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Incas #1
The Puma's Shadow
The New World and the Old clash in this bestselling epic of the Conquistadors and the Incas, perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden and Ken Follett.
In sixteenth century Peru, Anamaya, daughter of an Incan princess, is summoned to the dying Huayna Capac, ruler of the Incan empire. Huayna makes her guardian of the Empire, entrusted with the mysteries of the Inca Gods. But after his death, Anamaya finds she cannot remember these secrets. Her only reminder is the black puma spirit that prowls around her at night.
Yet Anamaya must remember them. For sailing from Spain is a force of men intent on capturing the wealth of the Empire, and at its head, Francisco Pizarro, a man whose destiny is inextricably linked with the fate of the Incas…
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
February 13, 2024
Anamaya is een meisje met blauwe ogen die als enige overleeft wanneer haar dorp wordt uitgemoord. Ze wordt echter gevangen genomen en blijft jaren de gevangene van de Incas. Maar op zijn sterfbed roept de oude heersen Huayna Capac haar bij zich, en praat de hele nacht met haar. Vanaf dan wordt Anamaya met eerbied behandelt, omdat ze de woorden van de gestorven leider in zich bewaart.
Er breekt onrust uit onder het volk, want twee van de zonen van de Inca, Huascar en Atahualpa, strijden om de opvolging.
In Spanje staat kapitein Pizarro op het punt om van de koning en de koningin toestemming te krijgen om terug naar de Nieuwe Wereld, of Indië, zoals zij denken, te varen. Pizarro wol benoemd worden tot gouverneur als hij Peru gaat veroveren. Met deze titel vertrekt hij op ontdekkingsreis. Onder zijn bemanning bevindt zich de jonge Gabriël, de bastaardzoon van een edelman, die door de Inquisitie in de gevangenis was gestopt. Na een tijd werd hij door zijn vader bevrijd, maar enkel zodat deze de smet van zijn eigen goede naam zou kunnen wassen, en hij verstoot zijn zoon direct na de bevrijding. Gabriël ontmoet in een kroeg leden van de eerste expeditie die nu ook weer meegaan, en ziet dit als een kans op een nieuw leven.
Bij de Inca's aangekomen, moeten er vele moeilijkheden overwonnen worden, maar uiteindelijk komen ze in contact met Atahualpa, die op dat moment Enige Heer is. De ontmoeting verloopt echter niet vreedzaam. Atahualpa is van plan de Spanjaarden in een hinderlaag te lokken en ze allemaal te doden, maar de tegenstander is op zijn hoede en hoewel ze in de minderheid zijn, veel beter bewapend met paarden, geweren en een kanon.
In deze situatie ontmoeten Gabriël en Anamaya elkaar, en de vonk slaat over...
Ik vond het boek niet slecht, en het is duidelijk dat er nog een vervolg gaat komen, maar ik vond eigenlijk dat er weinig 'spirit' in de karakters zat. Het was nogal moeilijk om met hen mee te voelen, of in het algemeen de spanning van het avontuur en de strijd te voelen.
Er breekt onrust uit onder het volk, want twee van de zonen van de Inca, Huascar en Atahualpa, strijden om de opvolging.
In Spanje staat kapitein Pizarro op het punt om van de koning en de koningin toestemming te krijgen om terug naar de Nieuwe Wereld, of Indië, zoals zij denken, te varen. Pizarro wol benoemd worden tot gouverneur als hij Peru gaat veroveren. Met deze titel vertrekt hij op ontdekkingsreis. Onder zijn bemanning bevindt zich de jonge Gabriël, de bastaardzoon van een edelman, die door de Inquisitie in de gevangenis was gestopt. Na een tijd werd hij door zijn vader bevrijd, maar enkel zodat deze de smet van zijn eigen goede naam zou kunnen wassen, en hij verstoot zijn zoon direct na de bevrijding. Gabriël ontmoet in een kroeg leden van de eerste expeditie die nu ook weer meegaan, en ziet dit als een kans op een nieuw leven.
Bij de Inca's aangekomen, moeten er vele moeilijkheden overwonnen worden, maar uiteindelijk komen ze in contact met Atahualpa, die op dat moment Enige Heer is. De ontmoeting verloopt echter niet vreedzaam. Atahualpa is van plan de Spanjaarden in een hinderlaag te lokken en ze allemaal te doden, maar de tegenstander is op zijn hoede en hoewel ze in de minderheid zijn, veel beter bewapend met paarden, geweren en een kanon.
In deze situatie ontmoeten Gabriël en Anamaya elkaar, en de vonk slaat over...
Ik vond het boek niet slecht, en het is duidelijk dat er nog een vervolg gaat komen, maar ik vond eigenlijk dat er weinig 'spirit' in de karakters zat. Het was nogal moeilijk om met hen mee te voelen, of in het algemeen de spanning van het avontuur en de strijd te voelen.
October 24, 2021
Fabuła doskonała, wykonanie niestety leży. Po tak wielu autorach, specjalistach w historii i powieści przygodowej, spodziewałam się czegoś porwającego. Niestety, trzeba mieć dużo samozaparcia, żeby dokończyć książkę.
April 24, 2013
I don't normally read love stories, but this book had something different about it, i loved the way author explained the lifestyle of Incas and there believe so firmed that it led to their doom, in the midst their is a mysterious story of Anamya, and ocean apart is a man finding his destiny. both on different side of the wall, among two different armies, believing to be fighting for their God,
Very well written, the court, the culture, the politics and the conquest. Waiting to get my hands on second part
Very well written, the court, the culture, the politics and the conquest. Waiting to get my hands on second part
April 6, 2021
Magnifico
August 7, 2018
3.5 stars
April 24, 2011
I tried very hard to like this book. But in order to like it, I had to finish it. So I tried very hard to read this book. Twice. And I put it down after about 60 pages both times.
I love the whole mythology and history surrounding the peak of the Incas and the ensuing Spanish Conquest. This book and the full “Incas” series revolves around that time period, but this book is just bad. I keep thinking that it may be the translation since the book was reprinted from its' native french in numerous other languages. Though my wife pointed out that just because it's printed in different languages doesn't mean that it's read in different languages.
The plot is actually the least of the problems. The characters are extremely weak and come and go with neither rhyme nor reason. There’s no subtly to their development and after numerous chapters covering over a year of time, there was very little hope that the book was going to get better. There were glimmers of hope, but then characters would disappear and reemerge as if they'd never been missing. It's so poorly written, I imagine that something went seriously wrong in the translation.
I can deal with a good bit of melodrama...if only it was interesting and even reasonably well done. In this case, it wasn't.
There’s so little historical fiction surrounding this amazing period in time. It’s a total shame that “Incas” couldn’t have been better.
I love the whole mythology and history surrounding the peak of the Incas and the ensuing Spanish Conquest. This book and the full “Incas” series revolves around that time period, but this book is just bad. I keep thinking that it may be the translation since the book was reprinted from its' native french in numerous other languages. Though my wife pointed out that just because it's printed in different languages doesn't mean that it's read in different languages.
The plot is actually the least of the problems. The characters are extremely weak and come and go with neither rhyme nor reason. There’s no subtly to their development and after numerous chapters covering over a year of time, there was very little hope that the book was going to get better. There were glimmers of hope, but then characters would disappear and reemerge as if they'd never been missing. It's so poorly written, I imagine that something went seriously wrong in the translation.
I can deal with a good bit of melodrama...if only it was interesting and even reasonably well done. In this case, it wasn't.
There’s so little historical fiction surrounding this amazing period in time. It’s a total shame that “Incas” couldn’t have been better.
August 21, 2012
A nice book. Looking at the other reviews, I liked it more than I thought I would before I started reading. It was not a wow, though, but I have a hard time putting my finger on the exact spot why I feel that way. Somehow it feels like the characters are flattening the further the story goes. There is hatred, betrayal and fear in the book, but the characters that are experiencing them can't really convince me. I liked the story itself: in-family war between the successors of the Inca, insight in how the Inca lived and thought, Spanish conquerers at the other end of the world that intend to colonize Peru and make the Inca and all others they find there good Catholics. The two ways the two people look at the world are well pictured in the scene in the morning at Cajamarca and the clash afterwards, where the priest talks about God and his son and then Atahualpa's answer the he is also a son of God. What I miss is a list of Inca / Spanish words used in the book. Some of the terms are explained in the text right behind the word itself, but the greater part isn't and that disturbs my understanding of the story (for my in-head movie I need to be able to form a picture) and subsequently my reading.
July 4, 2020
Read it over the course of two days...NOT because it was good, but just wanted to get over with it quickly.
The story drags on a lot, the start is good and has an impact and then it just flares out quickly. A lot of the relationships formed out of thin air and had no reason or futher development. It was either insta-love or insta-hate just a few relationships were more than that. Characters were very plain and at most had one character trait and no development.
Through the whole book it feels as if you are not really part of the action or story development, as you are just told that "Character A killed B" or " Two years passed and a lot has changed". I would understand if this was first person, but the story is told from the third person so we could see other sides as well.
The main thing that I did enjoy was the Inca culture and the political struggles, when it was explained, as those parts were actually engaging.
The story drags on a lot, the start is good and has an impact and then it just flares out quickly. A lot of the relationships formed out of thin air and had no reason or futher development. It was either insta-love or insta-hate just a few relationships were more than that. Characters were very plain and at most had one character trait and no development.
Through the whole book it feels as if you are not really part of the action or story development, as you are just told that "Character A killed B" or " Two years passed and a lot has changed". I would understand if this was first person, but the story is told from the third person so we could see other sides as well.
The main thing that I did enjoy was the Inca culture and the political struggles, when it was explained, as those parts were actually engaging.
September 30, 2018
I've probably read 2-3,000 books in my lifetime and I can count on one hand the number of books I've given up on. Maybe it's because I'm not willing anymore to waste my time on a book that doesn't interest me.
Unfortunately Incas: The Puma's Shadow is going to be added to that extremely short list. I really liked the description and the information on Peru and the Incan Empire. The problem was that I just didn't care about the characters. It started out well but about 75-100 pages into the book I lost any interest in the characters.
I already purchased the other two books in the series and unfortunately I won't be reading those either.
Unfortunately Incas: The Puma's Shadow is going to be added to that extremely short list. I really liked the description and the information on Peru and the Incan Empire. The problem was that I just didn't care about the characters. It started out well but about 75-100 pages into the book I lost any interest in the characters.
I already purchased the other two books in the series and unfortunately I won't be reading those either.
September 15, 2014
The Good: Entertaining and vibrant presentation of Incan culture and events during this perod. Maintains some tension even though the reader knows what's coming.
The Bad: The two main viewpoint characters are passive participants throughout much of the novel - being told where to go and what to do. They don't seem to have their own goals until near the end. Also, I found the perspective shifts in the middle of scenes very disturbing - we're inside a main character's head, but then they walk away and we're still back where they were. Reads like it can't decide if it's omniscient or not.
The Bad: The two main viewpoint characters are passive participants throughout much of the novel - being told where to go and what to do. They don't seem to have their own goals until near the end. Also, I found the perspective shifts in the middle of scenes very disturbing - we're inside a main character's head, but then they walk away and we're still back where they were. Reads like it can't decide if it's omniscient or not.
April 9, 2018
The book started off quite cool, really putting the reader into the perspective of the young girl Protagonist. Towards the latter half of the book, however I really found the story falling on itself and not delivering the suspension in an engaging manner.
June 7, 2019
Samma betyg som förra gången nämligen 3 stjärnor
July 22, 2023
Une histoire qui nous plonge dans les méandres du passé.
Au vu des trois auteurs qui ont collaboré pour écrire ce roman, nous comprenons que ce dernier sera source et c'est bien le cas. Ils ont réussi à représenter le Pérou et l'Espagne du 15ème siècle, pendant la période des Conquistadores. Forcément, il s'agit d'un roman, alors la trame historique se mêle aux croyances locales, auxquelles l'on retrouve des aspects mystiques, notamment pour les Incas. Ici, nous découvrons leurs us et coutumes par le biais de la jeune Anamaya, qui n'a pas été élevée parmi les grands du royaume. Orpheline venue des bois, elle fascine de par ses yeux bleus, que le roi associe immédiatement au lac Titicaca, lac d'où proviennent les Dieux dans leur cosmogonie.
Nous suivons donc la fillette qui grandit de pages en pages. Elle assiste à la mort de l'Inca puis à l'avènement de son fils, Atahualpa, après la guerre civile qui l'oppose à son frère, Huascar. Si vous êtes friands d'histoires, ces noms vous diront peut-être quelque chose.... Atahualpa est connu our être le dernier Inca. Et, de fait, nous découvrons également les Espagnols qui arrivent sur le sol péruvien. Nous avions eu l'opportunité d'apercevoir ces personnages dans des chapitres qui leur sont dédiés, où nous suivons Gabriel, un jeune noble qui décide de tout renier pour suivre Pizarro, qui avait déjà découvert le Pérou et qui demande au roi d'Espagne de le nommer gouverneur du pays.
Ici, l'histoire et la fiction s'entremêle. Les faits historiques sont marquants et se lient à merveille avec un roman d'aventure. L'histoire d'amour promise par le résumé arrive dans les dernières pages du roman. Ici, le coup de foudre est évident et fascinant. Néanmoins, tout est allé un peu vite et je pense que la relation entre la jeune femme inca & l'espagnol se développera dans la suite des romans.
En bref, une histoire qui vaut le détour et qui respecte l'Histoire (bien sûr, avec tout de même, des libertés). Les personnages grandissent et évoluent et il me tarde de savoir ce qu'ils deviendront dans le T2 et le T3. De plus, m'étant rendue au Pérou l'année dernière, j'ai retrouvé, aux travers des mots, l'ambiance, l'histoire & les paysages de ce merveilleux pays et cela m'a fortement plu.
Au vu des trois auteurs qui ont collaboré pour écrire ce roman, nous comprenons que ce dernier sera source et c'est bien le cas. Ils ont réussi à représenter le Pérou et l'Espagne du 15ème siècle, pendant la période des Conquistadores. Forcément, il s'agit d'un roman, alors la trame historique se mêle aux croyances locales, auxquelles l'on retrouve des aspects mystiques, notamment pour les Incas. Ici, nous découvrons leurs us et coutumes par le biais de la jeune Anamaya, qui n'a pas été élevée parmi les grands du royaume. Orpheline venue des bois, elle fascine de par ses yeux bleus, que le roi associe immédiatement au lac Titicaca, lac d'où proviennent les Dieux dans leur cosmogonie.
Nous suivons donc la fillette qui grandit de pages en pages. Elle assiste à la mort de l'Inca puis à l'avènement de son fils, Atahualpa, après la guerre civile qui l'oppose à son frère, Huascar. Si vous êtes friands d'histoires, ces noms vous diront peut-être quelque chose.... Atahualpa est connu our être le dernier Inca. Et, de fait, nous découvrons également les Espagnols qui arrivent sur le sol péruvien. Nous avions eu l'opportunité d'apercevoir ces personnages dans des chapitres qui leur sont dédiés, où nous suivons Gabriel, un jeune noble qui décide de tout renier pour suivre Pizarro, qui avait déjà découvert le Pérou et qui demande au roi d'Espagne de le nommer gouverneur du pays.
Ici, l'histoire et la fiction s'entremêle. Les faits historiques sont marquants et se lient à merveille avec un roman d'aventure. L'histoire d'amour promise par le résumé arrive dans les dernières pages du roman. Ici, le coup de foudre est évident et fascinant. Néanmoins, tout est allé un peu vite et je pense que la relation entre la jeune femme inca & l'espagnol se développera dans la suite des romans.
En bref, une histoire qui vaut le détour et qui respecte l'Histoire (bien sûr, avec tout de même, des libertés). Les personnages grandissent et évoluent et il me tarde de savoir ce qu'ils deviendront dans le T2 et le T3. De plus, m'étant rendue au Pérou l'année dernière, j'ai retrouvé, aux travers des mots, l'ambiance, l'histoire & les paysages de ce merveilleux pays et cela m'a fortement plu.
September 7, 2020
Una historia cautivadora y muy bien hilada. No pongo 5 estrellas porque me parece que hay algunos saltos, huecos, que con algunas páginas más pudieran haber complementado muy bien el libro.
Los Incas, una cultura muy rica y digna de su estudio. Vale la pena conocer más de esta civilización aunque sea a través de una novela.
Los Incas, una cultura muy rica y digna de su estudio. Vale la pena conocer más de esta civilización aunque sea a través de una novela.
April 10, 2023
I approached this book with no expectation, and it surprised me a lot! It's a nice and well written story with all the elements that should be there: war, love, envy, passion, power, etc.
Anamaya's life is fascinating, and she is a deep and involving character.
I hope I won't be disappointed by the second book of this trilogy.
Anamaya's life is fascinating, and she is a deep and involving character.
I hope I won't be disappointed by the second book of this trilogy.
December 8, 2023
İnkaların kültürünü anlamak için gerçekten güzel bir kitap; zira olay örgülü olması, İnka dilindeki birçok kelimenin italik yazılması ve bunların kitabın arka sayfalarındaki sözlükte bulunuyor olması insanın tamamen yabancı olduğu bir kültürü tanımasında yardımcı oluyor. Ayrıca ek olarak imparatorluk sınırları, kehanetleri veya inançları hakkında bilgilerin verildiği bir bölüm mevcut. Ancak kitabın olay örgüsü biraz zayıf geldi bana. Sanki imparatorluğu ve geleneklerini anlatmaya çalışırken kurguya verilmesi gereken vakit veya özen gösterilememiş gibiydi. Kitabın arka kapağındaki özette anlatılan olaylar dışında aman aman ayrıntılar veya olay akışını etkileyen çok bir unsur yok. Gabriel ve Anamaya arasındaki etkileşim de hiç beklediğim gibi değildi, kitap boyunca "Ne zaman karşılaşacaklar acaba" diye sabırsızlandığım kısım kitabın en sonlarında gerçekleşti, buna bağlı olarak İspanyollar ve İnka yerlilerinin karşılaşması da öyle. Benim en şikayetçi olduğum bölüm de burasıydı aslında, sürekli bir sürüncemede kaldı o buluşma. Tam karşılaştılar olaylar başlayacak dedik bu sefer de kitap bitti, bu yüzden ikinci kitapta daha güzel bir anlatım umarak bu kitabın kapağını kapattım.
May 22, 2023
Interesting story. I wonder how historically correct it is. I did have to google a number of words as they were outside my normal vocabulary range. Mostly describing weapons, clothing and other period items.
June 16, 2024
Evocative reading.
I read this book on my journey to Peru and throughout my visit to this wonderful land. It gave an insight into the lives of the Incas and the coming of the Spaniards to Peru.
I read this book on my journey to Peru and throughout my visit to this wonderful land. It gave an insight into the lives of the Incas and the coming of the Spaniards to Peru.
August 6, 2017
Not sure how this book made 'The International No 1 Bestseller'.
December 25, 2018
Buona introduzione storica, contesto avvincente, finale banale, scontato e senza senso
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2020
Intressant att läsa om hur den vite mannen erövrade världen och ställde till ett elände för urinnevånarna.
June 10, 2020
Fascinating tale of South American tribes of antiquity!
October 18, 2020
I found it a little hard with jumping around but still enjoyable
March 27, 2021
Read three chapters and then litterally threw it in the trash. Dialogue was super clunky and it felt very white washing of indigenous people. No thanks.
July 1, 2022
J'ai adoré le développement de l'histoire d'anamaya, l'alternance de points de vue et surtout la culture inca qui est retranscrit dans ce récit. Hâte de lire la suite
July 20, 2024
Freshening up to finally finish the trilogy and donate. I honestly don't remember what I liked about it the first time...
August 17, 2024
DNF
Si Christian Jacq écrivait sur les Incas, ça donnerait probablement ça, et c'est pas vraiment un compliment
Si Christian Jacq écrivait sur les Incas, ça donnerait probablement ça, et c'est pas vraiment un compliment
August 21, 2024
Muy buen libro, mucha gente se ha perdido por el hecho de ser buena persona con quien no debía.
October 9, 2025
Worst ending I have ever seen on a book. Eurocentric and despicable. And this is what you call romance? Homeboy has never felt any romantic love to be able to write about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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