The Mayan Red Queen: Tz'aakb'u Ahau of Palenque (Mists of Palenque Book 3), Paperback

A LOVE STORY THAT TRANSFORMS A DYNASTY...

Pakal ascends to the throne as his mother the prior ruler, Sak K'uk, selects his wife, Lalak is overwhelmed by the sophisticated society and complex protocols of the royal court. Sak K'uk, determined to keep Lalak from displacing her in Pakal's affections, confers an official name showing she views the girl as little more than a breeder: Tz'aabk'u Ahau, the Accumulator of Lords.

Lalak struggles to learn her role and prove her worth, puzzled by her mother-in-law's hostility and her husband's aloofness. She soon learns he is in love another, banished by his mother. Pakal is kind but distant as Lalak endeavors to win his heart while agonizing over repeated miscarriages. Brought to crisis, she confronts her mother-in-law and husband, discovers her inner strength, and unleashes hidden powers.

She is destined to play a pivotal role in Pakal's mission to restore the city's spiritual portal, destroyed by enemy attack. Mastering sexual alchemy, she brings the immense creative force of sacred union to rebuild the portal to the Gods. But first Pakal must come to view his wife in a new light. Only then can they secure the dynasty and transform the kingdom into the creative vortex of the Classic Maya world.