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This third book in the Obsidian and Blood trilogy, also in omnibus form, sees Acatl, High Priest of the Dead, trying to deal with a magically conjured plague that is threatening to sweep through Tenochtitlan following Tizoc's triumphal return from his first war as Revered Speaker (Emperor). Tizoc needs a resounding victory to cement his place and provide many prisoners for sacrifice as only blood will appease the gods. The war is proclaimed a victory even though Tizoc's warriors have only managed to capture a paltry 40 prisoners which is nowhere near enough to please Grandmother Earth and Huitzilpochtli, Mexica's patron god. There are mutterings amongst the army
Tizoc is mercurial and paranoid, a poor leader in every way, always doing exactly the opposite of what he should be doing, helping himself, but at the expense of everyone else. He should be the Fifth World's connection with Huitzilpochtli, but even the god is not impressed and that's potentially disastrous for the Mexica empire. Acatl partly blames himself. Reclaiming Tizoc from the realms of the dead (in the middle book) may have seriously upset the balance of the Fifth World even though at the time it was done with the best of intent, closing a gate to keep out the star demons
Teomitl, Tizoc's younger brother, now Master of the House of Darts, leader of a quarter of the army, husband if Mihmatini and heir to the throne, is anxious to take a shortcut to the place that will eventually be his. He sees all Tizoc's faults and knows he is destined to do better, but Acatl knows Tenochtitlan and the Mexica empire can't withstand another upheaval, especially with someone sending plague amongst them. Acatl not only has to find the plague vector, but the person - or maybe the god - who is sending it.
The plot is - as usual – convoluted, with many false leads. Sometimes it moves painstakingly slowly because Acatl doesn't seem to ask the questions he knows he needs the answer to, or because the conventions of the society don't give him freedom, as the investigator, to investigate. And that's one thing that Ms de Bodard never compromises on; she never bends the society to the needs of the plot. This is not a police procedural with the numbers filed off. The questions and the answers evolve naturally from the setting, the situation and the characters
Characterisation is strong with Acatl's sister, Mihmatini, finally coming to the fore as a strong Guardian (priestess for the Duality), turning into someone who will obviously be a force of nature in future books - and I'm assuming that there will be more because though Acatl and co. have successfully negotiated some murky waters and solved three mysteries, this world is begging for more stories. I understand there are some short stories and I'll now have to seek them out. The ending is satisfying, but there enough loose threads to take the story further.
Tizoc is mercurial and paranoid, a poor leader in every way, always doing exactly the opposite of what he should be doing, helping himself, but at the expense of everyone else. He should be the Fifth World's connection with Huitzilpochtli, but even the god is not impressed and that's potentially disastrous for the Mexica empire. Acatl partly blames himself. Reclaiming Tizoc from the realms of the dead (in the middle book) may have seriously upset the balance of the Fifth World even though at the time it was done with the best of intent, closing a gate to keep out the star demons
Teomitl, Tizoc's younger brother, now Master of the House of Darts, leader of a quarter of the army, husband if Mihmatini and heir to the throne, is anxious to take a shortcut to the place that will eventually be his. He sees all Tizoc's faults and knows he is destined to do better, but Acatl knows Tenochtitlan and the Mexica empire can't withstand another upheaval, especially with someone sending plague amongst them. Acatl not only has to find the plague vector, but the person - or maybe the god - who is sending it.
The plot is - as usual – convoluted, with many false leads. Sometimes it moves painstakingly slowly because Acatl doesn't seem to ask the questions he knows he needs the answer to, or because the conventions of the society don't give him freedom, as the investigator, to investigate. And that's one thing that Ms de Bodard never compromises on; she never bends the society to the needs of the plot. This is not a police procedural with the numbers filed off. The questions and the answers evolve naturally from the setting, the situation and the characters
Characterisation is strong with Acatl's sister, Mihmatini, finally coming to the fore as a strong Guardian (priestess for the Duality), turning into someone who will obviously be a force of nature in future books - and I'm assuming that there will be more because though Acatl and co. have successfully negotiated some murky waters and solved three mysteries, this world is begging for more stories. I understand there are some short stories and I'll now have to seek them out. The ending is satisfying, but there enough loose threads to take the story further.
