Sun of Blood and Ruin (Sun of Blood and Ruin, Book 1) by Mariely Lares
Age Group: Adult
Format: Fiction
Genres and Categories: Latinx Authors, Latinx Characters, Magic Users, Outlaw Characters, Royalty Characters, Action, Adventure, Historical Fantasy, Various Magic, Mesoamerican, Mexican
Series: Sun of Blood and Ruin #1
My Rating:
Published on: 28th September 2023
Pages: 384
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Mexican history and Mesoamerican mythology meet in this thrilling historical fantasy with magic, intrigue, treachery, romance, and adventure.

The empire of Montezuma II has long fallen, a city raised on the bones of Tenochtitlan. None dare whisper the names of their gods- or speak of the magic that once graced the land, of the witches who hunted as jaguars, the warriors who soared as eagles.

Until a new name emerges- a curse on the lips of the Spanish, a hero in the hearts of the people. A masked vigilante, a sorceress with a blade.

Pantera

But that is not her only name. To all who know her, Leonora de Las Casas Tlazohtzin is a glittering jewel of court, promised to the heir of the Spanish throne. The respectable Lady Leonora faints at the sight of blood and would sooner be caught dead than wield a sword...even against a dauntless thief with a cutting smile.

No one suspects that Leonora and Pantera are one and the same. Leonora has fooled them all, and, with magic of her ancestors running through her veins, she is nearly invincible- until an ancient prophecy of destruction threatens, and she is forced to decide: surrender the mask or her life. 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.

This book was provided for free by NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book!

Content Warnings:

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The first few pages of the Sun of Blood and Ruin were slow-going, and for a handful of pages, I wondered if this was going to end up being a DNF. Thankfully, the story quickly picked up, and I was swept up in the adventure and magic that Mariely Lares has woven together with Mexican history and Mesoamerican mythology.

In this reimagining of Zorro, Leonora de Las Casas Tlazohtzin is the daughter of a white nobleman and a Mexica woman. Leonora is the sister of the young teenage Viceroy of New Spain, and her stepmother, the Vicereine, is determined to see her married to a profitable match. What her family do not know is that Leonora has a secret; she’s the legendary Pantera, a masked fighter who has been rebelling against the Viceroy and the rule of Spain that he upholds.

Lares has set herself a huge task in writing a novel that takes on history and the politics of the time while throwing mythology into the mix as well. Other than the first few pages, I didn’t feel that there were large amounts of information dumping with Lares blending knowledge in with character reflections and dialogue. That being said, Sun of Blood and Ruin is a book with complex world-building, which may not be for everyone. Personally, I enjoyed every aspect of it and found Lares’ magic system especially compelling.

Leonora is a fascinating character, tenacious and independent, her strength balanced well with her vulnerabilities and flaws. Lares has not set out to create a heroine who is likeable all the time. She’s stubborn as hell, especially when someone tells her what to do. I found myself liking her more with every page, flaws and all. Sun of Blood and Ruin has a whole cast of interesting characters, many of them leaving me with complicated feelings. Lares has created realistic characters that aren’t good or bad; they’re just people trying to survive.

While there is a lot of politics and history in Sun of Blood and Ruin, this is very much a fantasy novel with adventure, magic and mythology at its core. Readers who have an interest in history, mythology and fantasy will enjoy the fusion of all three as they come together in this brilliant novel.

About Mariely Lares

Mariely Lares is a Mexican-American writer of fiction. Born in the only hospital of a small town in Southern California—which, fun fact, is also Cher’s birthplace—she grew up straddling two worlds, crossing the border almost every day. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, she holds a degree in Computer Science Engineering and lives in San Diego, where she can be found doing all the outdoorsy things, rescuing dogs, and writing her next book.
Her debut historical fantasy novel, Sun of Blood and Ruin (Harper Voyager, Fall 2023), draws inspiration from Mexican history and Mesoamerican mythology. The sequel is expected Fall 2024.

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Thanks for reading my book review for Sun of Blood and Ruin by Mariely Lares. This book is due out on September 28th 2023, and is available for pre-order from any of the links in this review.

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