Dark Before Dawn

The Mound Builders #3

by Zoe Saadia

Invading the north with a flotilla of twelve war canoes and numerous auxiliaries, Tattooed Serpent did so confidently, with great vigor and expectation. However, it had been Ahal who encountered the mysterious northern barbarians first. Surprised by the raiding party that did not expect to run into forces stationed at the mouth of the Northern River, Ahal conducted a fierce if brief battle, which helped to enhance his worth in the eyes of his royal leader, as well as to heighten the jealousy of his equal in command, the shifty Taotal.
However, the leader of the invaders managed to escape the battle unscathed and the consequences of this first clash appeared to be more far-reaching than Ahal or even Tattooed Serpent himself could have foreseen or foretold.

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 30, 2019

About the author

Zoe Saadia is the author of several novels of pre-Columbian Americas. From the architects of the Aztec Empire to the founders of the Iroquois Great League, from the towering pyramids of the Mexican Valley to the longhouses of the Great Lakes, her novels bring long-forgotten history, cultures and people to life, tracing pivotal events that brought about the greatness of North and Mesoamerica.

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 had an extremely rich, diverse, fascinating history long before this continent came in contact with the rest of the world.
So her professional motto is set. America has not been 'discovered', not yet. Maybe not ever :-)

Reviews

[Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third installment was not only worthy of the previous two but actually might have surpassed them in my private opinion. Most unexpected turn of events and of the entire storyline. The new characters, not to say the entire new culture, barges its way in forcefully from the very beginning and quickly become familiar and belonging, putting the main character in impossible but somehow very plausible situation, experiencing a clash of cultures that amounts to epic proportions. Quite masterfully done, I must admit.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping tale of survival of the fittest

There is nothing new under the sun. What happens today has already happened many times over in other civilizations. True to her gift, Zoe once again forges a magnificent tale of survival with her impassioned words. If the human race is to survive, it is imperative that we understand and respect other cultures, religions and beliefs. That we open our minds and hearts for the greater good. Ms Saaida’s books force us to think broader than our immediate surroundings. Bravo Zoe!

[C.P. Mandara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything Unexpected Happens!

I can’t believe where this novel went – Ahal vs the barbarians. Who turned out to be anything but barbarians. What a clash of cultures!
I liked Ononta a great deal, the 12th century feminist in unexpectedly democratic society. Fitting and not fitting, an unruly thing. What a shocker for the tribute collector, an upper class aristocrat that he was. Or used to be. But not anymore. His adapting to the shock of his new surroundings was beyond fascinating. As was his attraction to Ononta, his love-hate relationship with her and her own troubled dilemmas concerning the “wild foreigner.”
I can’t wait for the book four to come out!"

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting series that culminated toward completely unexpected turn in this third installment. I must admit I could not put this third novel down.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

I love all off the books by Saad, including this one, looking forward to reading the last one in this series, although I will be sad and depressed to see my journey will end, if I am lucky she will have already started a new series.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, even better than its prequels.

[CHRISTINE HARDING · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Very exciting and informative and with the same characters as the other books.
You would really be interested in these three books.