Captivating, compelling, and immensely satisfying…
Aleja masterfully intertwines Chamorro folklore with actual historical events, giving Guam’s rich culture and past a mystical and enlightening perspective in his debut historical fantasy. After their parents’ death, Takeshi and Yuki suffered under the cruel care of their relatives in Sasebo. To escape, Takeshi joined the Imperial Army, but war’s horrors followed even there. As he faces an uncertain future and questions his loyalties, an unexpected enemy emerges in the jungle. With rumors of invisible foes present, Takeshi must confront his beliefs before an impending American invasion. The novel’s central theme explores the Chamorro legend and the events of World War II in the Western Pacific, but it is the chapters delving into Takeshi’s unrelenting battle and his poignant relationships with Yuki and Elena that truly capture the reader’s heart. With skilled precision, Aleja weaves together a tightly-woven fantasy plot while expertly infusing historical context. The devastation inflicted upon the Chamorro people of Guam and other Mariana Islands during the war is portrayed with searing intensity, exposing the true horrors of that era. Readers will be moved.
Guardians of the Latte Stones
M. K. Aleja
Coming soon
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