In Sun of Blood and Ruin, debuter Lares blends Mesoamerican mythology and Mexican history to reconfigure Zorro as a warrior sorceress, plumbing the Spanish colonization and genocide of the Aztec empire (40,000-copy first printing). Prepub Alert. Copyright 2023 Library Journal

DEBUT For the people whose land is now called New Spain, their only hero against the new government that outlaws their beliefs and magic is Pantera. She fights in the streets against the oppressive soldiers who drag citizens to the gallows in the town square. Yet few would guess that this masked, sword- and magic-wielding heroine is in fact Lady Leonora, the daughter of the Viceroy of New Spain and soon-to-be bride of the heir to the Spanish throne. Leonora intends to fight the Spanish rule of her homeland in any way that she can, including using the traditional magic of her ancestors, even as she plays the political game forced upon her. After she has a run-in with the rebels, her life takes a direction that she can only believe will be the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy. When she learns the truth of her origins, she may have no choice but to embrace her power to protect her homeland and its people. VERDICT Lares's debut is an action-filled historical fantasy set in an alternate 16th-century Mexico, featuring Mesoamerican mythology and a unique blend of magic and adventure.—Morgan Lockard

Lares makes a triumphant debut with a vivid epic set in an alternate 16th-century colonial Mexico. It stars a mestiza woman known variously by her Spanish name, Leonora; her Nahua name, Tecuani; and her alter ego, Pantera, a defender of Indigenous people who is magically able to transform into a panther and draw superhuman strength from the sun. As she joins forces with an alliance of Indigenous groups calling themselves La Justicia and aiming to fight back against Spanish control, the kinetic fight scenes and deep, complex interpersonal relationships will swiftly draw readers into her world. With the Spaniards persecuting magic and dismissing "the old ways," it's up to Pantera to fulfill an ancient prophecy and thereby protect her people. Lares has a talent for historic detail and though there are dozens of Spanish and Nahuatl words that will likely be unfamiliar to many readers, she excels at weaving in enough context to make comprehension easy, including a helpful note on language at the beginning and a glossary at the end. The vast supporting cast is equally well integrated and easy to keep track of despite its size. Interweaving history, mythology, romance, and swashbuckling action, this is a surefire hit. Agent: Heather Cashman, Storm Literary. (Sept.)