“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.
As this book begins, the aged Lord Itzamna Balam has died, and his eldest son Yoaat must take the reins of their city-state, Siyah Chan.
Yoaat Balam is uncomfortable making big decisions, or directing others – he would prefer to chart the stars or design the hieroglyphic words for inscriptions about the deeds of his ancestors.
In his new tasks, Yoaat has the assistance of his family, his two younger half-brothers Yaxuun and Kuy, his ever-faithful mother, and his three older sisters, a good thing, as it turns out, since his rule in Siyah Chan is bedeviled with challenges, and he needs all the help he can get.
To assist him in making decisions, he revamps the royal advisory council, then delegates experts to travel around the city’s territory assessing the loyalty of his vassals, their ability to withstand first floods, then drought, then outright war. At home he institutes new rituals to comfort the people.
Each of his brothers has skills to offer: Yaxuun his prowess in battle and negotiation, Kuy his ability to observe and record events, and to walk the Otherworld and bring healing.
But Yoaat’s brothers’ mother and uncles came to Siyah Chan from faraway war-loving Chanil. The two uncles see the world differently, don’t want wimpy Yoaat as Lord, and aggressively promote their worldview at every occasion, making life even more difficult at every turn, and threatening ultimately to be Yoaat’s undoing.
Book Review:
Unsung Lord of Siyah Chan: A Novel of the Ancient Maya
by Joan C. Wrenn
Outskirts Press, Inc.
book review by Elizabeth Creel
“Only a dull ache remained. Was it over? Was he in the World of the Ancestors finally?“
The much-anticipated sequel to Young Lords of Siyah Chan, the story picks up as Yoaat Balam finally takes his place as the Ahaw. But becoming the lord of his city-state doesn’t just mean putting aside his passion for astronomy; it also means taking on the hardships to come. Events beyond his control cause pandemonium among his people—floods, famine, illness, and even the threat of enemies overtaking allied cities. Yoaat will enforce new rituals and ceremonies to try to appease the gods, but will it be enough? With the help of his family, Yoaat will try to unite his people before treachery destroys them all. Can he bring his people together as one as Siyah Chan, or will his efforts fade away in history as another forgotten reign?
The continuation of this series won’t disappoint, as fans of the first book will be enamored with this sequel’s ability to hook readers. Unlike other sequels in a series, this book does not punish newcomers for not reading its predecessor. It instead allows new readers to meld themselves into the story without taking away from the experience of those who have read the first book. The story itself is interesting and keeps you turning the pages, without bogging down in too many details that can often plague this genre. It is balanced, giving enough story to keep readers interested while instilling the information and facts that the story is based around. Yooat remains an incredibly relatable and interesting character, becoming a stronger presence and voice as he ascends into his new position as Ahaw.
©2020 All Rights Reserved •The US Review of Books
Young Lords of Siyah Chan: A Novel of the Ancient Maya
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.
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.