The Prophetic Mayan Queen: K’inuuw Mat of Palenque (Mists of Palenque Book 4)
In this fourth and last installment in The Mists of Palenque series, Martin recounts the height of glory and eventual decline of the Mayan city of Lakam Ha through the eyes of one of its royal consorts, K’inuuw Mat. When she learns she is to be married into the ruling family, K’inuuw Mat searches her scrying bowl for the face of the man with whom she will perpetuate a dynasty—and is surprised, upon arriving in Lakam Ha to marry the third son, Tiwol, to find the face in her vision that of the eldest brother and heir, Kan Bahlam. K’inuuw Mat fights her strong attraction to Kan Bahlam to remain a dutiful wife, but the gods—and Lakam Ha’s ruler, Pakal—have other plans for her. K’inuuw Mat’s children will carry forward the legacy of Lakam Ha, and her contributions help Mayan civilization reach its apogee of development. Then, in a lengthy epilogue, modern-day Mayan scholar Francesca makes a surprising discovery about her own heritage that helps preserve and broaden knowledge of the triumphs of Mayan culture.
Martin, an academic and Mayan initiate, eagerly shares her encyclopedic knowledge about Mayan life, lading every sentence with information about history, mythology, food, and dress. The esoteric forays into architecture, calendars, and astronumerology may slow down those readers more interested in plot. But the intricate detail draws back the veil that time and conquest have cast over Mayan civilization, and Martin’s loving descriptions make the lost splendor palpable. Dramatic suspense is not an issue, since K’inuuw Mat’s prophetic vision reveals everything to come, but Martin’s vivid imagining of this woman’s little-known life offers deep and textured insights into the achievements of a culture once thought lost. Reading The Prophetic Mayan Queen is an education as well as a pleasure.
