Blending action, suspense and astonishing historical fact, The Curse of Cortés embarks on a fantastic, nail-biting adventure reminiscent of Indiana Jones or The Da Vinci Code. Author Guy Morris incorporates classic elements such as pirate ships and hidden treasure into a story of modern-day international intrigue, featuring drug runners, corrupt government officials, secret organizations and a few determined protagonists trying to expose them. In addition to a fantastic cast of characters and an electrifying plot, the top-tier literary talent of Morris makes The Curse of Cortés a spectacular read.

A minor earthquake on the island of Roatán, off the coast of Honduras, destroys the family home of a local tour guide, Sophia Martinez. After the quake, Sophia discovers several strange items hidden in the walls of her crumbling home: a strange book written in an ancient language with blood-red ink, an engraved tortoise shell, and a ceremonial dagger with a green obsidian blade. Her great Aunt Carmen warns that the items are cursed but won’t reveal anything else she might know about the mysterious objects. After taking the treasures to a corrupt museum curator in Mexico City, Sophia finds herself the target of powerful men who know the true value and power of these ancient relics and will do anything to obtain them. 

AUTHOR’S ADVENTURING INFORMS QUEST FOR HIDDEN TREASURE

Sophia joins a crew of explorers, collectors and long-lost family members to stay one step ahead of scheming warlords while searching for an immense treasure rumored to be hidden on the coast of Central America. On the course of their journey, they learn of the region’s rich Mayan culture, including how natives were ruthlessly plundered and pillaged during colonization by Spanish conquistadores. The protagonists are haunted by the horrible truth behind the treasure they are seeking as well as the ever-present fear of what will happen if the leaders of the drug cartel catch up to them. 

The Curse of Cortés moves at a swift pace, following Sophia and her friends throughout the coastal islands off Honduras, onto the Yucatán peninsula, then even further north to California, and back. Morris demonstrates incredible skill as a writer, guiding the reader from one location to the next through assassinations, betrayals and brief history lessons. This is accomplished with captivating dialogue, concise exposition and effective, vivid descriptions of settings. The author also draws on his own notable experience as an adventurer. Morris spent considerable time sailing and scuba diving in Cancun and Cozumel, including a run-in with a Zetas cartel thug named Shay Golan, who happens to appear by name in the novel. 

MORRIS PULLS READERS INTO THE ACTION LIKE FEW WRITERS CAN

The most exciting moments of the story are rendered in exquisite, careful detail; descriptions of each bullet finding flesh or blow of the fist make the reader cringe or cheer depending on how the fight goes for the protagonists. It becomes apparent early in the story that not every character will survive their encounters with the bad guys. The high stakes of each exchange pull readers into the action in a way that very few novelists accomplish. Pertinent pieces of Mayan history and gory details of the Spanish conquest of the region are explained by way of dynamic dialogue between characters. The historical details that Morris shares of indigenous people being brutalized by the new settlers make the rest of the story even more interesting and engaging. The tension of the plot is ratcheted higher with each scene, strategically and thoughtfully creating a level of suspense only achieved by the very best writers. 

The Curse of Cortés is an adventure story about the search for treasure and power, both in ancient and modern times. This is a perfect title for readers who enjoy an exciting story with great characters and lots of action. It’s also a great choice for anyone who loves exploring the lesser-known, darker corners of history.

THE CURSE OF CORTÉS

BY GUY MORRIS ‧ RELEASE DATE: MAY 12, 2021

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.

The Curse of Cortés by Guy Morris is a mystery/thriller that is aptly subtitled “An abandoned billion-dollar plunder. A forgotten sacred pilgrimage. A cursed family legacy.”

The story follows Sophia as she comes across relics that she does not recognize and a log book with stains of something that looks suspiciously like blood. The log and the relics together create a mystery that Sophia cannot ignore. A little digging around reveals that she and her family might be up against some real danger very soon. Before Sophia knows it, she and the rest of her family are racing against time and scrambling to protect themselves from the unknown. What exactly did she find in that logbook? Why did she find those relics inside the family home? What happened to her ancestors?

Wow, The Curse of Cortés by Guy Morris was a roller coaster ride! The intricate plot goes back centuries and intrigues the reader into reading more. I had the urge to read on, to know more, and to figure out why everything wrong was happening to Sophia and her family. History plays an important role in this story, but so does family. Sophia’s struggle to find why the relics were so important and why her family was targeted for them was pivotal to the progress of the story. Her conversation with Estefan made an impact on me. Her dialogue, “I’m looking for facts, not folklore,” encompasses the whole story! In fact, the dialogues are some of the most vivid and richest I have read. 

Sophia’s character is strong; she is only strong as long as she has the support of her family but that does not stop her from taking risks.

The story is intense, it demands your attention and wants you to remain stuck to it until the end. I was scared that if I blinked, I would miss something. This book is perfection!

The Curse of Cortés is an incredible and thrilling book by a talented author that has captivated and shocked me from beginning to end! The Curse of Cortés was a phenomenal and memorable read that I will struggle to forget for a long time thanks to the compelling story and extraordinary characters the reader meets along the way! I already recommend this book thanks to its unique nature combined with the sensational literature by Guy Morris, however, if you need more convincing then continue to read to learn more!

The Curse of Cortés is a unique and incredible novel that will follow the protagonist of the novel, Sophia. Sophia’s life turns upside down when she discovers relics and a logbook (with bloodstains on). This discovery will take Sophia and her family on a journey like no other because the further she investigates this mystery, the more she realizes the danger she and her family will face. The reader will follow Sophia and her family as they unravel this mystery and this book lovers is the short premise of the incredible The Curse of Cortés!

Guy Morris is a remarkable author and a genius; he is a genius because he has expertly weaved numerous themes throughout his book The Curse of Cortés, in a flawless way in which all subjects blend perfectly together! The Curse of Cortés is an incredible book that has shocked and amazed me; the gripping nature of this novel combined with themes makes The Curse of Cortés a truly unforgettable read that shouldn’t be missed by anybody!

The story of The Curse of Cortés is quite simply sensational as well as enthralling. The Curse of Cortés is a book that deals with thrilling and mysterious themes and explores them wonderfully. All the themes are weaved perfectly together, and the outcome is a beautiful piece of literature that will stay prominent in readers’ minds for many weeks upon completion!

Guy Morris’s prose engrossed me very quickly thanks to the thrilling themes he explores as well as the gripping narrative of the protagonist of the novel but what also gripped me was his incredible and unique story! It is a story unlike anything I have read before and for that, I am really thankful and it is one of the many reasons why I am so excited to be sharing this book with you lovely readers!

As I am madly in love with The Curse of Cortés and think it is a captivating and entertaining novel with a memorable plot, I have no choice but to award it a dazzling five stars because it deserves this! The Curse of Cortés indeed is a captivating book, and so I hope you lovely readers take my advice when I write that you should read this excellent book, you will not regret it! Be sure to have a read of the preview below, you won’t regret it!