The stela was clear evidence for the existence of a previously unknown Mesoamerican culture… and Ellie had the map to the heart of it tucked into her corset. [p. 178]
London, 1898: archivist Eleanor Mallory finds herself unemployed after a suffragette protest. ("Just one little arrest, which they aren’t even pressing charges for!") Awaiting her dismissal, she finds an ancient map concealed by her supervisor. It turns out to be a map to a lost city, and in short order Ellie is off to British Honduras, where she encounters the ruggedly-handsome and frequently-shirtless surveyor Adam Bates.
Needless to say, the path to the lost city of Tulan -- whose myths have influenced both Aztec and Mayan culture -- is fraught with peril, from dastardly upper-class Brits to the natural hazards of the jungle. There are revolutionaries, hidden villages, priests and soldiers, exotic beasties, and ancient mysteries. There is a strong fantasy element, with Ellie dreaming of a long-dead priestess and seeking the legendary Smoking Mirror. And there is Adam, who turns out to have principles as well as a knack for survival.
This is a joyous, unapologetic romcom -- it reminded me, at times, of The Mummy and Romancing the Stone -- with a light-hearted tone: it's also a critique of colonialism and an intriguing riff on the myths and legends of Central America. The history and culture of the local people is woven unobtrusively through the story. Ellie and Adam are both flawed and both likeable: the romance doesn't get very steamy in this volume, but I note that it's the first in a series. A cheering read.
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