Blood on the Wind

The story most often commonly told about the Maya involves their spectacular collapse at the height of their civilization in the early ninth century CE. Crops died, disease and malnutrition spread, and scorched earth warfare became common. People lost faith in their governments and moved to the Caribbean coast, the mountains of Guatemala, or further afield. But there is another tale that is equally compelling. One hundred years earlier, a group of kings known as the Snakes created a League and were able to force, cajole, or convince their fellow rulers to work towards common causes. In so doing, they took the first small steps towards something that had never existed in the Maya area: an empire. Blood on the Wind narrates this dramatic episode during the Classic Maya period (250-850 CE). From present-day central Mexico across central America, the League attempted to subdue their enemies and transition to an imperial force. In the heart of the lowlands, they created soaring temples, luxurious palaces, and public spaces that continue to captivate visitors to this region. Despite their achievements, a brutal, now forgotten war ensued, and the imperial experiment failed. Bringing to light the colorful individuals involved and their ambitions and flaws, Mesoamerican expert James L. Fitzsimmons recovers the world of this embryonic empire. Family rivalry, greed, grievances, and blindly clinging to the past meant that future generations would live in an environment where each kingdom made its own political and economic choices--but without the benefit of a stronger union.

The story most often commonly told about the Maya involves their spectacular collapse at the height of their civilization in the early ninth century CE. Crops died, disease and malnutrition spread, and scorched earth warfare became common. People lost faith in their governments and moved to the Caribbean coast, the mountains of Guatemala, or further afield. But there is another tale that is equally compelling. One hundred years earlier, a group of kings known as the Snakes created a League and were able to force, cajole, or convince their fellow rulers to work towards common causes. In so doing, they took the first small steps towards something that had never existed in the Maya area: an empire. Blood on the Wind narrates this dramatic episode during the Classic Maya period (250-850 CE). From present-day central Mexico across central America, the League attempted to subdue their enemies and transition to an imperial force. In the heart of the lowlands, they created soaring temples, luxurious palaces, and public spaces that continue to captivate visitors to this region. Despite their achievements, a brutal, now forgotten war ensued, and the imperial experiment failed. Bringing to light the colorful individuals involved and their ambitions and flaws, Mesoamerican expert James L. Fitzsimmons recovers the world of this embryonic empire. Family rivalry, greed, grievances, and blindly clinging to the past meant that future generations would live in an environment where each kingdom made its own political and economic choices--but without the benefit of a stronger union.

The thirty-seventh mystery in Peter Tremayne's long-standing and much-loved series, featuring 7th-century Irish super-sleuth Sister Fidelma. AD 673 . Sister Fidelma and her husband Eadulf are journeying back from the Kingdom of the East Angles to Cashel when a violent storm wrecks their ship on the Isles of Sulis. Seeking shelter, they discover that Lowarn, the ruler of the islands, has been poisoned in an assassination attempt, but who is the culprit? And what are their motives? Lowarn's sister, Sirona, begs Fidelma to investigate the case, while Eadulf uses his medical skills to tend to the dying king. Embroiled in a dark world of murder, suspicion and intolerance, Fidelma and Eadulf must discover if the islands are truly cursed by the Goddess Sulis, as the locals believe, or if warring monarchs from foreign lands are responsible for the islands' fate . . . Praise for the Sister Fidelma mysteries: 'The background detail is brilliantly defined . . . wonderfully evocative' The Times 'A challenging and unusual but deeply satisfying and enjoyable historical thriller' Booklist 'Tremayne expertly incorporates historical and legal details of the time into the suspenseful plot. This impressive volume bodes well for future series entries' Publishers Weekly

The thirty-seventh mystery in Peter Tremayne's long-standing and much-loved series, featuring 7th-century Irish super-sleuth Sister Fidelma. AD 673 . Sister Fidelma and her husband Eadulf are journeying back from the Kingdom of the East Angles to Cashel when a violent storm wrecks their ship on the Isles of Sulis. Seeking shelter, they discover that Lowarn, the ruler of the islands, has been poisoned in an assassination attempt, but who is the culprit? And what are their motives? Lowarn's sister, Sirona, begs Fidelma to investigate the case, while Eadulf uses his medical skills to tend to the dying king. Embroiled in a dark world of murder, suspicion and intolerance, Fidelma and Eadulf must discover if the islands are truly cursed by the Goddess Sulis, as the locals believe, or if warring monarchs from foreign lands are responsible for the islands' fate . . . Praise for the Sister Fidelma mysteries: 'The background detail is brilliantly defined . . . wonderfully evocative' The Times 'A challenging and unusual but deeply satisfying and enjoyable historical thriller' Booklist 'Tremayne expertly incorporates historical and legal details of the time into the suspenseful plot. This impressive volume bodes well for future series entries' Publishers Weekly