Demon of the Air (Paperback)

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Review
Sinister things are happening in 16th-century Mexico, and the Emperor Montezuma orders slave Yaotl to find out what is causing so much grief for the Aztecs. It proves to be no easy job, for Yaotl is the slave of Montezuma's chief minister - a man of unbridled ambition, total lack of scruples and a determination to preserve his secrets. The problem for Yaotl is that if he fails in his mission he must answer to Montezuma, while if he looks like succeeding he could become a human sacrifice. The tale makes for a neat twist on the historical detective story and is packed full of the atmosphere of an Aztec world at its height. The temples run with human blood and soothsayers wield inordinate influence. Simon Levack won the Crime Writers' Association New Writing Competition with this book, which constitutes a formidable debut. (Kirkus UK)

An Aztec slave must unravel the mystery surrounding an untimely and embarrassing death in 1517, or face the wrath of Montezuma. Yaotl, narrator and slave to the Chief Priest Lord Tlilpotonqui ("He Who Is Feathered Black"), is assisting a common man named Handy with a human sacrifice to the Great Pyramid. Their sacrifice, known as a Bathed Slave, is far from the specimen of human perfection stipulated by the merchants. Before the ceremony can be completed, he breaks free, utters a threat-or perhaps a prophecy-and leaps to his death, catching everyone off guard. His carelessness earns Yaotl an audience with the imperious Emperor Montezuma, who demands that he learn the story behind the suicidal slave. Montezuma has been plagued by restless dreams of late and by the mysterious prison escape of several sorcerers. Sorcerers, the legend goes, can change themselves into various creatures under cover of darkness. Montezuma suspects a connection between incidents. Yaotl must journey far across the empire to discover the answers (Levack provides detailed maps). His episodic odyssey through diverse villages with exotic names provides as much historical arcana as clues to the mystery. Readers will eventually learn why he's been reduced from priesthood to slavery. Levack's colorful winner of the CWA Debut Dagger Award will satisfy every appetite for information about this fascinating civilization, but may disappoint fans seeking a stronger mystery. (Kirkus Reviews)

Product Description
Mexico-Tenochtitlan, in the year Twelve-House: the vast, teeming city of the Aztecs at the height of its glory. As the novel opens, the Chief Minister's trusted slave Yaotl is escorting a sacrificial victim up the steps of the Great Pyramid to celebrate the Festival of the Raising of Banners. Used to the bloodstained rites of the War-God's priests, Yaotl is unperturbed at the ritual slaughter of the so-called Flowery Death. When the victim runs amok and leaps to his death before he can be sacrified, Yaotl's only worry is how to explain it to his master. But when more bodies start to appear and the Emperor Montezuma starts asking questions about the soothsayers who have vanished from his impregnable prison, Yaotl realises he needs some answers soon. The secrets he uncovers will unlock nightmares from his own youth and threaten the future of everything he knows.

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7 Reviews 5 star:  (5) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.7 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   8 of 8 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars If you like Falco or Gordianus you'll love this!, 12 April 2005 By  M. TROKE (London, England) - See all my reviews This review is from: Demon of the Air (Paperback) This book is both an excellent mystery and a fascnating history lesson. The centeral character is Yaotl, an Aztec slave, who unwitingly gets involved in the intrigues of the imperial Aztec court (I dont want to give to much away). The plot has enougth twists and turns to keep you interested and Yaotl, like all good dectives is flawed and has a past though he remains sympathetic. The descriptions of Aztec culture are fascinating, as it is both familar and at the same time very alien. The Cover of the book draws comparisons with Falco, and there are. However there is more than a trace of Steven Saylor's roman sub rosa. As both have a dark and gritty tinge. As mentioned above the culture is also alien enougth to set it apart from either Falco or Gordianus. There is also an air of forboding with mention of the mysterious strangers who are rumoured to have been sighted in the west. So even though the protagonist don't yet know it, their confident and vibrant society will soon be on the verge of a cataclysm. This gives the story an extra edge. I only hope the author can keep up this standard for future instalments. I would highly recomended this book. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   8 of 9 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A Breath of Fresh Air, 2 Aug 2005 By  J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    Where I come from they say a change is as good as a rest and for me this book was a breath of fresh air. Simon Levack is a new author on the fiction scene and his choice of background subject, the Aztecs is inspired. I love my crime books on Ancient Rome (Falco and others), but I really enjoyed a change of scenery. The author obviously knows and has researched his subject very well, not always the case with fiction writers The main character Yaotl the Chief Minister's slave quickly grows on you and by the time the end of the book approaches is a close friend The plot takes place at the height of the Aztec empires power when it is death to even look upon the face of the Emperor Montezuma and talk is already being made of pale faced men with beards riding deer being seen on the outskirts of the Aztec Empire. Yaotl is brought before the Emperor and given the task of finding some soothsayers who have vanished from an impenetrable jail. Yaotl is used to seeing death at the hands of the priests with their constant blood sacrifices, but even he is disturbed by the number of bodies that cross his path as he makes his investigations. Investigations that lead him back into his past life. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Unusual setting, great writing, not for the squeamish reader, 19 Mar 2006 By  Ventura Angelo (Brescia, Lombardia Italy) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Demon of the Air (Paperback) Aztecs had a penchant for human sacrifice, and for blood, the first word of this novel, which is definitely not for the squeamish and the weak of heart. But the black humour, the athmosphere of vague impending doom, the characterization, the details on aztec society are worth the reading. I find the writing style of this author exqiosite, and tthe mystery in itself is intriguing. A revisitation of Aztec society, I dare to say, to rival that of Gary Jennings's Aztec. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 7 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars A Breath of Fresh Air Where I come from they say a change is as good as a rest and for me this book was a breath of fresh air. Read more Published on 4 April 2007 by J. Chippindale 5.0 out of 5 stars A Breath of Fresh Air Where I come from they say a change is as good as a rest and for me this book was a breath of fresh air. Read more Published on 4 April 2007 by J. Chippindale 4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasingly humorous and grittily engaging Mr Levack maintains a good pace whilst picking out enough details of life in sixteenth century Mexico to create a convincing impression. Read more Published on 24 Aug 2006 by R. Garcia 4.0 out of 5 stars Sheer joy! As another review said this is truly a breath of fresh Aztec air. Full of suspense, tightly paced, with a good plot and well-developed characters. Read more Published on 15 April 2006 by Didier Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 7 customer reviews...

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