When I discovered this book on the ‚Up for Adoption‘ page of Audiobookworm Promotion, I absolutely had to listen to it. I remembered having devoured another novel (Virgins of Paradise) by Barbara Wood many years ago, and I remembered how fascinated I had been, even though my memory of the plot is hazy. So, I didn’t even read the summary, hence I didn’t know what to expect.

Let me tell you, this is a great story that made me think. I wondered about the old religions and beliefs, asking myself whether they weren’t preferable to today’s religions. But my first impression of a peaceful religion was soon shattered, because, as is so often the case, those believing in cruel deeds to please their gods oppress all the others.

What puzzled me, was the focus on female virginity before marriage, and the idea that they were makai-yó (outcasts) if they were found out. Somehow, I had always connected this anti-female behaviour with Christendom. However, the book seems extremely well researched, and whether or not this virginity thing is due to poetic licence or actually took place, it doesn’t really matter to me — although it does matter to our main protagonist, Hoshi’tiwa, whose life takes a turn for the worse when she is claimed by the Dark Lord — from then on, she is makai-yó.

This book contains everything you could wish for, especially a lot of information about the religious beliefs, rites, traditions, clothing, food, drink, and daily life of the Toltecs shortly before they perished. All this information isn’t easily found on the www, so much about these people is still shrouded in myth, with few facts known.

Barbara Wood masterfully crafts an engaging story that you won’t want to put down. It is great that this novel is now available as audio book, and the narrator, Rebecca Roberts, does a fantastic job at narrating it. Her voice in my head was never obtrusive, she simply drew me in, and I was there, on center green, seeing it all before me, suffering with the slaves, connecting with Jakál even.

There is only one character who is truly ugly inside and out, all the others have many facets, and though you may not like them, you can understand them.

The combination of a great story and a wonderful narration makes for a very enjoyable 15.5 hours of listening time.

As mentioned above, I received this audiobook at no-cost from Audiobookworm Promotions. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it. ( )

Spannendes Buch voller Geschichte und Mystik einer versunkenen Indianerkultur

Je m'attendais à une épopée historique documentée sur les indiens du Nouveau-Mexique mais je suis tombé sur une romance de gare, mystique et prévisible où la culture navajo ne sert que de toile de fond superficielle. Erreur de casting en ce qui me concerne. ( )

The first Barbara Wood book I've read, and it won't be the last. I love that the ending wasn't super happy like people think books and movies have to be. And the ups and downs in the characters' lives and emotions and in their understanding of each other were very human and realistic. ( )

Auf der Suche nach der Weisheit der Schamanen erforscht Faraday Hightower eine versunkene Indianerkultur. An diesem Traum zerbricht sogar seine große Liebe. Dann macht sich seine Tochter Morgana auf, das Geheimis des gefundenen Tonkrugs lösen.