After spending a year caring for her dying mother, North decides to return to the Four Corners Desert to complete a spirit quest. As she lies sleeping, she is suddenly awakened by a small, strange, ancient man. "He was ghastly, yet intriguing; alchemistic and punishing to my eyes—and I was mesmerized." Oliver tells North the desert holds a secret, and Earth Mother has chosen her to discover it and bring the Earth into balance. Oliver tells her she must find Leo Biscolli, an archaeologist excavating in the Four Corners Desert. Biscolli is intrigued by what she tells him. As the two search for this hidden secret, North discovers information concerning the native people who occupied this southwestern desert between 500 and 1300 AD. She comes to believe the Hopi, direct descendants of the Anasazi, hold the key to the secret. In the hope of finding answers, she heads to Third Mesa's Hotevilla, where the tribe's traditionalists still live much as the Anasazi did.

This work is a dramatization based on the author's real-life experiences during a vision quest. Though the author uses fiction to relate her unique and intriguing experiences, it is evident throughout that North's experiences were profound and molded her perception of the world around her. The book is well-written with believable dialogue and interesting characters. Discussions of the Anasazi people and their descendants are both entertaining and educational. Descriptions of the desert are beautifully written, invoking its natural beauty. An intensive, thought-provoking study guide for group discussion is included. More books are planned for the Anasazi Vision Series, and they promise to be as mesmerizing as this first one. The perfect blend of history and spirituality, this award-winning novel is a treasure.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

A 2025 Eric Hoffer Book Award Nominee

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