Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you, NetGalley and publishers.

Sun of Blood and Ruin is a YA romantasy set in Central America steeped in the history and culture of the indigenous peoples and at the time after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. There is romance, there is war, and no punches are pulled. The main character is among the nobility of the Spanish ruling class because of her father but she is s as Lao looked down upon because her mother was a native. She is going to marry the prince and heir to the Spanish throne but she is also the shapeshifter and freedom fighter Pantera, and her heart is pulled in different directions. And her senses agree with the warnings of the old calendar: the end of the world is coming. Will the scattered tribes be able to change the prophecy of the Black Sun?

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

2.5/5 stars

This was....man this was almost a DNF but by the time I was really ready to quit I had less than 100 pages left so I kept going. This concept was amazing, and it started out super interesting - but it quickly lost it's way. The plot was riddled with inconsistencies, suddenly shifting motivations without much backing, and it just felt like the author knew what she wanted to happen but couldn't make up her mind on how exactly to get there. I said to a friend "it feels like she had a general story she wanted to follow, but she wrote 5 different plot summaries and smashed them together without correcting for variances between them".

This very much needed more editing just for cohesion - the writing wasn't bad but I was confused so much that I couldn't even appreciate the parts that were done well. I think it just speaks to the need for more maturity in Lares process, which can come with time. I would give the author another chance but this one was definitely a disappointment.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Harper Voyager. I'm voluntarily leaving a review with my personal thoughts.

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Mythology, Mexican Mythology
Spice Level: Medium (Not a play by play description of spicy scenes but on the page)
Language: A few well-timed swear words
Gore Factor: There are deaths in battle, but it's not egregious
Representation: The novel is filled with indigenous people and Spaniards, gay side characters

My one word review: Fascinating.

The setting is one generation post-Cortez, and Spain is at war with the indigenous people of what is now Mexico.
That's important to understand when starting this novel because of the themes of colonization and autonomy.

Some of my favorite things:

Female Zorro archetype
Indigenous gods
Magical realism
Complex characters
Friendship between women
Monsters
The gods' politics
Conniving
Posturing

I didn't know a lot about the original inhabitants of Central America, so I had a learning curve. But it's worth it to read the story.

Who will enjoy this book:

Fans of Daughter of the Moon Goddess & Heart of the Sun Warrior.
Epic fantasy readers
Historical fantasy readers
Mythology readers

I think all fantasy readers will enjoy this book, and I recommend it.

Happy reading!

PS: I'm giving a shout out to the illustrator for the cover art—it's gorgeous!

Who could resist the promise and allure of a Zorro fantasy retelling from a debut author with a cover as outstanding as this one?? Not this reviewer, that's who! And I'm so glad I didn't because it absolutely did not disappoint!! Highly recommended for anyone looking for something completely different and unputdownable! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Features:

-Gender bent retelling
-Indigenous mythology and folklore
-Realistic historical setting with a magical twist

The promise of a gender bent retelling of Zorro with a Mesoamerican twist drew me immediately to this book. Taking place around 20 years after the Conquest of Tenochtitlan, this book not only managed to immerse me in the culture and mythology of the region, but also provided an honest snapshot of a very dark and complicated period in Mexican history. The magic system introduced into this otherwise realistic historical setting was intriguing and really felt like it belonged. Unfortunately, the strength of the setting did not carry over to the characters of the book. I was looking forward to a more modern and complex exploration of a ‘Zorro’ character, but was left a little disappointed. I had a good time reading the book, but a mix of relatively flat characters and pacing issues makes it far from the perfect read for me.

Summary

Ever since the fall of Tenochtitlan, the Indigenous people of Mexico have suffered under the tyranny of Spanish rule. Things are only getting worse as the Spanish continue to tighten grip on the once powerful empire. Standing between her people and the brutality of the Spanish is the mysterious masked vigilante Pantera. A skilled warrior wielding ancient magic, Pantera represents everything the Spanish are trying to wipe out for good. Little does anyone know that behind the mask is Leonora de Las Casas Tlazohtzin, a noblewoman who might soon become the future queen of Spain. Balancing a double life only becomes more complicated as prophecies of the end of the world as they know it and her own early demise seem to be coming true. The powers of Leonora and Pantera alone might not be enough this time.

An Immersive Setting and Magic System

I have always been a sucker for a good historical setting and this book definitely delivers. Despite having some magical aspects, this feels like an accurate representation of 16th century Mexico and manages to be both sensitive to native cultures and unforgiving in its depiction of Spanish colonization. The cherry on top is definitely the magic system. Where not overly complicated, it melds so well into the mythos of the region and enhances the culture aspects being explored. My one complaint is that there are multiple times where Leonora ‘sets the stage’ through exhibition rather than allowing us to immerse in the setting more naturally. However, as someone previously unfamiliar with this slice of history, I found most of the information interesting and helpful rather than distracting.

Lackluster Characters and Uneven Pacing

In addition to being Pantera, Leonora is an individual of influence trapped between two worlds. She is mestizo (a person of mixed Spanish and indigenous descent), and though she is more connected to her indigenous culture, her life outside of being Pantera takes place amongst the Spanish elite. These aspects of her identity along with the time period opened the door for a really intriguing and complicated character. Unfortunately, I feel like almost none of these opportunities are taken. Though Leonora contemplates the various masks she must wear, it never seemed like there was an authentic and deep struggle to reconcile the various pieces of herself. I definitely think there were attempts to do so, but it just doesn’t come through for me. Unfortunately, there is even less development of the side characters and the somewhat stilted dialogue fails to create any sort of chemistry (positive or negative) amongst them.

This book is a debut novel and like many, it struggles with some pacing issues. There is fast paced action and high stakes as we enter the story, but then the story seems to come to an abrupt halt for the better part of the first half. I don’t mind a shift from high adrenaline action to the slow burn of political intrigue, but without proper development, it just falls flat. However, more than that I think it was the sense that Leonora/Pantera is just kind of floundering for quite awhile. Pantera comes across as somewhat clumsy in a way that goes beyond just compensating for an injury sustained at the beginning. Likewise, Leonora fails to come off as clever or savvy in the political world and I have a hard time believing that others would fall for her charade. Their respective failures make it difficult for either to find direction in this story and this, along with a little too much exposition, makes for odd pacing.

Overall

Overall, I had a good time reading this book and would recommend it to people I know would appreciate the vibes and overarching themes. However, it definitely has some flaws that could make or break the reading experience for some readers, so I would carefully consider these before investing in this read.

Sun of Blood and Ruin is a great new story in the fantasy genre by taking Latin mythology and creating a fantasy story on par with Children of Blood and Bone.

Such a amazing read! This story kept me on the edge of my seat and exceeded my expectations. This was quite an adventure I highly recommend

before i give a review, i would like to thank the publishers avon and harper voyager for providing a cooy for exchange for an honest review.
this was honestly so good? i am so excited to see mariely lares writes next, this was such a stunning debut. the publishing infrastructure honestly needs to have more "zorro" reimaginings, i love all the history i learned from this and all of the world building

I really enjoyed this book. Mariely built a beautiful and rich world while still trying to stay accurate to the times. While I mostly enjoyed the main character, there were times where I found her too self defeating but overall well rounded. If this is her debut novel, she did a great job! I'm excited for more Pantera and Tezca.



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

This was a pretty good book. Not my personal favorite but I think that other people would like it more than I did. The plot was pretty good. But it felt like it was missing something and the writing was not quite what i wanted

This book sounded like it was right up my alley, but I was ultimately disappointed with the writing. It felt unpolished, and there was a lot of tell vs show through descriptive writing and world building. I loved the premise and mythology the author brought into the book. Still a fun read for a gender bent take on Zoro.

A gender swapped version of Zorro? Sign me up! I was super excited to read this and while I really enjoyed it not sure it lived up to the hype fully. I felt sometimes it was hard to connect to the characters and also felt it was kind of info dumping at times as opposed to really leading me and immersing me in the story. However, the setting was incredibly cool and unique and I did have a nice time reading it. I would say it felt a little younger then I expected and a bit YA but that didn’t bother me much. Will still be purchasing for our library!

As a BIPOC woman of Aztec ancestry, this read was EXCEPTIONAL! With that said, the pronunciation and accuracy to the Nahuatl language could be a lot to decipher for someone unfamiliar with the language. The historical accuracy was magnificent and portrayed such a stunning cultural immersion that I already can’t wait to reread!

I could tell pretty early on that this writing wouldn’t fit my personal preferences, but the premise of this book is so cool. I love seeing more cultures represented in the world of fantasy, and a gender swapped version of zorro?? Very cool.

Unfortunately, there is just a lot of telling vs showing, and that made it hard for me to care about what the characters were doing or what was happening to them.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the chance to read an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

The premise of Sun of Blood and Ruin had so much potential and it sounded so promising, but the execution was lacking a lot for me. The writing style was very much telling me what was happening, not showing me what was happening. It made it feel very YA when it was marketed as an adult book. I think I was looking for a lot more depth to the characters than what I found.

I did, however, really enjoy the setting and the history included. The little bit of worldbuilding that we got was done well and I really would like to know more about the mythology and history of the world.

I ended up DNF’ing around 51%, but I may end up going back and picking this up again because, as I said, it has so much potential.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Mariely Lares for an advanced copy of Sun of Blood and Ruin in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Loved the folklore and mythology in this book. I felt like the second part of the book felt a little disjointed from the first part, but overall I really enjoyed this.

A gender-swapped Zorro reimagining with Mesoamerican mythology, great for historical fantasy fans!

Sun of Blood and Ruin follows 18-year-old Leonora, a member of a very politically powerful family, who also happens to be the famous masked vigilante, Pantera. Not only is she a beast with a sword, she can also shapeshift into one (a black panther, more specifically) thanks to her training as a sorceress. Set in an alternate-history 16th century Mexico, the story focuses on Leonora’s journey to discover more about herself, her indigenous lineage, and her ability to choose her own destiny.

I’m very impressed with this as a debut! This is a novel rich in history and lore, so there were places in the first half where I did feel a bit lost. There’s just so much to take in. But once I got further into the story, the pieces really started snapping together for me.

I loved this as a Zorro reimagining because the swashbuckling action and the little verbal quips during the fighting felt really true to that! I honestly could’ve read a lot more of that, although the action in the second half is still super engaging, just in a different way.

I can definitely see the hint of a slow-burn romance here, but I wanted so much more from it! I needed more scenes with the two of them busting each other’s chops, sharing lingering looks and touches, etc. to really feel invested in that romance as a subplot.

Similar to the romantic subplot, there were other points in the story that I felt were being glossed over when I really wanted to sink my teeth into them. In the next book, I’d be interested to see if she can perhaps narrow the scope just a bit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for this eARC in exchange for my review!

Solid Book, 3 stars as of 53%

DNF at 53%

I am so disappointed by this DNF. The premise of this is fantastic! It's gender-flipped Zorro set in a post-Cortes Mexico. We follow Leonora, the daughter of the viceroy (?) or ruler of some type of Mexico City, and his Indigenous mistress. Leonora is caught between two worlds, that of the political maneuvering of the colonial elite, and that of her alter ego Pantera. Pantera is a vigilante fighting for the rights of the Indigenous peoples. She is a Nahual, one who can change into a spirit animal, a panther.

I really liked the setting, the world, and the premise. What led me to DNF was unfortunately the characters. They are set up to be interesting; however, there is a lot of telling not showing, and we are in first person, present tense POV. For me, the characters were very flat, and everything was written as if it were keeping the reader at arms' length. I did not feel connected in any way to the relationships that the main character was building, platonic, familial, or romantic. I felt quite frustrated by this. I was wavering back and forth on whether I wanted to DNF, and I got to a scene where an animal dies, and the MC was distraught. I felt nothing. To me, that is a pretty clear sign that I am not emotionally invested in the story, and usually if there isn't an emotional connection, those books don't end up being more than 3 stars. In addition, I don't think that by the halfway mark the plot was well very well established. It was sort of meandering and wasn't heading in any type of clear direction, so with both of those pieces not super working for me, I just didn't

I definitely think that this might work better for readers who are less character driven and more interested in the world building and such. And I will definitely be interested in what this author puts out in the future. Unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.

Wonderful premise. Love the idea of female empowerment and representation. The writing felt unpolished. Couldn’t get into it.

"Sun of Blood and Ruin" by Mariely Lares is a vibrant debut that takes readers on a journey through sixteenth-century New Spain, blending Mesoamerican mythology, Mexican history, and fantasy into a rich tapestry of storytelling. The novel reimagines the Zorro legend, starring Leonora, a young noblewoman who transforms into the panther-shapeshifting vigilante, Pantera. This intriguing character fights against the injustices inflicted upon indigenous people during Spain's colonization.

At its heart, the book is a gripping tale of identity and resistance. Leonora, bound by duty to marry the Prince of Spain, leads a double life as the feared and revered Pantera. Her struggle against the oppressive Spanish rule is filled with magical elements, legendary swordplay, and a deep connection to her cultural roots. The novel excels in its vivid scene setting, immersing readers in a world where witchcraft is a death sentence, and mythical beings are more than just whispers in the night.

However, the book isn't without its flaws. Some readers might find the narrative's pacing uneven, with a jarring transition between past and present events. The writing, while competent, shows signs of a debut author finding her voice. Character development, particularly for secondary characters, seems lacking, leaving some readers struggling to fully engage with them.

The novel's exploration of themes like colonialism and self-discovery is commendable. Its focus on indigenous myths and the inclusion of Spanish language adds authenticity and depth to the narrative. The romance subplot, though, may not resonate with all, as it lacks the necessary chemistry and feels somewhat forced.

Despite these shortcomings, "Sun of Blood and Ruin" is a fascinating read, especially for those seeking fantasy that steps away from typical European settings. It's a story rich in folklore, with a promise of more to come. This book, with its unique blend of history and fantasy, is a must-read for fans of Mexican history and folklore, and those who enjoy a fresh twist on classic vigilante tales.