Belize’s Jade Necklace Series Returns With Book Two

Belizean author and illustrator Ian Gibson has released The Lord of the Underworld, the second book in his fantasy-adventure series The Jade Necklace.

The official launch takes place at the Turton Library in Belize City at 9 am on Wednesday, September 30.

The series follows Itzel, a young girl who travels through the Maya Underworld to find her grandmother. Book two pushes her deeper into Xibalba, where she comes up against new challenges, gods, spirits and creatures.

Gibson drew on Maya mythology and Belizean culture to build the series. He uses adventure and humour to get children reading.

The first book, The Land of the Night Sun, came out in 2025. According to publisher Cubola, it has built a growing following among young readers across the country. Public library book clubs selected it for group reading and discussion.

Cubola Productions partnered with the National Library Service and Information System to place the series in public libraries nationwide.

The 302-page illustrated novel targets readers aged 10 to 14.