NZ Author: David Hair - Aotearoa series

David Hair: Aotearoa series

The Bone Tiki and its sequel The Taniwha’s tear

The premise of this fantasy series is that alongside our contemporary New Zealand lies a parallel Aotearoa, the timeless, mythical land were people and other beings that are remembered in Maori legend live on. There are crossing places, where people who know how can cross from one world into the other.

Against this backdrop the action-packed plot takes the teenage protagonist to face human and non-human enemies in both worlds. The strongest point of the series is the use of Maori myth. Characterisation is not so well developed though there is an element of coming-of-age and coming-to-terms with a mixed heritage. This is an exciting NZ fantasy for the YA reader.

Reviewed by Anneke a Campo.

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