A reimagining of a female Zorro but make it an Aztec fantasy novel! What an interesting and ambitious debut novel for author Mariely Lares.

I was drawn to request this arc because any type of Zorro/Robinhood-esque theme is a win for me — in combination with the beautiful cover and the lure of the Aztec/Mexica folklore. I also found that my recent trip to Mexico City definitely enriched my reading experience. I thought back to places and things such as Chapultepec, Pulque, Xochimilco, hot cocoa, and even a protest from an indigenous group called the Triqui still asking for better representation and fair treatment.

Overall it was a fairly enjoyable read. Some things didn’t fully vibe with me. The book read young adult sometimes, and admittedly, that’s not my favorite genre. The pacing was very inconsistent, heavily dragging through the politics or deep diving the mythology, interrupting the flow of the plot. The character development was mediocre. All the mains felt copy-paste and I never truly felt invested in their journey.

A reimagining of a female Zorro but make it an Aztec fantasy novel! What an interesting and ambitious debut novel for author Mariely Lares.

I was drawn to request this arc because any type of Zorro/Robinhood-esque theme is a win for me — in combination with the beautiful cover and the lure of the Aztec/Mexica folklore. I also found that my recent trip to Mexico City definitely enriched my reading experience. I thought back to places and things such as Chapultepec, Pulque, Xochimilco, hot cocoa, and even a protest from an indigenous group called the Triqui still asking for better representation and fair treatment.

Overall it was a fairly enjoyable read. Some things didn’t fully vibe with me. The book read young adult sometimes, and admittedly, that’s not my favorite genre. The pacing was very inconsistent, heavily dragging through the politics or deep diving the mythology, interrupting the flow of the plot. The character development was mediocre. All the mains felt copy-paste and I never truly felt invested in their journey.

To conclude, I think this novel brings something new and interesting to the table with the Aztec mythology spin. Definitely a fun first installment in her debut trilogy.

Read this now, if you are interested in young adult books with a focus on mythology, México, and the battle of good vs. evil.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Publication date: February 20, 2024
Pages: 384

Thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooks and @harpervoyagerus for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My Selling Pitch:
Mary Sue the cat girl takes on the Spanish in a historical retelling of the 16th century.

On my do not read list.

Pre-reading:
No part of me wants to read this. I think it’s going to be bad. I think I’m going to hate it. It was a Fairyloot pick so I asked for it like a dumbass. It’s been sitting on my TBR for almost a year. The cover is ugly. I don’t know anything about Zorro, except it was vaguely in a Eureka episode.

Thick of it:
Hegemony

Girlypop, I appreciate how much research you clearly did for this book, but making me read variant spellings throughout a book to mean the same thing is abusive. I am so dumb.

Cabildo

Encomenderos

Chinampas

Viceroy

Rebozo

Tianguis

Curanderos

Nagual

barrios

vicereine

This book has terrible Goodreads reviews, but it’s like aggressively fine right now.

pueblos

cornices

fecundity

I know this book is a YA and I’m a pervert, but highly recommend auto-correcting Tonalli to dick every time it’s in the story.

Pescadores

peccaries

Some of this is bordering on religious kink, and I’m annoyed that it can’t lean into it.

Ugh, not the I hate other girls shit.

Wow, green sickness. I should call him.

You know, I went into this book with a bad mood, but I’m having a decent time.

The curative powers of intercourse is not a phrase I had on my bingo board.

I mean you don’t have to mount on the left but-
Also, girlypop is allowed to ride astride? That feels incorrect.

Sallet

Lmao how much you wanna bet Ollin is Andres? (Ha, Samantha. you were wrong, you dumb bitch.)

cuartel

They remind me of Ladybug and Cat Noir. (The book should’ve kept this vibe.)

Lmao he did sprout an extra head.

Y’all I’m so easy. I’m having a good time.

It reads a bit like fanfiction where it’s like scene snippets and no real logical resolution or conclusion to the action, but it’s also like I don’t care?

The Kindle Unlimited girlies are like we’re listening

Also, I’m 30% in and I’m still live, laugh, loving. I think it’s garbage, but I think it’s fine garbage, so I don’t know what everyone’s complaining about. Like I can’t believe I’m being the positive one here. How bad does this book get that like the masses hate it?

Well, thank god Mary Sue is here to tell a literal prince to stop being such a slut. I’m sure that would go over great.

Did she just ask this man not to use soap with her whole chest?

Mestiza

Why are we villainizing girlypop for making the most of her situation? Let’s not do this. I’m not happy with this.

That was kind of a metal line. Like Wattpad metal, but still metal.

Well, I like her. (Amalia.)

Every time I translate the chapter titles correctly, I give myself a cookie. Take that Duolingo.

Farthingale

That was another kind of metal line.

Tell me this writing isn’t on par with Scarred though. (They had us in the first half.)

I know the Habsburg line is real people because Keith Habersberger, but is she saying that she’s a hamburger or that he’s a hamburger because I don’t know who has burger, and does it matter? Not even a little bit.

Oh, they’re literally trying to explain it to me right now. I’m just too stupid and impatient.

Peninsulares

This is just throwing names at me, and it’s rude.

Everyone having multiple names and then the same names is abusive to me honestly. My brain is so full of books. Stop doing this.

I’m stupid. Does that mean the deal’s on? Why are we grabbing elbows? What’s going on?

Everyone in this book is a better ruler than this bitch.

Hacienda

Fuck, I want a churro. (This is the insightful commentary people follow me for.)

Can we pick a lane of we’re stone-cold killers or like omg we can’t kill ppl, we’re the good guys

Call your boyfriend and tell him to fix your girlfriend’s face.

She wants your DICK. sorry I’ll go

Very Princess Bride lol

I don’t know why people are so upset about this book. It’s so fine. I’m digging the romance. (I feel like this is the perfect review for people who are like Samantha, you’re always a hater. And I’m like no, I was live, laugh, loving and then this book ruined itself, and you can watch it happen in real time.)

encomienda

Some of this book’s Christian lines make me gasp, and I don’t know if it’s just because I’m a horny little pervert or what, but-(that. It’s that.)
Telling me my tongue is an unruly demon? Sinful. More please.

This writing is on par with What the River Knows.

What do you mean the horse just ripped a tree out of the ground?

Someone wanna explain to me why he keeps his clothes when he shifts but she doesn’t? (Like the book attempts to explain this, but it’s also stupid. Just be nakey.)

I’m gettin' whiplash from whose side everyone is on.

I’m getting bored.

Your stomach growling is not unladylike. Fuck off.

Remember how I was like the romance is paced well? Throw all of that out lol.

And add this book to does the dog die.

I don’t understand this book’s pacing.

The back half of this book has really fallen off.

I am no longer live, laugh, loving.

And title drop.

This book has really lost the plot and can’t decide which storyline it wants to follow.

Oh wow, so that was rape. That’s like very not cool. And this book is very much handling it like that wasn’t rape, you can’t rape dudes.

This book has an awful lot of I’m not sure lines. Maybe you should’ve figured it out before you published, Girlypop.

I’m not following any of this.

Remember how I was like it’s not that bad. IDK what people are talking about? This is unreadably bad.

I’m at 94%, and I’m still tempted to DNF it.

Oh, ending your book by freeing the native peoples when that’s not what happens in real-life history is a baddddd look.

Is this meant to be a series? What the fuck ending was that? (Yes. Yes it is.)

Honey, Henry Cavill isn’t Spanish or Mexican. What do you mean? What did you want him for?

Post-reading:
You know they had me in the first half.

For the first half of this book, I was like why is everyone hating this book? It’s so perfectly fine. Then the second half hit, and it wasn’t a book anymore. It devolves to the point of being indecipherable. It’s going on my do-not-read list.

The writing is beyond choppy. Clearly, a lot of research went into writing this book but that just translated into a lot of out of place info dumping. The action feels repetitive. The writing feels like a lot of snippets were just smushed together. It feels like the author had come up with scenes, but hadn’t finished coming up with a book but published anyway.

The characters are dime-a-dozen archetypes and lack any depth. There’s a good whiff of internalized misogyny here, and it feels like the author tried to counter that by making enemies become besties and or hint that they’re lesbians. And that is lazy and will never work for me.

The romance’s initial banter was solid, but then their relationship goes 0 to 60 and they lose all their chemistry.

It really felt like two different stories. The first half was a political historical romance and it was mediocre at best, but readable. Then it became some fantasy trying to dabble with the gods and magic and destiny and demons and shit and we were retconning things every other chapter. If you read any of my other reviews, you know a surefire way to make me hate something is to start retconning. Just don’t lie to me. It feels like you’re lying to me. Tell me the rules of the world and stick to them.

The main character’s motivations are so wishy-washy. She became insufferable to read.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m an ignorant slut. I don’t know anything about the actual history of this time period. Everything I know, I learned from a Nancy Drew game. (This is even not funnier when you realize that the Nancy Drew game is about the Mayans and not the Aztecs, but somehow I knew about the Quetzalcoatl guy and Cortez so-(And by know about, I mean it wasn’t a brand new word to me)) I will not be critiquing the historical accuracy at all. You could not pay me to touch that. However, I will say that having your Mary Sue main character convince everybody to just work together maybe doesn’t erase years of trauma, but it certainly glosses over it and that feels really icky to me.

This is a mess. I don’t think there’s anything redeemable about it. Don’t read it. I blame the editor, not the author because this should’ve stayed the rough draft. I don’t think the idea is horrible, but the execution is shit, and this wasn’t ready to be published.

Who should read this:
No one?
Mesoamerican historical fans

Do I want to reread this:
Fuck no

Similar books:
* What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez-YA historical fantasy romance, Mummy retelling
* A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft-historicalish fantasy romance, enemies to lovers, more vibes than plot
* Scarred by Emily McIntire-historicalish romance, enemies to lovers, more vibes than plot, Lion King/Hamlet retelling

3.5 stars!

Lares' has written a debut narrative with a captivating blend of Mexican mythology, pulse-pounding action, and the allure of magic. Imagine a female Zorro, steeped in the rich tapestry of Mexican lore, wielding not only a sword but magical powers. Leonora, a young woman torn between two worlds—Spain and Mexico—is on a crusade to curb Spanish tyranny as the masked vigilante 'Pantera'.

Lares skillfully paints a portrait of Leonora's dual existence, seamlessly blending her place amongst the nobility and her fervent quest for justice for the indigenous tribes of New Spain. Pantera IS a symbol of defiance against the oppressive grip of Spanish rule with no one suspecting that Leonora and Pantera are one and the same.

Believing she is doomed to a short life based on a prophecy given to her at birth, Leonora must set aside the world she knows and choose to let go of her mask or fight to her last breath. As her journey progresses to self-discovery, along with a vast cast of characters, Leonora finds that there is more to herself than even she knew.

However, amid the thrills of Leonora's journey, there are moments where scenes felt sparse, leaving me wanting more detail.

Sun of Blood and Ruin was an intense journey through a world brimming with magic, mythology, and action. This is book one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager and Mariely Lares for an advanced e-copy of this book. It's out now!

Sun of Blood and Ruin had such rich detail in the writing of the landscapes, they are so well described that you can really visualise the scene right down to what it would sound like and feel like to be there. Pantera/ Leonora was such a great strong and interesting leading character that you really want to follow her journey and see how she manages her different identities and if she can find balance in herself. There was lots of action/ battle scenes that kept things progressing forward, with threats from all sides, adventures into the forest, courtly scheming, prophecies, and other worldly beings. It's a great read!

Had this been marketed as a middle-grade book I would be more generous. But because it's marketed as Adult it's an absolute failure, in my opinion. The writing is incredibly simple and often pauses to make sure concepts are repeated as simply as possible in dialogue; scenes don't have enough time or weight (emotions, reactions, descriptions, etc) so they're over really quickly and then we just bounce to another disconnected scene/concept.

This feels like the author really loved their culture and its mythologies and wanted to bring that to a wider audience (which I love! you can really feel how important it is to them) but couldn't think of a story to connect everything together. Because those elements are handled so much more caringly and deftly than anything else in the book.

Idk. This was just... bad bad. Concept was a banger, but the execution was really letdown and needed way better editors.

After weeks and weeks of reading this I simply could not finish it, it was interesting at first but then I started losing interest which is a shame since it sounded absolutely amazing. I'm sure many others would enjoy this book but it wasn't for me!

“In the middle of the night, when the air cools and the crickets sing I'm just a girl afraid of death, wanting to grow up and see more of the world, taste more of life. But I am a child of the Nemontemi; my death has been foretold, and I'm not long for this world.”

Sun of Blood and Ruin is a spellbinding debut where history meets fantasy in a dazzling retelling of El Zorro! Venture to a 16th-century Mexico brimming with magic and rebellion, where our fierce protagonist, Leonora/Pantera, dances between two worlds, fighting for freedom.
With a sprinkle of Mexican folklore and a dash of Nahuatl phrases, this book paints a vivid tapestry of a world on the brink. It's a tale that speaks volumes about representation and the struggles faced by those caught in the crossfires of heritage and history.

While the story kicks off with a bang, unraveling the characters' true intentions becomes a puzzle. Some moments feel a bit rushed, leaving us yearning for a better blend of action and character growth.

Despite the bumps in the road, the author's bold vision shines through. While this adventure may have stumbled a bit, the promise of future tales from Lares has me eagerly awaiting more magic and mayhem.

Big thanks to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the sneak peek into this enchanting world!

Was this book a great read? No. Was it pretty fun? Yes.

Sun of Blood and Ruin isn’t a book I can recommend with a good conscience, but I’m not going to sit here and say I totally regret reading it.

The story doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. There is more than one plot hole. There are several points in this book where things happen and I thought, “Wow! How convenient!”

Lares obviously doesn’t care much for cohesive world building, exploring the magic systems or belief systems she’s introducing, or even trying to roughly outline the rich culture she’s embedded her story in.

If I may say: This book reads like Lares just assumes her readers know what Mexico looked like (in all ways) in the 16th century: from the very earth on which they stood to the sky above them. While I don’t like authors who patronize their readers, it wouldn’t have hurt to give readers some clues into what Mexico culture was like in more detail.

It was a popcorn flick in the guise of a book. I wouldn’t buy it, but it was okay.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Since this review rated three stars or lower it won’t be appearing on my social media sites. Thank you.

File Under: Fantasy/Historical Fantasy

Loved the book, felt like I was on a wild adventure through 16th-century Mexico. So many visuals and I totally could imagine the main character Leonora, through her transformations and her journey to help those around her. Though I did find the way the author went back and forth between the past and present a bit jarring at first, nonetheless I continued and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the book. Cant wait for what Mariely Lares has next!

This book delved into a captivating tale set in sixteenth-century New Spain. Mariely Lares introduces Pantera, a masked sorceress battling Spanish oppression while living a dual life as Lady Leonora, promised to Spain's heir. The narrative skillfully weaves Mesoamerican mythology and Mexican history into a tapestry of magic, intrigue, and romance. However, my enthusiasm waned as the plot unfolded, revealing disjointed storylines and shallow character development. Pantera's dual identity as a warrior and noblewoman is a compelling theme, shedding light on the challenges faced by women in the era, compounded by cultural suppression. Lares impressively incorporates Spanish dialects, the Nahuatl language, and authentic mythological elements, providing a rich backdrop. Despite occasional pacing issues, this story offers a unique exploration of colonialism, oppression, and war, making it a worthwhile read for those intrigued by historical fantasy.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book!

Overall, I had a great time with this book! I absolutely loved the Mask of Zorro as a kid so I was really excited to read a book with that theme and it was even better because our masked hero is a strong woman!

From the beginning, I was swept into the story. I loved learning about the Mexican folklore, the description was rich and beautiful and the plot was interesting and exciting.

There is A LOT that happens in this story…I did feel slightly lost a few points which is the main reason this isn’t a 5 star read for me but still really well done. I am looking forward to the author continuing her writing journey and will look forward to future books of theirs.

This was full of adventure and magic! I liked Leonora's character and her other persona Pantera. The story was easy to follow and kept me engaged. The side characters and subplots were interesting also. I really cannot wait for the story to be continued! I recommend if you enjoyed Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Gods of Jade and Shadow and you want to read more stories with Mesoamerican mythology in them.

*P.S. Totally obsessed with the cover of this title.

A delightful story that entertains from start to finish! While the story does get bogged down at times with lore and legends, it was a very enjoyable read. I so appreciated how the story used historical events and context to build the world, yet wove in unique lore to create the fantastical setting. Can’t wait for the next one!

I loved the concept of this so much, but felt the execution was a bit lacking. The writing style took me a bit to get into and I feel like I wasn't able to get I vested as much as. I wanted to when it came to the characters and the plot. I would definitely read another book by Lares though because I feel there is potential.

I just finished reading Mariely Lares’ debut novel, Sun of Blood and Ruin and I absolutely loved it! You follow young sorcerers and vigilante, Leonora, in this fantastical tale that takes place in sixteenth century New Spain/Mexico. I was mesmerized with Lares’ writing, it is so intricate and atmospheric. I can vividly see the forests and mountain-side tribes she describes in this story. As a horror fan, I was mostly surprised at how descriptive the battle and death scenes were.. it is not for the weak. I very much appreciated this innovative take on the “zero” retelling and trusting it to tell a tale of oppression, indigenous myths and colonization history. Was it difficult to understand at times? Yes, but no different than any other fantasy novel where world building is important and necessary for the story and plot. At its core this is very much a coming of age story about a girl who has a gift and an immense need to fight for humanity.
Thank you so much #avon #harpervoyager and #netgalley for this advance readers copy.
Read if you like:

🤍fantasy/shape shifters
🤍coming of age
🤍indigenous myths
🤍great side characters
🤍zoro retelling
🤍strong female characters
🤍many action scenes
🤍slow burn romance

In 16th century New Spain, witchcraft is banned, and Leonora is set to be wed to the heir of the Spanish throne. But she’s hiding some pretty big secrets. Leonora is also Pantera, a sorceress with incredible sword skills who fights against tyranny. As she challenges the Spanish rule, Leonora finds herself on a journey full of violence and self-discovery.

I absolutely love the premise of this book. The synopsis was so intriguing, and I really like that it’s set in 16th century Mexico. Unfortunately, I just didn’t find myself immersed in the story.

The writing was challenging in the beginning, and I think that the pacing was off for the first half of the book. Things did start flowing better in the second half, which I enjoyed. The world building was well done and included history and mythology in meaningful ways. I also really enjoyed the magic system.

The characters didn’t feel fully developed to me. I never really felt a connection with Leonora (or any of the other characters). The romance didn’t seem like it needed to be in the book. It didn’t seem realistic and didn’t add to the story. Overall, this was an okay read. It was choppy at times and didn’t feel like a cohesive read, but was still interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC.

Overall I am a little disappointed because of the potential this has to be really informative of the culture and still exciting for many types of readers. I didn't ever get quote fully immersed in this story and was struggling to finish. It felt very young in terms of the writing but also very confusing since I couldn't quite connect to be characters or explanation of culture in this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Overall I really struggled with this book. The beginning of the story felt like there was a ton of information dumping but I didn’t feel as though it helped with world building. I wasn’t impressed with the main character - she was overly focused on her failings as a sorceress, dying in battle under the Fifth Sun and trying to outwit Nabarres. There was a love interest with who Leonora/Pantera had minimal chemistry. There were multiple identities for multiple characters throughout the book that made it confusing to keep everyone straight. This aspect was also less impactful as the book progressed because it was no longer surprising that no one was who they seemed to be.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book I liked it but not one of my favorites. I found it a good story but by the end I felt like I just wanted it to be over.

Sun of Blood and Ruin presents a compelling premise with its deeply rooted mythology and folklore, exploring culturally significant themes through a cast of intriguing characters and engaging dialogue. However, the execution of this promising narrative leaves much to be desired. While the story showcases well-researched mythological foundations, it suffers from notable editing issues that detract from the overall reading experience. The transitions between scenes often feel abrupt and disjointed, leading to confusion for the reader. Additionally, while the integration of magic with folklore is appealing, the abundance of information regarding magical creatures and character transformations becomes overwhelming, making it challenging to keep track. Despite these shortcomings, the book offers much to enjoy, yet its potential is hindered by these issues. For a debut novel, I remain hopeful that future works by this author will benefit from improved editing, allowing their storytelling prowess to shine more brightly.