First published 1992
The corn withers in the fields around Cahokia, and the Mound Builder people face starvation. Their Chief demands ever more tribute while the crops die, driving a seasoned warchief to disgust. Beside him stands a warrior woman he cannot have, equally sickened by their leader's greed. The gods themselves seem to have withdrawn their favor. The seers find the underworld sealed against them, their visions blocked. Without divine guidance, the people spiral toward despair. Only one spark of hope remains. A young girl begins to experience the Dreams of Power, visions that might restore the connection between the human and spirit worlds. As famine tightens its grip on the Mississippi Valley settlement, this child's emerging abilities become the tribe's final chance for survival. The fate of an entire civilization rests on whether she can master her gift before her people perish.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, native-american, ancient-history
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, found-family
Setting: Cahokia, Mississippi Valley
Period: ancient
400 pages · Hardcover · Tor Books