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Peter Lanz, a young, talented son of a Polish immigrant, embarks on a life-changing journey when he meets Morteus, a spirit who guides dying souls, while walking in the woods. He accidentally breaks the black diamond sitting on the top of Morteus' staff. To restore the diamond, Morteus gives him three tasks to accomplish: to rescue a girl called Kelly, who has been lost in the famed city of El Dorado; to deliver a document from a dead scientist to the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City that points to a location of a long-lost goddess statue; and to procure a new stone to repair Morteus' staff. In the course of his journey, Peter rescues Kelly and falls in love with her, travels to many parts of the world, and acquires great wealth along the way.
This book is a mash-up of fantasy, adventure, and romance, and it is engagingly written. The author himself is blind, and he learned to type in four days, as the back cover states. Olivie does a good job researching various nations of the world and their associated lore, such as the famed city of El Dorado and the Polish and Mexican cultures. However, repetitions and passages that do not seem to add much to the plot slow the novel's momentum. The fact that the main character, Peter Lanz, is too perfect and everything comes easy to him might keep some readers from identifying with him. This is a good book for readers who like adventures with a romantic twist.