The novel “Servant Of The Underworld” by Aliette de Bodard was published for the first time in 2010. It’s the first in the “Obsidian And Blood” series.

Acatl is the High Priest of the Dead in Tenochtitlan, the capital city of the Aztec empire. Ceyaxochitl, one of the most powerful women of the empire, summons him to tell him that a priestess disappeared and the clues suggest that she was killed. There are traces of the use of a type of magic connected to the underworld of which Acatl is an expert so he’s charged with the investigation.

The prime suspect is Neutemoc, Acatl’s brother, a warrior who raised in the ranks of the Aztec’s army by proving his worth in battle. This makes the investigation even more delicate and complicated. The young warrior Teomitl is assigned to help him, but even he couldn’t help him that much when he has to deal directly with some deity who are not necessarily friendly.