To preserve the balance of power among the 7th century Mayan kingdoms, Ix Wac Chanil -- Lady Six Sky -- was chosen to restore the royal blood of the kingdom of Saal. Her duty was to marry a noble of Saal and provide an heir to the kingdom; her intention was to choose her own mate and to rule, rather than be ruled. It was unheard of for a woman to have so much power, but Chanil had been trained as a prince would be, rather than a princess. Now, she needs to find a man of noble blood willing to be her consort under those conditions.

I really enjoyed this story. The author has based this book on actual Mayan historical figures, resulting in a skillful combination of history, anthropology, and romance in a time and place that is rarely the subject of romance novels. The story is simple, yet because of the setting, it seems fresh and new. I enjoyed the main protagonists, Chanil and Ah Maxam, because they brought the action to life and seemed like real people. I could easily picture them living in the great stone cities of southern Mexico and Guatemala. The very erotic love scenes also reflect the Mayan culture, combining deep human feelings and the religious ritual required of the rulers of these fabled kingdoms. I urge those who like to combine their romance with a bit of historical realism to read this novel.

Reviewed by: Jean