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The Rise of the Aztecs #6
The Sword
In the re-conquered Texcoco, the young emperor is preparing for the Great Ceremony, eager to ascend the throne that was taken from him more than ten summers ago by the now-defeated Tepanecs. Visitors from the provinces and other city-states are flooding the decorated capital, making it gush with activity, buzz with celebrative feasts and preparations.
Yet, not everyone is happy with the newly anointed emperor and some of his policies, namely his close contacts in the neighboring Mexica-Aztec Capital. Some nobles even think they would be better-suited to occupy the Texcoco throne.
When mysterious black-clothed killers sneak into the Chief Warlord’s house on the night of the celebrative feast, stealing the carved sword, the most precious weapon in the entire capital, a weapon that is believed to hold magical qualities, the troubles in the capital escalate, taking matters out of the hands of even those who paid for this crime to take place.
With Tlalli, now a noblewoman, a favorite concubine of the powerful Mexica Head Adviser, finding herself embroiled in the troublesome happenings when she succumbs to the urge to explore the beautiful capital unescorted.
Yet, not everyone is happy with the newly anointed emperor and some of his policies, namely his close contacts in the neighboring Mexica-Aztec Capital. Some nobles even think they would be better-suited to occupy the Texcoco throne.
When mysterious black-clothed killers sneak into the Chief Warlord’s house on the night of the celebrative feast, stealing the carved sword, the most precious weapon in the entire capital, a weapon that is believed to hold magical qualities, the troubles in the capital escalate, taking matters out of the hands of even those who paid for this crime to take place.
With Tlalli, now a noblewoman, a favorite concubine of the powerful Mexica Head Adviser, finding herself embroiled in the troublesome happenings when she succumbs to the urge to explore the beautiful capital unescorted.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2014
19 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Zoe Saadia
32 books332 followersZoe Saadia is the author of several novels of pre-Columbian Americas. From the architects of the Aztec Empire to the founders of the Iroquois Great League, from the towering pyramids of the Mexican Valley to the longhouses of the Great Lakes, her novels bring long-forgotten history, cultures and people to life, tracing pivotal events that brought about the greatness of North and Mesoamerica.
Having researched various pre-contact cultures of this continent for more than a decade, she is convinced that it's a shame that such a large part of history was completely overlooked, by historical fiction most of all. Both Americas had an extremely rich, diverse, fascinating history long before this continent came in contact with the rest of the world.
So her professional motto is set. America has not been 'discovered', not yet. Maybe not ever :-)
Having researched various pre-contact cultures of this continent for more than a decade, she is convinced that it's a shame that such a large part of history was completely overlooked, by historical fiction most of all. Both Americas had an extremely rich, diverse, fascinating history long before this continent came in contact with the rest of the world.
So her professional motto is set. America has not been 'discovered', not yet. Maybe not ever :-)
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 22, 2016
The Sword by Zoe Saadia is the sixth book in The Rise of the Aztecs series. It had been a while since I read the last one (The Fall of the Empire) but the second I opened my kindle it was like meeting up with a beloved old friend.
All of Saadia’s novels can be enjoyed as standalones but there is nothing that can compare to the sheer joy of following this cast of characters from the beginning. We first met Kuini and Coyotl as children but in The Sword they are accomplished, successful men in their thirties. Along the way Saadia has added more characters for us to love such as Dehe, Iztac-Ayotl, Tlacaelel and more recently Tlalli.
This particular novel belongs to Tlalli and Kuini’s young son, Ocelotl. The novel is set in the city of Texcoco where Coyotl has finally claimed his rightful place as Emperor. Due to the recent battles and regional turmoil, lots of the characters are feeling like strangers in a strange land, particularly Tlalli, visiting the city with her lover, Tlacaelel, who as Mexica’s chief adviser is a dignitary at Coyotl’s ceremony.
When we first met Tlalli in The Fall of the Empire, she was a brave and resourceful market girl but, since being taken as Tlacaelel’s favourite concubine, she has come some way to realising her full potential. She has taught herself to read and write so much so that Tlacaelel is planning to use her as a scribe. However, Tlalli has lost none of her spirited independence and, whilst exploring the city at night she stumbles across information that essentially prevents Coyotl and Tlacaelel’s plans from being thwarted.
The plot centres on the eponymous sword which belongs to Kuini, the Chief Warlord. The sword has belonged to the Warlord since he was a young man and has taken on a symbolic meaning for a lot of people who associate it with the Warlord’s success. In fact, many people are convinced that the sword has magical powers. When the sword is stolen it threatens to destabilise everything Coyotl, Kuini and Tlacaelel have worked for and it becomes a race against time to find it and those responsible for the theft.
The situation is made even more threatening because the Warlord’s young son, Ocelotl is also missing, caught up in the theft of the sword. In Ocelotl we see the mirror image of the boy Kuini who we first met in The Highlander. Ocelotl doesn’t fit in in Texcoco where he is constantly compared to his more conventionally accomplished twin. He is considered too wild and ill-disciplined but during the course of the novel proves himself to be his father’s son. The Warlord’s concern for and relationship with his son also serves to remind the reader of his human side despite his ruthlessness as a warrior.
My favourite character in the previous novels has been Dehe and she doesn’t disappoint. Tlalli is almost like a younger version of the now settled and respectable wife of the Warlord. We see Dehe mostly through Tlalli’s eyes and it’s gratifying that she has grown into a kind and wise woman. This is particularly in evidence in her treatment of the Warlord’s other wife and Coyotl’s sister, Iztac-Ayotl. Iztac makes a terrible mistake that Dehe helps her to cover up and, although I partly wanted Iztac to be exposed, it made me love Dehe even more for not doing so.
As with the other novels of the series, one of the themes of the story is the lasting effects of colonialism. Even though most of the battles are over and Tlacaelel is building a strong Mexica Empire, resentments are bubbling under the surface as the people feel the loss of their independence and cultural identity. Tlacaelel is a strategic politician and he has almost realised his vision of a cohesive empire under the rule of his own emperor, Itzcoatl and Coyotl. However, he naively believes that eradicating the Tepanecs from history and elevating one God to unite the people is the answer. He is surprised when Tlalli recounts events from her own Tepanec perspective and, although he advises Coyotl to get rid of dissenters, he fails to see that resentment will still remain waiting for the right moment to surface. It’s particularly interesting when we compare this time of 1431 to the present day and realise that most of the world’s problems stem from resentments and anger over land, religion and culture. It seems that we are still dealing with the consequences of colonialism.
One of the many things that make Saadia’s novels such a delight to read is the attention she pays to history which lends the stories enormous credibility. Her writing skills bring this period alive from the way she describes the busy market places to the intrigue that takes place around the palaces. Superstition plays a strong part in this story especially where the sword is concerned. Saadia manages to convey the power it represents in such a way that I got so caught up in her words I came to believe it was magical myself.
Saadia also imbues her story with heart-stopping tension especially surrounding Ocelotl. As he tries to escape from the hired killers who have stolen his father’s sword I genuinely feared for his safety. Likewise when his father embarks upon a spectacular sword fight with the leader of the thieves, my heart was in my mouth.
There are so many things to recommend about this book that I really don’t know where to start but one of the great things about Saadia is the way she allows females to shine in a very male dominated world. Her novels are always filled to brim with excitement but at the same time thoughtful and steeped in history. I can’t remember a series I have enjoyed more and am really looking forward to downloading the next instalment.
All of Saadia’s novels can be enjoyed as standalones but there is nothing that can compare to the sheer joy of following this cast of characters from the beginning. We first met Kuini and Coyotl as children but in The Sword they are accomplished, successful men in their thirties. Along the way Saadia has added more characters for us to love such as Dehe, Iztac-Ayotl, Tlacaelel and more recently Tlalli.
This particular novel belongs to Tlalli and Kuini’s young son, Ocelotl. The novel is set in the city of Texcoco where Coyotl has finally claimed his rightful place as Emperor. Due to the recent battles and regional turmoil, lots of the characters are feeling like strangers in a strange land, particularly Tlalli, visiting the city with her lover, Tlacaelel, who as Mexica’s chief adviser is a dignitary at Coyotl’s ceremony.
When we first met Tlalli in The Fall of the Empire, she was a brave and resourceful market girl but, since being taken as Tlacaelel’s favourite concubine, she has come some way to realising her full potential. She has taught herself to read and write so much so that Tlacaelel is planning to use her as a scribe. However, Tlalli has lost none of her spirited independence and, whilst exploring the city at night she stumbles across information that essentially prevents Coyotl and Tlacaelel’s plans from being thwarted.
The plot centres on the eponymous sword which belongs to Kuini, the Chief Warlord. The sword has belonged to the Warlord since he was a young man and has taken on a symbolic meaning for a lot of people who associate it with the Warlord’s success. In fact, many people are convinced that the sword has magical powers. When the sword is stolen it threatens to destabilise everything Coyotl, Kuini and Tlacaelel have worked for and it becomes a race against time to find it and those responsible for the theft.
The situation is made even more threatening because the Warlord’s young son, Ocelotl is also missing, caught up in the theft of the sword. In Ocelotl we see the mirror image of the boy Kuini who we first met in The Highlander. Ocelotl doesn’t fit in in Texcoco where he is constantly compared to his more conventionally accomplished twin. He is considered too wild and ill-disciplined but during the course of the novel proves himself to be his father’s son. The Warlord’s concern for and relationship with his son also serves to remind the reader of his human side despite his ruthlessness as a warrior.
My favourite character in the previous novels has been Dehe and she doesn’t disappoint. Tlalli is almost like a younger version of the now settled and respectable wife of the Warlord. We see Dehe mostly through Tlalli’s eyes and it’s gratifying that she has grown into a kind and wise woman. This is particularly in evidence in her treatment of the Warlord’s other wife and Coyotl’s sister, Iztac-Ayotl. Iztac makes a terrible mistake that Dehe helps her to cover up and, although I partly wanted Iztac to be exposed, it made me love Dehe even more for not doing so.
As with the other novels of the series, one of the themes of the story is the lasting effects of colonialism. Even though most of the battles are over and Tlacaelel is building a strong Mexica Empire, resentments are bubbling under the surface as the people feel the loss of their independence and cultural identity. Tlacaelel is a strategic politician and he has almost realised his vision of a cohesive empire under the rule of his own emperor, Itzcoatl and Coyotl. However, he naively believes that eradicating the Tepanecs from history and elevating one God to unite the people is the answer. He is surprised when Tlalli recounts events from her own Tepanec perspective and, although he advises Coyotl to get rid of dissenters, he fails to see that resentment will still remain waiting for the right moment to surface. It’s particularly interesting when we compare this time of 1431 to the present day and realise that most of the world’s problems stem from resentments and anger over land, religion and culture. It seems that we are still dealing with the consequences of colonialism.
One of the many things that make Saadia’s novels such a delight to read is the attention she pays to history which lends the stories enormous credibility. Her writing skills bring this period alive from the way she describes the busy market places to the intrigue that takes place around the palaces. Superstition plays a strong part in this story especially where the sword is concerned. Saadia manages to convey the power it represents in such a way that I got so caught up in her words I came to believe it was magical myself.
Saadia also imbues her story with heart-stopping tension especially surrounding Ocelotl. As he tries to escape from the hired killers who have stolen his father’s sword I genuinely feared for his safety. Likewise when his father embarks upon a spectacular sword fight with the leader of the thieves, my heart was in my mouth.
There are so many things to recommend about this book that I really don’t know where to start but one of the great things about Saadia is the way she allows females to shine in a very male dominated world. Her novels are always filled to brim with excitement but at the same time thoughtful and steeped in history. I can’t remember a series I have enjoyed more and am really looking forward to downloading the next instalment.
June 11, 2014
I have been reading the historical fiction of Zoe Saadia for some tome and i am a big fan, but this one is my favorite! Once again Zoe has used some characters that do not follow the normal culture of the time to provide an even greater insight into the culture. A Warlord that has only two wives and no concubines, and then does not even set the pecking order by establishing a chief wife position. The unruly twins causing trouble but also one of them showing such courage. I just loved the book! I want to give it a 6th star!
August 11, 2016
As always, when I'm starting a book written by Zoe Saadia, I had high hopes. But this time, oh, it was even more exciting; I could barely stand waiting to read it. Not only is Zoe one of my favorites, with her unique story-telling abilities and gift of weaving a whole new world that you have no choice but to join, but in this book... there was something even more special.
In this book, we return to my absolute favorite character of all time: Kuini—the Highlander. Aw...just saying his name makes me smile. Any book that had even a hint of him in it would be one that I needed to read. And the sword, I have to admit that I felt a rather excessive fondness for this fictional weapon—a weapon that possesses special powers, or so the legend goes—which I had never even seen, and that had so much of Kuini wrapped up in it. This was definitely a book I was looking forward to diving into, and of course, Zoe Saadia did not disappoint.
As Kuini tries to come to grips with the loss of his sword, and to his horror, the fact that one of his sons is also missing, he reacts in a way that is predictable for those of us who know him so well. He loses his temper, comes to grips with the situation, and resolves it in the best way possible. Of course, amid the resolution is just the right amount of fighting and emotional turmoil. (With a good book, you have to have the drama, right?)
Also re-joining us in this book is Tlalli, Tlacaelel's woman, whom he loves more than he should. Or so the jealous old crones say. As she emerges in this book, with the same strong personality that we remember so well from The Fall of the Empire, she dives into the action, trying to help resolve the turmoil in her own way—a way that may just land her in more trouble than even she can handle.
Is the Highlander being betrayed by one of his own? Will he recover his magical sword? Is the Sword responsible for his impressive record as a mighty warrior, as many people claim, and if he doesn't manage to regain it, will his performance on the battlefield suffer? Will Tlalli's inability to follow Tlacaelel's orders result in the loss of his favor? Is she destined to lose her position in the palace, only to be forced back out onto the streets, struggling to even get a bite to eat?
If you want to be truly roped into the lives of the characters in a book, I recommend that you give this one a try.
In this book, we return to my absolute favorite character of all time: Kuini—the Highlander. Aw...just saying his name makes me smile. Any book that had even a hint of him in it would be one that I needed to read. And the sword, I have to admit that I felt a rather excessive fondness for this fictional weapon—a weapon that possesses special powers, or so the legend goes—which I had never even seen, and that had so much of Kuini wrapped up in it. This was definitely a book I was looking forward to diving into, and of course, Zoe Saadia did not disappoint.
As Kuini tries to come to grips with the loss of his sword, and to his horror, the fact that one of his sons is also missing, he reacts in a way that is predictable for those of us who know him so well. He loses his temper, comes to grips with the situation, and resolves it in the best way possible. Of course, amid the resolution is just the right amount of fighting and emotional turmoil. (With a good book, you have to have the drama, right?)
Also re-joining us in this book is Tlalli, Tlacaelel's woman, whom he loves more than he should. Or so the jealous old crones say. As she emerges in this book, with the same strong personality that we remember so well from The Fall of the Empire, she dives into the action, trying to help resolve the turmoil in her own way—a way that may just land her in more trouble than even she can handle.
Is the Highlander being betrayed by one of his own? Will he recover his magical sword? Is the Sword responsible for his impressive record as a mighty warrior, as many people claim, and if he doesn't manage to regain it, will his performance on the battlefield suffer? Will Tlalli's inability to follow Tlacaelel's orders result in the loss of his favor? Is she destined to lose her position in the palace, only to be forced back out onto the streets, struggling to even get a bite to eat?
If you want to be truly roped into the lives of the characters in a book, I recommend that you give this one a try.
Read
May 13, 2016"The Sword" is the sixth book in The Triple Alliance Trilogy that continues the Rise of the Aztecs Series.
From the fallen Tepanec Capital the action shifts back to Texcoco, the Acolhua Capital, now a prominent member of the Triple Alliance along with its Mexica partners, the Aztecs of Tenochtitlan.
Nezahualcoyotl, the young Acolhua Emperor, is full of great spirits, determined to restore his reconquered city-state, to return it to its previous glory and then to take it to the new heights of prominence and power. Yet, not all of his influential nobles are happy. Some of the "old aristocracy" is frowning, displeased with the Emperor's close contacts among the pushy, climbing-to-power neighboring Mexica-Aztecs; some would rather see the Acolhua people turning away from their allies of the Tepanec War.
As the conspiracy brewing, with he sword of the Chief Warlord and the most trusted friend of the Emperor being stolen under mysterious circumstances, the lives of the characters, the historical and the fictional ones, get complicated, swallowed in the whirlwind of yet another political and personal turmoil.
From the fallen Tepanec Capital the action shifts back to Texcoco, the Acolhua Capital, now a prominent member of the Triple Alliance along with its Mexica partners, the Aztecs of Tenochtitlan.
Nezahualcoyotl, the young Acolhua Emperor, is full of great spirits, determined to restore his reconquered city-state, to return it to its previous glory and then to take it to the new heights of prominence and power. Yet, not all of his influential nobles are happy. Some of the "old aristocracy" is frowning, displeased with the Emperor's close contacts among the pushy, climbing-to-power neighboring Mexica-Aztecs; some would rather see the Acolhua people turning away from their allies of the Tepanec War.
As the conspiracy brewing, with he sword of the Chief Warlord and the most trusted friend of the Emperor being stolen under mysterious circumstances, the lives of the characters, the historical and the fictional ones, get complicated, swallowed in the whirlwind of yet another political and personal turmoil.
March 5, 2014
Good sequel
Having enjoyed the entire the Rise of the Aztecs series, I was glad to discover that there was more to this saga.
The Sword continues the story of Tlalli and Tlacaelel, the main characters of The Fall of the Empire, but having set again in the "lowlanders" city of Texcoco it brought older characters back as well, the Highlander and his family. It was wonderful to see how those have evolved and grown. Not to mention their involvement in the plot, the affair of the stolen sword.
Fast paced and action-filled, like the other books of the series, this story kept me on the edge of my seat till the very end. A very good read!
Having enjoyed the entire the Rise of the Aztecs series, I was glad to discover that there was more to this saga.
The Sword continues the story of Tlalli and Tlacaelel, the main characters of The Fall of the Empire, but having set again in the "lowlanders" city of Texcoco it brought older characters back as well, the Highlander and his family. It was wonderful to see how those have evolved and grown. Not to mention their involvement in the plot, the affair of the stolen sword.
Fast paced and action-filled, like the other books of the series, this story kept me on the edge of my seat till the very end. A very good read!
September 8, 2016
Another great book!
I continue to be amazed at the ability of Zoe Saadia to weave new characters into her novels to create truly engaging reading. This is another book I didn't want to put down, and then looked forward to picking it up again if I had to put it down. I'm ready for the next book and disappointed it will be the last in this series.
I continue to be amazed at the ability of Zoe Saadia to weave new characters into her novels to create truly engaging reading. This is another book I didn't want to put down, and then looked forward to picking it up again if I had to put it down. I'm ready for the next book and disappointed it will be the last in this series.
August 13, 2014
good read, so much action
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews