THE CURSE OF CORTÉS

In Morris’ novel, a discovery of antique artifacts reveals a history of family secrets and ignites a perilous odyssey involving a drug lord and an ominous supernatural threat.

A fear-struck old woman calls a stash of old relics “cursed” when her orphaned adult granddaughter, Sophia Martinez,discovers them in the walls of their Roatan home; they include a dusty leather book etched in blood and an obsidian knife. Unfazed by this warning, Sophia embarks on a mission to uncover their secrets and hopefully learn more about the history of her own family, which has faced trials due to reputedly cursed pirate treasure. Soon, she unwittingly stumbles into the nefarious schemes of dealers in illegal artifacts and a cartel kingpin-turned-religious zealot named Hun Came. Morris, the author of Swarm(2020), brings an intricate and thrilling plot to life in a sophomore effort that’s well cast with an array of dynamic characters. A standout is dogged investigative journalist, Lucia Vasquez, whose story runs alongside Sophia’s and helps to propel the novel forward; her reporting provides explanations that help guide the reader. There’s a sense of thematic harmony as Sophia struggles to piece together the secrets of her family’s past, and Lucia works to expose the cartel that orphaned her and her brother. The two women bring welcome humanity to this page-turner, which seamlessly blends elements of geopolitical conspiracy with eerie and atmospheric horror. As each chapter counts down to the Mayan chaa, an event that could mean untold destruction, Lucia and Sophia’s stories begin to converge, gradually revealing the truth behind the old leather book and the family curse. Overall, Morris’ novel is a taut adventure, but, as it dives deeper into Sophia's story, it offers a deeply human tragedy.  

A thriller novel made more compelling by the real emotion at its center.