The Midnight Court of Xibalba

Journey into the vibrant heart of Xibalba, the Mayan underworld, where death is just the beginning of a bureaucratic nightmare. Ah-Kin, a meticulous scribe newly arrived in the afterlife, finds himself unexpectedly recruited into the Midnight Court, Xibalba's most peculiar spectral detective agency. His partner? Mitchell Mullins, a cynical wraith permanently wreathed in copal smoke and the bitter scent of regret. Their first case, the seemingly simple retrieval of a stolen soul, plunges them into the nine levels of Xibalba, each a unique canvas of despair ruled by capricious deities and whispering secrets. From the chaotic Whispering Vortex where clues swirl like restless spirits to the cacophony of the House of Bats, where Ah-Kin discovers a hidden power within his spectral form, the underworld unfolds in all its macabre splendor. As they delve deeper, Ah-Kin and Mitchell uncover a conspiracy that threatens to shatter the barrier between the living and the dead, orchestrated by Xavier Novak, a sorcerer who craves immortality and dominion over both realms. Their investigation takes them through the chilling Frozen Archives, where time stands still, and into the fiery embrace of Xtabay, a seductive demon who tests the limits of Ah-Kin’s resolve. They navigate the Razor House, a labyrinth of obsidian blades that reflect Ah-Kin's growing unease, and the Silent City, where forgotten souls whisper secrets and betrayals lurk in every shadow. With each step, the unlikely partnership between the methodical scribe and the cynical wraith deepens, forged in the fires of Xibalba’s trials. Ah-Kin’s sharp intellect and newfound spectral abilities combine with Mitchell’s street smarts and burning desire for redemption, creating a force that even the underworld’s most formidable entities must reckon with. But will they be able to unravel the conspiracy, recover the stolen soul, and stop Novak before he unleashes the chaotic energies of Xibalba upon the world? The fate of both realms hangs in the balance in this thrilling, darkly humorous, and unexpectedly heartwarming tale of spectral intrigue.