Servant of the Underworld

Servant of the Underworld by Aliette de Bodard

4.0 Stars

Servant of the Underworld is classified as a horror novel, but it is not. It is historical fiction, fantasy and a mystery novel all rolled into one. The story takes place in Precolumbian Tenochtitlan during the reign of the Aztecs – the historical aspect of the novel. The description of Aztec society is detailed and interesting (and correct from what I know about it). Animal sacrifices and human ones, are part of everyday life. The Aztec gods are characters in the story, hence the fantasy element. Acatl, High Priest of the Dead, is assigned to investigate the abduction and possible murder of a priestess – the mystery. Acatl is a reluctant leader and as the story progress, his character grows. He finds himself in the midst of not only human politics but politics of the deities as well. Overall, this book is well worth reading.