Book cover of Servant of the Underworld

Book description

The first book in the critically acclaimed Obsidian and Blood trilogy:

Year One-Knife, Tenochtitlan the capital of the Aztecs. Human sacrifice and the magic of the living blood are the only things keeping the sun in the sky and the earth fertile.

A Priestess disappears from an empty room drenched…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

2 authors picked Servant of the Underworld as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I love a noir detective story. Set that story in a fantastical, blood-drenched Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire, and I’m totally sold.

The story follows Acatl, who is a high priest of the dead, as he, I kid you not, tries to solve what appears to be a murder case. Except he’s not walking the streets of some modern city – his journey takes him through the fascinating world of a familiar yet unique Aztec empire where human sacrifice is the only thing keeping the world spinning in its proper order.

Having familiar conflicts, including family issues, makes…

De Bodard’s Obsidian and Blood series snagged my attention when I realized that it was set among the Aztec/Mexica in the decades immediately before the arrival of Europeans. It only took a few paragraphs for me to become completely immersed in a civilization with values and virtues that were sometimes familiar, sometimes markedly different. This is a world in which Gods and spirits play an active role in human society and humans, in turn, have binding obligations to the Gods. Servant of the Underworld will not be to everyone’s tastes; it deals unflinchingly with slavery, war, conquest, and human sacrifice.…

From Rebecca's list on fantasy and science fiction for Pagans.

If you love Servant of the Underworld...

Book cover of These Blue Mountains

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas,

A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.

German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…

Want books like Servant of the Underworld?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 71 books like Servant of the Underworld.

Browse books like Servant of the Underworld

Book cover of Seventh Son
Book cover of The Rostikov Legacy
Book cover of Deadlines & Dryads: A Terra Haven Chronicles Prequel

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,366

readers submitted
so far, will you?

📚 If you like Servant of the Underworld, you might also like...

Book cover of Marriage and Fatherhood in the Nazi SS

Marriage and Fatherhood in the Nazi SS by Amy Carney,

When I was writing this book, several of my friends jokingly called it the Nazi baby book, with one insisting it would make a great title. Nazi Babies – admittedly, that is a catchy title, but that’s not exactly what my book is about. SS babies would be slightly more…

Book cover of A Forgivable Indecision

A Forgivable Indecision by Shawn Jennings,

In 1913, a 15-year-old pregnant girl was found dead of apparent suicide. Dr. James Wilson, a new graduate and the first doctor ever to start a practice in this rural town, feels guilty over her death because of his delayed intervention.

He knows Bessie was raped by one of her…

5 book lists we think you will like!