Guardian of the Tomb: Arky Steele 1 (E Coombe, Lothian)

Guardian of the Tomb is the first book in a high-concept, globe-trotting adventure series for junior readers from E Coombe, author of the book series ‘The Faraway Fairies’ (as Eleanor Coombe) and ‘Dragon Blood Pirates’ (as Dan Jerris). This is archaeological action of the Indiana Jones kind, following 12-year-old Arky Steele’s trek through the wild Mongolian mountains in search of Genghis Khan’s long-lost treasure, the infamous Hand of Death. Joining his archaeologist dad’s team on their latest mission, the dangers they face are many—including their old arch-nemesis Goran Rulec, who would kill to possess whatever they find. While Coombe’s characters are likeable enough, her main focus is the action they end up in. Whether scaling mountains, raiding tombs, escaping from criminals or outrunning natural disasters, it’s relentlessly fast-paced and over-the-top in a bid to keep reluctant readers glued to the end—which shouldn’t be difficult, given the gruesome details of Genghis Khan’s life. (The next book, set in Central America, presumably offers more colourfully blood-thirsty background historical tales.) But if that’s not enough, the plot hinges on Arky and his companions solving a centuries-old puzzle, offering a fun extra level to their death-defying quest through the cavernous, skeleton-filled mountain catacombs.

Meredith Lewin is a Sydney-based freelance reviewer and proofreader who has worked for a children’s publisher

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews