K. Michael, Wright Tolteca

Tolteca

K. Michael Wright

Medallion, Oct 2006, $26.95

ISBN: 1932815465

Known as the Blue Prince of Tollan, Topiltzin is asked by his subjects to take up the mantle of kingship since it is believed that his father Sky Dragon is dead. He has no desire to rule and instead goes south to learn how to play rubberball; over time he becomes a champion. He never thought he would become a warrior or participate in a war, but that is what happens when the Sorcerer King Smoking Mirror and his horde invade the Tolteca Empire.

Smoking Mirror and his minion are cannibals who eat their victims in order to gain more dark magical power. The Sorcerer believes that the Tolteca people have turned away from the one God and according to the prophecy his horde will defeat his opponents. Topiltzin is fighting Smoking Mirror when he is mortally injured, but he is rescued by a shipload of women. For years they live together in Paradise raising a family until he knows it is time to return home to defeat evil and restore the empire.

This is a complex historical fantasy epic filled with action and intrigue. The story occurs between 421 and 576 AD in South America where atrocities rival that of Pol Pot, Amin, and Hitler. The antagonists are imbued with supernatural abilities that make them very formidable while Tollen is a dilettante and idealist turned into pragmatic warrior by their horrible actions. K. Michael Wright gets the reader to believe they are in danger because they are there.

Harriet Klausner