After his experiences at Raven's Gate, fourteen-year-old Matt Freeman thinks his days of battling evil are over. But soon he is pulled into another horrifying adventure when he discovers a second gate exists. Matt and his friend Richard travel to Peru and, assisted by a secret organization known as the Nexus, follow a series of clues to the gate's whereabouts. But there is a traitor in the Nexus...Richard is kidnapped. Matt manages to escape with the help of Pablo, a local boy. The pair travel to the Nazca desert and Matt realizes the horrifying truth - the Nazca lines are the second gate and it is about to open. But this time, will he have the strength to prevent it?
Reviews
"Matt Freeman, hero of Raven's Gate (2005), returns for another supercharged adventure tale from a master of the trade. In this sequel, Matt leaves England, meets Pedro, the second of the gatekeepers, and attempts to prevent an evil ancient god from reaching earth through a gate in the Peruvian desert. Sustained suspense beginning in the prologue and doesn't let up, providing for a compulsive read. Danger abounds for the two boys. Dead bodies line the paths they travel. Plenty of gore-gently described-place this in the Indiana Jones genre of adventure tale. Lots of cool details sustain interest; among them are the boys' mystical mental powers, golden treasure hidden in the walls of Cusco and a visit to the lost city of the Incas. As in some plot-driven stories, stereotypes provide an easy shortcut. Horowitz, however, does reverse some roles-in this case, the Incans are the good guys. The climax, littered with dead heroes and villains alike, guarantees a suspenseful start for the next installment. Bring on gatekeeper number three-soon." Kirkus Reviews
"From the very first page this story snatches the reader into its clutches, squeezing ever tighter and refusing to let go until the last word on the last page...Horowitz has ramped up the action even further and infused it with magic, myth, mystery and unimaginable menace, all set against the fascinating backdrop of an almost lost civilisation. A fabulous read for kids who like their action turbo-charged." The Sunday Tasmanian
"..Fourteen-year-old reluctant superhero Matt Freeman has not been adjusting well to his new life in York with his journalist/protector/friend, Richard Cole. Richard is never around, and his posh school offers no friends for this former slum kid. When his mad Aunt Gwenda comes gunning for him, Matt's best option is to accept the secret organization Nexus's offer of a trip to Peru to find a book that might give clues to the next scheduled "gate opening." Peru is another nightmare, but it does introduce Matt to one of his fellow "five"—the Lima street urchin, Pedro—and teaches him how to use his unusual dreams. But hold on, there is also a marvelous arch villain, ancient Incas, and the Nazco lines. Somehow Horowitz manages to hold it all together, make it believable, and keep the pages turning. The only possible complaint after the last page has been turned is, why isn't Book Three already written?" Children's Literature
Author Biography
Anthony Horowitz is a popular and prolific children's author who also writes extensively for TV. He is the author of the phenomenal Alex Rider series (winning the Red House Children's Book Award for Skeleton Key) and The Power of Five: Raven's Gate. He lives in north London.
