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3.0
Malinalli: A Novel
ByPublisher Description
An imaginative retelling of the triumphs and sorrows of one of the most controversial and misunderstood women in Mexico’s history and mythology, perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Gods of Jade and Shadow and Zoraida Córdova’s The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina.An imaginative retelling of the triumphs and sorrows of one of the most controversial and misunderstood women in Mexico’s history and mythology, perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Gods of Jade and Shadow Gods of Jade and Shadow and Zoraida Córdova’s The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina.The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina.
A real-life historical figure, the woman known as Malinalli, Malintzin, La Malinche, Doña Marina, and Malinalxochitl was the Nahua interpreter who helped Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés communicate with the native people of Mexico. When indigenous leaders observed her marching into their cities, they believed she was a goddess—blessed with the divine power to interpret the Spaniards’ intentions for their land. Later, historians and pop culture would deem her a traitor—the “Indian” girl who helped sell Mexico’s future to an invader.
In this riveting, fantastical retelling, Malinalli is all of those things and more, but at heart, she’s a young girl, kidnapped into slavery by age twelve, and fighting to survive the devastation wrought by both the Spanish and Moctezuma’s greed and cruelty. Blessed with magical powers, and supported by a close-knit circle of priestesses, Mali vows to help defend her people’s legacy. In vivid, compelling prose, debut author Veronica Chapa spins an epic tale of magic, sisterhood, survival, and Mexican resilience. This is the first novel to reimagine and reinterpret Malinalli’s story with the empathy, humanity, and awe she’s always deserved.
A real-life historical figure, the woman known as Malinalli, Malintzin, La Malinche, Doña Marina, and Malinalxochitl was the Nahua interpreter who helped Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés communicate with the native people of Mexico. When indigenous leaders observed her marching into their cities, they believed she was a goddess—blessed with the divine power to interpret the Spaniards’ intentions for their land. Later, historians and pop culture would deem her a traitor—the “Indian” girl who helped sell Mexico’s future to an invader.
In this riveting, fantastical retelling, Malinalli is all of those things and more, but at heart, she’s a young girl, kidnapped into slavery by age twelve, and fighting to survive the devastation wrought by both the Spanish and Moctezuma’s greed and cruelty. Blessed with magical powers, and supported by a close-knit circle of priestesses, Mali vows to help defend her people’s legacy. In vivid, compelling prose, debut author Veronica Chapa spins an epic tale of magic, sisterhood, survival, and Mexican resilience. This is the first novel to reimagine and reinterpret Malinalli’s story with the empathy, humanity, and awe she’s always deserved.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesMalinalli: A Novel Reviews
3.0
“I loved the start of this: gorgeous prose, fascinating characters, compelling story. Even the pacing being a bit choppy was totally fine and worked at the start.
Although I liked the story and characters throughout, it got more unevenly paced and confusing around the last quarter.
Overall, still a beautiful novel.
Characters - 3.75 stars
Plot - 4.25 stars
Setting - 4.25 stars
Writing style - 3.75 stars
Pacing - 2 stars
Ending - 2 stars”
“The strongest, most complicated character of history. Malinalli carries Malinches strength within her, from magic, all language knowing and protector to goddess serpent 🐍 Fighting her own people at the same time fighting Spaniards grew a complex identity. Page turner, the amount of tears I shed for her and her twin brother and love for Pakal Balam.
"The women were not afraid, for many followed me eagerly, and few took up fallen weapons to fight alongside me. Perhaps I reminded them of a different time, when women ruled from thrones."
Our matriarchal line might or might not cross with Malinche but her strength lives within our blood.
Paired with a very tasty, very strong beer from Egypt.”
“I wanted to like this book. It had all the right elements but it just didn’t land.”
FlatLimited character growthMorally ambiguousOne-dimensionalUnforgettable protagonistUnlikableFast-pacedLoose endsNonlinear narrativePlot holesRepetitiveRushedUneven pacingUnsatisfying conclusionDarkEerieHistoricalMagicalDenseHard to followAbuseChild abuseChild lossDeathDomestic violenceGriefMurderRacismReligious intoleranceSexual assaultViolenceWar violence
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