Mists of Palenque Series by Leonide Martin

The Mayan calendar molded her life. It decreed when she would ascend Mayan pyramids and become the first woman to rule in her own right. In misty tropical jungles 1500 years ago, at the height of Mayan civilization, a royal girl with visionary powers was destined to become the ruler of Palenque. Last of her lineage, her accession would fulfill her father’s ambitions. Powerful forces were allied against them to overthrow the dynasty... moreThe Mayan calendar molded her life. It decreed when she would ascend Mayan pyramids and become the first woman to rule in her own right. In misty tropical jungles 1500 years ago, at the height of Mayan civilization, a royal girl with visionary powers was destined to become the ruler of Palenque. Last of her lineage, her accession would fulfill her father’s ambitions. Powerful forces were allied against them to overthrow the dynasty. Her father trained her intensely in Mayan calendars, history and politics and cultivated support among nobles, while his cousins plotted with enemy cities to attack Palenque (Lakam Ha). Yohl Ik’nal (Heart of North Wind) put aside her personal desires and the comfortable world of palace women to meet challenges as royal heir. Love for her father steeled her will and sharpened her skills. Overcoming fear, she performed Mayan sacrifice as required of rulers. Her visionary powers enabled her to identify political opponents and predict enemy attack. The first Queen of Lakam Ha, she built temples to honor her father and her Gods. She protected her city and brought prosperity to her people. But she foresaw a time of darkness and devastation coming, predicted through Mayan calendars. Could she trust her vision to reveal the will of the Triad Gods? Would her choices cause ruin or bring her city to greatness? The story of this remarkable woman lay buried for centuries under crumbling Mayan ruins. She was one of the most powerful women in the Americas, but few have heard of her. Her accession carved a new glyph in Mayan history, preserving her dynasty and propelling it to heights of power and creativity. She was the grandmother of K’inich Janaab Pakal, the most famous Mayan ruler. In 1952 his royal tomb was excavated, the richest Mayan burial found and the equivalent of Egypt’s King Tut. In the midst of betrayal and revenge, through court intrigues and regional power struggles, she confronted personal crises and found a love relationship that sustained her. Enter the world of the ancient Mayans in this extensively researched historical novel that brings Yohl Ik’nal and her people vibrantly to life. less

In the ancient Maya world of towering stone cities surrounded by dense tropical jungles, a strong-willed young woman struggles to preserve her family dynasty. Sak K'uk, daughter of the first woman Mayan ruler, is more fit to accede than her artistic brother and she chafes at his lack-luster leadership. In visions she sees that her son K'inich Janaab Pakal is destined to become the greatest ruler of Lakam Ha (Palenque), but how it will happen is uncertain... moreIn the ancient Maya world of towering stone cities surrounded by dense tropical jungles, a strong-willed young woman struggles to preserve her family dynasty. Sak K'uk, daughter of the first woman Mayan ruler, is more fit to accede than her artistic brother and she chafes at his lack-luster leadership. In visions she sees that her son K'inich Janaab Pakal is destined to become the greatest ruler of Lakam Ha (Palenque), but how it will happen is uncertain. A sudden attack on Lakam Ha led archenemy Kan and plotted by the vengeful Ek Chuuah, exiled from their city by Sak K'uk's grandfather, changes everything. Lakam Ha is thrown into chaos by the desecration of their most sacred shrine, destroying the portal to Gods and Ancestors. The royal family is humiliated, and the capture and death of her brother and father leaves the city without leaders. With the sacred portal in collapse, the help of the Triad Gods cannot be attained and the people are devastated. Desperate and disheartened, Sak K'uk undertakes perilous journeys into the Underworld to seek guidance. She meets the Primordial Goddess Muwaan Mat who promises to co-rule with her until her son Pakal is old enough to accede. Can Sak K'uk convince the dissident nobles to accept this joint rulership, when they are disillusioned with her family over the defeat by Kan? All her willpower and skills must be activated to navigate through this spiritual crisis and hold the throne so her son can fulfill his destiny to restore the collapsed portal. Through these intense trials, a special bond is forged between mother and son that proves both a blessing and a curse. The saga of four remarkable queens who shaped ancient Maya destiny continues in this story of Yohl Ik'nal's daughter, Sak K'uk, the second woman ruler of Lakam Ha. In modern times archeologist Francesca continues her quest to uncover the identity of the crimson skeleton found in the Temple XIII royal burial by her team at Palenque. She is also perplexed by her grandmother's cryptic message to discover her true self by listening to the lightning in her blood. less

The ancient Maya city of Lakam Ha has a new, young ruler, K'inich Janaab Pakal. His mother and prior ruler, Sak K’uk, has selected his wife, the next queen. Lalak is a shy and homely young woman from a nearby city who relates better to animals than people. She is chosen as Pakal’s wife because of her pristine lineage to B’aakal dynasty founders ̶ but also because she is no beauty. Arriving at Lakam Ha, she is overwhelmed by its sophisticated, complex society and expectations of the royal court... moreThe ancient Maya city of Lakam Ha has a new, young ruler, K'inich Janaab Pakal. His mother and prior ruler, Sak K’uk, has selected his wife, the next queen. Lalak is a shy and homely young woman from a nearby city who relates better to animals than people. She is chosen as Pakal’s wife because of her pristine lineage to B’aakal dynasty founders ̶ but also because she is no beauty. Arriving at Lakam Ha, she is overwhelmed by its sophisticated, complex society and expectations of the royal court. Her mother-in-law, Sak K’uk, is critical and hostile, resenting any intrusion between herself and her son. She chose Lalak to avoid being displaced in Pakal’s affections, and does everything she can to keep it this way. The official name she confers on Lalak exposes her view of the girl as a breeder of future rulers: Tz’aabk’u Ahau, the Accumulator of Lords who sets the royal succession. Lalak struggles to learn her new role and prove her worth, facing challenges in her relationship with Pakal, for he is enamored of a beautiful woman banished from Lakam Ha by his mother. Pakal’s esthetic tastes and love of beauty affect his view of his homely wife. Lalak, however, is fated to play a pivotal role in Pakal’s mission to restore the spiritual portal to the Triad Gods that was destroyed in a devastating attack by archenemy Kan. Through learning sexual alchemy, Lalak brings the immense creative force of sacred union to rebuild the portal, but first Pakal must come to view his wife in a new light. In modern times, ten years after the discovery of the Red Queen's tomb, archeologist Francesca is studying new research about this mysterious royal woman in Mérida, Mexico. She teams up with British linguist Charlie to decipher an ancient manuscript left by her deceased grandmother. It provides clues about her grandmother's secrets that propel them into exploring her family history in a remote Maya village. less