Zona: The Forbidden Land (by Fred G. Baker) takes the reader through a thrilling, otherworldly fiction adventure in a mostly unexplored Siberian territory. Grant Taylor, heir to his uncle, Randall Taylor, narrates this mysterious, fast-moving story in an engaging manner. Randall Taylor disappeared during a previous expedition to Siberia. Although most of the explorers that accompanied Randall are assumed to be dead, Grant is intent on trying to find his uncle and bring him home. Only one man, Max Volkov, returned from that expedition and is anxious to return to Siberia and complete the mission in the role of captain. After assembling a team of scientists, biologists, soldiers and doctors, the well-trained group sets out to explore the magical mysteries of the Siberian land.

I finished the book quickly and found that it is well-edited. The ever-changing scenes kept my adrenaline actively flowing until the end of the story. I enjoyed personally creating visual images in my mind, inspired by vividly written passages about the landscape, wildlife, and crew member relationships. I appreciate that both men and women in the crew are portrayed as equal in career stature. I also find the crew members' interactions and personalities believable. Irina, Grant's love interest, is portrayed in an especially realistic, vulnerable, and mysterious manner.

The over-written descriptions of the crew's logistics in the woods sometimes slow down the active storyline. I believe that more time could have been spent on describing the importance of plant foliage discoveries. I felt a bit let down at the end of the story, feeling that a sequel might answer some of my unanswered questions. Characters in the story should be more intricately examined and expounded upon. Further explanation of the wildlife inhabitants that interact with the crew remain undeveloped. Lastly, the surprise ending leads the reader to desire at least another chapter for resolution of the tale.

I very much enjoyed reading Zona: Forbidden Land. The storyline is a good, absorbing reprieve from dealing with daily life trials and tribulations. If you enjoy reading fantastical imaginings, then I recommend this wondrous adventure story to young adults, adults, and readers that enjoy reading science fiction and "thriller" scenarios.