What do you think?
Rate this book
El hechizo de Chichen Itza / The Spell of Chichen Itza
Una novela de amores e intrigas sobre la caída del Imperio Maya
Año 890.
La ciudad de Chichén Itzá es escenario de profundos cambios. A pesar de la terrible sequía que azota la región desde hace décadas, siguen llegando inmigrantes del sur que huyen de la guerra, así como comerciantes de la meseta central en busca de nuevos recursos. Uno de ellos es Pilotl, un acaudalado mercader de origen tolteca con quien arreglan el matrimonio de la joven noble Manik, originaria de Chichén.
La vida de la mujer da un giro inesperado cuando emprende un peregrinaje a la isla de Cozumel, morada de la diosa Ixchel y su séquito de magos y sacerdotisas, para ser bendecida con el regalo de un heredero. Allí conoce a Tsoltan, hechicero jaguar, de quien queda perdidamente enamorada… a sabiendas de que su relación es ella ha de volver con Pilotl a velar por el devenir de su familia, en la que muchos se entrometen con fines políticos. Sin embargo, a su vuelta nada sucederá como estaba previsto.
ENGLISH DESCRIPTION
A novel about love and intrigue at the fall of the Maya empire.
The year 890.
The city of Chichen Itza is at the backdrop of profound transformations. Despite the terrible drought assailing the region for decades now, there are still people migrating from the south because of the war, same as other merchants from the central highland, looking for new resources. One of them is Pilotl, a rich trader of Toltec descent, who has agreed to an arranged marriage to the young noble Manik, native of Chichen.
The woman’s life takes an unexpected turn when she embarks on a pilgrimage to the island of Cozumel, dwelling place of the goddess Ixchel and her entourage of sorcerers and priestesses, to be blessed with the gift of an heir. There she meets Tsoltan, jaguar sorcerer, with whom she falls deeply in love with... aware that this is an impossible relationship. She must go back to Pilotl to watch over the future of their family, in which many intrude with some political agenda. However, upon her return, nothing will transpire as she had intended.
Año 890.
La ciudad de Chichén Itzá es escenario de profundos cambios. A pesar de la terrible sequía que azota la región desde hace décadas, siguen llegando inmigrantes del sur que huyen de la guerra, así como comerciantes de la meseta central en busca de nuevos recursos. Uno de ellos es Pilotl, un acaudalado mercader de origen tolteca con quien arreglan el matrimonio de la joven noble Manik, originaria de Chichén.
La vida de la mujer da un giro inesperado cuando emprende un peregrinaje a la isla de Cozumel, morada de la diosa Ixchel y su séquito de magos y sacerdotisas, para ser bendecida con el regalo de un heredero. Allí conoce a Tsoltan, hechicero jaguar, de quien queda perdidamente enamorada… a sabiendas de que su relación es ella ha de volver con Pilotl a velar por el devenir de su familia, en la que muchos se entrometen con fines políticos. Sin embargo, a su vuelta nada sucederá como estaba previsto.
ENGLISH DESCRIPTION
A novel about love and intrigue at the fall of the Maya empire.
The year 890.
The city of Chichen Itza is at the backdrop of profound transformations. Despite the terrible drought assailing the region for decades now, there are still people migrating from the south because of the war, same as other merchants from the central highland, looking for new resources. One of them is Pilotl, a rich trader of Toltec descent, who has agreed to an arranged marriage to the young noble Manik, native of Chichen.
The woman’s life takes an unexpected turn when she embarks on a pilgrimage to the island of Cozumel, dwelling place of the goddess Ixchel and her entourage of sorcerers and priestesses, to be blessed with the gift of an heir. There she meets Tsoltan, jaguar sorcerer, with whom she falls deeply in love with... aware that this is an impossible relationship. She must go back to Pilotl to watch over the future of their family, in which many intrude with some political agenda. However, upon her return, nothing will transpire as she had intended.
552 pages, Paperback
Published August 23, 2022
12 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Lucie Dufresne
32 books2 followersLucie Dufresne was born in 1951 in Trois-Rivières between two rivers: the St-Lawrence and the Saint-Maurice. Too many holy names. At age 19, she bought a farm in the Apalachians, along rural route 4, in Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur, with four hippies who lacked financial means but did have daring ideas. She familiarizes herserlf with organic farming, goat raising, beekeeping and barn construction. At the same time, she began studies in geography at the University de Sherbrooke, in Québec.
In January 1976, she left with another would-be geographer on the mythical tour of South America, travelling through many countries : Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela.
For Lucie Dufresne, this trip was the start of an enduring passion for Latin America.At the Universidad de los Andes, in Mérida, Venezuela, she registered for a master’s program in geography. With the rural studies group, she analysed the impacts of agricultural modernization on farming communities in the high Andean valleys. She, then, undertook a doctorate Ph.D. in geography, at Université Laval, in Québec City, where she met Doctora Marie Lapointe, a specialist in the history of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. Being the assistant to Doctora Lapointe, Lucie Dufresne continued to study peasants, Mayas in this instance. She completed her thesis in historical geography in 1988 and began a post-doctoral work at the Université de Montréal with the idea of analyzing migrations between peasant communities and the rapidly expanding tourism center of Cancun, along with the Riviera maya.
During her studies, Lucie Dufresne taught at various Québec universities. After the publication of her essay, « Les Mayas et Cancun », she gave up scientific writing to turned to fiction. Her first work, a historical novel, published in 2003, tells of the myth of Quetzalcoatl as a heros who travelled through the American continent. Her later novels present other epics through time and space, again set in the Americas.
Today, Lucie Dufresne spends her time between Montréal and Mexico. The mother of three grown children, she continues to write on a daily basis. Her third novel, « El escriba del imperio maya », presents the beginning of the Maya civilization’s decline. Now working on her fourth novel, she aims to portray the tumultuous era from 800 to 950 AD.
In January 1976, she left with another would-be geographer on the mythical tour of South America, travelling through many countries : Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela.
For Lucie Dufresne, this trip was the start of an enduring passion for Latin America.At the Universidad de los Andes, in Mérida, Venezuela, she registered for a master’s program in geography. With the rural studies group, she analysed the impacts of agricultural modernization on farming communities in the high Andean valleys. She, then, undertook a doctorate Ph.D. in geography, at Université Laval, in Québec City, where she met Doctora Marie Lapointe, a specialist in the history of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. Being the assistant to Doctora Lapointe, Lucie Dufresne continued to study peasants, Mayas in this instance. She completed her thesis in historical geography in 1988 and began a post-doctoral work at the Université de Montréal with the idea of analyzing migrations between peasant communities and the rapidly expanding tourism center of Cancun, along with the Riviera maya.
During her studies, Lucie Dufresne taught at various Québec universities. After the publication of her essay, « Les Mayas et Cancun », she gave up scientific writing to turned to fiction. Her first work, a historical novel, published in 2003, tells of the myth of Quetzalcoatl as a heros who travelled through the American continent. Her later novels present other epics through time and space, again set in the Americas.
Today, Lucie Dufresne spends her time between Montréal and Mexico. The mother of three grown children, she continues to write on a daily basis. Her third novel, « El escriba del imperio maya », presents the beginning of the Maya civilization’s decline. Now working on her fourth novel, she aims to portray the tumultuous era from 800 to 950 AD.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 20, 2022
Me ha encantado.
Hay acción. Traición. Y amor, mucho amor.
Me ha gustado tanto que después de leerlo, lo he empezado de nuevo, para saborear bien toda la trama.
No voy a desvelar el final, pero es emocionante.
Hay acción. Traición. Y amor, mucho amor.
Me ha gustado tanto que después de leerlo, lo he empezado de nuevo, para saborear bien toda la trama.
No voy a desvelar el final, pero es emocionante.
May 4, 2023
Este libro me llamo la atención desde el inicio con su sinopsis, sin embargo mientras lo fui leyendo comenzó a cambiar un poco mi percepción.
Lo que esperaba era un romance muy al estilo de mis antepasados, con un toque de historia y algo de drama, sin embargo a lo largo del camino el libro comenzó a volverse un poco fantasioso y algo irreal, no necesariamente malo ya que soy muy fan de la magia, sin embargo al esperar yo algo mas real si me desilusiono un poco.
Por otro lado me gusto mucho poder leer algo ambientado en mi país, conocer mas de las culturas que formaron parte de México antes de la colonización y el cambio.
Lo que esperaba era un romance muy al estilo de mis antepasados, con un toque de historia y algo de drama, sin embargo a lo largo del camino el libro comenzó a volverse un poco fantasioso y algo irreal, no necesariamente malo ya que soy muy fan de la magia, sin embargo al esperar yo algo mas real si me desilusiono un poco.
Por otro lado me gusto mucho poder leer algo ambientado en mi país, conocer mas de las culturas que formaron parte de México antes de la colonización y el cambio.
October 22, 2025
Lucie Dufresne tiene una característica muy particular en sus libros prehispánicos, se disfrutan mucha y la narrativa te envuelve en la época, además de que respeta los nombres y se nota el trabajo de investigación. El libro es entretenido, sin embargo, creo que el final queda a deber.
October 14, 2023
Malísimo!!!!
No atrapa, la narrativa usa palabras y frases del catolisismo y fuera de época
No atrapa, la narrativa usa palabras y frases del catolisismo y fuera de época
December 31, 2022
What a great book written by an author with a lot of knowledge on the subject. Lucie does a great job bringing the different characters to life in this historically-accurate (as far as I know but I’m no expert) fiction. You feel like you’re transported back into the ancient Mayan past as you read and at some points it was very hard for me to put the book down. I really came to like many of the characters and hate others. The biggest downside of all is that I’ve now finished the book. It would be nice if there was a sequel to this.
July 16, 2024
El libro es bueno y la historia también pero la forma de escribir de la escritora siento que corta un poco la inspiración, no siento que la lectura fluya.
Está bueno pero no llega a 5 estrellas
Instagram
@el_librero_de_lalo 🤓📚📖
Está bueno pero no llega a 5 estrellas
@el_librero_de_lalo 🤓📚📖
April 7, 2024
its giving divinci code? but like different. Not bad, but defo not great. suprisingly awkward? had potential unfortunately. BUT WHOEVER DID THE COVER ATEEEEE
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews