MWSA Book Review

The Last Mayan Warrior

Authors:  Jan E. Culbertson

Publisher:  eBookstand Books

Reviewer: Bill McDonald – President of the MWSA

Lost History becomes a Classic Tale

The creative mind of author extraordinaire Jan Culbertson comes a military historic novel based on the life and legend of “The Last Mayan Warrior.”  Jan takes a few know facts about a ten year old Mexican boy who was captured in 1896 by a Mayan war party. The child Juan Bautista Vega eventually gets adopted by a Mayan chieftain. This strange set of circumstances leads to this young boy becoming one of the greatest warriors of the Mayans. He goes on to command over ten thousand men in battle.

The author takes some creative license with the few known facts of this man’s life. Culbertson ends up creating a storyline that he fills in with his own imagination and dates, events and people that make for a wonderful tale if only based loosely on the real facts. However he stays close to the source of the man’s personality and tries to keep the story within the frame work of what transpired. His creative additions are enhancements that make the story a wonderful reading experience. This story is even more fascinating when you realize that it is based mostly on facts.

Jan Culbertson’s books have all been so different. He has done children’s books, sci-fi mystery books, even books on Chinese daggers but this one is clearly in a league all of its own. It is an easy read and is family friendly. It will hold your attention from the beginning to the end. Truly a case of a very good story that is expertly told by a master story teller! A must read book for anyone interested in Mexican or Indian history.