A little backstory about H. Allenger’s “Ahuitzotl”
H. Allenger’s historical fiction novel Ahuitzotl has been inspired by the author’s life-long interest in Native-American civilizations.
While working for the School District in Seattle, Allenger took trips to Mexico and Central America. These trips satisfied his curiosity about these civilizations and later sparked his interests in history, Greek and Norse mythology, and travels.
He went on a trip titled ‘The Capitals of Anatolia’ in 1990 and saw the ruins of Hissarlik, or Troy, in Turkey with no idea that he would eventually write a novel about it. However, rather than a book about those places, he wrote an Aztec novel titled Ahuitzotl, inspired by his frequent trips to Mexico.
The book follows the story of an eponymous conqueror who shapes the events that finally lead to his demise. The charismatic warlord, proud and full of vicious ambitions, does not let anything from stopping his vainglorious goals.
Ahuitzotl resolves to overthrow the present monarch after being assured by the leader of the inter-clan council that he would succeed that seat. As a ruler, he has made a name for himself as an undisputed warlord by winning a series of conquests.
Ahuitzotl eventually reveals his ultimate plan for a mass sacrifice during the dedication ceremony of the Great Temple in his capital. His actions are seen as a displeasure in the eyes of the gods, and Ahuitzotl eventually leads his people to their catastrophe.
