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quippeThe Blurb On The Back:
Year One-Knife.
Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztecs.
The end of the world is kept at bay only by the magic of human sacrifice.
A Priestess disappears from an empty room drenched in blood.
Acatl, High Priest of the Dead must find her, or break the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead.
It’s 1480 and Acatl, the High Priest of the Dead lives in Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire. A quiet man, he avoids the political squabbles and court intrigue that the High Priests and Priestesses of the other Gods and Goddesses engage in, preferring to tend to the duties and ceremonies for caring for the dead. All this changes when Eleuia, the offering priestess of Ceyaxochitl, disappears from her locked room, leaving only splashes of blood. Acatl’s estranged brother, Neutemoc, a fearsome Jaguar Knight, is the main suspect as he was discovered in her room, covered in blood. He claims that he’s innocent, but Acatl knows that he’s hiding something and feels compelled to investigate. This investigation takes him into the world of the Gods and the Goddesses and forces him closer into the politics that he despises. The secrets he uncovers threaten not only his family, but the very Empire himself and he finds that no one can be trusted and no one is as they seem ...
Deftly written, this is a fascinating fantasy that pitches the reader into a little known world. The politics, religion and every-day life of the Aztec Empire are vividly portrayed and combined with a fairly satisfying locked room mystery. Although De Bodard has obviously done a lot of research, it never crowds out the narrative and the details give the fantasy element a particular authenticity.
Acatl is an unlikely hero – reluctant to engage in the world beyond his temple, he uses his duties to hide from his family and the disappointment his parents’ felt at his choice of career. The uneasy relationship with his arrogant, selfish brother adds depth to the story, as does his closer relationship with his magically gifted sister, Mihmatini. De Bodard also gives Acatl an additional ally in the headstrong, Teomitl, a young warrior with secrets of his own.
There are times when Acatl is ever-so-slightly too passive and some of the action is dependent on his stumbling on revelations rather than unearthing them. It would also be useful for the publishers to include a guide as to how Aztec names should be pronounced.
De Bodard leaves room for a much welcome sequel and if you’re looking to get away from traditional fantasy tropes, then this is definitely a book for you.
The Verdict:
A well written debut fantasy, this makes the most of an unusual setting and builds around an interesting mystery. Definitely one to check out.
Year One-Knife.
Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztecs.
The end of the world is kept at bay only by the magic of human sacrifice.
A Priestess disappears from an empty room drenched in blood.
Acatl, High Priest of the Dead must find her, or break the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead.
It’s 1480 and Acatl, the High Priest of the Dead lives in Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire. A quiet man, he avoids the political squabbles and court intrigue that the High Priests and Priestesses of the other Gods and Goddesses engage in, preferring to tend to the duties and ceremonies for caring for the dead. All this changes when Eleuia, the offering priestess of Ceyaxochitl, disappears from her locked room, leaving only splashes of blood. Acatl’s estranged brother, Neutemoc, a fearsome Jaguar Knight, is the main suspect as he was discovered in her room, covered in blood. He claims that he’s innocent, but Acatl knows that he’s hiding something and feels compelled to investigate. This investigation takes him into the world of the Gods and the Goddesses and forces him closer into the politics that he despises. The secrets he uncovers threaten not only his family, but the very Empire himself and he finds that no one can be trusted and no one is as they seem ...
Deftly written, this is a fascinating fantasy that pitches the reader into a little known world. The politics, religion and every-day life of the Aztec Empire are vividly portrayed and combined with a fairly satisfying locked room mystery. Although De Bodard has obviously done a lot of research, it never crowds out the narrative and the details give the fantasy element a particular authenticity.
Acatl is an unlikely hero – reluctant to engage in the world beyond his temple, he uses his duties to hide from his family and the disappointment his parents’ felt at his choice of career. The uneasy relationship with his arrogant, selfish brother adds depth to the story, as does his closer relationship with his magically gifted sister, Mihmatini. De Bodard also gives Acatl an additional ally in the headstrong, Teomitl, a young warrior with secrets of his own.
There are times when Acatl is ever-so-slightly too passive and some of the action is dependent on his stumbling on revelations rather than unearthing them. It would also be useful for the publishers to include a guide as to how Aztec names should be pronounced.
De Bodard leaves room for a much welcome sequel and if you’re looking to get away from traditional fantasy tropes, then this is definitely a book for you.
The Verdict:
A well written debut fantasy, this makes the most of an unusual setting and builds around an interesting mystery. Definitely one to check out.
