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Forgotten Realms: Maztica #1
Ironhelm
In a corner of the world far removed from the known Forgotten Realms stands the exotic continent of Maztica. There Erix the slave girl learns of a great destiny laid upon her by the gods themselves. At the same time, across the sea, a fateful mission of exploration embards.
The explorers, a legion of seasoned mercenaries sail westward to discover a land of primitive savagery mixed with high culture, of brutal, bloodthirsty gods and lavish treasures. Under the banner of their vigilant god, the legion claims these lands for their own.
Only as Erix sees her land invaded by these strangers, when her world itself starts to collapse around her, is her startling destiny revealed...
The explorers, a legion of seasoned mercenaries sail westward to discover a land of primitive savagery mixed with high culture, of brutal, bloodthirsty gods and lavish treasures. Under the banner of their vigilant god, the legion claims these lands for their own.
Only as Erix sees her land invaded by these strangers, when her world itself starts to collapse around her, is her startling destiny revealed...
314 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
25 people are currently reading
732 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Niles
175 books233 followersDouglas Niles is a fantasy author and game designer. Niles was one of the creators of the Dragonlance world and the author of the first three Forgotten Realms novels, and the Top Secret S/I espionage role-playing game. He currently resides in Delavan, Wisconsin with his wife, Christine, and two Bouviets, Reggie and Stella. He enjoys playing his guitar, cooking, and visiting with family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 22, 2022
This book... is not good. The cover itself is pretty cringey and gives you a hint as to how problematic it's going to be. Not only is is problematic, it's lazy. It's just a re-telling of the conquistadores in South America, with some really basic name changes.
maize = mayz
Cortez = Cordell
Quetzalcoatl = Qotol
Tlaloc = Tezca
Xiuhtecuhtli = Zaltec
I'm sure there are more, but you get the picture.
Cordell pulls a Colombus and sails around the world to find a new trading passage, instead finding Maztica. He gets gold fever and starts slaughtering natives while his elven wizard urges him on.
Meanwhile, Erix is a native girl and the Chosen One who spends the majority of the book either Being A Slave (of course we have an almost-assault scene) and/or Running From People Trying to Kill Her. She has magic powers/a magic amulet, but does she really need them when her white savior Halloran is there to learn about these noble savages and rescue them from the bad white men? Find out in the next two books!
maize = mayz
Cortez = Cordell
Quetzalcoatl = Qotol
Tlaloc = Tezca
Xiuhtecuhtli = Zaltec
I'm sure there are more, but you get the picture.
Cordell pulls a Colombus and sails around the world to find a new trading passage, instead finding Maztica. He gets gold fever and starts slaughtering natives while his elven wizard urges him on.
Meanwhile, Erix is a native girl and the Chosen One who spends the majority of the book either Being A Slave (of course we have an almost-assault scene) and/or Running From People Trying to Kill Her. She has magic powers/a magic amulet, but does she really need them when her white savior Halloran is there to learn about these noble savages and rescue them from the bad white men? Find out in the next two books!
June 20, 2014
Ironhelm explores a side world in the Forgotten Realms series of books that is called Maztica. Basically it's a native, ancient South America complete with bloody sacrifices to new Gods, and their own brand of magic. The story is a familiar one of white men destroying their world and for the glory of conquest and gold.
Douglas Niles is one of the better authors of Forgotten Realms books, and I do enjoy his writing style. The problem with this book is that the story is introducing a whole new world, and throwing a classic prophecy storyline, that today, has been used and abused by too many other authors. Not to say in 1990 my opinion would have been different, but it probably read better when it was first released.
Next up is Horselords by David Cook released in April 1990.
Douglas Niles is one of the better authors of Forgotten Realms books, and I do enjoy his writing style. The problem with this book is that the story is introducing a whole new world, and throwing a classic prophecy storyline, that today, has been used and abused by too many other authors. Not to say in 1990 my opinion would have been different, but it probably read better when it was first released.
Next up is Horselords by David Cook released in April 1990.
June 2, 2014
Almost finished this book with one chapter to go but I'll write the review anyway. This is possibly not the most original fantasy, but that's not why I decided to read it. I didn't know what to expect as I hadn't read any other books by this author but I found the book enjoyable overall. It took a few chapters to get used to the style of writing and learn all the various characters but once that was out of the way I found it addictive, chapter after chapter. I really enjoyed the latin themed world of Maztica, in fact I found it refreshing compared to your typical forgotten realms read. Looking forward to reading Viperhand next.
August 31, 2022
Un libro inspirado en la conquista de México lleno de tópicos baratos aderezado con elfos, enanos, magia y criaturas extrañas.
Inconsistente y extraño; varias veces he deseado dejarlo sin leer
Inconsistente y extraño; varias veces he deseado dejarlo sin leer
March 5, 2025
I couldn't help it; I just didn't like it. I'm normally a big ol' drooling simp for Forgotten Realms, but this one just left me feeling unfulfilled. The writing got straight-up boring during all the 'secret intrigue' and 'which people believe in which old god' parts. And the obvious 'uptown girl falling for the downtown boy' seeds that were being planted were so trite as to distract from what were honestly the only enjoyable sections.
April 5, 2019
For some reason it took me six months to finish this book. This is because of two main factors: 1. Pokemon GO; 2. My commute changed so I no longer had 30 minutes on a bus twice daily to read (replaced by driving and walking, neither of which allows for simultaneous reading time). My overall impression of the book may have been colored by this experience. I found the novel to be rather disjointed. It jumps around between multiple perspectives, often rather sharply, although at least it remained chronological. The book does not work terribly well as a stand-alone piece; you really need to commit to the full trilogy. Ironhelm was published around the same time as the Forgotten Realms Empires trilogy; the Maztica trilogy takes us to the West of Toril into a version of "Aztec" civilization, while Empires takes us to the East (and back again). Both trilogies tied into campaign expansions in the role-playing game. The Empires trilogy books did fairly well as stand-alone novels, particularly the first one, Horselords.
I enjoy Douglas Niles as a fantasy author. He writes clearly, his characters are distinct, and they have reasonable emotional resonance. He may not be winning any literary awards, but I have no qualms about reading his Forgotten Realms entries (and am looking forward to his Druidhome trilogy).
I enjoy Douglas Niles as a fantasy author. He writes clearly, his characters are distinct, and they have reasonable emotional resonance. He may not be winning any literary awards, but I have no qualms about reading his Forgotten Realms entries (and am looking forward to his Druidhome trilogy).
March 29, 2018
Well, tickle me pink. After reading the first Moonshae trilogy by this author, where the three books progressed from all right to meh, I approached this book with a wry face. Sure, it's a fantasy rewrite of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, with a bit of Disney's Pocahontas thrown in for good measure.
But Niles actually spins a good yarn once that confusing introductory material is swept aside. The plot does mostly mirror real life of course, where whatever ideals the invaders had are buried by monetary greed and a religious zeal.
The story moves on sprightly and it engages at nearly every level. You can safely categorise these Forgotten Realms novels as lightweight fluff, but when they entertain as well as this outing did, one can't really complain.
But Niles actually spins a good yarn once that confusing introductory material is swept aside. The plot does mostly mirror real life of course, where whatever ideals the invaders had are buried by monetary greed and a religious zeal.
The story moves on sprightly and it engages at nearly every level. You can safely categorise these Forgotten Realms novels as lightweight fluff, but when they entertain as well as this outing did, one can't really complain.
February 3, 2025
Iron Helm is a gripping tale of conquest, prophecy, and survival. Captain-General Cordell, along with his enigmatic elven enchantress, Darien, and the Golden Legion, sets sail from the land of Amn in search of new territories, wealth, and resources. Encouraged by the Church of Helm, they cross the sea to the jungle-clad continent of Maztica, where they intrude upon the small nation of Payit.
At the heart of the story is Erixitl, a young native girl sold into slavery. Unbeknownst to her, she becomes the linchpin of an ancient prophecy that foretells the return of the plumed god Qotal. Purchased by one of Qotal’s priests, Erixitl finds herself hunted by the rival sect of Zaltec, who will stop at nothing to thwart the prophecy. When their priests fail to eliminate her, the Ancient Ones—a shadowy force guiding the sect—dispatch a deadly assassin to finish the job.
Erixitl narrowly escapes death several times, thanks to Halloran, a Golden Legionnaire, a winged serpent sent by the plumed god Qotal and her own wits. She flees into the dense jungle with Halloran who is also hunted by his own legionnaires and an assassin sent by the Ancient Ones!
Meanwhile, the Golden Legion lands in Payit and leads to confrontation due to their Bishop’s daughter being ritually sacrificed.
This results and a fierce confrontation with the local jungle tribes. The clash between the heavily armed, magic-wielding Golden Legion and the tribes culminates in a dramatic battle, where the superior weaponry and tactics of the invaders overwhelm the defenders. The Golden Legion captures Payit’s capital, Ulatos, and establishes a fortified stronghold near the coast.
The story reaches its climax as Erixitl and Halloran confront the assassin, now accompanied by hellhounds. Their flight leads them to an ancient step pyramid, where they receive unexpected aid from Poshtli, an Eagle Knight of Nexal and a shape-shifter. In a thrilling confrontation, the trio defeats the hellhounds and assassin, uncovering a shocking revelation: the Ancient Ones are, in fact, dark elves.
***Drawing inspiration from the tales of the Spanish conquistadors, Iron Helm transports readers to a richly imagined Mesoamerican-inspired setting, complete with lush jungles, step pyramids, and gods demanding blood sacrifices. While those unfamiliar with the histories of the Inca, Aztec empires, or Spanish conquest might initially struggle with some references, the vivid descriptions and intense action carry the narrative. The author masterfully crafts a dynamic battle between the Golden Legion and the forces of Payit and weaves in layers of mystery that keep readers engaged until the end. With its evocative imagery, reminiscent of the film Apocalypto, the story delivers a thrilling adventure filled with intrigue, danger, and a touch of the divine.***
At the heart of the story is Erixitl, a young native girl sold into slavery. Unbeknownst to her, she becomes the linchpin of an ancient prophecy that foretells the return of the plumed god Qotal. Purchased by one of Qotal’s priests, Erixitl finds herself hunted by the rival sect of Zaltec, who will stop at nothing to thwart the prophecy. When their priests fail to eliminate her, the Ancient Ones—a shadowy force guiding the sect—dispatch a deadly assassin to finish the job.
Erixitl narrowly escapes death several times, thanks to Halloran, a Golden Legionnaire, a winged serpent sent by the plumed god Qotal and her own wits. She flees into the dense jungle with Halloran who is also hunted by his own legionnaires and an assassin sent by the Ancient Ones!
Meanwhile, the Golden Legion lands in Payit and leads to confrontation due to their Bishop’s daughter being ritually sacrificed.
This results and a fierce confrontation with the local jungle tribes. The clash between the heavily armed, magic-wielding Golden Legion and the tribes culminates in a dramatic battle, where the superior weaponry and tactics of the invaders overwhelm the defenders. The Golden Legion captures Payit’s capital, Ulatos, and establishes a fortified stronghold near the coast.
The story reaches its climax as Erixitl and Halloran confront the assassin, now accompanied by hellhounds. Their flight leads them to an ancient step pyramid, where they receive unexpected aid from Poshtli, an Eagle Knight of Nexal and a shape-shifter. In a thrilling confrontation, the trio defeats the hellhounds and assassin, uncovering a shocking revelation: the Ancient Ones are, in fact, dark elves.
***Drawing inspiration from the tales of the Spanish conquistadors, Iron Helm transports readers to a richly imagined Mesoamerican-inspired setting, complete with lush jungles, step pyramids, and gods demanding blood sacrifices. While those unfamiliar with the histories of the Inca, Aztec empires, or Spanish conquest might initially struggle with some references, the vivid descriptions and intense action carry the narrative. The author masterfully crafts a dynamic battle between the Golden Legion and the forces of Payit and weaves in layers of mystery that keep readers engaged until the end. With its evocative imagery, reminiscent of the film Apocalypto, the story delivers a thrilling adventure filled with intrigue, danger, and a touch of the divine.***
June 16, 2014
Is it possible to plagerise an historical event?
16 June 2014
I am not sure if there is all that much that I can actually say about this book other than it is another of those many Forgotten Realms books that I read when I was much younger and have now relegated to the pages of history. For a while I felt that maybe that were scrapping the bottom of the barrel when it came to stories to base books on, but then it seemed that they were very much doing the same thing with regards to the various settings within the Forgotten Realms. The main continent (known colloquially as the Forgotten Realms, but more precisely as Faerun) is an area based upon the Mediterranean world, though it is sort of a mix between the Ancient, Medieval, and Early Modern periods. However, they then expanded the setting to include an oriental setting which is, surprisingly, to the east.
However, they were not simply satisfied with that and also included settings based upon the Arabian Nights (Al Qadim) and the Americas (Maztica). By the time that they reached Maztica it seemed as it their creative juices had finally been squeezed out and they were simply throwing around the first names that came to mind onto the cover of the product. At least Kara Tur and Al Qadim had enough of a fantasy element to keep our beliefs suspended (and even those two settings could easily be played without even mentioning the existence of the Forgotten Realms).
What Ironhelm does is that it introduces the world of Maztica and I must admit that the plot is pretty, no incredibly, lame. We have some merchant who approaches a king and says that he has this theory that if he sails to the west he will sail right around the world and arrive at Kara Tur. The king, who is intrigued, gives him money, ships, and soldiers, and sends them off to the west. However, instead of sailing right around the world he discovers that there is a massive continent in between. So he lands and sets up a colony, while burning all of the boats so that nobody can return home.
The only reason that this is not outright plagiarism is because the story is based on real events as opposed to somebody else's story. Okay, it sort of merges the stories of Columbus and (I believe) Cortez into a single story, but it is pretty noticeable nonetheless. I'm not really sure whether Niles is a bad writer or not, but his imagination (if indeed he wrote it, or simply just put his name to a bunch of words that were thrown onto the paper because a committee determined that these particular words in this particular order would sell the book – then again, I read it so I guess there were a lot of other people out there who read it as well) seems to be non-existent.
16 June 2014
I am not sure if there is all that much that I can actually say about this book other than it is another of those many Forgotten Realms books that I read when I was much younger and have now relegated to the pages of history. For a while I felt that maybe that were scrapping the bottom of the barrel when it came to stories to base books on, but then it seemed that they were very much doing the same thing with regards to the various settings within the Forgotten Realms. The main continent (known colloquially as the Forgotten Realms, but more precisely as Faerun) is an area based upon the Mediterranean world, though it is sort of a mix between the Ancient, Medieval, and Early Modern periods. However, they then expanded the setting to include an oriental setting which is, surprisingly, to the east.
However, they were not simply satisfied with that and also included settings based upon the Arabian Nights (Al Qadim) and the Americas (Maztica). By the time that they reached Maztica it seemed as it their creative juices had finally been squeezed out and they were simply throwing around the first names that came to mind onto the cover of the product. At least Kara Tur and Al Qadim had enough of a fantasy element to keep our beliefs suspended (and even those two settings could easily be played without even mentioning the existence of the Forgotten Realms).
What Ironhelm does is that it introduces the world of Maztica and I must admit that the plot is pretty, no incredibly, lame. We have some merchant who approaches a king and says that he has this theory that if he sails to the west he will sail right around the world and arrive at Kara Tur. The king, who is intrigued, gives him money, ships, and soldiers, and sends them off to the west. However, instead of sailing right around the world he discovers that there is a massive continent in between. So he lands and sets up a colony, while burning all of the boats so that nobody can return home.
The only reason that this is not outright plagiarism is because the story is based on real events as opposed to somebody else's story. Okay, it sort of merges the stories of Columbus and (I believe) Cortez into a single story, but it is pretty noticeable nonetheless. I'm not really sure whether Niles is a bad writer or not, but his imagination (if indeed he wrote it, or simply just put his name to a bunch of words that were thrown onto the paper because a committee determined that these particular words in this particular order would sell the book – then again, I read it so I guess there were a lot of other people out there who read it as well) seems to be non-existent.
February 25, 2019
This book was for me 2.5 or 2.75 stars but it just didn't quite make it to 3 for reasons I'll explain. This is the author's fourth Forgotten Realms tale and introduces a new area of that world to the reader. This trilogy, released simultaneously with the horselords trilogy has a mercenary company trying to find a trade route to the far east, instead stumble on a miniature "new world" based on the real world Aztec culture. For some odd reason the author has this mercenary company begin chanting we will conquer, and take the new world as ours before they leave. They have no reason to believe they would land in a "backwards" world where they could take advantage of these Aztec-like people and certainly wouldn't have been able to take advantage of organized nations based on medieveal Japan and China in the Forgotten Realms' Kara-tur.
Besides for some unexplained jingoistic urges in the mercenary company and the author's description of a Maztican preistess' eyes conveying 30 different qualities, the story isn't too bad. It, like most of the other Forgotten Realms books are sub-par fantasy writing but this one seems ahead of it's non-Drizzt peers. It delivers some mystery, has somewhat believable character interactions, and has potential for setting up a successful sequel. If you like FR novels you would probably enjoy this one. If you are looking for a fantasy classic then you probably should skip it.
Besides for some unexplained jingoistic urges in the mercenary company and the author's description of a Maztican preistess' eyes conveying 30 different qualities, the story isn't too bad. It, like most of the other Forgotten Realms books are sub-par fantasy writing but this one seems ahead of it's non-Drizzt peers. It delivers some mystery, has somewhat believable character interactions, and has potential for setting up a successful sequel. If you like FR novels you would probably enjoy this one. If you are looking for a fantasy classic then you probably should skip it.
June 30, 2021
Empecé la lectura con ganas, porque las trilogía sobre las Islas Moonshaes, del mismo autor, me gustó mucho. Sin embargo, esta primera novela de Maztica me ha defraudado bastante.
La lectura es ágil, por supuesto, y dado que se alterna entre varios personajes y lugares (a veces de forma un tanto caótica), todo resulta bastante ameno.
Pero es imposible dejar de lado esa sensación de que aquí se ha recreado la historia de los Conquistadores (o su leyenda) y la historia de Pocahontas (en su versión Disney). Algo más de originalidad en los detalles menores y referencias no hubiera venido mal (por ejemplo, se ve de pasada el juego de pelota; esto podría haber sido sustituido por otra cosa).
Tampoco me han gustado ciertos cambios de actitud de los personajes, que resultan demasiado bruscos, ni el hecho de que el libro por sí mismo no cuente ni siquiera una historia completa.
Espero con sinceridad que los siguientes volúmenes me interesen más, y que la naturaleza de los "Muy Antiguos" (algo que en este libro se ve venir de lejos), origine una mejor trama.
La lectura es ágil, por supuesto, y dado que se alterna entre varios personajes y lugares (a veces de forma un tanto caótica), todo resulta bastante ameno.
Pero es imposible dejar de lado esa sensación de que aquí se ha recreado la historia de los Conquistadores (o su leyenda) y la historia de Pocahontas (en su versión Disney). Algo más de originalidad en los detalles menores y referencias no hubiera venido mal (por ejemplo, se ve de pasada el juego de pelota; esto podría haber sido sustituido por otra cosa).
Tampoco me han gustado ciertos cambios de actitud de los personajes, que resultan demasiado bruscos, ni el hecho de que el libro por sí mismo no cuente ni siquiera una historia completa.
Espero con sinceridad que los siguientes volúmenes me interesen más, y que la naturaleza de los "Muy Antiguos" (algo que en este libro se ve venir de lejos), origine una mejor trama.
June 10, 2012
I don't remember much of this series by Douglas Niles other than that I enjoyed it way back then. I read the series after I took a class on colonial Latin American history and there were a ton of similarities between the novel and the history.
March 6, 2019
I liked the Moonshae series by Douglas Niles, so I gave this a try.
I was not expecting a horrible retelling of the sack of Meso America, but in fantasy.
The Forgotten Realms didn't need this crap in it.
I was not expecting a horrible retelling of the sack of Meso America, but in fantasy.
The Forgotten Realms didn't need this crap in it.
October 22, 2012
A fantasy allegory to the birth of the American nation, Ironhelm has it's strong points. Unfortunately, it does not hold up to the Forgotten Realms label. Not sure if I'll move on to Viperhand.
November 18, 2012
I thought that the writer used actual historical facts to fabricate his story. A little more originality wouldn't have gone wrong...
May 21, 2016
Mmm...¿no sé qué poner? Sólo que es un remake de la invasión europea a lo que hoy es méxico... los personajes son algo planos, y el típico "elegido", una especie de deus ex machina...
July 16, 2018
Note: This was not a full book. The trilogy is actually one big book--individual books don't stand on their own.
November 18, 2021
Awful novel; I don't like this author's style. I could not finish it, gave the book to Goodwill.
February 6, 2020
I had an idea recently to run a mash-up D&D campaign that involved a tour through Sigil and Waterdeep before shifting into a mutiny aboard a Spelljamming vessel, and culminating in a hunt for a sacred artifact in Maztica. It was fun mapping it all out, but when I got to the Maztica bits, I found that materials for that setting were kind of sparse. One of the things I came across while prowling around was Douglas Niles' Maztica trilogy.
In all honesty, nothing about it really sang out to me. The book ratings were mediocre, the covers recall those cheesy licensed properties novels we all loved to read in middle school (Star Trek TNG: GHOST SHIP!!), and the reviews were underwhelming. I actually passed on the chance to read them, and focused instead the Planescape/Forgotton Realms/Starjammers part of the adventure, which took a while.
But alas, eventually the moment arrived when the party had received their mission, fought their way through the vile pirates and brigands of Waterdeep, and helped the captain put the kibosh on those treacherous mutineers. The only thing left was making landfall on the shores of Helmsport, only at this point, Helmsport was just a name on a map, and I needed some color! So I gave in and decided to give Mr. Niles a second chance.
And in all honesty, I was pleasantly surprised with the first book in the series, Ironhelm. Sure, if you're even passingly familiar with the Spanish conquest of the New World, it might feel like you're just getting Cortez-light with some magic thrown in. But there's a lot more than that going on here. Niles does an admirable job creating a handful of characters that well-represent the various aspects of Maztica and the invading legionnaires. He describes the lush jungle settings quite beautifully, and the plot moves along at a brisk pace. Yes, in the broadest of strokes, this is just Cortez and the Aztecs. But in the details, Maztica is a thing unto itself, with lots of pleasant little nooks to explore.
And as a DM looking for insights into Maztica as a campaign setting, I now feel like I have quite a nice handle on the internal machinations of the Maztican pantheon, the atmospheres of the major cities (particularly Ulatos), and how pluma and hishna magic function in both philosophy and practice. I have a good idea of who I need to populate my jungles and hidden temples with, and the sorts of dangers the party is likely to face, and the types of treasures they may stumble across.
The second book in the series, Viperhand, seems to continue the same tone, with the stakes getting raised a bit, and more emphasis shone on the capital city of Nexal. I'm surprised that I'm interested to see where it all goes, as I'll certainly be finishing the trilogy.
In all honesty, nothing about it really sang out to me. The book ratings were mediocre, the covers recall those cheesy licensed properties novels we all loved to read in middle school (Star Trek TNG: GHOST SHIP!!), and the reviews were underwhelming. I actually passed on the chance to read them, and focused instead the Planescape/Forgotton Realms/Starjammers part of the adventure, which took a while.
But alas, eventually the moment arrived when the party had received their mission, fought their way through the vile pirates and brigands of Waterdeep, and helped the captain put the kibosh on those treacherous mutineers. The only thing left was making landfall on the shores of Helmsport, only at this point, Helmsport was just a name on a map, and I needed some color! So I gave in and decided to give Mr. Niles a second chance.
And in all honesty, I was pleasantly surprised with the first book in the series, Ironhelm. Sure, if you're even passingly familiar with the Spanish conquest of the New World, it might feel like you're just getting Cortez-light with some magic thrown in. But there's a lot more than that going on here. Niles does an admirable job creating a handful of characters that well-represent the various aspects of Maztica and the invading legionnaires. He describes the lush jungle settings quite beautifully, and the plot moves along at a brisk pace. Yes, in the broadest of strokes, this is just Cortez and the Aztecs. But in the details, Maztica is a thing unto itself, with lots of pleasant little nooks to explore.
And as a DM looking for insights into Maztica as a campaign setting, I now feel like I have quite a nice handle on the internal machinations of the Maztican pantheon, the atmospheres of the major cities (particularly Ulatos), and how pluma and hishna magic function in both philosophy and practice. I have a good idea of who I need to populate my jungles and hidden temples with, and the sorts of dangers the party is likely to face, and the types of treasures they may stumble across.
The second book in the series, Viperhand, seems to continue the same tone, with the stakes getting raised a bit, and more emphasis shone on the capital city of Nexal. I'm surprised that I'm interested to see where it all goes, as I'll certainly be finishing the trilogy.
September 21, 2021
Honestly, I didn't have great expectations for this book, and probably that's the reason why they were greatly exceeded.
Well, of course I would not put this book among the milestones of fantasy, but it's very enjoyable. The action is high-paced and not excessive, a lot of things happen in the book, the characters are not bland, and there is a frequent shifting of POVs that gives a great sense of things happening contextually, offering a vivid feeling of a lively and dynamic world.
Moreover, although it is set in an unusual setting, it is definitely an AD&D / Forgotten Realms novel. Many of the basic tropes of the AD&D game and of the game world are present, such as the magic system, the character classes, the pantheons, the drow, and the like. So there is a clear perception that 1) the novel is definitely in the Forgotten Realms, and 2) it is set in a region of the Forgotten Realms that is very different, in terms of culture, mindset, and magic.
There is also an interesting evolution of the Cordell character, who starts out as a sort of a dashing hero, albeit still doing it for money, and evolves into a sort of power-obsessed madman. While this is a frequent topic in modern fantasy novels, back in the early 90s this novel was quite a precursor.
I also found some inconsistencies, which is not unusual in AD&D novels. For example, there are some geographic issues (Erix and Hal going south from Ulatos, and Poshtli going east from Sunstone, meeting in a matter of days, whereas it should be much longer), and also some mistakes concerning magic (Darien loses her spellbook, and without any hint that she has more than one, or rather hinting that it was the only one, she appears to have an infinite supply of tongues spells). But all in all, nothing that really ruins the story.
Another unusual thing, especially for the time when it was written, is that this book is by no means self-contained. There is no way the story can be considered standalone when the book ends, and this is because it was intended from the start as a trilogy. Quite uncommon because many books, especially experimental ones such as this (the whole Maztica setting was rather experimental - a failed experiment, as it turned out), started as a single novel, later developing into a trilogy. Niles's first trilogy, Moonshae, is exactly like that.
So in the end, if you like the Forgotten Realms, this is quite a good novel, especially because the Maztica trilogy is a unique genre, blending pre-Colombian history with the AD&D game rules and setting.
Well, of course I would not put this book among the milestones of fantasy, but it's very enjoyable. The action is high-paced and not excessive, a lot of things happen in the book, the characters are not bland, and there is a frequent shifting of POVs that gives a great sense of things happening contextually, offering a vivid feeling of a lively and dynamic world.
Moreover, although it is set in an unusual setting, it is definitely an AD&D / Forgotten Realms novel. Many of the basic tropes of the AD&D game and of the game world are present, such as the magic system, the character classes, the pantheons, the drow, and the like. So there is a clear perception that 1) the novel is definitely in the Forgotten Realms, and 2) it is set in a region of the Forgotten Realms that is very different, in terms of culture, mindset, and magic.
There is also an interesting evolution of the Cordell character, who starts out as a sort of a dashing hero, albeit still doing it for money, and evolves into a sort of power-obsessed madman. While this is a frequent topic in modern fantasy novels, back in the early 90s this novel was quite a precursor.
I also found some inconsistencies, which is not unusual in AD&D novels. For example, there are some geographic issues (Erix and Hal going south from Ulatos, and Poshtli going east from Sunstone, meeting in a matter of days, whereas it should be much longer), and also some mistakes concerning magic (Darien loses her spellbook, and without any hint that she has more than one, or rather hinting that it was the only one, she appears to have an infinite supply of tongues spells). But all in all, nothing that really ruins the story.
Another unusual thing, especially for the time when it was written, is that this book is by no means self-contained. There is no way the story can be considered standalone when the book ends, and this is because it was intended from the start as a trilogy. Quite uncommon because many books, especially experimental ones such as this (the whole Maztica setting was rather experimental - a failed experiment, as it turned out), started as a single novel, later developing into a trilogy. Niles's first trilogy, Moonshae, is exactly like that.
So in the end, if you like the Forgotten Realms, this is quite a good novel, especially because the Maztica trilogy is a unique genre, blending pre-Colombian history with the AD&D game rules and setting.
August 16, 2025
”Once these men have seen our gold, I fear we shall never keep them away.”
This shouldn’t work.
Mixing the elves, dwarves and high sorcery of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game with a quasi-historical retelling of the conquering of the Aztec empire by Spanish conquistadors should be an amazing mess. Instead, writer Douglas Niles smashes the two genres together to create a rather powerful high fantasy story that works remarkably well as both a Forgotten Realms novel and as a historical analogy to the culture clash between New World and Old.
Niles deftly fits the lore of the Forgotten Realms into this new campaign setting, and it’s rather nice to find those puzzle pieces interlocking so seamlessly as the cult of the vigilant god Helm substitutes for Christianity, Nextal for Tenochtitlan, Cordell for Cortez, and the greedy merchants of Amn for Spanish royalty. At the same time, Niles keeps the look and feel of ancient Mesoamerica with its sweltering jungles, rich fauna and foliage, and rising step pyramids, along with the major beats of Cortez’s march of conquest. This is far from a simple pastiche, however, as Niles adds a plethora of fantasy elements from an eleven mage and dwarven crossbowmen to eagle and jaguar knights and feather-based magic. The mix feels amazingly authentic as Niles finds good reason for the two cultures to be at one another’s throats. It's misunderstanding more than simple greed that strikes the match of war, and the spark is tragically plausible.
The characters here are also quite good, and I’m particularly taken with the moral ambiguousness Niles creates around many of them, including the gods. For the first book in a trilogy, we get quite an arc that take many of them from likeable, unlikable, or unimportant to quite the opposite by the book’s final page. Although … if I have a quibble … it’s with poor Martine who gets a quick character assassination for no good reason. Was it just to make what happens next maybe just a little less bitter a pill to swallow?
Of course, since it’s Dungeons & Dragons, there’s always a bigger bad pulling the strings and though (for me anyway) the choice was fairly obvious, I still really dug Niles’ ability to expand the mythology of this new world into what we already know of the Forgotten Realms. Clever retro-continuity always makes me smile. Though this would never be the kind of fantasy I would have ever asked for, this trilogy has gotten off to a really great start and I’m eager for the next installment.
June 17, 2021
I'm not sure exactly what to say about this book.
When I started reading all of the Forgotten Realms books, I decided to skip this series. It seemed to me to be a stretch for a fantasy setting, and I didn't think that TSR ever created any campaign content for this area...so it seemed like it would be an easy one to skip and not feel like I was missing out of any key history or information.
But, I decided to give it a shot. And I can't help but be reminded of the Kara Tur trilogy that I read several years back. While the plot itself was not necessarily following actual historical events, any reader would assume that David Cook was stealing from history. Ultimately, I really enjoyed that series.
This first installment in to the Maztica Trilogy has left me a bit underwhelmed. The plot was a bit disjointed (but nothing like a Greenwood novel) and also felt rushed. We jump from scene to scene and sometimes large amounts of time have passed. There is a chapter at the beginning that is necessary to explain the main character, Halloran, ability to cast spells but I feel like author could have come up with a better way to accomplish this...or even left it out. It was used only slightly in this novel, but I have to expect that it will continue in the next books.
Speaking of, it would seem that Niles is comfortable stealing from history a bit more blatantly. So the plot may seem familiar.
When I started reading all of the Forgotten Realms books, I decided to skip this series. It seemed to me to be a stretch for a fantasy setting, and I didn't think that TSR ever created any campaign content for this area...so it seemed like it would be an easy one to skip and not feel like I was missing out of any key history or information.
But, I decided to give it a shot. And I can't help but be reminded of the Kara Tur trilogy that I read several years back. While the plot itself was not necessarily following actual historical events, any reader would assume that David Cook was stealing from history. Ultimately, I really enjoyed that series.
This first installment in to the Maztica Trilogy has left me a bit underwhelmed. The plot was a bit disjointed (but nothing like a Greenwood novel) and also felt rushed. We jump from scene to scene and sometimes large amounts of time have passed. There is a chapter at the beginning that is necessary to explain the main character, Halloran, ability to cast spells but I feel like author could have come up with a better way to accomplish this...or even left it out. It was used only slightly in this novel, but I have to expect that it will continue in the next books.
Speaking of, it would seem that Niles is comfortable stealing from history a bit more blatantly. So the plot may seem familiar.
July 1, 2020
I remembered little of this series from my original reads back when it came out and decided to explore it again.
Many reviews have noted the similarity between history and the story. I saw those too, but most of it didn't bother me (though using the name Cordell in place of the historical Cortez was one of the few things that made me cringe a little). Many modern fantasy stories are loosely based on history and there was enough originality to keep me interested.
One of my favorite parts of the Maztica setting are the two distinct types of magic. Pluma is feathermagic, while hisna is talonmagic.
I remember the human sacrifice element of this story shocking me more on my early reads. Maybe I just haven't gotten to the points that bothered me, or perhaps reading more modern and grimdark fantasy has made this not seem as graphic.
Overall, I enjoyed this and am moving on to a reread of book two, Viperhand.
Many reviews have noted the similarity between history and the story. I saw those too, but most of it didn't bother me (though using the name Cordell in place of the historical Cortez was one of the few things that made me cringe a little). Many modern fantasy stories are loosely based on history and there was enough originality to keep me interested.
One of my favorite parts of the Maztica setting are the two distinct types of magic. Pluma is feathermagic, while hisna is talonmagic.
I remember the human sacrifice element of this story shocking me more on my early reads. Maybe I just haven't gotten to the points that bothered me, or perhaps reading more modern and grimdark fantasy has made this not seem as graphic.
Overall, I enjoyed this and am moving on to a reread of book two, Viperhand.
April 17, 2019
Ero un po' scettico su questo libro di Niles, il papà di Forgotten Realms, di cui in passato avevo già letto la Moonshine Trilogy. In pratica, questa nuova trilogia chiamata Maztica serve a mostrare un nuovo scenario di Forgotten Realms, e lo fa' traslando la scoperta del Nuovo Mondo da parte di Colombo in uno scenario simile ma dotato di magia, elfi, nani e quant'altro. Stranamente il libro funziona, Niles riesce a tenersi a freno e a non eccedere in cose astruse o senza senso. Certo, la trama è sempre quella, un destino unisce i due protagonisti Erix e Hallowran, la prima una indigena di Maztica perseguitata dai seguaci del dio Zaltec, il secondo un capitano della spedizione che si ritrova ad andare contro i suoi stessi compagni, e che saranno destinati, immagino a grandi cose, però il libro si sviluppa bene e si legge con piacere.
September 3, 2019
I wasn't expecting much from this entry. While much of the narrative is predictable with parallels in real world history, I actually enjoyed the story! The lead characters are somewhat inconsistent but generally more complex than they first appear to be. Of course, being a Forgotten Realms novel, certain tropes of the series again rear their ugly heads here (unearned romance, glossed over magic use, etc). The appearance of an unexpected but familiar enemy was pretty cool, too. So yes, I'm looking forward to continuing the trilogy and eager to see how it plays out, whether it'll stick with the historical parallels or give me something new and totally unexpected.
April 10, 2020
Battlefield, pounding hooves sound. Sacrificed live hearts drip. Aztec-inspired old gods face steel-armed invaders with elf sorceress. Handsome Hal likes gorgeous native Etrix fleeing evil Ancient Ones.
December 29, 2023
It was easy to read at least compared to greenwood. The whole book and setting steal way to much from history just changing the names of the gods, people, or places its ridiculous and then to repeat the exact same history its uncreative to say the least.
November 17, 2022
I read the whole book in one sitting. It was just that good!
December 17, 2023
It was like reading a history book.
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