Zoe Saadia
Autor de The Highlander
Sobre El Autor
Series
Obras de Zoe Saadia
Obsidian Puma 2 copias
Etiquetado
Conocimiento común
- Género
- female
- Nacionalidad
- USA
- Biografía breve
- Zoe Saadia is the author of several novels of pre-Columbian Americas.
Having researched various pre-contact cultures of this continent for more than a decade, she is convinced that it's a shame that such a large part of history was completely overlooked, by historical fiction most of all.
Both Americas has an extremely rich, diverse, fascinating history long before this continent was discovered by other civilizations.
So her professional motto is set. America has not been discovered by other continents, not yet. Not in her novels :) [retrieved from Zoe Saadia author page, Amazon.com, 5/11/2014]
Miembros
Reseñas
The Young Jaguar (Pre-Aztec Series, #1)
This book seemed like an Advanced Reader's Copy or like a first draft. It needs considerable revision. There is poor sentence structure and poor grammar in quite a few places. Another aspect that needs work is with characterization. Some of the main characters don't act in any consistent manner. Some of their actions are way too improbable, based on their previous attitudes and actions. Overall, the book has an interesting story line and it takes place in an interesting time. However, I have no interest in reading any more books by this author.… (más)
Author has done extensive research into pre-contact American history (both continents). Constant warfare was the norm for native Americans prior to the Iroquois Great League agreement, this story is based on that period.
FROM AMAZON: Tekeni was captured during a failed raid and "adopted", but never accepted and always in trouble with no hope of fitting in or escaping. Then one day a senseless quarrel accelerated and his life was in danger. Two Rivers was also an outcast who argued against the constant fighting between the cultures, but he decides to try to help Tekeni.… (más)
FROM AMAZON: Tekeni was captured during a failed raid and "adopted", but never accepted and always in trouble with no hope of fitting in or escaping. Then one day a senseless quarrel accelerated and his life was in danger. Two Rivers was also an outcast who argued against the constant fighting between the cultures, but he decides to try to help Tekeni.… (más)
The Highlander: Rise of the Aztecs #1 by Zoe Saadia is the first in a series of early Mesoamerican historical fiction. Saadia has published a large collection of novels about the Central America’s indigenous peoples.
Most Americans have heard of the Aztecs, but know them mostly from the bloody sacrifices and “savage nature.” There has been quite a bit of embellishment in the Aztec stories that most people know. My knowledge comes mostly from undergraduate history courses where the history begins with the Spanish contact. The indigenous people are given a passing mention: Aztecs are warriors, Mayans had primitive science, and the Incas had the gold. There is much more to these people than that, and historical fiction is a great way learn and enjoy.
Historical fiction in the case of the Aztecs and surrounding city-states requires a bit of work on the author’s part. In American Civil War historical fiction, the characters need little development. We all have a good idea who Lincoln, Lee, Jackson, Grant, and Sherman are, and the mention of their name alone creates a ready made character in our minds. For Saadia, it is a bit more difficult as there are no readily recognizable figures from this time period and culture for the reader to instantly relate to. She has to create believable characters within the historical restrictions. The characters in The Highlanders are well developed and reflect the differences between the different groups that inhabit the area surrounding Lake Texcoco. The friction between different city states is reflected in the comments of the general public as well as the main characters. For a relatively small geographic region, there are very clear cut and deep feelings between neighboring peoples.
The politics of the region is a main source of information in the story. Alliances, tributes, enemies, and diplomacy all play an important role in this story. Although this may be the driving force of the plot, events are viewed mostly through the eyes of the two main characters: Kuini and Coyotl. Kuini, is a highlander living outside the main city states surrounding Lake Texcoco. He is the next in line to be the Warrior Leader. Although considered barbarians, Kuini is quite the artist. Coyotl is the son or the ruler of Texcoco. He comes from privilege and civilization. The two meet accidentally and develop a friendship even though they homelands are enemies. To tie things together Coyotl’s sister is introduced as a major character along with an Aztec warrior/emissary. The characters weave the story together with their mutual experiences and keep the plot moving and tied together.
The Highlander does historical fiction right. There is a plot that is true to history. The characters are well developed, likeable, and important to the story and the history. This is the kind of historical fiction that is educational and fun to read. It is not like read a history of Vietnam; It is more like having a veteran tell you his experiences in Vietnam. The Highlander has that same personal feel. More than reading history, you are experiencing history. Saadia is off to a great start with this book. Highly recommended.… (más)
Most Americans have heard of the Aztecs, but know them mostly from the bloody sacrifices and “savage nature.” There has been quite a bit of embellishment in the Aztec stories that most people know. My knowledge comes mostly from undergraduate history courses where the history begins with the Spanish contact. The indigenous people are given a passing mention: Aztecs are warriors, Mayans had primitive science, and the Incas had the gold. There is much more to these people than that, and historical fiction is a great way learn and enjoy.
Historical fiction in the case of the Aztecs and surrounding city-states requires a bit of work on the author’s part. In American Civil War historical fiction, the characters need little development. We all have a good idea who Lincoln, Lee, Jackson, Grant, and Sherman are, and the mention of their name alone creates a ready made character in our minds. For Saadia, it is a bit more difficult as there are no readily recognizable figures from this time period and culture for the reader to instantly relate to. She has to create believable characters within the historical restrictions. The characters in The Highlanders are well developed and reflect the differences between the different groups that inhabit the area surrounding Lake Texcoco. The friction between different city states is reflected in the comments of the general public as well as the main characters. For a relatively small geographic region, there are very clear cut and deep feelings between neighboring peoples.
The politics of the region is a main source of information in the story. Alliances, tributes, enemies, and diplomacy all play an important role in this story. Although this may be the driving force of the plot, events are viewed mostly through the eyes of the two main characters: Kuini and Coyotl. Kuini, is a highlander living outside the main city states surrounding Lake Texcoco. He is the next in line to be the Warrior Leader. Although considered barbarians, Kuini is quite the artist. Coyotl is the son or the ruler of Texcoco. He comes from privilege and civilization. The two meet accidentally and develop a friendship even though they homelands are enemies. To tie things together Coyotl’s sister is introduced as a major character along with an Aztec warrior/emissary. The characters weave the story together with their mutual experiences and keep the plot moving and tied together.
The Highlander does historical fiction right. There is a plot that is true to history. The characters are well developed, likeable, and important to the story and the history. This is the kind of historical fiction that is educational and fun to read. It is not like read a history of Vietnam; It is more like having a veteran tell you his experiences in Vietnam. The Highlander has that same personal feel. More than reading history, you are experiencing history. Saadia is off to a great start with this book. Highly recommended.… (más)
Don’t let the title fool you: this story is packed with action and drama: “The arrows came out of nowhere, showering down on the clearing like an early rain, making people gasp and scatter, darting for cover.” Now that peace is finally here—or is it, really?—Tekeni could relax and enjoy it. But he suspects that the devious Tadodaho, who has been appointed the Head of the Great Council, is up to no good. Still, Two Rivers does not believe it.
Zoe Saadia has a profound passion for the lost culture of the pre-Columbian Americas, and she uses her research into it to enrich The Peacemaker series, weaving fact into fiction, which is evident in the fourth volume, The Peacemaker. Not only does it explore intrigue and politics, but it follows the characters she created so we can see them change grow. We witness how they handle testing situations, such as the threat of a bloody confrontation with the “savages from across the Great Sparkling Water” who attack a hunting party.
I love the names chosen for places and characters, because they are both pictorial and symbolic of them. The descriptions are symbolic too, lyrically so: “The river spread ahead, racing angrily, high in this first summer moon. The rapids were not far away, roaring, relaying displeasure. They were part of the deceit, but unlike her, they were an unwilling participant.”
Five stars.… (más)
Zoe Saadia has a profound passion for the lost culture of the pre-Columbian Americas, and she uses her research into it to enrich The Peacemaker series, weaving fact into fiction, which is evident in the fourth volume, The Peacemaker. Not only does it explore intrigue and politics, but it follows the characters she created so we can see them change grow. We witness how they handle testing situations, such as the threat of a bloody confrontation with the “savages from across the Great Sparkling Water” who attack a hunting party.
I love the names chosen for places and characters, because they are both pictorial and symbolic of them. The descriptions are symbolic too, lyrically so: “The river spread ahead, racing angrily, high in this first summer moon. The rapids were not far away, roaring, relaying displeasure. They were part of the deceit, but unlike her, they were an unwilling participant.”
Five stars.… (más)
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Estadísticas
- Obras
- 32
- Miembros
- 347
- Popularidad
- #68,853
- Valoración
- 4.4
- Reseñas
- 22
- ISBNs
- 15
