Daughter of the Sun
In pre-Columbian New Mexico, Hoshi’tiwa, a 17-year-old young woman, is a gifted potter of rain jars. The daughter of a corn-grower, she is deeply in love with and betrothed to Ahote, son of the village storyteller.
Center Place, a wealthy town ruled by the violent Toltec tribe, is suffering through a severe drought. Their leader, the powerful and violent Lord Jakal, learns of her skill in creating beautiful jars that bring rain from the sky and orders her captured and brought to him. In this strange new town of incredible riches, Hoshi’tiwa must learn to adapt to a new way of living while harboring the memories of her clan and lover. She garners the attention of Lord Jakal, who becomes strongly attracted to her; meanwhile, a rich young woman named Lady White Orchid, who wants to marry Jakal herself, plots to harm her.
Xikli, captain of the elite Jaguar military unit, will do anything to gain power and usurp Lord Jakal. He sets his eyes on Lady White Orchid because if he marries her, it will bring him political alliances and power enough to achieve his coup. Xikli disapproves of Jakal’s preferential treatment of Hoshi’tiwa and seeks to have her killed. As Hoshi’tiwa grows into womanhood, she rises to power all on her own merit and skill and becomes a leader.
Barbara Wood weaves a wonderfully complex tale with plot twists that kept me reading. This novel has it all: adventure, murder, and unrequited love at a time of pagan gods and human sacrifices. It is a story of struggle, survival, and a woman’s power to overcome obstacles. I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to read about an exotic period of history.
