Balam's Mayan village is plagued by a long drought. Ah Chan, the village priest, has conducted ceremonies and spilled villagers' blood to honor the Chacs (gods) and appeal to them for rain. But still the rains don't come and there is concern about planting the maize crops. The young bachelors begin to criticize old Ah Chan for being unable to appease the gods. Meanwhile, Balam has been having visions, seeing and talking to his dead mother and twin brother, and seeing a jaguar instead of his own reflection in the cenote water well. While trying to follow the bachelors when they decide to storm a neighboring village, he kills a jaguar, pulls out it's heart and wears the jaguar skin. Ah Chan sees that by killing the jaguar Balam has become a man. It also appears that they must sacrifice the best of the villagers in order to appease the gods and Ah Chan determines Balam is that person. The book ends abruptly with Balam's sacrifice and his heart beating in Ah Chan's hand.

For obvious reasons, not the book for everyone!