In a short note at the beginning of Erika Rummel’s fascinating novel, What They Said About Luisa, the author explains the historical inspiration for the book. Luisa de Abrego, a formerly enslaved woman from Seville, had the first known Christian marriage in the New World. She married Miguel Rodríguez in St. Augustine, in what is now Florida, in 1565. Ten years later, however, de Abrego accused herself of bigamy before the Inquisition in Mexico City. This article from ABC Sevilla, in Spanish, has images of de Abrego’s marriage certificate and trial documents. These documents are the only way we know about Luisa de Abrego. Without them, we wouldn’t know her name, of her enslavement, and of her journey across the Atlantic Ocean to Florida and Mexico. Because there is so little documentation about de Abrego herself, Rummel explains that if we want to know what her life was like, we would have to piece it together based on the better-documented attitudes of people who would’ve left more trace on the historical record: the rich, the privileged, the male, the white. Rummel takes that premise and runs with it.

We see Luisa’s story through a glass darkened by prejudice, lust, avarice…honestly, through quite a few of the seven deadlies. From the wife of the man who enslaved Luisa, Doña Ana, we learn that Luisa was manumitted and given a generous inheritance. We also learn just how furious Doña Ana is that her husband seemed to care more for the welfare of an enslaved woman than his own family. Doña Ana believes there has to be some kind of trick. From Don Fransisco and Captain Juan Diaz, we see how Luisa came to travel across the ocean to Mexico and what she had to leave behind. Alonso de Herrera, a lawyer who reluctantly works for the Inquisition, untangles the legal and church laws Luisa is caught up in. Other characters share their perspectives: a landowner who squeezes every drop of profit from the land and people of Zacatecas, a dying priest who tried to do right by Luisa, a nun who definitely did not try to do right by Luisa. What They Said About Luisa is an incredibly rich book because we learn not just what the title promises but also what they reveal about themselves.

The only thing that marred my experience of What They Said About Luisa was the abrupt shift in the last quarter to the incredibly strange and brutal experience of the child Luisa left behind in Spain when she traveled to Mexico. The abrupt change of focus from the stories of Luisa and the people who knew her makes this last section feel like an extended coda rather than an integral part of the whole novel. Even this I might have been able to roll with but the boy’s life is so packed with the bizarre that it read like a sprint through early Gothic literature. There might be reasons for this section’s inclusion but, for me, this quarter erased a lot of what I was thinking and feeling for Luisa with a large, “Huh?”

In this complex multiple perspective novel, readers travel to sixteenth century Spain and Mexico to uncover the true life of Luisa Abrego, an enslaved woman living in Seville. Based on a true sixteenth-century trial and historical documents from the real Luisa’s trial, readers explore the complexity of sixteenth century racial hierarchies, the roles of Catholicism and the Inquisition in private life (especially when it comes to marriage), and the politics of empire and colonialism as experienced by women and enslaved people. Each chapter, told by a different character who witnessed some aspect of Luisa’s trial, gives readers a new insight into this trial and makes the entire situation (and thus the entire novel) even more complex. As the story unfolds and more elements get introduced, readers gain a greater understanding of the complex social systems and matrices of power that Luisa interacts with in the sixteenth-century Spanish empire. Full of complex characters and a wonderfully detailed historical and narrative background, Rummel’s novel is really immersive and complex with its exploration of sixteenth century history in such a vibrant narrative. The characters and multiple perspectives do not overwhelm the reader, instead adding to the depth and complexity of setting and narrative detail Rummel creates in this novel.

What They Said About Luisa immediately peaked my interest when I heard about it.⁣⁣ A true story of an emancipated slave claiming her livelihood and (ultimately) thriving? Yes, please!
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Set in Seville and Mexico during the Spanish Inquisition, this story told of the life of Luisa Abrego. We see the beginnings of her story as a slave deeply taken advantage of by her master, her resulting emancipation and a series of tragedies that shape her life and those around her. ⁣⁣She bravely forges a life for herself despite obstacles at every turn, including some that are frustratingly self-inflicted.
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The twist? We literally read this book as a series of POV’s of the people surrounding Luisa; 𝘸𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘓𝘶𝘪𝘴𝘢. In some ways, I did feel like this was a clever way to give a different perspective than the standard hist fic. Mostly, though, I felt as though the “gossipy” style made it hard to connect with the characters, especially Luisa. It also wasn’t lost on me that she was silenced both by her circumstances and also by the way the book was written.⁣⁣
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There were a number of things that were almost there in this novel. I give the author a lot of credit for a unique idea and for her incredibly descriptive writing. On the whole, though? I liked this novel, but couldn’t find a way to love it. ⁣
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I received this book through @netgalley . All opinions are my own.

Based on a true story, this was an enthralling read about a woman named Luisa from everyone’s point of view except her own. This is a story of human triumph over adversity and explores the question of what makes a person who they are. The well-meaning few truly give hope to humanity throughout the story. Various points of view, not only in regard to Luisa, but also to the time period as well, added beneficial dimension to a traditional historical fiction novel. While telling Luisa’s story, insight was presented into the Spanish Inquisition, enticing the reader to inquire further about the topic. A duel setting between both Spain and Mexico highlighted the cultural diversity, as well as racial strife and religious corruption in the 1500s. This was a daring format to write a book but it was very engaging. What They Said About Luisa would be a good fit for readers looking for a highly emotional book taking place during the Spanish Inquisition.

What They Said About Louisa, is exactly that. A collection of impressions and interactions from chosen people from Louisa’s life.

The book begins in Spain when Louisa is sixteen. She is a black slave who has become pregnant by her master. Upon his death he grants her her freedom. But how is she to care for herself and her child? She happens to meet a white man who proposes marriage to her. He wants a helpmate to go with him to Mexico while he starts up a silver mining business. She agrees but has to leave her son behind.

The book is interesting in that Louisa is never given a voice. Everything I learned about Louisa was all from each persons bias, ignorance or brief knowledge of her. One thing that was hard for me to get used to was that each person seemed to have a similar voice. I imagine that this is because it’s the same author but it felt a bit unrealistic.

So many tragic things happened to the people in this book. I was wondering when anyone would get a break! But I guess that during the inquisition nobody is going to be let off the hook!

I have never read about this era. I was surprised at the strange rules of the Catholic Church. The fact that they set up a whole system of spies to police people and get them to report their neighbors was scary. Kind of like the communists but with sins?!

Because Louisa was black, she was ostracized in Spain. I thought it would be better in Mexico but it was just the same. Most people in the community looked upon her as a slovenly, half-breed slave. Because she was very beautiful but quiet they decided she was a tease and a whore. Poor Louisa!

I wish I could have heard Louisa’s side of the story but the book is based on paperwork from the trial of the real Louisa.

I thought the book was interesting and gave it a 3.5 rounded up.

Trigger warnings: sex, child abuse, lewd acts, racism and misogyny.

Many thanks to Erika Rummel and Dundrun press for the ARC via NetGalley!!

16th Century Spanish raciat & bigotry culture, with each chapter providing a different insight of Louisa Abrego's explotative experiences of after slavery and her life before and after.

The style & presentation 'shows you', rather than let you feel & develop your oen understanding of Louisa's perspective, which means it is hard to tell who she really was...was this the author's intention? It apprars as a well researched account based upon 16th Century Trial transcipts, but appreciate a more well developed character personal perspective.

Thanks to Dundurn Press and Netgalley for giving me early access to this book for a review in return.

When I saw this book I was really fascinated by it. The cover is great and the synopsis sounded really interesting, I was so excited that I got approved to read it. This book was even better than I expected.

This book follows the life of Luisa Abrego. Once a slave who was impregnated by her master, who then marries a white man and moves to Mexico. While in Mexico she has a run in with the Spanish Inquisition, before returning back to Spain. The book is exquisitely written and researched, and is based on the 16th century trial records of the real Luisa.

The strength of this book comes from how it is told. Although Luisa is the titular character, she does not have her own perspective. It is all outside accounts of her life and the impact that she has on others. This was not what I expected going into the novel and during the first few chapters I was skeptical, but as I got further into the novel, and as more characters were introduced, I fell in love.

There is an obvious weakness with this method of storytelling, and that is that we never hear from Luisa. She is, mostly, a silent character. She is described as shy and quiet, and often doesn't speak.; That means that there is very little dialogue with her, so that it is really difficult to tell who she really is. If I could change one thing about the novel, it would be that the afterward would take place from Luisa's perspective.

The best part about this book is how unique all the different voices are. The author does a wonderful job at creating all these full and actualized characters who have distinct voices. I was really impressed that while I was reading it I could hear such distinct voices in my head for each of the characters. It takes a lot of skill to write this way.

Overall this was a very enjoyable read. The characters are wonderfully flushed out and realized, and the history in it is vivid and ever-present. I would highly recommend this book.

Really enjoyed the pace and writing style of the book which also provided better understanding of the situation in the world in the sixteen century. Slavery, the power of church, inquisition, lives of different people from different parts of the society, all these things were interestingly presented by Erika Rummel, a master storyteller and historian. Great story, very attractive from the beginning to the end .

What They Said About Luisa is a captivating historical tale that gripped me from start to finish. As a fan of historical fiction, Luisa Abrego's journey, from enslaved woman to navigating perilous trials in Mexico, deeply resonated with me. Rummel's storytelling, based on real sixteenth-century records, vividly brings Luisa's world to life. The moral dilemmas and rich historical tapestry make this novel an engaging read for anyone who loves the genre, solidifying my appreciation for captivating historical fiction narratives."

A good history journey is always a fun read. And if you look at this story like a Rebecca, where we hear all about the main character, but we never actually get to hear from her, then it will be a better journey for you. I loved hearing all about Louisa of Seville and her incredible life through the ten or so characters who talk about her. It was like getting a newspaper journey of her life.

A slave who was emancipated and shows persistence and moxie through her life is a great role model for anyone, no matter where you are in life. Its interesting to view bigotry, racism, and bias set in a different time and almost a different world than the one we are living in and to see the parallels it still has in our lives today.

This is a lovely historical fiction and a great read if this time in history interests you!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy for my honest opinion!

This story was like a candle you save for a special occasion, that you light in spurts throughout the day and savor slowly. This was how I enjoyed the story of Luisa, which is very different from stories I devour quickly. I realized early on that I wanted to take my time with this one.

We are introduced to Luisa from many different perspectives; her character development is well thought out, intentional, and pleasant. The details in the novel painted vivid images for me and I found myself liking and disliking characters. Being able to have readers connect in very visceral ways takes a talented author, which Erika Rummel undoubtedly is. I've never read anything by Erika but will seek additional work out from this author moving forward.

Luisa is born a slave in Seville at a time when the Spanish are rapidly extending their colonial power over the American continent. Based on a real historical figure, Luisa Abrego, is emancipated and left a healthy inheritance following the death of her master, we follow Luisa's journey across the Atlantic and back again. It’s an interesting historical period, with staunch Christianity penetrating through society, an important tool for the Spanish government to maintain order and control in their new colonies.


We follow Luisa through the voices of those she encounters, never following her own thoughts, but instead learning about her through the words of others. I enjoyed this perspective, we hear from distinct characters who have their own world views, prejudices, and morals. Women like Luisa, born into slavery with little social standing, rarely got the chance to write their own narratives. We learn much of women in history from the standpoint of others, men, or those taught to write - often in religious orders. It felt relevant therefore to see her story through the eyes of others, you are left as a reader to judge who she really was. This was an enjoyable and well written historical novel, covering an interesting period, at the heart of which was a likeable heroine who despite not ever being our main perspective, felt incredibly real.

This was a historical based story during the period of the advancement of the Spanish Inquisition into South America. and is based upon the story of a real person. It demonstrates the typical levels of society during this period. Luisa starts life as a servant and ends up as a financially independent woman in her home village and the other village folk cannot cope with the change. My only issue was that it ended very suddenly and I wanted more of the story to take her to the end of her life and how her sone fared.
Please Erika continue this story to the very end with another book following the ife of Luisa.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. This book is based on writings about the real Luisa but every chapter is told from a viewpoint of a different person telling her story. I loved this book and thought it was fascinating. Five stars for me! I’ll definitely read more by this author! Check it out on may 21st.

A very engaging read! Taking place during the years of the Spanish Inquisition, Luisa ( an actual person about whom very little is know) leaves her native Spain and illegitimate son ( an infant) to travel to Mexico with a husband she barely knows. We hear from everyone about Luisa but the only voice we don’t hear is hers. This makes for great storytelling. The style and characters reminded me of the novels of Isabelle Allende and fans of Allende should like this one too. I would highly recommend it

“What They Said About Luisa” by Erika Rummel is a captivating and meticulously researched historical novel that offers a vivid and compelling portrayal of the life of Luisa Abrego, an emancipated woman who forges a new future for herself in colonial Mexico. The book has been praised for its intriguing subject and narrative approach, making it a literary masterpiece that deserves to be cherished and experienced. Rummel’s storytelling is both enchanting and thought-provoking, as she weaves a complex and fascinating tale of Luisa’s life, from her emancipation in Seville to her journey to colonial Mexico. The author’s attention to historical detail and her carefully researched imagining of Luisa’s life bring the sixteenth-century setting to life, offering readers a rich and immersive reading experience.

The character of Luisa is portrayed with depth and nuance, allowing readers to empathize with her struggles and triumphs as she navigates the challenges of her time. The book’s narrative approach, which presents Luisa’s life through the perspectives of various characters, adds layers of complexity to the story, offering a multifaceted and compelling portrayal of a woman caught in the tumultuous events of her era. The book’s exploration of themes such as emancipation, identity, and the impact of colonialism on individuals’ lives resonates with readers, making it a valuable and thought-provoking addition to the historical fiction genre. Rummel’s ability to bring the past to life and to shed light on the experiences of real historical figures, such as the real Luisa based on sixteenth-century trial records, adds authenticity and depth to the novel.

In conclusion, “What They Said About Luisa” by Erika Rummel is a captivating and meticulously researched historical novel that offers a vivid and compelling portrayal of the life of Luisa Abrego. The book’s intriguing subject, narrative approach, and the author’s attention to historical detail make it a literary masterpiece that deserves to be cherished and experienced. Rummel’s storytelling is both enchanting and thought-provoking, offering readers a rich and immersive reading experience that sheds light on the impact of colonialism on individuals’ lives. This book is a valuable and thought-provoking addition to the historical fiction genre, offering a multifaceted and compelling portrayal of a woman caught in the tumultuous events of her era.

A solid 3 stars for this upcoming release by Erika Rummel, a story following the life of Luisa Abrego, as told from multiple perspectives of those who have met her.
This was a super fascinating concept and I loveee anything set in 16th century Spain- however, while I did really enjoy some perspectives and found them to be interesting and engaging, some others seemed less necessary and the language in which they were written did take me out of the historical setting of the story. I would have enjoyed if the final chapter had been told from Luisa's perspective, just to round off the story of her life.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel.

This is a story told about a Mulatto slave by several people she encounters in her life, but we never hear her own voice.

The first character we meet is Luisa’s husband, but it is too brief even to begin to learn who Luisa is. The second character was so unlikeable, that I almost stopped reading this book. I’m glad that I did not.
The reader meets 10 more characters all of whom share their opinion of Luisa. Each speaks in a distinctive voice and draws out specific characteristics of this woman.

The story is based on the transcript of a trial of Luisa in the 16th-century Seville. Luisa’s life takes her from Seville to a rural Mexican mining town, and then back to Seville during the era of the Inquisition.

The twist in the plot is when Luisa self-incriminates herself to the Inquisition.

It is a story of persistence, ignorance, loyalty, sacrifice, and love. Well worth reading.

A well-written and expertly researched historical novel about Luisa Abrego of Seville, a lesser-known female figure in the history of the Spanish Inquisition. I absolutely loved how beautifully Erika Rummel was able to capture the reader's interest within a few pages and how elegantly she portrayed the events that took place not only in Luisa's life but for those who lived during the Spanish Inquisition. I highly recommend any history lover to give this book a try"

A well written, extensively researched historical novel following real-life former slave Luisa Abrego. Each chapter uses a different person’s perspective to follow her journey from Spain to Mexico and back again. The novel felt like it was less about Luisa than it was about exploring the period and history of Spain, Mexico, colonialism and slavery. The format is designed to erase Luisa's voice as it was in life but I found it frustrating to be so distant from her. Not one for me.