The novel “Harbinger of the Storm” by Aliette de Bodard was published for the first time in 2011. It’s the second in the “Obsidian And Blood” series and follows “Servant Of The Underworld”.

The Aztec empire is in a moment of crisis. The death of the Emperor begins not only the delicate process of choosing his successor but also a period of precarious balance among the powers that keep the empire alive. That’s because the Emperor has a major role thanks to his relationship with the gods.

The balance is made even more precarious when the High Priest of the Dead Acatl discovers that in the imperial palace a brutal murder was committed using a magic invocation. It’s just the beginning of a series of attacks against the court because Ceyaxochitl, one of the most powerful women of the empire, gets poisoned and there’s the suspicion of the Emperor’s widow’s involvement.