I want to thank Netgalley again for letting me read this early copy of People of The Sun! I went into this book unaware it was the third in a trilogy but that did not affect my ability to enjoy the story at all!
Sarah and John are back again to help where they can back in history, but this time it starts as a fun “I’m a time Traveller from the future and you have to come with me to save the world”. From there they have to go back in time to set things right back in ancient Mexico with the Aztec people.
There is definitely context from the past books I’ve missed but this one does a great job filling in the missing pieces. I can tell Ben Gartner did his research when it came to the history in the book. Overall, it was a fantastic time-traveling historical adventure that is perfect for all ages and will definitely be popping back to the previous to to get my fill of John and Sarah’s other adventures!

#PeopleofTheSun #Netgalley

People of the Sun (The Eye of Ra, #3) by Ben Gartner

Siblings John and Sarah are hiking in the mountains of Santa Cruz, California while visiting their Aunt Lorraine when an earthquake shakes the ground. There is a flash of light and suddenly two strangers are standing in front of them. Who are these strangers and why are they telling John and Sarah that they must restore the past to save the future? And so another adventure begins....

In this adventure John and Sarah must travel back to ancient Mexico to the time of the Aztecs. The strangers charge them with finding an Aztec woman, Toci, and keeping her from changing history. Will they be able to meet the challenge and save the future? Along the way they must wrestle with the question, "if you can change history, should you"?

Ben Gartner has done it again! Action and adventure with some time travel thrown in; what's not to like? I believe this book can be read as a standalone. But, I highly recommend reading the first two books, The Eye of Ra and Sol Invictus, in this series. I highly recommend this book with a solid 4 stars.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the overall curb appeal of this book; another great cover art design by Anne Glenn Design.

Full Disclaimer: I was provided a complimentary copy of this book through NewGalley and author Ben Garner, received in Kindle format, in exchange for an honest review. #PeopleoftheSun #NetGalley

My Rating System:
* not worth finishing, ** would not recommend, *** would recommend, **** would highly recommend, ***** have/would read again.

I usually read an except before requesting a book, but I was lured into reading People Of the Sun because of the good cover, the fact that it was the third in a series, and the quote from the Kirkus review, “An engaging…twist filled plot.” I should have read the excerpt. The writing style is not to my taste: too much exposition in narrative and in dialogue, awkward body language, and inconsistent point of view. But if kids read one of the earlier books in this series and enjoyed it, they will probably like this one, too. The story gets off to a slow start—lots of backstory and explanations of how the time travel works. The action doesn’t really get going until chapter twelve. From there on out, the story is a lot more fun with plenty of action and surprises.

Thank you to Crescent Vista Press, Independent Book Publisher’s Association (IBPA), and the author, Ben Gartner, for the advance reader copy, People of the Sun (The Eye of Ra, #3) by Ben Gartner in exchange for an honest review. This is my 3rd Ben Gartner book in the Eye of Ra series and I just keep wanting to read more and more of this exciting middle grade series involving science fiction, fantasy, adventure, and mystery using time travel to many different ancient cultures. But this book contains many surprises for both the reader and John and Sarah as they travel to 1519 CE, Mexico. In this book, they learn more about their past quests and how this present mission is crucial; they must restore the past to restore history. This will involve learning and seeing things about themselves, their clones, their parents, and the Eye of Ra! I could not stop turning the pages; this book contained just as much adventure but oh so much more suspense! Will John and Sarah be able to stop an Aztec woman, Toci, from changing history? Readers will be riveted to the adventures and mystery even more so as John and Sarah grapple with how to save the day and restore history. I loved the growth of John and Sarah and their shifting roles as they are exposed to danger and intrigue. Highly recommended!

I really liked this book! I loved following along with John and Sarah as the traveled back in time! As the reader you waited in anticipation to see if they would in fact save the day! This will definitely be on my recommend list for anyone wanting to pick up a new series!

This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review


I didn't know that People of the sun was the last book in the Eye of Ra series. But while reading I didn't necessarily feel confused because the story filled in the holes to help cover my confusion.

With time traveling powers comes great responsibility.
Sarah and John are back at it, trying to restore the past and save the future. Only this time they experience even greater challenges and learn what it means to make hard decisions even if their hearts is crying out for them to do the opposite.

In their final adventure, they find themselves trying to restore the storyline and convince themselves that not interfering with the storyline despite how much emotional connection they developed was for the best.

I especially liked how the story was descriptive and easy to follow. And how it showed a different perspective to the downfall of the Aztec civilization and the rise of México.

#PeopleoftheSun #NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley and Ben Gartner for giving me the chance to explore the Aztec civilization through Sarah and John's adventure through time.

Time travel can be exciting, but the ability to traverse history comes with great responsibility. Siblings John and Sarah are visiting their Aunt Lorraine in Santa Cruz, California, about a month after their family moved to Maryland for their dad’s job. While out on a hike, an earthquake shatters the relative calm around them, and two mysterious strangers emerge from the trees. They have come specifically to retrieve John and Sarah, who are the only people with the power to save the world they love.

This third in the Eye of Ra series transports readers back and forth through time, blending theories of time alteration with historic events. Mind-bending considerations of how technology and electromagnetism can affect the passage of time offer the opportunity for profound reflection about traditional views of chronology. Like the other books in this series, this one is thoroughly researched, embedding readers in the world of the Mexica in 1519 CE through a dynamic and accessible narrative. Captivating in its delivery, readers of all ages will devour the story and it will resonate in their minds long after it ends.

As might be expected based on the history of the Mexica people, this story takes on a darker tone than the two previous novels. Sarah and John have matured beyond their years and they, like the readers following their adventures, are now prepared for some of the more macabre scenes in this narrative. John and Sarah must rely on themselves and each other in multiple ways as the story progresses, deepening their relationship as they work out the problems they encounter.

At the end of the book, readers are offered a recipe for xocolatl, a beverage well-known in Mexica culture. Additionally, an author’s note offers a wealth of information about the history in this book, links, and critical thinking questions so readers can delve more deeply into the world this novel creates. Thought-provoking, compelling, and exquisitely designed, this is a satisfying conclusion to the Eye of Ra series and is a highly recommended addition to libraries for advanced middle grade readers.