This is the final instalment in my series of character spotlights in the lead-up to the release of my second book, The Lord of the Underworld.

Alongside Itzel and Quashy, I’d say Kinich Ahau has ended up being one of the most popular characters in The Jade Necklace series. Which is kind of funny, because compared to the others, he doesn’t actually get that much page time. But at the same time… I totally get it.

One of the biggest influences behind Kinich Ahau was Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia. I read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a kid and was hooked on Aslan the moment he showed up. He has that strong, fatherly presence—calm, wise, steady—but also powerful in a way that doesn’t need to shout. And he’s a giant talking lion. I mean, that’s automatically cool.

Another influence was Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus has that same kind of presence—firm, principled, sometimes stern, but always loving. His relationship with Scout really stuck with me. Kinich Ahau’s stern love draws from that dynamic. He believes in Itzel and admires her courage and persistence, but his concern for her safety often takes priority.

Now, Kinich Ahau doesn’t technically have the same official kingly status that Aslan does—but in practice, he carries it. With Kukulkan distant and out of touch, Kinich Ahau is the only god really trying to keep things from falling apart. He’s doing his best to hold the peace together, at least as much as he’s allowed to. But that kind of responsibility takes a toll. It’s too much for one person—or one god—to handle alone. And being separated from his twin sister, the Moon Goddess, leaves him carrying a quiet sadness and a bit of self-doubt that Aslan never really had.

Maybe that’s part of why readers connect with him. He’s powerful, yes—but he’s also burdened. He’s trying. He struggles. And that makes him feel more real.

Then there’s the fact that we meet him through Itzel’s eyes. And she is instantly in awe. He’s a jaguar sun god whose roar breathes fire and cuts through clouds like a beam of sunlight. In her words:

“He’s … so … cool!”

And honestly? She’s not wrong.

At the end of the day, I think readers like Kinich Ahau because he balances strength with vulnerability. He’s commanding but caring. Radiant but a little lonely. A god—but still relatable.

And yes, let’s be honest—being a fire-breathing jaguar sun god doesn’t hurt either.