Born in the Wayeb

This trilogy opener lines up a series of plot dominoes and neatly knocks them down. In Mexico during the Mayan Empire, children born during the ritual of the Wayeb must die, or disaster will befall the village. Na’om’s true birthday is hidden, but when she shows magical powers, all those around her will face the wrath of an evil witch. Debut novelist (and Ek’ Balam publisher) Cart carefully constructs a routine, unchallenging story, wasting the potential of the underused setting and the power of rotating point of view. The witch overreaches and stumbles; the magical child grows up an outcast, alternating between hurt and hope as she develops her powers and a forbidden friendship. This solidly unremarkable novel is easily read and just as easily forgotten. (Feb.)