"I'm searching for the footprints I've made in a previous life."
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Power of the Zila by M. Meyer Horn Trafford Publishing
book review by C.D.
In the shadow of the majestic Thabazimbi Mountain, the women of Africa have struggled for centuries with hunger, oppression, drought, and disease. With her personal enigmatic vision, author M. Meyer Horn takes us on an epic journey into the deepest realms of ancient culture and civilization, bringing to light a connection between old world beliefs and the new millennium. At the heart of this fictional odyssey is the young Irish scholar, Mary Harper. Across the globe she has been invited to share her thesis on Celtic Artifacts and the Power of the Torc, in the hope that it will inspire the African Bushveld women to honor their own Zila, a golden neck adornment symbolic of their own doctrine of ethic morality.
In her trek to the ancient caves of this historic ground, Mary entertains the demons of her childhood and ultimately searches for truth, power, and the female energy of past lives. The author artfully integrates a sub plot featuring an interesting love triangle between Mary, a wealthy landowner hosting her visit, and a rogue bush farm worker. Poisonous berries, mamba snakes, and raging tempests, help mirror the tumultuous characteristics of Africa and prove well played elements in the man vs. nature theme. Meyer Horn skillfully draws attention to the HIV-AIDS pandemic U'FELEBA," which translates as the "TERRIBLE ONE," in particular reference to the devastation it has brought to the lives of women and children in South Africa.
The author's love of language is clearly evident in the beautiful prose and descriptive narrative, while a small glossary proves quite useful in defining several indigenous words and phrases. In homage to her poetic interests Meyer Horn introduces each chapter with a Haiku-like verse reflective of the African aesthetic. More than a story of place, Power of the Zila interlaces historic fact and mythical edge, beauty and harshness, mystery and discovery. An epic novel offering an engaging read, this work would make a fine addition to any African Literature or Women's Studies curriculum.