…Hell’na and Tāne lean over the body of Māui at the door to the Underworld. He had tried to protect Hell’na’s world from Whiro, God of Darkness, but was struck down on the spot. Māui’s magic jawbone lies nearby, but it seems only he can brandish this weapon.

Hell’na is confused. Why does Māui look like her friend Luke? Is their friendship the reason she can understand Tāne, the returned God?

Meanwhile up above on the shores of Lake Taupo, Hell’na’s friends wait for her and Tāne, discussing what they will do when they get paid in promised and powerful mana steel. While they talk, their enemy Shepherd creeps closer with her mercenaries. When Hell’na returns, her friends are in fierce battle with these bounty hunters sent by Hell’na’s Aunty and Commissioner of her tribe.

Having Tāne on their side saves the day and sends them on another journey, to the last place Hell’na saw Luke. The Lake of Glass is their new destination and also the place they will lay a trap for Whiro – the God of Darkness and murderer of Māui’s first body. Word is sent far and wide to all those willing to fight against Whiro. Hell’na receives another surprise when she finds a loved one among them.

But the Gods don’t always play nice, and Whiro not only has corrupted the thoughts of many on his side, he steps into the mind of Hell’na when she is injured, stirring hate and lies against Tāne. Luckily Tāne himself is soon by her side, and with the help of his brother Gods, endeavours to retrieve Hell’na from Whiro’s clutches. A fierce battle erupts between good and evil with Gods on both sides.

Will Hell’na and friends prevail and will she finally receive the payment she was promised at the very beginning of her journey (Book One)?

And what becomes of Māui? This God of mischief is free to wreak havoc on another day.

The sequel to THIS LAND – The Search for Māui, this stunning graphic novel is the culmination of a fight between Gods set in an apocalyptic New Zealand.

Main character Hell’na is being pursued by bounty hunters sent by the Commissioner of her own tribe, and she is also struggling with new information about a connection between a friend and the God Māui. The search for Māui has turned into something so much bigger than first imagined, and ever growing battles between good and evil are soon fought. Hell’na is powerful but not invincible, especially against powerful Māori Gods as she lays unconscious.

Te Reo Māori (Māori language) is sprinkled within the text with English translations clear alongside, giving the reader a taste of the author’s country of birth’s indigenous language (New Zealand). A keenness to share this with the world inspired this graphic novel series, and along with Māori cultural advisors, THIS LAND was created.

This sequel can be read on its own as there is a step back into the first graphic novel in the series over 15 pages of illustration, before the reader is brought back to the present and where The Fall of Tāne begins.

Look out for the Fantail / Pīwakawaka throughout both books for a surprising revelation.

Stunning artwork, thrilling story and a welcome addition of Aotearoa New Zealand Māoritangi to the graphic novel market.

Author – Mark Abnett

Illustrator – P R Dedelis

Graphic Novel

Age – 11+

Learn more about THIS LAND on Mark Abnett’s amazing website here

Read a review of the first book in this series (Click on the Cover)

(2023, Scholastic, Action, Adventure, Betrayal, Conflict, Courage, Family, Fantasy, Future, Humour, Series, Graphic Novel, Super heroes, Super powers, New Zealand author, Aotearoa, Futuristic, Mercenaries, Danger, te reo Māori, Māori language, Moko, Tribes, Treaty, Taniwha, Atua, Gods, Good vs Evil, Bonds, NZ History, Heritage)