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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN num: 9780385340106
ISBN number: 0385340109
Label: Delacorte Press
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 384
Printing Date: April 15, 2008
Publishing house: Delacorte Press
Release Date: April 15, 2008
Sale Popularity Level: 443522
Studio: Delacorte Press
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
In a spellbinding blend of history, myth, and science, bestselling novelist Manda Scott unleashes a thriller that sweeps from the secrets of the Mayans to the court of a sixteenth-century queen to a shattering end-times prophecy.
“It’s a lump of rock, Stella; nothing more. No stone is worth dying for.”
Except it’s not just a lump of rock. It’s a blue crystal skull made by the Maya to save the world from ruin; a sapphire so perfect, so powerful that for centuries men have killed to own or destroy it.
Ancient prophecies say that if the thirteen skulls already in existence are not reunited, the world will end on December 21, 2012. Cedric Owen, the skull’s last Keeper, died so that it might keep its secret for the subsequent four centuries. Now Stella Cody has found it, and someone has already tried to kill her. Like Owen, she’s being hunted—but by whom?
Desperate to unravel the mystery of the crystal skull, Stella must decode Cedric Owen’s coded writings, sketches and ciphers no scholar has been able to unravel. What she discovers is astounding: a shocking secret prophecy…and the staggering puzzle of four terrifying creatures, thirteen precious stones, and what will happen if Cedric Owen’s crystal skull falls into the wrong hands. But time is against Stella. She has only days—hours—left to uncover the only secret that may yet save the world.
12.21.12
The date is set. Time is running out.
The end of the world starts now.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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Like James Rollins and some of the earlier Preston/Child books, Miss Scott's "Crystal Skull" stars scientists who discover an artifact from the past that has the power to radically alter our modern-day lives. Unlike those other authors' books, this book doesn't posess taut pacing, riveting action, or interesting characters. Everything is done without a whiff of tension. The languid pacing of this archaeological-thriller totally mutes the otherwise rich possibilities that the subject could acheive.
I don't recommend this book.
Rated by buyers 
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Considering all of the research that purportedly went into the writing of this book, it's unfortunate that astrological research was not included. In the astrological wheel that was printed (early in the voyage), it's glaring that there was no Part of Fortune indicated (especially when it was discussed so prominently in the text). Also, Chiron is indicated within said wheel, but it wasn't discovered until 1977 (and this horoscope was supposedly cast in the 1500s). It's unfortunate that neither the author nor the publishing house's editor thought to look at the astrological aspect of editing.
Rated by buyers -
As a wedding gift, Kitt brings his new wife Stella to a cave where he believes Cedric Owen's legendary crystal skull is located. But when they find the skull, their lives are endangered. Someone is willing to kill to get his hands on it. And supposedly the skull has a curse on it. Can Stella uncover the truth behind the skull and get the skull to its resting place before time runs out?
The narrative jumps back and forth in time from Cedric Owen's time and destiny involving the crystal skull to Stella and her search for the truth and her own destiny. While some of the adventure surrounding the mystery of the skull was exciting and fun; unfortunately, this book didn't live up to the hype. The characters were all one-dimensional. And we are expected to believe that the pull of the crystal skull, though extremely valuable, evokes an emotional response in everyone who sees it. There is little to no explanation of how the skulls came to be, what they are really for, and how they are supposed to affect the supposed end of the world. This story had great promise for an archeological thriller. Instead, it was dull and disappointing.
I usually don't post negative reviews, as I don't usually finish books that I don't enjoy. But I actually finished this one, hoping there would be some resolution. I'm sorry to say that even the ending was an anti-climactic whimper.
Rated by buyers -
Although I couldnt give this new novel five stars, I must say it really is an excellent and entertaining read. The idea of using the Crystal Skulls was different than most of the later Da Vinci Code/Art & Archaeology action thrillers we've seen in the past few years. Scott's writing skills are superb and creative. I do think that I loved the historical part of the book better than the chapters that take place in the present and almost want to say that most of those chapters would not have been missed. The characters of Owen and Aquilar in the past are creative, with depth and sensitivity. Readers will love their adventures and deep loyal friendship. However, the characters of Kit and Stella in the present are very lifeless and immature. I thought for a couple that had just been married they were pretty passionless to the point of coldness and hurtful, especially after Kit's accident. My only negative view on the story, and the reason I couldnt favor it with five stars, was the ending. For all the lead up in both past and present, for all the rich detail telling us throughout the story of what would happen if and when the group of skulls came together...the ending was lame. It was too quick, not thought out and anticlimactic. It was an ending that was too subtle with no feeling of the impending doom or catastrophic event we heard of throughout the entire book. It wasnt a bad ending, but it could have been much better. I see that a couple of reviewers on the UK Amazon site agreed with me. But all and all I would highly recommend this book, I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to more of this style of novel from the author in the future. I think her talent lies in historical fiction and maybe she should keep herself within that genre. The one thing I was very glad to see though, was that there were no sections filled with the over-the-top unrealistic action scenes that are so ridiculous and hard to swallow, like in some of Matt Reilly's and James Rollins later works. There are no superhero's here performing James Bond-like feats. This was more serious and a better story because of it. Bravo Manda Scott, this was entertaining.
Rated by buyers -
This was an enjoyable read, I'd even say a great read...up until the last three chapters. At that point, the logic, the reasoning, and the painstaking tying/weaving of two story lines separated by 450 years that had marked the very first 343 pages abruptly ended to be replaced by a hasty and incomplete conclusion (I think authors/publishers have become brainwashed by too many series titles and have forgotten the necessity of a well-executed closing sequence). That said, the book still makes it onto my recommended read list because Ms. Scott has succeeded better than most at tying past to present to future, creating a plausible end-times scenario based on the current political/economic climate, and manages to take us into beautiful locales in New Spain and Great Britain in the process. In fact, if she had not succeeded so well up until the end of the book, my expectations would not have been high enough to be disappointed in the conclusion.
The story revolves around two main characters, both appointed by destiny (the gods?) to play a pivotal role in saving the human race from precipitating their own self-destruction. One, Cedric Owen, physician and scientist, lived during the time of Bloody Mary, Elizabeth I, Catherine de Medici, Nostradamus, the Mayas (?), and the exploration of South America. I wouldn't bother looking too deeply into the "factual" basis of this book, but just enjoy it for what it is. Cedric has inherited a blue skull stone that has passed through his family for generations and has been given a quest to 1) learn how to use the stone, 2) learn where and when the stone needs to be used, and 3) safeguard this information and the stone so that it can only be, and will be, retrieved by the correct person 450 or so years into the future. His quest is fraught with danger, most originating from the church, who believes his stone is a work of the devil and his science is sacrilegious, from nature, or from those who wish to use the heart-stone's power for themselves.
The other character is Stella Cody, newlywed, avid caver, and academic astrologer, who has married a man and befriended two others whose goal in life is to find the blue skull which has been missing for 450 years. Needless to say, she finds the stone. Her quest then becomes to stay alive long enough to find out what she needs to do with the stone and to do it, in order to revive an, uhmm, mythical creature who will somehow keep the human race from destroying the planet.
Really, the heart of the story is human relationships and emotions. The lust for power, the strength of friendship, the crippling effect of jealousy, the bitterness of loss, and the blindness of preconception all play pivotal roles in the story and are reflected and enhanced by the sentient crystal skull. I recommend this book to those who enjoy adventure stories, light suspense/mystery enthusiasts, and those who can enjoy Armageddon theories that have nothing to do with the rapture.
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