Sun of Blood and Ruin: A Novel
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Description
A new legend begins…
In sixteenth-century New Spain, witchcraft is punishable by death, indigenous temples have been destroyed, and tales of mythical creatures that once roamed the land have become whispers in the night. Hidden behind a mask, Pantera uses her magic and legendary swordplay skills to fight the tyranny of Spanish rule.
To all who know her, Leonora de las Casas Tlazohtzin never leaves the palace and is promised to the heir of the Spanish throne. The respectable, law-abiding Lady Leonora faints at the sight of blood and would rather be caught dead than meddle in court affairs.
No one suspects that Leonora and Pantera are the same person. Leonora’s charade is tragically good, and with magic running through her veins, she is nearly invincible. Nearly. Despite her mastery, she is destined to die young in battle, as predicted by a seer.
When an ancient prophecy of destruction threatens to come true, Leonora—and therefore Pantera—is forced to decide: surrender the mask or fight to the end. Knowing she is doomed to a short life, she is tempted to take the former option. But the legendary Pantera is destined for more than an early grave, and once she discovers the truth of her origins, not even death will stop her.
Book Information
Posts
Mesoamerican mythology meets Masked MC. Set in an alternate 16th century Mexico during the oppression by the Spanish invaders, this book opened a whole new world of mythology, history and political background to me.
The author took great care to name as much as possible in Nahuatl, and she gives background and glossary in the beginning and end of the book which is really helpful. The most criticism I read about this book is its weird pacing, and I can't deny its weirdness. However, in this case I didn't mind it at all, as it gave the book so much character and was really interesting to read. Along with its structure that sometimes gave me whiplash as well, the whole vibe of the book is so raw and vulnerable that I think it was intentional. The FMC is just as raw and vulnerable as the story, but she is never annoying or naive, as it is sometimes the problem with female heroines. She might not always have a sound plan or know what she is doing, but she's always doing it with so much energy and spirit that I never grew tired of her. There's also many real intriguing side characters, some drawn from actual history, some from mythology. The magic system is not easy to grasp, but it's based on a mix of the powers of the gods and humans, with a lot of important lessons to learn. I really enjoyed this book, and even though it could (almost) work as a standalone, I was very happy to read that there will be a sequel next year. I can't wait to dive back into this unique world 4,5/5 stars Thank you @netgalley and @laresmar8 and @harperbooks for the eARC
Description
A new legend begins…
In sixteenth-century New Spain, witchcraft is punishable by death, indigenous temples have been destroyed, and tales of mythical creatures that once roamed the land have become whispers in the night. Hidden behind a mask, Pantera uses her magic and legendary swordplay skills to fight the tyranny of Spanish rule.
To all who know her, Leonora de las Casas Tlazohtzin never leaves the palace and is promised to the heir of the Spanish throne. The respectable, law-abiding Lady Leonora faints at the sight of blood and would rather be caught dead than meddle in court affairs.
No one suspects that Leonora and Pantera are the same person. Leonora’s charade is tragically good, and with magic running through her veins, she is nearly invincible. Nearly. Despite her mastery, she is destined to die young in battle, as predicted by a seer.
When an ancient prophecy of destruction threatens to come true, Leonora—and therefore Pantera—is forced to decide: surrender the mask or fight to the end. Knowing she is doomed to a short life, she is tempted to take the former option. But the legendary Pantera is destined for more than an early grave, and once she discovers the truth of her origins, not even death will stop her.
Book Information
Posts
Mesoamerican mythology meets Masked MC. Set in an alternate 16th century Mexico during the oppression by the Spanish invaders, this book opened a whole new world of mythology, history and political background to me.
The author took great care to name as much as possible in Nahuatl, and she gives background and glossary in the beginning and end of the book which is really helpful. The most criticism I read about this book is its weird pacing, and I can't deny its weirdness. However, in this case I didn't mind it at all, as it gave the book so much character and was really interesting to read. Along with its structure that sometimes gave me whiplash as well, the whole vibe of the book is so raw and vulnerable that I think it was intentional. The FMC is just as raw and vulnerable as the story, but she is never annoying or naive, as it is sometimes the problem with female heroines. She might not always have a sound plan or know what she is doing, but she's always doing it with so much energy and spirit that I never grew tired of her. There's also many real intriguing side characters, some drawn from actual history, some from mythology. The magic system is not easy to grasp, but it's based on a mix of the powers of the gods and humans, with a lot of important lessons to learn. I really enjoyed this book, and even though it could (almost) work as a standalone, I was very happy to read that there will be a sequel next year. I can't wait to dive back into this unique world 4,5/5 stars Thank you @netgalley and @laresmar8 and @harperbooks for the eARC