Riveting from start to finish, a multi-generational (for several families, even) tale spanning several continents.

I'm not sure what happened with me that I didn't read this earlier but it's been so long since I was approved for the ARC that I not only purchased a digital copy but then found an audio narration (masterfully done by Aida Reluzco) from the library to be able to mark this off my "pending" ARC list. Now that I've finished I'm kicking myself that I waited so long? I'm a little obsessed actually and I want a physical copy too, in both English AND Japanese.

The amount of research that must have been done here not only to be understood but to communicate it in such an accessible way to the reader is brilliant -- from Aztec culture and mythologies to the history of Latin American cartels, to human organ trafficking and the yakuza "reforms" and even the trickiness with unregistered children... and then to have this wide cast of characters that have full backgrounds that all tie together so well? Brilliant. I would read more that Kiwamu Sato writes (and especially more that Aida Reluzco reads -- she's had to pronounce English, Japanese, Spanish, Nahuatl, a dialect of Indonesian, Chinese names, Vietnamese names... all while giving characters life in her voice). But do be warned it is GRUESOME, in line with cartel and yakuza practice, and also... the organ trade. Lots of content warnings so please check for them if you need them. The tale is RICH in lore and really draws you in, trying to figure out how everything will shake out and then the ending? I really loved the almost-epilogue of the ending, the way the stories are told. This is really something that'll be with me for a time.

Thank you so much to Yen Press/Yen On and to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for review!

This book takes you on a journey around the World it seems, but really opens with what you think is going to be a book about Mexico in the end you are in Asia and the characters you started with are gone, and now you have one sibling and some other characters. The book deals with drugs, money, poverty, street life, the strong taking advantage of the weakest, and then at times the weakest getting over the strong. The police and other so-called authorities cannot or will not help because everything is too far gone. When you get to the end there is one good moment which I can say the book ends on a happy note. For me not a bad story, don’t know if that is a sign of me or not for some this is not a book for you murder death, and maham, drugs Life for some people is not good. For me though a good read, being aware could be a trigger for some people

This book was fascinating and incredibly detailed. I requested it due to the japanese author, however the book wasn't set in Japan, nor did it relate to Japan at all in any significance. The story centres on the drug trade initially in Mexico, moving onto other lucrative trade as a drug lord is forced to reinvent himself. This felt like a true story of how the lead character rebuilt his empire it was so rich and detailed. The characters were well written and the plot was engaging. I won't give the ending away but the book was really good.

Thank you to Netgalley and Yen Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very long book, mind you. Its thick with drama, graphic violence and heavy plot but it was carried so well by the main character, a half Mexican half Japanese boy. Its interesting though it can be hard to follow sometimes bcus of how descriptive this can be. I actually sympathise our main lead for how lacking of love he was in his life growing up. Its a story of cruelty and filled with violence,finding a place to belong. What i can say, i enjoyed this but it gets very heavy mostly.

Tezcatlipoca is a lot. As in, a young boy is murdered and dismembered by a cartel in the first few pages, a lot. This is not a light read, but darkness has merit, too. I wasn't always in the right mood mind you, but I could appreciate it for what it was trying to accomplish. It can be an interesting read, if you give it a chance.