The Jaguar Prince

The year is 1536. The iron-coated Spanish Conquistadors under Hernando Cortez are attempting to use the Aztec tribes of Mexico to conquer the Mayan tribes in the Yucatan. The Mayan tribes are divided by a long-standing hatred between the Cocom Tribe and the Xiu Tribe.

When the Jaguar Prince, greatest warrior of the Xiu Tribe, and the Princess Flower-of-Jade of the Cocom are held prisoners by the Aztecs, they fall hopelessly in love. These fate-tangled lovers are surrounded by impossibilities: strong gods that demand human sacrifice, old customs that deny personal choice, hatred between tribes, a priest of the Strong Gods who is in love with Flower-of-Jade, fear of the Men-in-Iron; and worst of all, the Mighty Cocom, father of Flower-of-Jade, who fancies himself as the rightful Emperor of all Yucatan and who hates Xiu, especially the Jaguar Prince.

In racing prose, the author weaves a thread of personal family and tribal love that pulls and guides the mystic destinies of the star-crossed lovers toward a precious paradise on earth. Follow them as they try to lead the young toward the promise of a new life, free from laws born of ignorance and false religions.