Servant of the Underworld: Obsidian & Blood, Book 1 by Aliette de Bodard (2010)

[warriorofworry]

Engrossing mystery set in the Aztec/Mexica empire circa 1480, where the magic of the gods is real; blood – freely given or sacrificed – invokes the divine; and where the politics would put Byzantine to shame. 

Acatl, High Priest of the God of the Dead, is called in to investigate an apparent locked-room murder. His estranged warrior brother Neutemoc is the only suspect. But the use of magic in the murder that Neutemoc doesn’t know and can’t use leads Acatl to a series of suspects and gods.

Acatl suffers from what we’d call imposter syndrome, elevated to an office he never wanted by the recommendation of a mentor/frenemy. He doesn’t handle the position well, preferring to immerse himself in details.   Priests being celibate and of a lower social strata than warriors, he was a disappointment to his now-deceased parents. The evolution of his family and professional relationships are integral elements of the plot.

One must read slowly and pay attention – otherwise names – especially the multi-syllabic names of the gods - tend to devolve into word salad.   And you’ll need to know who the author is talking about at any given time, in a complicated story with plenty of red herrings, loops, back tracking and magical interference.

 

The author, a French woman writing in English (can you say ‘overachiever’?, WoW asks jealously) has full command of a fluid, quickly moving style. There are occasional odd turns of phrase and word choices – “”played on” for colloquial USAian “played” and “a dark lean shape whispering its seducing song” instead of ‘seductive song’, which caught my attention, but nothing to throw you completely out of the story. I’ve acquired the sequel and am really looking forward to it.

Comments

[wired]

Adding to the reading list.

[warriorofworry]

let me know if you enjoy it!