Luna and the Treasure of Tlaloc (Brownstone's Mythical Collection)

Brownstone’s Mythical Collection centres around the concept of a portrait gallery celebrating a professor’s adventurous ancestors. Think of a mash up between The Librarians, The Adventures of Indiana Jones and the Legend of Lara Croft, Tomb Raider tailored for pre-teen readers. Each time the professor relates a new tale involving mythological artifacts and creatures to educate and entertain.

From the realms of the fearsome Fenrir of Norse mythology to the terrifying Egyptian Sphinx to the mischievous Chinese monkey king to the cursed Greek Gorgon, Professor Brownstone’s family members have traversed the globe to collect and protect the treasures of world mythology. He explains that ‘while most have been courageous, virtuous and selfless’ there have been some anomalies.

In the latest instalment cunning Luna Brownstone’s conscience is put to the test in the Mexican empire of the Aztecs, home to Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent God of wind and light, giant venomous Gila lizards, vicious water dogs and the rapacious Rain God Tlaloc. Teaming up with Atzi, a villager who must go on a quest to help her drought-stricken village, she meets many challenges along the way.

Joe Todd Stanton uses a colour palette of deep blues, jungle greens, fiery oranges and frosty whites with accents of gold for the Aztec Kingdom. He uses maps at the start and end to give the reader a sense of place and vignettes of Aztec Gods to establish them as characters. His dynamic illustrations, intrepid characters and ever-changing perilous landscapes populated with speech bubbles, scrolls and limited text will excite visual learners. This will also appeal to young fans of fast paced, adventurous, treasure hunter stories and could act as a gateway to other popular mythical series like Percy Jackson.