Skip to main content

The Visionary Mayan Queen: Yohl Ik'Nal of Palenque by Leonide Martin: A Book Review

The Visionary Mayan Queen: Yohl Ik'Nal of Palenque (The Mists of Palenque #1)
Author: Leonide Martin
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Made for Wonder Publishing
Release Date: 2014
Pages: 268 
Source: Personal Collection
Synopsis: Enter the world of a Mayan Queen

     Yohl Ik'nal, first Mayan woman ruler, must overcome forces opposing her rule . . . betrayal and revenge, attack by enemy cities, and shamanic powers. Using her visionary ability, she saves her city from destruction, builds temples to honor her father and the Gods, and brings prosperity to her people while finding a love that sustains her.

     But she foresees a time of darkness and devastation coming. Danger lurks ahead and she must choose a successor, either her weak son or willful daughter. Can she trust her vision to reveal the will of the Gods? The results of her choice will lead to ruin or bring her city to greatness.

     Discover the opulent world of royal court intrigue, exotic ceremonies on towering pyramids, shamanic journeys, calendars and healing sciences of the ancient Mayas. Experience the excitement of sacrificial rituals and strategic battles for dominance in this exquisite city soaring in mountain mists.

     A dynasty hangs in the balance . . .

     My Review: The Visionary Mayan Queen is about the Mayans first female ruler. Yohl Ik'nal is the only surviving child of Kan Bahlam I, the ruler of the Palenque. Yohl Ik'nal is trained to become the next ruler of the Palenque. There has never been a woman ruler before, and Yohl Ik'nal must bear the weight of the responsibility. She has a vision that her reign could lead to the downfall of her kingdom. When Yohl Ik'nal becomes ruler, she faces many challenges. She knows that each decision she makes could either save or bring ruin to her own people. She wonders if the successor should be her weak son or her strong-willed daughter. She also learns that there is a conspiracy of nobles, who dissent her reign that are planning on bringing destruction to her city. Does Yohl Ik'nal have what it takes to save the kingdom or must she witness the decline of her dynasty?

    I was eager to read The Visionary Mayan Queen because I did not know much about the Mayans. Yohl Ik'nal’s story intrigued me because she was a woman ruler of the Palanque, a great city in the jungle that the Mayans eventually abandoned. I wanted to learn more about who she was. In this novel, Yohl Ik'nal starts out as an idealistic girl. She dreams of traveling to far away places. However, she has to quickly mature once she is the chosen successor. Throughout the novel, I thought that Yohl Ik'nal was a strong and capable ruler. She cared about her kingdom and wanted to lead it into greatness rather than see it into its decline. She was beset by hard choices, and I thought that she made wise ones. 

   Overall, this was an intriguing novel about an unknown ancient Mayan queen. Except for Yohl Ik'nal, I thought there was not much development with secondary characters. The novel seemed rushed in most parts, especially the battle scenes. There was a lot of telling instead of showing, and this made it hard for me to experience it. I also did not like how the story suddenly switched to the 1992 discovery of an ancient Mayan tomb in the middle of the plot. It was jarring and could have been added at the end or left out. However, the author showed that she clearly did her research on Mayan history and culture. She brought the abandoned city of Palenque to life. The Visionary Mayan Queen is full of political and courtly intrigue, drama, and romance that is sure to treat historical fiction lovers. I am excited to read the next book in the series, The Controversial Mayan Queen, which is about Yohl Ik'nal’s daughter Sak K’uk. This novel will certainly be a refreshing read for those who want to take a break from the usual European or United States setting novels.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

This is the official book trailer for The Visionary Mayan Queen:

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Woman from Lydia (The Emissaries #1) by Angela Hunt: A Book Review

The Woman from Lydia (The Emissaries #1) Author: Angela Hunt Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian, Biblical Fiction Publisher: Bethany House Publishers Publication Date: 2023 Pages: 330 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.  Synopsis: Widowed Euodia, known to her neighbors as "the Lydian woman," seeks to make a fresh start by moving to the foreign city of Philippi. She finds new purpose after meeting Paulos, apostle to the Gentiles, who opens her eyes to helping those in need, particularly women and those who have been enslaved.        Retired Roman soldier Hector has settled in Philippi with dreams of a future filled with wealth and status, pooling his army earnings with Lucius, his fellow comrade-in-arms turned business partner. His hopes are dashed, however, when Paulos robs their youngest enslaved girl of her lucrative ability to foretell the future, rendering her worthless to Hector's ambition.     ...

Nell: Marshal of Bodie (The Nell Doherty Mysteries #1) by John Edward Mullen: A Book Review

Nell: Marshal of Bodie (The Nell Doherty Mysteries #1) Author: John Edward Mullen Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense, Western  Publisher: Murders in Time Press Release Date: 2022 Pages: 300 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: In the winter of 1892, the once-vibrant gold-mining town of Bodie, California is in serious decline.        Nell Doherty, an 18-year-old young woman with a wooden leg, dreams of leaving and becoming a Pinkerton detective.       When a tragic shooting presents her with an opportunity to prove she has the skills needed to work for the Pinkertons, Bodie’s justice of the peace deputizes Nell — over the loud objections of the majority of the town’s residents.      Can she prove them all wrong?       Nell digs in and investigates the shooting, with the help of Rags, her half-Irish, half-Chinese be...

The King's Jewel by Elizabeth Chadwick: A Book Review

The King’s Jewel Author: Elizabeth Chadwick Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance Publisher: Sphere Release Date: 2023 Pages: 456 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Wales, 1093.      The warm, comfortable family life of young Nesta, daughter of Prince Rhys of Deheubarth, is destroyed when her father is killed and she is taken hostage. Her honour is further tarnished when she is taken as an unwilling concubine by King William's ruthless younger brother Henry, who later ascends the throne under suspicious circumstances.      But it is Nesta's marriage that will really change the course of her life. Gerald FitzWalter, an ambitious young knight, is rewarded for his unwavering loyalty to his new King with Nesta's hand. He is delighted, having always admired her from afar, but Nesta's only comfort is her return to her beloved Wales. There, she cannot help but be tempted by the handsome, charismatic and danger...