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Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
The Greenstone Garden is the second book in Vaya Dauphin's The Elementals of Aotearoa Trilogy. This is a young adult fantasy series which is set in New Zealand and is based on Maori mythology. Dauphin includes a detailed description of the characters she introduced in The Turquoise Tattoo, Book One, which makes this book one which can be read on its own. Scarlet is astounded to learn that the mother she had been told was dead is actually alive, well, not alive in the normal sense of the word, but living not very far from Scarlet's new home in New Zealand. Her mother is a Greenstone Goddess, which is a type of Maori earth mother. More important to Scarlet is the fact that if she, too, is to become a Greenstone Goddess, she can never have a relationship with Sterling, her boyfriend and soul mate.
While The Greenstone Garden can be read on its own, I'm very glad I started with the first book, The Turquoise Tattoo. I was so impressed by The Turquoise Tattoo that I was initially concerned that the second book might not be as powerful and compelling as the first. I'm thrilled to say that The Greenstone Garden is indeed a worthy successor to the first book. Scarlet's road to maturity and adulthood is paved with conflict, awful surprises, and an increasing sense of self-awareness. The reader gets to share her expanding world vision as she meets her mother and learns more about the Maori mythology of which she is a living part. The Greenstone Garden is fascinating and filled with action and adventure. The heroes and villains exhibit many shades of gray, and the plot will keep you guessing throughout the book. The Greenstone Garden is an intelligent and beautiful work, and is a fabulous read for both young adult and adult readers.
