Review: The Controversial Mayan Queen: Sak K'uk of Palenque by Leonide Martin
This is the final book in the series for me (at least at this moment), and while it once again tells a story of a woman ruler of the Maya civilization, this particular book stands out to me as it’s about a mother/son connection in a rather critical situation. If the books 1 and 3 were mostly about personal challenges and the female power, this one cuts deeper, and the female leader’s mission is bigger and more complicated here. It was fascinating to read about the events that led to the prophecy’s realization, and how strongly Mayans believed in them. The question of action/consequences has always been of interest to me, and I don’t think the humanity will ever find the answer whether we create our own destiny or are led to it by something from above. Sak K'uk’s determination to save her kingdom and see her son on the throne is admirable. She sets out on a difficult, surreal task, and just like the previous heroines, she wins. I felt like the men’s role in this book was bigger, but it served well for creating a well-developed conflict. The main heroine’s brother, husband, and son were all important to the story in different ways, and if it was just about one woman, it wouldn’t be the same. I’ve seen somewhere that the fourth book is coming, and until then, historical fiction fans out there have a chance to catch up on this unique, beautiful series. I’d like to thank the author for the free copy of the book in exchange for a review.
