Zeustian Logic
Sabrina Malcolm
Gecko Press
pub. 2017

 

27 April, 2021

Mythology, mystery, mountains and misfortune. Zeustian Logic, a book by Sabrina Malcolm tells the story of a family torn apart by tragedy and a boy’s quest to find out the truth.

“365 days ago, at 2:00 pm Nepal Standard Time, my father and one of his clients decided to abandon their summit attempt and go back down the mountain. No one really knows what happened after that. Later searchers found the client – dead. But Dad’s still up there… Somewhere.”

When Duncan’s mountaineering dad and his client get lost in the blizzards of the tallest mountain on earth, everything changes. His dad is said to have abandoned his client in the Death Zone of Mount Everest and suddenly his famous dad becomes a little bit infamous; Duncan a.k.a Tuttle stops at nothing to uncover the truth about what really happened that stormy night on the mountain.

His mum’s gone into a world of her own, driven by grief, and his brother’s barely speaking. What boy wouldn’t prefer computer games, astronomy, Greek gods and a best friend who cracks jokes every second? A hooning neighbour and his petrol-guzzling car just add to the organised mayhem of this novel.

But when a series of events push Duncan over the edge including said hooning neighbour racing full speed at him and his younger brother, he strikes out, which leaves said petrol-guzzling car scratched, dented and altogether worse for wear. As the grief he tried so hard to hide away comes to the surface, Duncan realises it’s time to move on.

This novel goes through the ups and downs of family life and shows how together with the people you love things are much easier to manage than alone with the stars.

I found this book surprisingly funny even though it is full of pain and heartbreak. I think this is because of the upbeat relationship between Duncan – the protagonist and narrator of the novel – and Patrick a.k.a Attila the Pun (Duncan’s best friend).

I really enjoyed the mythology and astrology references throughout the book and thought they were a great addition to the novel. This book makes for a quick read and the colourful cover really entices you in to what’s about to be an exciting novel, full of great depth and untold secrets that will keep you reading into the night.

Overall, I think Zeustian Logic is a fun, hooking read with relatable characters and a mysterious plot. I would recommend this book for people between the ages of 9 and 13 and for those who love mythology, humour, and simply a good page-turner.

 

• Amber Cayley is in year 9 at Sacred Heart Girls’ College in New Plymouth.