From brutal human sacrifice to the daily concerns of a people for whom magic is as common as the air that they breathe, this novel offers the compelling and evocative portrait of a young Mayan priest cursed with an unlucky name--Sky Knife.

Sky Knife

Literature & Fiction

Sands, Marella

United States

Forge Books

Serpent and Storm

Enter the world of Sky Knife: A Mayan youth who was cursed with an unlucky name from birth. From a vision given to his mother, Sky Knife is pledged to honor whatever destiny the gods have decreed. Farmer, soldier, merchant--all these roads are closed to him. He isn't even worthy as a sacrifice to the gods. Sometimes, however, the gods have a very wicked sense of humor...and what some sages think of as the worst cosmic luck may in fact be the touch of the gods' own hands. From temple pariah to hero, Sky Knife discovers the magic within him and not only thwarts all the evil plots surrounding his king, but wins the hand of the beautiful and beloved Jade Flute in the process. Enemies vanquished and evil magic dispelled, life is good. And as Sky Knife prepares for the birth of a long-awaited child, it seems like the fates have given him all that he desires. But it appears the gods aren't quite done with Sky Knife just yet. He is to be sent to the distant city-kingdom of Teotihuacan, to bring greetings and to reopen diplomatic ties with these strange people. From missed meetings to strange guides, corrupt counselors to a bizarre court, Sky Knife feels his world shifting dangerously out of balance. And when the Teotihuacan king is killed and bad luck seems to descend upon his kingdom, it is left to Sky Knife to solve the riddle of his death. Or he will be slaughtered in the killer's stead.

When a human sacrafice goes terribly awry, dark clouds fill the skies over the Mayan world, and Sky Knife, a man cursed with an unlucky name, could be the last hope for his people. Reprint.

Tom Doherty Assoc Llc

A Mayan youth was cursed with an unlucky name from birth. From a vision given to his mother, Sky Knife is pledged to honor whatever destiny the gods have decreed. He is to be sent to the distant city-kingdom of Teotihuacan, to bring greetings and to reopen diplomatic ties with these strange people. From missed meetings to strange guides, corrupt counselors to a bizarre court, Sky Knife feels his world shafting dangerously out of balance.And when the Teotihuacan king is killed and bad luck seems to descent upon this kingdom, it is left to Sky Knife to solve the riddle of his death.Or he will be slaughtered in the killer's stead.

Tor Books

“The time for change has come; the cycle is nearly complete—Only a Bandryn hero can save your land.”Lythera stood, stunned, as the voice faded away. Though the voice had not said so, the object in her hands had seemed to glint at her as if to tell her she was important, someone who would be needed when the change came. All over again, something was deciding her fate for her, and it wasn’t even human, wasn’t even from her own time...Lythera, the eldest daughter of an impoverished lord, has been sold to the king to pay her father’s debts. But that humiliation soon gives way to alarm, as Lythera realizes that the world is changing in ways she doesn't understand. Separated from her lover and adrift in a world without a place to call her own, how can she find the courage and strength to save herself, let alone the kingdom?Yet if she can't find a way, the coming darkness will destroy whatever she is unable to protect.Praise for Fortune’s Daughter from lovers of fantasy:“I've got my fingers crossed that this might become a series. Please, please tell me this is Book One!” Cheryl Medley“A beautifully written tale of a woman whose choices will lead her society into a new age. The need to find out what happens will keep you up well past your bedtime.” Heather Clark-Evans“A delightful story, full of mystery, magic, romance, and a bit of steampunk. Perfect for young adult readers and lovers of cross-genres. I can't wait to read more stories about this world and the people in it. I loved this book!” Beth Bancroft

Fortune's Daughter

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Fantasy

Word Posse

Drifting Souls (Escaping Normal)

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

The Union ambassador is missing. More than a hundred years after the McClellan-Davis Accords ended the Civil War, tensions are still high between the Union and the Confederacy. But recent trade agreements and personnel exchanges have made both sides hope that good relations can be restored. That is, until the Union ambassador vanishes one night from the embassy in Perdition. Two agents are sent to investigate his disappearance. Delilah Thorn, a video surveillance analyst with zero field experience, has no idea why she’s been sent on this operation, but her unshakeable faith in the Union convinces her that she must somehow have the right skills for the job. Her new partner, Dane Rook, is a seasoned veteran with a mysterious background—and a whole lot of skepticism about what their assignment entails. They’ve barely crossed into the Confederacy when the whole mission goes to hell. Separated, trapped in a hostile nation with no weapons or supplies, they slowly learn a terrible secret about the government just across their own border. Their lives depend on separating friend from foe and discovering the limits of their own endurance. Can they figure out not only how to survive, but also how to become agents of change in a brutal society that the world has left behind?

Perdition

Eric Flint's Ring of Fire Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Sands, Marella. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Sands, Marella

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Sands, Marella. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Sky Knife

Serpent and Storm

Sky Knife

Serpent and Storm

Fortune's Daughter

Drifting Souls (Escaping Normal)

Perdition