Set during the tumult of the Spanish invasion of the
Americas, this strongly-themed romance drew me from the
start. THE SPANIARD'S INNOCENT MAIDEN is a girl from the
Totonac tribe, which are oppressed by and fearful of the
Aztecs. The Totonac at first see the Spaniards as their
saviours.
We begin in Seville in 1517, when Armando, Carlos and
Benicio Villafuerte are brothers, at university and in
armed training. They all adore a lady called Luisa, but
land and title will only pass to the first son of a family.
To impress Luisa, the others may need to travel and find
their fortune. The West Indes are known to be a source of
wealth and unexpected discoveries.
Tula is a young Totonac woman, hunting, fishing, weaving,
providing regular tribute goods to the Aztec empire she
calls the Mexica. Not only goods, but there are constant
threats of blood sacrifice, for which the Mexica require
slaves. Benicio, seeking only trade, has arrived with
Cortes; and their gunpowder, galleys and Toledo steel
enable them to kill many opponents. Benicio's faith is
shattered and he tries to aid a dying native priest. For
this he is rewarded with a gold ring and a drawing which
may be a map. The Spaniards quarrel among themselves and
when Benicio meets Tula on a lonely shore he's in a poor
position.
I took to the resourceful Tula, who tries to determine
whether the Spaniard is a god and decides that whether he
is or not, his codex is interesting but she wants that gold
ring for her family. Shortly after, Tula's priorities
change to finding and saving her sister who has been
enslaved while playing at the ball courts, and is being
marched to the mountain capital of Tenochtitlan. As with
any such account I find myself thinking that if all the
sacrificed goods and people had been put to good use
instead, the Aztec nation would have been far more
prosperous and harder to beat in war.
I enjoyed the accounts of the travels as seen from the
native girl's viewpoint - the iron-shelled men ride giant
deer, she thinks, and carry ovens that cook metal balls
instead of food. Their floating temples of wood carry them
across the water. Her fascination with the newcomers is
equalled only by her desire to rescue her sister, and to do
that she has to accompany Benicio to the heart of the Aztec
mountain empire, and beyond, to Mayan lands. This is a
fantastic adventure, comparable to any modern thriller.
I learned a lot from THE SPANIARD'S INNOCENT MAIDEN. Author
Greta Gilbert explains at the start that she has tried to
be balanced, and respectful of the Native Americans. I
certainly believe she has succeeded without going
overboard. By making Benicio a Catholic but secretly part
heretic, she explains his more considerate treatment of the
local people than those who just want to convert or
enslave. Culture clash is a powerful theme, and love
growing through mutual trust impresses me more than insta-
lust. For one thing, it takes far more skill to write. The
tale of Tula and Benicio is best for older teens to adults
due to violence and some adult scenes. I'll be keen to read
any more of Greta Gilbert's well-researched historical
romances.
The conquistador's true treasure…
Benicio Villafuerte sailed to the New World to seek his
fortune. But his treasure map is impossible to decipher. He
needs a guide, and discovering an innocent native woman in
trouble is the perfect opportunity. He'll buy her freedom if
she'll help him on his hunt…
Tula never imagined the adventure Benicio would take her
on—for when their dangerous days explode into sensuous
nights, she is brought to life. And soon she embarks on her
own quest…to capture the conquistador's heart!
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