Having lived in Peru myself and actually in part of this region, I was worried when I saw that a North American had written a fantasy booked based on the ancient Nascan culture. I was even more worried when I realised that it was full of Quechua words, which was an Incan language and post-dated the period.

However, my fears were allayed significantly as I read the story, and I saw the sheer amount of research that had gone into the book. It is clear that the author had spent a lot of time to try to get right as much as she could with as little information that is actually available on the Nascan civilisation and has left the rest up to interpretation, which was done respectfully. Knowing as well that she lived in Peru and is married to a Peruano means that she will have wanted to get it right.

The story itself is a lovely coming of age story of a young girl who wants to follow her own path and not that of her mother. She honours her ancestors and the spirits and is very reverent of the cultural practices and rituals of her people. She sees the evil that surrounds her in greedy priests and other men who work for their own gain, and she works against them on her own journey to save her little brother from becoming a sacrifice.

It's a story of love, overall. Love of family, love of the ancestors, love the land, love of the culture. It's beautifully written.

I love Patya and Tachico and their parents. They are fantastic characters.

At times, the pacing could be a bit slow, but it really is an enjoyable read.

Set in ancient Peru, Call of the Owl Woman follows Patya on her journey from girl to woman while in a harsh and violent political and climate environment. Think expansive magical elements in a well-researched Peruvian Nasca culture set amongst a mountainous and desert landscape. Men with too much power, a climate with terrifying earthquakes and drought, and a young woman who isn't afraid to question those superior to her.

I enjoyed this novel so much! This is perfect for those who love well-researched ancient historical fiction with some fantasy elements.

When I first started reading this book, I was kind of worried that I wasn't going to be into it because its so clearly for younger teens and really not one of those. Very happy to report that I was proved very wrong in that regard and quickly too! I ended up being incredibly invested in the narrative and had no idea what was going to happen next, which is exactly what I like in a book. I found myself very quickly doing internet searches to look at what the region looks like now and some of the ancient artifacts that have been found. While it looks like not actually much is known about the Nasca people, It's clear from both the writing and the author afterword that a lot of care went into being accurate where possible and flexible when clear information was lacking. While I may not find 15-year-old girls that relatable anymore, the themes of sticking together and overcoming hate and looking after the Earth were really special. I'm sure that readers of all ages can enjoy this, but I think it will be particularly good for the age group that it's meant for.

The Nasca Lines being used as chapter images and ending up being part of the story was also an excellent touch! I'm really glad I looked up the Nasca people early into my reading so I could fully enjoy those efforts. Thanks a lot!

Patya, the fifteen-year-old daughter and granddaughter of healers, is devastated when Kuyllay, her beloved grandmother, dies unexpectedly. She leaves Patya a special robe of white feathers, a silver mask with the face of an owl, and a heritage of sacred dance passed down through the women of her family. Patya’s mother, Keyka, hands her the gift but also tells her to set it aside until the time is right for the Owl Woman to return.

Patya’s grief escalates when the local religious leader Achiq insists on taking Kuyllay’s head as a sacred umanqa, intended to channel power to himself, rather than leaving the body with her family. But life is difficult on the western coast of sixth-century Peru. The water channels that have sustained the Nasca community to which Patya belongs are drying up, and Achiq has a certain level of support among desperate farmers watching their livelihoods disappear. One of his supporters is Patya’s uncle. The community also faces attacks and incursions by neighboring groups who also suffer from the drought perceived as evidence of divine displeasure.

Amid this social and familial conflict, Patya undertakes a solitary pilgrimage to the sacred mountain Yuraq Orqo, the White Mountain, the Giver of Waters—a coming-of-age ritual delayed by her grandmother’s death. The vision she experiences there sends her off on a far more dangerous mission, one that will test both her strengths and her loyalties.

Patya is an appealing heroine—an artist and a dancer as well as a healer—but what really sets this novel apart is the rich imagining of a long-ago society, its worldview and mythology, which draws the reader into a little-known past.

I plan to interview this author on my blog (link below) in May 2025.

Thank you K. M. Huber, SparkPress and Netgalley for this free ARC in exchange for a review.

This was a fairly good spiritual novel, but it moved along too slowly.

This book! Omg?!?!?! This book was so good I couldn't put it down for a bit. I rated it 5 stars because it's that good. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can.