Kirk Voclain and Family

That cover stopped me in my tracks. The mask, the colors, the depth in those eyes, it all screams pick me up. Blood of Yarumaya was lush, dangerous, and strangely beautiful. The jungle, the mystery, the sense of something ancient watching, it all hooked me. Visually stunning, storywise gripping, and absolutely unforgettable, from first chapter to last haunting page. Thank you for this book.

A must read...exciting to the end!
I've read all Kevin Miller's books and this one was fast moving and exciting from the beginning. Adventure, romance, history , heartbreaking at times with lots of twists and turns in the story.
I didn't know what to expect next. Enjoyable and fun to read!

Gary Wright

Absolutely loved Kevin's latest book
I read it in one day. The story flowed smoothly,held my attention throughout.
Felt so many emotions on this journey. Definitely need to read this one and let yourself get taken on a journey.

Exciting Jungle Adventure

Love adventure stories, and I was curios about the rainforest setting. Whille reading, I realized it's more than just action, it mixes mystery, science and danger in a way that keeps you hooked. So far, it's been an exciting read.

Adventure Novel
A young woman is preparing for a research trip to the Amazon - this already promises adventure, unsolved mysteries, and inexplicable disappearances. The plot is compelling, and the only question was whether the author had the storytelling skills. It was a pleasant surprise that, in addition to the series of events, the author included vivid descriptions of tropical forests and nature (although the choice of a botanist girl predetermines this). Overall, the mix of Stanford, Palo Alto, the Amazon, microbiology, and research feels like a gift in the style of Jules Verne to his readers - fans of science fiction that is frighteningly close to reality, or to the reality of tomorrow.

Thrilling adventure story with soul

This is one of the most thrilling, intense, and well-written
novels I’ve read in a long time. It is five stars plus. Award-winning
Author Kevin D. Miller has once again given us a work of
extraordinary craftsmanship, heart, existential questions, and moral
dilemmas. The characters jumped off the page straight into my
heart.

The opening is a killer: a young, wealthy, woman travels from
her pampered existence in Malibu, California to work with a scientist
in the Amazon as part of authoring her master's thesis in Botany.
Dropped off by boat near the scientist’s lab in the jungle, she
discovers he’s not there and has left no communications for her.
She might as well be in Oz, so foreign and formidable is the primitive
world she finds herself in. She complicates this dilemma by
accidentally shooting the radio and leaving open the food storage container open
so a group of monkeys can run in and grab all the edible supplies.

I don’t wish to spoil the plot except to say it’s populated with a
mysterious, ancient tribe deep in the jungle, mystical trees, violent
poachers of this precious wood, and an enigmatic scientist who’s
inhabited the jungle and interacted with this tribe for decades,
though he appears to be close in age to this young woman.

There are engaging twists and turns throughout the narrative,
including powerful people who promise to help preserve the tribe
and its ancient culture, and then betray them for fame and the
almighty dollar.

Author Miller blends intense research into the Amazon with his
extraordinary imagination, as showed in all his wonderful novels. In
Blood of Yarumaya, Miller offers beautifully crafted, immersive
descriptions of the Amazon Rainforest, coupled with both
heartbreaking and heartwarming events you don’t see coming.

I highly recommend this novel to all readers, especially those
who love high adventure stories well told.

A near perfectly paced novel of vital importance!

Kevin Miller's fiction works from "Heart of Steel," an autobiographical tale, to "White Skies and Black Mingo" and his other excellent titles have put on display a very significant talent by an author who can move from settings in the Civil War, to science fiction, to the present day in the Amazon Rain Forest with impressive ease. His newest title, "The Blood of Yarumaya," has the added element of the world's need to come to the aid of the Amazon Rain Forest as it faces a world crisis.
Through two characters he has woven a tale of intrigue and carefully described science using the Yarumaya Tree, a fictional symbol of the Forest as the keeper of incredible powers to aid humans and life in general. The two characters, Isabella Delgado and Dr. Dominic Quinn carry the fast paced plot through the jungle and its inevitable clash with political and big business elements bent on exploiting one more natural gift from nature.
This is one of the best outings from Mr. Miller and is sure to inspire and entertain anyone who ventures into this next adventure penned by a very talented and accomplished author. A must read!

A pager turner to the end

Another great book by Kevin Miller! He is a wonderful story teller and I couldn’t put this book down until I got to the very end. From the first pages, the story pulls you in. The many twists, turns and surprises keep the story moving at a fast pace. This story includes science, culture, corporate greed and a dash of politics, yet the primary characters and their developing rapport brings a wonderfully satisfying element to the book and keeps you completely invested in the story. I highly recommend this book—it will not disappoint!

Eco-thriller with heart and urgency

This book blends scientific discovery with cultural preservation in a way that creates genuine stakes beyond just the romance. Isabella is a well-drawn protagonist whose background in botany and gymnastics gives her unique skills that matter to the plot. The mystery of Dr. Quinn's identity and the sacred Yarumaya tree with longevity properties hooks you immediately. The setting feels immersive through vivid sensory details, and the uncharted tribe's survival crisis adds moral complexity about exploitation versus preservation. The pacing moves quickly without sacrificing character development or the scientific elements.

What makes this work is how it balances the thriller aspects with deeper questions about what discoveries are worth pursuing and at what cost to indigenous communities. The connection between Isabella and Quinn develops naturally through shared purpose rather than feeling forced. The environmental urgency feels timely without being preachy. The detailed experimental stages and sharp dialogue keep the science accessible. A compelling read for anyone who loves nature-based adventures with real emotional stakes and ethical dilemmas woven throughout.

Blood of Yarumaya by Kevin D. Miller follows Isabella Delgado. She's a wealthy botany student from Malibu who travels to the Amazon rainforest for an internship. Her mentor is Dr. Dominic Quinn. He's a brilliant but secretive scientist who appears much younger than he is. They discover a complex biological secret to anti-aging that involves rare tree resin and special bees. A corrupt politician named Julio Ortega wants this secret for his own gain. He hires mercenaries to attack the indigenous Kawirén tribe to get it. Izzy must use her newfound survival skills to save Quinn and protect the forest from destruction.

I found the character arc of Isabella surprisingly engaging. She starts the story as a somewhat entitled gymnast. She quickly transforms into a capable survivor. Her growth felt earned rather than just given to her. The romance between her and Quinn is sweet. It also carries a unique tension due to his actual age versus his appearance. I felt genuine anxiety during the raid on the village. Miller does a wonderful job of making you care about the Kawirén people. You desperately want them to survive the encroaching threats of the modern world.

The book tackles heavy themes like deforestation and corporate greed head-on. I appreciated this direct approach because it did not feel overly preachy. The science behind the longevity serum was fascinating to me. I loved the twist with the "rapid aging" weapon used against Ortega near the end. It was a satisfying bit of poetic justice.

I enjoyed this thrilling adventure. It carries a real emotional punch that stuck with me. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy fast-paced eco-thrillers. Fans of adventure stories with a strong romantic subplot will also like it. It is a perfect read for anyone who has ever dreamed of escaping civilization to find something deeper in the wild.