Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl by Julie Kagawa

Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl by Julie Kagawa is a brilliant, action-packed novel about a boy named Shinji Takahashi. Shinji started living with his Auntie Yui after his parents died in a tragic fire and she homeschools him as they travel the world in Auntie Yui’s boat, the Good Tern. However, Shinji’s life changes drastically when Shinji and his aunt travel to the town of Abenge.

Auntie Yui sends off Shinji to buy anything he wants from the market and Shinji heads off towards a part of the market where he’s never been before (after buying a snack of course). Shinji walks into a shady store owned by a creepy old lady who sells him a mesoamerican statue. The statue of Coatl. However, when Shinji returns to the boat, he gets kidnapped and the statue magically ties itself with Shinji, knocking him out cold.

When he wakes up, a man named Gideon Frost tells Shinji that the statue of Coatl gives a curse to whomever it binds itself with. He tells Shinji that if the mark of Coatl, a tattoo on his arm, is not treated properly, he could lose his soul and become a husk. Shinji listens carefully not sure if he should trust Frost, especially since he kidnapped him and trapped him in a jail cell. He decides against it and escapes into the night with the help of a girl named Lucy and her robotic mouse, Tinker. They rush down the halls and make a mad dash for the elevator, nearly being stopped by Tom, one of the many guards before just barely escaping into the darkness of the street.

Lucy tells Shinji all about a secret organization named SEA (Society of Explorers and Adventurers) and tells him that if they could find SEA the would be safe from the Hightower Corporation, Frost’s business. Shinji agrees and they set off to find SEA. However, their plans get thwarted when they see several Hightower agents pursuing them in the streets, but a stranger who just so happens to be part of SEA jumps in to save them and takes them to SEA’s hideout.

SEA tells them that they have to find the font (a land that is infused with magical power, making anything made on it magical) and the idol before Hightower can reach it and collect the font’s power. SEA also tells them that one of the first people of the Hightower family used to be part of SEA and that Frost, one of the descendants of the Hightower line, would certainly know that the font was there and would be following them throughout their journey. The team SEA collects heads to New Mexico, the believed location of the font and the idol and hopes that they can get to it before the Hightower Corporation, nearly dying multiple times on the way.

I really loved this book because Kagawa did a beautiful job making one of the best, most action-packed stories I’ve ever read. Filling up the novel with just enough fight sequences and tense moments that make a wonderful book for anyone who loves a little bit of mystery, with some action, and some exciting twists sprinkled on top.