Ruatapu the Ravenous has the Astromancer Te Kо̄kо̄rangi and her three priests locked in a pit as the nine stars of Matariki begin to appear. There
will be no one to say karakia over the kūmara crops for the year. Ruatapu thinks the Astromancer will do his bidding, but she tells him clearly otherwise.
He soon regrets his actions as a plague of caterpillars attack his crops leaving kūmara rotting in the ground. But he believes he still has the upper hand, and Ariā and the three other Astromancer apprentices are summoned. Knowing Ruatapu imprisoned her teacher and many others, and that he killed her own parents, Ariā does not want to go. But she knows that Ruatapu will hurt the imprisoned elders if she doesn’t.
The apprentices stand tall in front of Ruatapu as he tells them he needs his food stocks replenished. But this is no easy feat, as Te Kо̄kо̄rangi explains that the only place to find what they need is in the heavens above.
It’s a long journey, rich with karakia and more teachings from the Astromancer as they trek. Ariā learns more about the stars of Matariki, particularly the one they need to reach – Whānui. The walk there turns out to be the easy part. Scaling the staircase to the heavens is full of danger and requires all of Ariā’s courage to reach her destination.
Just as spectacular as the first book in this series! Ariā and the Kūmara God is also in hardback, rich with sumptuous illustrations by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White, portraying Witi Ihimaera’s spell binding story.
An action packed quest lies in wait for Ariā and her fellow apprentices, as they climb into the sky. Ariā’s dog Kuri brings a little lightness and laughter to their serious mission to find food for all.
Ruatapu – the villain of the story, is no match for the powers of nature, and his fate is well deserved within a tension filled chapter. Just as Ariā thinks the biggest challenge is over, there is more to come – nail biting stuff as she faces up against a star.
I enjoyed this episode in Ariā’s Astromancer training even more than the first. I wonder whether we will return to her world once more in the future?
A perfect addition to any home, school or public library and perfectly timed for 2024’s Matariki – 28 June.
Author – Witi Ihimaera
Illustrator – Isobel Joy Te Aho-White
Age – 8+
Read a review of the first book in this stunning series here
Look Inside link here
(2024, Penguin Books NZ, Action, Family, Series, Animals, Dog, Kuri, Adventure, Bullies, Courage, Historical, Aotearoa New Zealand, Quest, Kumara, Food stocks, Stairway, Heavens, Elders, Captives, Stars, Whānui, Māori Astronomer, Astromancer, Matariki)