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Call of the Owl Woman
In a tale inspired by Peru’s Andean cosmovision and earth-centered spirituality, Call of the Owl Woman is a gripping coming-of-age story for people who like to immerse themselves in other times, places, and cultures, people who love adventure, and those who are drawn to the mystical and magical.
In sixth-century Peru, the Nasca people have flourished for centuries, their faith and ingenuity keeping the desert valleys green in a land where water is scarce. But a prolonged drought now fuels dangerous unrest. Cunning sorcerers and brutal priests vie for control, and Water Guardians like Patya’s father, who refuse to favor the powerful, are under attack.
Devastated by her grandmother’s sudden death, fifteen-year-old Patya retreats into dance and music. She does not want to become a healer like the long lineage of women in her family before her. Even her grandmother had hinted she was born for something else. But, in the wake of a deadly earthquake, Patya must not only help the healers, she must do things she never thought possible. As she begins to conquer her self-doubts and trust her own sense of justice, she will also have to outwit men of power to keep her little brother from being sacrificed by religious extremists at the coming solstice.
As Patya begins to realize and grow into her own power, she also discovers her grandmother’s secret legacy and prepares to step into an unexpected destiny.
In sixth-century Peru, the Nasca people have flourished for centuries, their faith and ingenuity keeping the desert valleys green in a land where water is scarce. But a prolonged drought now fuels dangerous unrest. Cunning sorcerers and brutal priests vie for control, and Water Guardians like Patya’s father, who refuse to favor the powerful, are under attack.
Devastated by her grandmother’s sudden death, fifteen-year-old Patya retreats into dance and music. She does not want to become a healer like the long lineage of women in her family before her. Even her grandmother had hinted she was born for something else. But, in the wake of a deadly earthquake, Patya must not only help the healers, she must do things she never thought possible. As she begins to conquer her self-doubts and trust her own sense of justice, she will also have to outwit men of power to keep her little brother from being sacrificed by religious extremists at the coming solstice.
As Patya begins to realize and grow into her own power, she also discovers her grandmother’s secret legacy and prepares to step into an unexpected destiny.
272 pages, Paperback
Published May 13, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 22, 2024
Call of the Owl Woman captures the journey of a young Nazca woman coming into her power. Think gorgeous, lyrical dream sequences set against sprawling mountain-and-desert landscapes. Big-world fantasy within a deeply researched historical setting.
Patya is an arresting character who starts off fierce and presses her way forward into the role of family and community leader, all while coming of age amid major social and climate upheavals. In other words, themes likely to resonate with anybody today. It’s truly young adult to adult crossover: adult fantasy and historical fiction readers have as much to find and savor here as young adult readers.
Patya is an arresting character who starts off fierce and presses her way forward into the role of family and community leader, all while coming of age amid major social and climate upheavals. In other words, themes likely to resonate with anybody today. It’s truly young adult to adult crossover: adult fantasy and historical fiction readers have as much to find and savor here as young adult readers.
May 16, 2025
Call of the Owl Woman was not my typical read. While I love historical fiction and spirituality in books, it doesn't always hold my attention and is sometimes a struggle to complete. This, however, was a beautiful story of a young woman fighting for her family, her beliefs, and her place in the harsh world of ancient Peru.
We meet Patya in the beginning, coming to terms with the death of her beloved grandmother and renown healer, Kuyllay. Kuyllay's death seems to be the catalyst of what sets Patya on her journey to grow and become the person her grandmother and ancestors had foreseen. Patya's love for her family starts the very first page and continues to the very last, showing that this is the feeling that drives her help others, protect her little brother Tachico, and give thanks to the gods and ancestors that provide for their every day lives.
This is a story rich in history, culture, spirituality, and family. The detail that author K.M. Huber put into every page was thoughtful and richly descriptive. I can say this is probably the only book I've ever read on the Nasca people and Peru, but Patya's story has me researching this tribe and their history that was ahead of their time back in 575CE.
Thank you @booksparks and SparkPress for this gifted copy of Call of the Owl Woman; this is a part of their #summerpopup series and I have provided my honest review.
We meet Patya in the beginning, coming to terms with the death of her beloved grandmother and renown healer, Kuyllay. Kuyllay's death seems to be the catalyst of what sets Patya on her journey to grow and become the person her grandmother and ancestors had foreseen. Patya's love for her family starts the very first page and continues to the very last, showing that this is the feeling that drives her help others, protect her little brother Tachico, and give thanks to the gods and ancestors that provide for their every day lives.
This is a story rich in history, culture, spirituality, and family. The detail that author K.M. Huber put into every page was thoughtful and richly descriptive. I can say this is probably the only book I've ever read on the Nasca people and Peru, but Patya's story has me researching this tribe and their history that was ahead of their time back in 575CE.
Thank you @booksparks and SparkPress for this gifted copy of Call of the Owl Woman; this is a part of their #summerpopup series and I have provided my honest review.
September 5, 2025
Thank you to K.M. Huber and SparkPress for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There have always been certain places around the world that I’ve been fascinated with, and one of those is South America. While I can save up and (eventually) go to South America and see it for myself, I’ll never get an inside look into the ancient peoples of the region and fully see their culture. With this book, Huber transports readers directly to ancient Peru and the society that created the mysterious Nazca lines.
It’s no secret that the history of South America has been turbulent—with the Andes mountains thrusting up through the Earth’s crust, rocked with earthquakes, and at the mercy of their own climate and political struggles from eons ago until the present day. Patya comes from a long line of healers, although instead of learning to be a healer, she much prefers to paint the pottery the medication and herbs are stored in. Her father comes from a long line of Water Guardians, who help to find water, build canals and irrigation, and keep the gods happy.
The author did her research, and it shows. World-building is outstanding in the novel, and I finished reading with a sense that I had a better understanding of the people who created an artistic marvel that can still be seen from outer space. Huber paints a picture of an enduring people who are struggling to make sense of forces beyond their control. As earthquakes rock their village with increasing frequency and a worsening drought, the need for Water Guardians is essential. There is so much in this book about the family systems, society, and beliefs of the Nazca people, as well as taking readers along on some ritual ceremonies. (Note: The spelling of this tribe has altered over time from Nasca to Nazca due to the lack of a letter Z in Quechua, an indigenous language of the region, and then Spanish colonization changed the dominant language.)
At first, it took me a while to really get into the book. It moves slow at first, probably because of the sheer volume of information in it to allow readers to have a decent grasp on the complex peoples of ancient Peru. There’s a glossary of terms in the back, since not all of them can be guessed through context, and I struggled for an embarrassingly long time to figure out what these words were before discovering the glossary. I was intrigued by the story, but it felt like there was so much time setting the scene that the actual action felt kind of rushed, even though I can also see this working out similarly in real life—the action isn’t evenly paced in our lives, right?
One of the strengths of this book is the way everything is relayed to the reader—the author vividly describes the scenes, and is another great example of showing instead of telling. I really enjoyed learning about the Nasca people and how they explained their origins, their world, and really had a strong land-based religion. It names the deities of each of the directions and elements with animals that play an important role in their world and especially their ecosystem, such as Jaguar, Condor, Owl, and Orca. There are stories told through song, and we are taught about these deities by Patya recalling songs or her learning.
Aside from the increasingly frequent earthquakes that hit their village, they live in a desert valley that is also increasingly receiving less water. And of course Patya discovering her path in life isn’t a simple one. She’s making a tough journey from child to woman, and does have a strong sense of spirituality, taught by her beloved grandmother who passes away at the beginning of the story. It was early in the book that I began to wish I could get an audiobook copy to hear how to unfamiliar words and letter combinations should have been pronounced, but I just guessed as best I could, same as I do with anything including Welsh words.
The power dynamics play out beautifully throughout the book, from early on right up to the end. Her mother and grandmother are healers who host ritual ceremonies, her father holds the essential task of finding and protecting water sources to keep the valleys green, and her youngest brother has proven his ability to locate water as well, while her uncle is the tribe leader. The social structure in their tribe seems to involve cooperative work between tribe leaders, including priests, healers, and Water Protectors, in an ideal situation. Instead of viewing the successes of Patya’s family as a success for the tribe, Achiq views them as a threat to his desire for power and tries to undermine them and their social standing whenever he can. He is often seen to be scheming with Patya’s uncle Weq’o, making concessions to village members who have something to offer them, whether it is power, status, or wealth. I would have liked to see more fully-developed characterization from the villains, who felt uniformly evil with no redeeming characteristics at all, and somewhat flatter than the protagonist, her family, and allies, who were well-rounded and realistic characters.
Although it took me a while to find my stride with this book, I never wanted to DNF it. I was curious about what would happen to Patya and her family, and empathized with her right from the start. Her emotional turbulence seems synced with the disturbances in her world, and winds up being yet another way that Patya is in touch with her abilities and the world around her. The author beautifully portrayed several different ritual ceremonies throughout the book, and I was fascinated learning how they interacted with their spiritual world, led by people who have special talents. Patya’s coming-of-age ritual ceremony occurs as well, and I was fascinated by the use of psychedelics to facilitate communing with the spirit world.
Overall, this is a standout book. Despite the slow start and unfamiliar letter combinations (how am I supposed to pronounce Kuyllay without researching Quechua?), I was pulled into the story more and more as I continued to read. It felt as if I was under the effects of psychedelic cacti along with Patya as she takes on growing responsibility for her grandmother’s role as shaman, and the author has immense talent in creating realistic characters as they grieve, face challenges, and have to compromise to keep the good of the tribe as a priority over their own egos, even if the antagonists feel less complex than the protagonist and those around her. There’s a beautiful map, a glossary, and factual information about the Nazca people, the unique geography of desert coast on the south side of the continent featuring rivers carrying water from the Andes to the Pacific Ocean allowing the Nazca to harness that water through canals and irrigation systems and keep their farms blooming, and an author’s note. While the author herself is not South American, her husband is from Peru, so she has both a desire to both learn more about and honor the people of ancient Peru. Living there brought the people to life for her, and in this book, she’s brought these people to life for us, even if it is at the tail end of nearly one thousand years of their civilization.
There have always been certain places around the world that I’ve been fascinated with, and one of those is South America. While I can save up and (eventually) go to South America and see it for myself, I’ll never get an inside look into the ancient peoples of the region and fully see their culture. With this book, Huber transports readers directly to ancient Peru and the society that created the mysterious Nazca lines.
It’s no secret that the history of South America has been turbulent—with the Andes mountains thrusting up through the Earth’s crust, rocked with earthquakes, and at the mercy of their own climate and political struggles from eons ago until the present day. Patya comes from a long line of healers, although instead of learning to be a healer, she much prefers to paint the pottery the medication and herbs are stored in. Her father comes from a long line of Water Guardians, who help to find water, build canals and irrigation, and keep the gods happy.
The author did her research, and it shows. World-building is outstanding in the novel, and I finished reading with a sense that I had a better understanding of the people who created an artistic marvel that can still be seen from outer space. Huber paints a picture of an enduring people who are struggling to make sense of forces beyond their control. As earthquakes rock their village with increasing frequency and a worsening drought, the need for Water Guardians is essential. There is so much in this book about the family systems, society, and beliefs of the Nazca people, as well as taking readers along on some ritual ceremonies. (Note: The spelling of this tribe has altered over time from Nasca to Nazca due to the lack of a letter Z in Quechua, an indigenous language of the region, and then Spanish colonization changed the dominant language.)
At first, it took me a while to really get into the book. It moves slow at first, probably because of the sheer volume of information in it to allow readers to have a decent grasp on the complex peoples of ancient Peru. There’s a glossary of terms in the back, since not all of them can be guessed through context, and I struggled for an embarrassingly long time to figure out what these words were before discovering the glossary. I was intrigued by the story, but it felt like there was so much time setting the scene that the actual action felt kind of rushed, even though I can also see this working out similarly in real life—the action isn’t evenly paced in our lives, right?
One of the strengths of this book is the way everything is relayed to the reader—the author vividly describes the scenes, and is another great example of showing instead of telling. I really enjoyed learning about the Nasca people and how they explained their origins, their world, and really had a strong land-based religion. It names the deities of each of the directions and elements with animals that play an important role in their world and especially their ecosystem, such as Jaguar, Condor, Owl, and Orca. There are stories told through song, and we are taught about these deities by Patya recalling songs or her learning.
Aside from the increasingly frequent earthquakes that hit their village, they live in a desert valley that is also increasingly receiving less water. And of course Patya discovering her path in life isn’t a simple one. She’s making a tough journey from child to woman, and does have a strong sense of spirituality, taught by her beloved grandmother who passes away at the beginning of the story. It was early in the book that I began to wish I could get an audiobook copy to hear how to unfamiliar words and letter combinations should have been pronounced, but I just guessed as best I could, same as I do with anything including Welsh words.
The power dynamics play out beautifully throughout the book, from early on right up to the end. Her mother and grandmother are healers who host ritual ceremonies, her father holds the essential task of finding and protecting water sources to keep the valleys green, and her youngest brother has proven his ability to locate water as well, while her uncle is the tribe leader. The social structure in their tribe seems to involve cooperative work between tribe leaders, including priests, healers, and Water Protectors, in an ideal situation. Instead of viewing the successes of Patya’s family as a success for the tribe, Achiq views them as a threat to his desire for power and tries to undermine them and their social standing whenever he can. He is often seen to be scheming with Patya’s uncle Weq’o, making concessions to village members who have something to offer them, whether it is power, status, or wealth. I would have liked to see more fully-developed characterization from the villains, who felt uniformly evil with no redeeming characteristics at all, and somewhat flatter than the protagonist, her family, and allies, who were well-rounded and realistic characters.
Although it took me a while to find my stride with this book, I never wanted to DNF it. I was curious about what would happen to Patya and her family, and empathized with her right from the start. Her emotional turbulence seems synced with the disturbances in her world, and winds up being yet another way that Patya is in touch with her abilities and the world around her. The author beautifully portrayed several different ritual ceremonies throughout the book, and I was fascinated learning how they interacted with their spiritual world, led by people who have special talents. Patya’s coming-of-age ritual ceremony occurs as well, and I was fascinated by the use of psychedelics to facilitate communing with the spirit world.
Overall, this is a standout book. Despite the slow start and unfamiliar letter combinations (how am I supposed to pronounce Kuyllay without researching Quechua?), I was pulled into the story more and more as I continued to read. It felt as if I was under the effects of psychedelic cacti along with Patya as she takes on growing responsibility for her grandmother’s role as shaman, and the author has immense talent in creating realistic characters as they grieve, face challenges, and have to compromise to keep the good of the tribe as a priority over their own egos, even if the antagonists feel less complex than the protagonist and those around her. There’s a beautiful map, a glossary, and factual information about the Nazca people, the unique geography of desert coast on the south side of the continent featuring rivers carrying water from the Andes to the Pacific Ocean allowing the Nazca to harness that water through canals and irrigation systems and keep their farms blooming, and an author’s note. While the author herself is not South American, her husband is from Peru, so she has both a desire to both learn more about and honor the people of ancient Peru. Living there brought the people to life for her, and in this book, she’s brought these people to life for us, even if it is at the tail end of nearly one thousand years of their civilization.
April 24, 2025
The Call of the Owl Woman is an adventurous coming-of-age story about a teen girl, Patya, who lives in Nasca, Peru. She loves her family, dance, and nature, and wants to make her own way, she does not want to follow the family tradition of being a healer. Her village is in the middle of changes, greedy people want to change things for personal interests and things get complicated when an earthquake tears her village.
I loved the setting, the culture, the legends, the dances, and the music, it is very lively, you can tell that the author did her research and added elements without making them feel false, the Nasca of Patya is a city that is going through changes before it was prosperous but now there are climatic changes which have the people worried and wondering if a sacrifice to the gods is necessary.
Patya is smart and strong, and she is not afraid to fight for what she cares about, I love how she respects nature, trees, and animals, and the love she has for her family is evident. Is in mourning for her grandmother and scared for her brother. Patya is a great character, her world is turned upside down and she turns to her family history, ancestral magic, and the resources she has at hand to help her family, she has a strong and sweet bond with her brother and after the earthquake he is injured, love the emphasis on the importance of family, all are wonderful.
It's kind of slow but doesn't miss the pace, it's a page-turner, it feels like an old story, which goes perfectly with the setting and the era it's set in, and is perfect for younger teens, who want something different.
Thank you SparkPress for the early copy
Read it if you like:
Ya adventure
Ancient Setting
Family
Nature
I loved the setting, the culture, the legends, the dances, and the music, it is very lively, you can tell that the author did her research and added elements without making them feel false, the Nasca of Patya is a city that is going through changes before it was prosperous but now there are climatic changes which have the people worried and wondering if a sacrifice to the gods is necessary.
Patya is smart and strong, and she is not afraid to fight for what she cares about, I love how she respects nature, trees, and animals, and the love she has for her family is evident. Is in mourning for her grandmother and scared for her brother. Patya is a great character, her world is turned upside down and she turns to her family history, ancestral magic, and the resources she has at hand to help her family, she has a strong and sweet bond with her brother and after the earthquake he is injured, love the emphasis on the importance of family, all are wonderful.
It's kind of slow but doesn't miss the pace, it's a page-turner, it feels like an old story, which goes perfectly with the setting and the era it's set in, and is perfect for younger teens, who want something different.
Thank you SparkPress for the early copy
Read it if you like:
Ya adventure
Ancient Setting
Family
Nature
February 22, 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 was a fairly good spiritual novel, but it moved along too slowly.
April 28, 2025
Thank you SparkPress for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I want to be transparent and start by saying that I decided to DNF this book at 25%. I will definitely talk about what I liked and what didn’t work for me, but just know that I only read up to that point.
What I liked:
I really do love the concept. The premise was interesting enough to make me want to request the ARC, after all. I especially love that Call of the Owl Woman is set in a country that is hardly given enough representation in mainstream fantasy, so I was incredibly excited to learn about a culture that was so new to me.
I think the time period the author chose to explore was also an incredibly unique choice. Everything about this offered something different from the standard fantasy formula, which I’ve honestly been so tired of, lately. It’s clear the author did the research necessary to take on a story like this.
What didn’t work for me:
Thoughts and ideas felt incredibly disjointed. There were a lot of concepts mentioned with no context, as if the reader is fully aware of the setting and culture in the way that the author is.
There was a lot of dialogue that felt awkward and stilted, as well as abrupt starts and stops of various scenes. It was bad enough for me that I was having a really difficult time following the plot.
There were many places in the story where I was thinking, “Wait when did that happen?” or “Oh, THAT’S what we’re doing here??”
I do like the idea of it all. The idea is there, but it needs honing, and the flow of the plot needs a lot of cleaning up.
I want to be transparent and start by saying that I decided to DNF this book at 25%. I will definitely talk about what I liked and what didn’t work for me, but just know that I only read up to that point.
What I liked:
I really do love the concept. The premise was interesting enough to make me want to request the ARC, after all. I especially love that Call of the Owl Woman is set in a country that is hardly given enough representation in mainstream fantasy, so I was incredibly excited to learn about a culture that was so new to me.
I think the time period the author chose to explore was also an incredibly unique choice. Everything about this offered something different from the standard fantasy formula, which I’ve honestly been so tired of, lately. It’s clear the author did the research necessary to take on a story like this.
What didn’t work for me:
Thoughts and ideas felt incredibly disjointed. There were a lot of concepts mentioned with no context, as if the reader is fully aware of the setting and culture in the way that the author is.
There was a lot of dialogue that felt awkward and stilted, as well as abrupt starts and stops of various scenes. It was bad enough for me that I was having a really difficult time following the plot.
There were many places in the story where I was thinking, “Wait when did that happen?” or “Oh, THAT’S what we’re doing here??”
I do like the idea of it all. The idea is there, but it needs honing, and the flow of the plot needs a lot of cleaning up.
August 10, 2025
Patya is only fifteen and already facing changes.
After her grandmother’s death, she has to deal with her loss, and then take on the mantle of the healer, as so many generations of women in her family. It's not the future she wants for herself; but nothing is as she'd like it to be, anyway, as her land has been experiencing droughts, earthquakes and an unrest between those who seek more power. As her own family does not belong to the greedy, that means that she has to fight for their survival, too.
So, the girl has to take decisions that will alter not only her life, but the whole land’s as well…
Based on tales of 6th century Peru, this is a coming-of-age story with a magical little twist. It's compelling to read, as the story is very well thought-out, with descriptions that make the narrative mesmerising. It can be a good read for the teens in your life, as well. It doesn't lack adventure, it has the right storytelling pace, and it's really interesting to see Patya growing up through her experiences.
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Netgalley and K.M. Huber.
After her grandmother’s death, she has to deal with her loss, and then take on the mantle of the healer, as so many generations of women in her family. It's not the future she wants for herself; but nothing is as she'd like it to be, anyway, as her land has been experiencing droughts, earthquakes and an unrest between those who seek more power. As her own family does not belong to the greedy, that means that she has to fight for their survival, too.
So, the girl has to take decisions that will alter not only her life, but the whole land’s as well…
Based on tales of 6th century Peru, this is a coming-of-age story with a magical little twist. It's compelling to read, as the story is very well thought-out, with descriptions that make the narrative mesmerising. It can be a good read for the teens in your life, as well. It doesn't lack adventure, it has the right storytelling pace, and it's really interesting to see Patya growing up through her experiences.
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Netgalley and K.M. Huber.
April 2, 2026
Call of the Owl Woman: A Novel of Ancient Peru, by K. H. Huber is an evocative work of literary fiction that brings the ancient Nasca culture vividly to life. Drawing on careful research, the author recreates a world shaped by ritual, spiritual beliefs, and a deep relationship with the land.
The novel’s main character is Patya, a smart and brave young girl facing tough choices about her traditions, family, and survival as her powers grow. Through her eyes, we encounter a society coping with natural upheavals, shifting power within the priesthood, and the constant need for resilience.
The novel stands out for its strong depiction of nature and its nuanced cultural insights, ceremonies, prayers, healing practices and community bonds all immersive. The author delivers vivid storytelling and a memorable heroine. It is a meditation on justice, authority, and moral courage. Highly recommended.
-Sophia Kouidou-Giles, Author of An Unexpected Ally: A Greek Tale of Love, Revenge and Redemption
The novel’s main character is Patya, a smart and brave young girl facing tough choices about her traditions, family, and survival as her powers grow. Through her eyes, we encounter a society coping with natural upheavals, shifting power within the priesthood, and the constant need for resilience.
The novel stands out for its strong depiction of nature and its nuanced cultural insights, ceremonies, prayers, healing practices and community bonds all immersive. The author delivers vivid storytelling and a memorable heroine. It is a meditation on justice, authority, and moral courage. Highly recommended.
-Sophia Kouidou-Giles, Author of An Unexpected Ally: A Greek Tale of Love, Revenge and Redemption
May 13, 2025
𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐰𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 is a spellbinding young adult fantasy story set in ancient Peru, a land of rich cultural heritage and sacred traditions. The narrative is steeped in this ancient civilization's unique customs, ancestral magic, and mysticism.
While nature and climate play a significant role, as the village where Patya and her younger brother live is experiencing a severe drought, family is the cornerstone. The bond between these two siblings is sweet and strong.
Although the story dates back to the late 6th century, it is relevant today as it speaks to both the greed of some and those who have the courage to stand against injustice.
Patya is a well-developed, multifaceted character. She must call upon her destiny—a legacy of power and magic—to help protect her village and family and even become a leader. This is not just a coming-of-age story but a truly mesmerizing and captivating journey that will leave you intrigued.
June 14, 2025
Book Summary:
Patya is fifteen years old and unprepared for the loss of her grandmother - her best friend, her rock. Adding salt to this fresh wound is what the village elders have decided to do with her grandmother’s remains, forcing Patya to say goodbye to her grandmother in several ways.
It isn’t just Patya’s emotions that are boiling to dangerous levels, as the world around her is in danger. The rain hasn’t come for years, and earthquakes are hitting with little to no warning, leaving devastation in their wake. Patya must find a way to survive what is to come and help her people follow.
My Review:
The moment I heard about Call of the Owl Woman, I knew I had to read it. This novel is one part historical fiction/fantasy, one part coming-of-age, and one part spiritual journey. Set during the sixth century in Peru, this is a fictional tale of the Nasca people, with Patya playing the leading role.
Patya is a fifteen-year-old girl who has gone through so much in her young life, and the journey has just begun. It all starts with the death of her beloved grandmother, kicking off a series of events that cannot be swayed.
The story is both deeply emotional and fascinating, as Patya has to learn a way to cope with her grief while finding a way forward during dark and dangerous times. Her story includes family (and the complications that can bring), spiritual elements, healing practices, corrupt religious leaders, and a call for forgiveness.
My only regret about Call of the Owl Woman is that it ended so quickly. I’d love to say (or learn) that Call of the Owl Woman is the first in a series. It feels like there could be more to this story, and I would happily read it if that were the case!
Highlights:
YA Fantasy
Peruvian Legend & Lore
Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Strong Female Lead
Trigger Warnings:
Familial Death
Gaslighting
Injuries & Near-Death Experiences
Thanks to SparkPress for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Patya is fifteen years old and unprepared for the loss of her grandmother - her best friend, her rock. Adding salt to this fresh wound is what the village elders have decided to do with her grandmother’s remains, forcing Patya to say goodbye to her grandmother in several ways.
It isn’t just Patya’s emotions that are boiling to dangerous levels, as the world around her is in danger. The rain hasn’t come for years, and earthquakes are hitting with little to no warning, leaving devastation in their wake. Patya must find a way to survive what is to come and help her people follow.
My Review:
The moment I heard about Call of the Owl Woman, I knew I had to read it. This novel is one part historical fiction/fantasy, one part coming-of-age, and one part spiritual journey. Set during the sixth century in Peru, this is a fictional tale of the Nasca people, with Patya playing the leading role.
Patya is a fifteen-year-old girl who has gone through so much in her young life, and the journey has just begun. It all starts with the death of her beloved grandmother, kicking off a series of events that cannot be swayed.
The story is both deeply emotional and fascinating, as Patya has to learn a way to cope with her grief while finding a way forward during dark and dangerous times. Her story includes family (and the complications that can bring), spiritual elements, healing practices, corrupt religious leaders, and a call for forgiveness.
My only regret about Call of the Owl Woman is that it ended so quickly. I’d love to say (or learn) that Call of the Owl Woman is the first in a series. It feels like there could be more to this story, and I would happily read it if that were the case!
Highlights:
YA Fantasy
Peruvian Legend & Lore
Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Strong Female Lead
Trigger Warnings:
Familial Death
Gaslighting
Injuries & Near-Death Experiences
Thanks to SparkPress for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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January 11, 2026
Call of the Owl Woman is a richly imagined and emotionally powerful novel that transports readers into a vivid and rarely explored historical world. K.M. Huber brings sixth century Peru to life with striking detail, weaving cultural depth, spiritual tradition, and human struggle into a story that feels both epic and intimate. Patya’s journey is deeply compelling, and her emotional growth unfolds in a way that feels honest and earned.
What makes this book especially memorable is the way it blends history, mysticism, and personal courage. The spiritual elements feel organic rather than decorative, and the stakes remain deeply human throughout. Readers who love immersive settings, strong female protagonists, and stories about destiny and self-discovery will find Call of the Owl Woman unforgettable. This is a book with the power to stay with readers long after the final page.
What makes this book especially memorable is the way it blends history, mysticism, and personal courage. The spiritual elements feel organic rather than decorative, and the stakes remain deeply human throughout. Readers who love immersive settings, strong female protagonists, and stories about destiny and self-discovery will find Call of the Owl Woman unforgettable. This is a book with the power to stay with readers long after the final page.
February 26, 2026
I've long been intrigued by the Nasca lines created in ancient Peru. This book attempts to explain Nasca culture through the story of one young girl during the worst period of drought the Nascans have faced. The plot is compelling and Patya is a formidable character who thinks for herself. The cast of characters are varied and distinct, with good and evil. Maybe there is a hint of a possible romance in the future.
Spiritual beliefs are an essential part of the story. Through Patya, I could see how her beliefs give her strength, color her perception of the world, and dictate her actions.
The author did a ton of research and posits her own theories about the Nasca lines and the culture that are very interesting and very believable.
The ending leaves some issues unresolved, but a sequel is planned for 2026.
Spiritual beliefs are an essential part of the story. Through Patya, I could see how her beliefs give her strength, color her perception of the world, and dictate her actions.
The author did a ton of research and posits her own theories about the Nasca lines and the culture that are very interesting and very believable.
The ending leaves some issues unresolved, but a sequel is planned for 2026.
May 17, 2025
Against a backdrop of Ancient Peru, Patya’s coming of age story seamlessly blends a culture that is rich in folklore,with environmental upheaval and strong familial bonds. As she navigates the aftermath of her grandmother’s death, with her younger brother alongside her, she finds within herself the courage to embrace her own path.
Drawing from my own experiences with Caribbean folklore it was interesting seeing the parallels in this book where the spirit and soul of a people and by extension the region, can profoundly shape an individual’s future.
It was evident that this book was meticulously researched and creative liberties were taken with the utmost respect, so I applaud the author. This was a captivating read that I highly recommend.
Drawing from my own experiences with Caribbean folklore it was interesting seeing the parallels in this book where the spirit and soul of a people and by extension the region, can profoundly shape an individual’s future.
It was evident that this book was meticulously researched and creative liberties were taken with the utmost respect, so I applaud the author. This was a captivating read that I highly recommend.
April 25, 2025
Patya is a member of the Nasca people in ancient Peru. Her people have been devastated by a terrible drought and it seems as if the gods are not pleased with them. On top of this, Patya is also coming to terms with the death of her beloved grandmother, a powerful healer. Patya is expected to follow in the tradition of her family and become a healer as well, but Patya would rather dance. When a powerful earthquake devastates her people, she must do all she can to help and she starts to see how she can use her healing talents and her love of dance to save her people. A beautiful story, but I would have liked a map to better understand the distances between the various locations in the story.
June 2, 2025
The standout aspect of this novel is definitely the setting and culture. The author does an amazing job of bringing a vastly different civilisation to life, imbuing it with a richness of place. The animistic religion was vividly realised and relatable, alive in the sense that although the book relies on 'fantastical' events, it doesn't feel like a fantasy novel—from the characters' point of view, the world around them is alive, and that point of view is so well-expressed that it feels entirely natural.
For me, the plot itself felt rather secondary to the setting. It's good, but didn't propel me along.
For me, the plot itself felt rather secondary to the setting. It's good, but didn't propel me along.
October 24, 2025
This was a super special read after visiting Peru and seeing the Nasca lines myself! There were so many cool connections to my travels. This story heavily features their religions and spirituality, a lot of it focuses on their beliefs and rituals and how these informs the character's thoughts and actions. athe plot moves at a leisurely pace but picked up a bit half way through. The story did a great job in showing that despite their connection to nature and spirits, there are still lots of questions and interpretations. I enjoyed the many depictions of animals included here also. A great read if you are interested in indigenous Peruvian culture and spirituality.
March 28, 2025
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.
I enjoyed this novel so much! This is perfect for those who love well-researched ancient historical fiction with some fantasy elements.
May 14, 2025
This book has such an interesting concept set in an extremely well researched ancient Peruvian setting. I loved the cultural aspect of the book and how seamlessly it is woven into the story. That being said, the story itself felt a bit flat. Characters were introduced as if the reader already knew them and needed no explanation. If you’re looking for a deeply cultural historical fantasy, you may enjoy this, but if you are looking for a book with characters you’ll love, this might not be the one for you.
Thank you Book Sparks for the ARC
Thank you Book Sparks for the ARC
October 18, 2025
I would devour a second book 🥺 in fact, I might crash out if I don’t get to see the owl woman’s journey.
I don’t have an expectations going in, but they were still blown out of the water.
Tell me why I was so engrossed by a 15 year old girl traipsing through the desert? I felt like I was sitting around a campfire being told an ancient tale.
The character table was helpful in keeping ontop of who was who. They were diverse in personality and behavior and I never felt like they were just 2d character to further the plot. I loved them all.
The universe was astounding. I wanted to sink in deeper and know more. Some people just had a gift with words.
#NetGalley #arc #CalloftheOwlWoman
I don’t have an expectations going in, but they were still blown out of the water.
Tell me why I was so engrossed by a 15 year old girl traipsing through the desert? I felt like I was sitting around a campfire being told an ancient tale.
The character table was helpful in keeping ontop of who was who. They were diverse in personality and behavior and I never felt like they were just 2d character to further the plot. I loved them all.
The universe was astounding. I wanted to sink in deeper and know more. Some people just had a gift with words.
#NetGalley #arc #CalloftheOwlWoman
May 12, 2025
Thank you K.M. Huber and Spark Press for this free copy! ☺️ First let me say that I DNFd at 37%. I wanted to finish this.. heck I wanted to love this! But I just couldn’t get behind it. Historical fantasy could not be more up my alley but unfortunately with how messily the characters are thrown in it’s hard to follow along. While I appreciate the glossary in the index of the book I found it frustrating that almost each character had virtually no introduction, which means it’s up to you to figure out who they are. This goes along with the plot too. So many details are thrown in without explanation where you are just supposed to automatically understand what is happening.
I’m so sad I didn’t like this book for as far I got in. It had so much promise to me!
I’m so sad I didn’t like this book for as far I got in. It had so much promise to me!
May 14, 2025
This is a fantasy set in ancient Peru. It speaks of a young girl who has been beaten and abused by a local tribe, survived, and is discovering the gifts that she has been given by higher powers. She must go through trials and tribulations to fully understand her gift and her purpose. The writing sparks vivid imagery, and I was transported along with her during her ceremonies, dream states, and travel. It is a great immersive and compelling story.
May 16, 2025
This was absolute fun to read for me. The setting in Peru was a great break from my usual modern Westernized settings. Reading Patya’s coming of age story was a ride. I truly felt for her dealing with the grief of her grandmother. I also connected with her being outspoken and questioning the things around her.
The fantasy in this just had me never putting the book down. Without spoiling much, this was just a great story told so succinctly.
The fantasy in this just had me never putting the book down. Without spoiling much, this was just a great story told so succinctly.
September 11, 2025
A unique and well researched setting for a family tale. The relationships between grandmother, mother, daughter, and brothers was very strong. The elements of religion and ancient mysticism were the heart of the plot and provided a structure for making sense of and giving depth to the events that happened.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 4, 2025
I absolutely LOVED it!
I currently live in Peru and could so relate to lots of the customs and traditions.
Kathryn cleverly married imagination with reality creating an enthralling read.
If you ever read and enjoyed Jean M. Auel’s books, you will get hooked by this one too.
With the millions upon millions of books that have been read, it is unusual to read something that sparks your curiosity.
I currently live in Peru and could so relate to lots of the customs and traditions.
Kathryn cleverly married imagination with reality creating an enthralling read.
If you ever read and enjoyed Jean M. Auel’s books, you will get hooked by this one too.
With the millions upon millions of books that have been read, it is unusual to read something that sparks your curiosity.
January 15, 2026
Step into the world of ancient Peru, South America, the culture, geography, ceremonies, clans, and dances. Follow Patya, our young heroine, on her journey of self-discovery, on her travels and relationship to her healer mother and grandmother, the moon cycles and how the whole community deals with changes in nature. The characters are well developed and there is always something exciting and new in the next chapter. A sequel is coming out in August 2026, "Dance of the Owl Woman."
December 22, 2024
In these difficult times, do you need to escape a little? Need some magic in your life? Want to learn more about the pre-Inka Peruvian cultures? Want a whodunnit you can’t put down? Then read all about Patya, a strong girl/young woman from the Peruvian Nasca culture who must use all her wits and magic to beat the bad guys. ‘The ayes have it’ for women! It's a page turner, I promise!
May 18, 2025
The story is set in Peru in the sixth century. Quite an unusual setting, made me curious.
Unfortunately, in the second chapter, the Nasca people say 'Amen' after their prayers—a word of Hebrew origin. Given that it's highly unlikely the Nasca would have had any exposure to the Hebrew language, this seems historically inaccurate. How did such an oversight go unnoticed before publication?
Unfortunately, in the second chapter, the Nasca people say 'Amen' after their prayers—a word of Hebrew origin. Given that it's highly unlikely the Nasca would have had any exposure to the Hebrew language, this seems historically inaccurate. How did such an oversight go unnoticed before publication?
May 26, 2025
I liked this book. I enjoy ancestral stories where the people are so much more connected to the universe and otherworldly aspects of life. It took me away from today's political upheaval.
I just wish this book covered more of her life and the travels to her actually becoming the owl woman, although her times are changing and maybe it never would have happened anyway.
I just wish this book covered more of her life and the travels to her actually becoming the owl woman, although her times are changing and maybe it never would have happened anyway.
June 14, 2025
K. M Huber weaves history and fantasy to craft a fresh and compelling coming of age story set in ancient Peru. I was mesmerized by the descriptions of the beloved, but drought-ridden landscape as well as main character Patya's journey to discover her own power and help her family and people. Well done!
February 5, 2026
I’m usually a mystery and nonfiction reader so I Started out not sure of the mystical aspect of this novel set in ancient Peru; ended up loving it!
Beautifully written. Almost poetic. I read it in preparation for my upcoming trip to Machu Pichu and so glad that I did!
Beautifully written. Almost poetic. I read it in preparation for my upcoming trip to Machu Pichu and so glad that I did!
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