Who were the Ancient Maya who inhabited those mysterious ruined cities in the Central American jungles? As aspects of their lifeways and history are uncovered by archaeological research and the decipherment of their intriguing inscriptions, it becomes possible to imagine the details of their daily life, their annual ritual cycle, their aspirations and challenges.
Their inscriptions reveal the histories of their ruling families, as tumultuous as those in any other known civilization, their towering pyramids suggest a strong sense of the sacred, while their paintings and carving suggest a vigorous military presence.
In this novel, Joan C Wrenn presents the story of the Maya of one city-state at a crucial time in its history, the royal family about to be split, struggles over competing ideologies and the life-and-death challenges of living in a jungle environment in city-states involved in nearly continuous warfare. Through colorful glimpses into the lives of four young Maya and their families, the reader is introduced to the culture, the lifeways, the religion, the rulers, the battles and the successes of these magnificent people.
Book Review:
Young Lords of Siyah Chan: A Novel of the Ancient Maya
by Joan C. Wrenn
Outskirts Press, Inc.
book review by Elizabeth Creel
“. . . which in turn might generate discussions among scribes and Bakabs in other cities of the People, expanding their knowledge and understanding of the world and the Gods.“
The world of the ancient Mayan civilization is brought to life through the story of the sons of Ahaw Itzamna Balam. First, there is Kuy Balam, the youngest son, who has not yet found his purpose in life. Then there is Yooat Balam, the heir who would prefer to study the stars than to lead. Finally, there is Yaxuun Balam, with aspirations to become the strongest warrior around. These three men are coming into their own, trying to find their path to becoming a True Man. Their individual journeys lead them through the tumultuous life of what ancient Mayans experienced: ceremonies, family turmoil, war, and secrets that could make or break them as men.
Historical fiction sometimes has the tendency to be on the stiff side, but this is like a breath of fresh air. There is such a richness to the story itself that one can tell there was a lot of tender love and care that went into it. Each character, though fictionalized, is grounded in such truth and research that one knows for a fact that Wrenn’s M.A. in anthropology aided in keeping these characters so real. Even Ch’el Balam, the cousin of the main characters, is very vibrant and interesting to read about. Her story arc within this novel will also captivate readers, making them almost wish for an installment just for her so they can read more about her and her journey. Readers will likely become so absorbed in the culture and atmosphere that they will be begging for more in the next book of the series.
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Unsung Lord of Siyah Chan: A Novel of the Ancient Maya
“Unsung Lord of Siyah Chan” is the first sequel to “Young Lords of Siyah Chan”, which told the story of three young men growing up as ancient Maya princes.
Coming Soon!
Yaxuun Balam is now Ahaw of Siyah Chan, facing many challenges. He must ensure that the People never learn exactly how Yoaat died; many would challenge his right to the Ahawship if they knew that he, Yaxuun Balam, was tied by blood to the perpetrator of this dastardly deed.
Call of the Panther: A Novel of the Ancient Maya
An aspiring anthropologist journeys to Mexico and becomes entangled in a tale of the Ancient Maya, amidst the Late Classic political upheaval, where foreigners infiltrate cities and social changes break up economies and families.
JOAN C WRENN, Author
After I earned my BA in anthropology, and was working on my MA, I ventured out on my first, four day tour to the Yucatan, Mexico, seeing the contemporary sights and some of the ruins of the ancient Maya people. I was enchanted by the Maya culture, and began ten years of reading and studying the Maya, attending workshops to learn to read their inscriptions. That first trip was followed by seven other, longer tours, to Chiapas, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, with professional anthropologists and epigraphers, trekking through many ruined Maya cities and contemporary villages and towns, soaking up the art, history, environment, and culture of these amazing people.