I don’t see this book talked about anywhere but I think it deserves a spotlight!

I thought this would be a full on Zorro reimagining… it was a little bit but also something completely different! There is one particular scene with Leonora and Inés that is very Zorro and I loved it!

The book splits in half, the first tells the story of Leonora, a vigilante called Pantera, trying to bring down the Spanish tyranny in Mexico. She is trained in a magical world of gods and demons, and keeps her identity secret. Slated to marry a Spanish prince to unite her people, the plot is slightly political.

The second half is a magical reawakening, mythical history and otherworldly planes. It was definitely a trip but I loved all the cultural nuances and words. The magic was really fascinating and Leonora was an interesting character. She was young but very strong minded, her purpose and drive were inspiring and believable.

This book was very unique in its use of Mesoamerican history and lore. The audiobook was narrated by Victoria Villareal and I liked the atmosphere she brought to the story. The characters were easy to distinguish and the harder to pronounce words better to sound out! Although I enjoyed the writing, it was a little slow paced, but I’m curious what will happen if this is the first in a series.

Title: Sun of Blood and Ruin
Author: Mariely Lares
Genre: Historical Fantasy, Mythology, Retelling
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️