Daughters of Fire. Tom Peek. Koa Books. October 2012. 496 pp. Available in paperback and e-book formats. ISBN #: 9780982165621.
Contemporary Hawaii has been taken over by politicians and businessmen seeking profit at any cost. Native Hawaiians have been marginalized and cast aside, sometimes by omission or ignoring and sometimes by commission of violent crimes. But there is a magic, mysticism, and beauty of this state that elicits wonder, awe, and passionate defense. Maile is a such a Hawaiian, an educated anthropologist who keeps in touch with everything going on. She quietly notes and at times assists those native Hawaiians who will demonstrate and do whatever they can to keep their land pure and true to its spiritual identity and destiny!
So the reader watches with fascination as she meets a non-Hawaiian white Australian astronomer doing research. He is at first a detached observer here for his scientific exploratory job but slowly is entranced with Maile and with her land. His initial attitude is representative of those who live for a material world and are blind to the awesome ambience of this gorgeous island. Even the volcanic craters that have a temperament of their own, believed to indicate the support or punitive anger of the divine Pele.
Add to that a super resort is being built on what is believed to be sacred native land that was stolen from true Hawaiians. It's worth millions and its growth is supported by politicians all the way to Washington. However, it is also built on a volcano that recently has been predicted to be slowly rising. It poses a major financial crisis for the builders, owners, and even the Hawaiian rebels who will demonstrate to try to stop this abomination from opening.
A young man accidentally happens upon a strange murder, several Hawaiian men hurling a desperate, screaming, crying man into a volcanic crater. On and on the violence goes, a symbol of betrayal, and a symbol of the immense power of the Hawaiian "mafia."
There is so much more in this vivid, panoramic view of so many disparate sides vying for power and ownership, all with different motives and all using acceptable and illegal means to attain their goal.
Daughters of Fire in a way takes of where Hawaii by James Michener ended. It's an emotional, terrifying, and inspiring look at this land that has moved so many to its paradise atmosphere and possibilities. Notable fiction!
So the reader watches with fascination as she meets a non-Hawaiian white Australian astronomer doing research. He is at first a detached observer here for his scientific exploratory job but slowly is entranced with Maile and with her land. His initial attitude is representative of those who live for a material world and are blind to the awesome ambience of this gorgeous island. Even the volcanic craters that have a temperament of their own, believed to indicate the support or punitive anger of the divine Pele.
Add to that a super resort is being built on what is believed to be sacred native land that was stolen from true Hawaiians. It's worth millions and its growth is supported by politicians all the way to Washington. However, it is also built on a volcano that recently has been predicted to be slowly rising. It poses a major financial crisis for the builders, owners, and even the Hawaiian rebels who will demonstrate to try to stop this abomination from opening.
A young man accidentally happens upon a strange murder, several Hawaiian men hurling a desperate, screaming, crying man into a volcanic crater. On and on the violence goes, a symbol of betrayal, and a symbol of the immense power of the Hawaiian "mafia."
There is so much more in this vivid, panoramic view of so many disparate sides vying for power and ownership, all with different motives and all using acceptable and illegal means to attain their goal.
Daughters of Fire in a way takes of where Hawaii by James Michener ended. It's an emotional, terrifying, and inspiring look at this land that has moved so many to its paradise atmosphere and possibilities. Notable fiction!
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