworldly varieties. (Fantasy. 9-13)

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October 1, 2012

Gr 4-6-Eleven-year-old Zagora Pym is the feisty heroine of this colorful, fast-paced adventure set in Morocco. She and her brother, Duncan, accompany their archaeologist father out into the desert to reconnect with Pitblade Yegen, Dr. Pym's partner who was thought to have died in an expedition 11 years earlier. Plans change when Dr. Pym is kidnapped and the siblings set off to save him, along with Mina, a young Azimuth, and Razziq, their desert guide. At the heart of the story lies the mysterious "Oryx Stone," which is said to be made of meteorite pieces of the planet Nar Azrak. Zagora learns that she is in fact a sentinel of the stone, and ancient glyphs reveal that the children comprise the Circle of Four who will in fact save the Ancient City of Zahir if they can return the stone to the Pyramid of Xuloc before the lunar eclipse. Throughout this journey, they encounter human enemies, venomous snakes, hyenas, and mutant scorpions that have taken over the city of Zahir since the disappearance of the Oryx Stone. Brodien-Jones does a beautiful job of weaving an engaging story of intrigue, myth, and adventure. Her characters seem to jump off the pages and stay with readers long after the story ends, as their transformative journey becomes ours. The crosshatched sketches perfectly capture the ambiance and setting of this exotic thriller. A must-have read.-Mary Beth Rassulo, Ridgefield Library, CT

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2012
Grades 5-8 Zagora, an archaeologist's daughter, has always longed to explore the desert. Her dreams come true when her father receives a letter from a colleague thought to be long dead, and Zagora's family must rush to Morocco and the ruins of the ancient city of Zahir. There, Zagora finds that she possesses an ancient gift, one that she must use to chase away deadly scorpions and restore Zahir to its former glory. Brodien-Jones mixes fantasy and adventure in a way that would make Indiana Jones feel right at home. Plucky Zagora, her absentminded father, and her often lazy brother are all changed by their journey, each finding out something unexpected about one another, the people they meet, and themselves. The addition of the rogue planet Nar Azrak is the only false note (wouldn't an off-course planet cause more environmental problems?), but young readers will be too busy following Zagora on her fearless and exciting trek to worry about such details.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)