Women are bad news. Maddock should have known better but he - as is the case with so many men - couldn't help himself.

Cibola is the second novel from David Wood featuring the ex-Navy Seal Dane Maddock. We were introduced to Maddock and his friend Uriah "Bones" Bonebrake in Wood's first novel, Dourado. We are tantalized with another historically fictional prologue that introduces us to Fray Marcos de Niza, a Spaniard in the New World - ancient Argentina, if I have my facts straight - who is trying to keep the world's most amazing treasure from falling into the hands of Coronado. De Niza sacrifices quite a bit to pull this off but he cannot quite reconcile with the thought that the treasure would remain lost forever. So he leaves a trail of historic bread crumbs, knowing that one day someone will find the first one and then...

Rescuing a damsel in distress, Maddock helps Jade Ihara - Wood's femme fatale - find that fateful first clue left behind by de Niza. From the moment that Dane utters the ridiculously cool phrase, "You have the traditional Japanese beauty, with just a touch of the robust splendor of Polynesia." I knew that he and Jade would have an interesting relationship. And make no mistake, their relationship is one of the key plotlines in Cibola. But what sets Cibola apart is the number and complexity of characters and plotlines and how Wood weaves them all together expertly.

As he did in Dourado, the author uses Biblical and world history to create a fantastic treasure for his heroes to go after. And, as was the case in that first novel, the fictional causes and conclusions Wood draws are sure to spark renewed debate over the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola - and even the claims by some scholars that early Jews and/or Christians had visited the New World long before the Spanish arrived.

Everything about Cibola is better - and that is not to say that Dourado is a bad novel - it's just that Wood has improved his writing craft significantly. So much so that I can't wait for installment three! Hint, hint.

The locations, descriptions and unique mix of history and fiction are superior in Cibola. The characters are believable, with depth and growth that should satisfy some of the more discerning reviewers of Dourado. Already, I feel like Maddock and Bones are old friends, and it's a privilege to spend time with them.

The plot is tight, with characters and variables that are kept well under control with good pacing and development.

There are a few typos or grammatical faux-pas, but much less so than in Dourado. Although some folks really pinged Mr. Wood for this, I tend to look past the flaws and appreciate the work. If Dourado is good - and I think it is - Cibola is very good!

The author has created a gripping and entertaining franchise. Read Cibola and see if you can unravel de Niza's clues and find the treasure before the bad guys. To paraphrase one of my favorite (fictional) archeologists, "Wood is good; he's very good."

Cibola is published by Gryphonwood Press.

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