Robust world-building, hard to grasp at times
I picked up this book because I found out the author is Venezuelan. It’s the only fantasy novel written in English that draws directly from South American mythology, specifically Venezuelan and Colombian traditions. While I loved how deeply the world was rooted in folklore, I have to admit that it struggled to keep me fully engaged. That’s not to say the book is bad—in fact, I admire the lush world-building and the moral complexity of the main characters. But I mostly finished it out of a sense of duty and respect for the author, who is a paisana.
The story follows two women: Reina, a young woman abandoned by her family and searching for a sense of belonging, and Eva, a powerful bruja whose magic is feared and considered unnatural. Both get entangled in a political scheme and must navigate their identities, desires, loyalties, and moral choices.
What stood out to me the most was the world-building. The way the magic system and various races reflect historical oppressions in Latin America was refreshing, especially since such perspectives are rarely explored in the fantasy genre. The characters had immense emotional depth. I appreciated how my feelings toward them shifted constantly, from frustration to sympathy, as I came to understand their pain and motivations.
I ended up giving this book 3.75 stars, though I suspect my current reading slump might have affected my enjoyment. Still, if you’re looking for something different within the fantasy genre, I recommend picking this up. You might be pleasantly surprised—and you may even learn some history you weren’t aware of.
Disclaimer: This author utilized artificial technology for editing, while the thoughts and voice is still mine, AI helped revise the grammar and flow of sentences.
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