Jaguar Rising — David Smith

Approaching initiation into manhood, Fire-Eyes Jaguar discovers that he has inherited royal blood and that the prophecy given at his birth requires him to prepare for a life of privilege, perhaps to rule. His mother and his spiritual guide urge him in this direction, as does his scheming father who berates him for wanting to follow the path of his uncles who are builders and artists. Must he choose the path of his blood or can he follow his heart? Set in Belize and Guatemala in 35 B.C.E., encounters with rulers, tradesmen, and potential marriage partners combine with shamanic rituals, difficult trials, and betrayals that challenge the young man to look within for answers.