This was a deeply sad fantasy that could only end in sadness considering it's about a real person in history, yet the "quest" at the heart kept me immersed.

I honestly was completely unaware of who Malinalli/La Malinche was, and I do wish that in the Mexican history I learned in Texas public schools, someone had mentioned that Cortés used an indigenous interpreter. Neither of my other Hispanic friends from Texas public schools knew of La Malinche either, so we at minimum know that I didn't just miss something in our textbook 20 years ago. This is the story of a woman who was sold into sex slavery, who then learned multiple languages until she eventually became the translator who helped the Spanish conquer Tenochtitlán and the rest of Mexico. Historically, she is.... not great.

So this book presents a fantasy version of Malinalli, the girl who had the bad luck to be born on an inauspicious day, so she and her twin would be doomed to miserable lives far from home. So her parents named her instead after the goddess Malinalxochitl. Poor kid thinks she's going to grow up to be a mighty sorceress just like the fearsome goddess, and then her life falls apart, everyone dies, she gets sent to be a priestess, and then she indeed ends up very far from home. She decides that actually what she needs to do is kill Monteczuma, so when the rest of her life happens, everything is all about achieving that goal.

Some of the Goodreads reviews are unhappy because they think this is a book about an unlikeable person who girlbossed too far to the sun. I think instead, this is a fantasy about revenge, and it's ok to have a book about someone who kind of sucks as a person? This isn't meant to redeem someone who did terrible things, but perhaps to give them more interesting motives. "I am going to use the Spaniards to exact my revenge on the evil king" is misguided in retrospect, but makes for a very interesting story about a girl who is basically still a teenager.

I enjoyed this! I did not know much about this historical figure, and this novel made me want to learn more about the different indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica, so I consider that a win.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the digital ARC.

Such an interesting story but the pacing really made it a struggle at times
This was so fascinating to me as someone who's not very familiar with this lore. Would love to read more

Part mythology part historical retelling of Malinalxochitl- went by many names and lived many lives- sorceress, slave, concubine, warrior, avenger.

This was a slow paced story rich with color and vibrant storytelling. Malinali was an interesting character that in her complexity she was kind of annoying lol but it was an interesting book.

Thanks to netgalley and atria books for an eARC

I really enjoyed this retelling! I’ll definitely be looking out for more books by this author. At times the writing was a little slow and found myself struggling a bit until it picked back up. Otherwise, it’s a fantastic book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy of this ARC!

Wow, this was my first book by this author and I would for sure read more. This one was a little different for me at first, but I was able to stretch myself and find a large interest and I learned a lot along the way.

La Malinche, Malinalli, Marina, Doña Marina, etc. All names that are iconic to the complex, yet controversial figure in Mexican history. Known as the Mother of the Mestizos, Malinalli is widely known for being a traitor to her people, becoming the translator for Hernan Cortés after being sold as a slave to him. However, what most people don't know is that it was her mother that sold her into slavery from the beginning. While there is still much that scholars do not know, but can infer based on historical context, like her eventual marriage to Don Juan Jaramillo, she remains an enigma.
Veronica Chapa has gone on to write one of the first fictional accounts of the controversial Malinalli, named for the incredible Nahua goddess, Malinalxochitl, the goddess of serpents. Malinalli means Wild Grass. When she is born, she is given the name due to a prognosticator telling her parents she will be living a hard life away from home, as will her twin brother Eagle. Both children are born with mystic powers, but Malinalli's heart darkens when she finds out her brother was sent to the House of Magical Studies in the infamous city of Tenochtitlan.
Malinalli goes on to harbor resentment in her heart, marking this as one of the points where she begins to grow in her power. Catastrophe strikes, and Malinalli is sent to the temple to learn to further harness her power. As her life changes and unravels, Chapa follows the heartrending story of Malinalli, through all the known and important phases of her life, where she comes of age, and finds her chosen family.
By the end, we meet a Malinalli similar to the one infamous in post colonial lore.
Chapa wrote a beautiful novel following all the phases of the life of Malinalli. My favorite part was the magical realism that was incorporated, and the action that came with it, as mysticism was a piece that was culturally relevant to the Toltecs. In her novel, Chapa also strives to create a character that we can understand in the same cultural light, as well as shed insight onto the reasons for her motives to eventually aid Cortés. Despite all this, I came to love and root for Malinalli, as she rose above her circumstances. Not only that, but many of the instances were historically accurate, and she did an incredible job of researching prior to writing this work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Netgalley, Veronica Chapa and Primero Sueño Press for this ebook in exchange for an honest review!

I like what the author tried to follow here. Reclaiming a space in history for a woman who has more oftentimes not been maligned for the part she played in the downfall of Tenochtitlan. The story started out strong and i liked the back story i was getting, but somewhere between her being at the temple and then coming face to face with Cortes and his agenda, I lost my interest.

great feminist retelling with some awesome style s, although the pacing of the story is a bit weird at a lot of points (which makes sense there's a lot to get thru, but still a bit off). 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

This upcoming book by Veronica Chapa is perfect for the fans of the writing style of Madeline Miller’s Circe, Song of Achilles, and Emily Wilson’s Inanna. It fits perfectly in that realm of historical fiction with just the smidgen of fantasy elements dashed in.

This is my first introduction to Malinalli, so I can’t confirm any historical accuracy or if the account stays true to the tale as historians know it, but it’s entertaining. I love that publishers are expanded into Mesoamerican history and myths lately, my history nerd heart is so happy about that.

Positives aside, one thing I’ve noticed for me and historical fiction is they can come across as dry, and very telling versus showing and making us feel apart of the story with the characters. It seems to be a me thing as others have had no issues with the stories listed above and Malinalli fits in perfectly with them.

3.5 stars

“Malinalli” was the gorgeously told story of the woman who, with her seemingly magical gift for languages, paved the way for Cortes to conquer South America. Based on a real historical figure and suffused with magic, this book elevates Malinalli as a legend. Born as a child with inauspicious stars, her parents change her name in hope of improving her fortunes in life. After the death of her father and brother she becomes a sorceress, a slave, and finally the translator of the invading army. I found Malinalli herself to be a fascinating character, and her relationship with her own rage and desire for revenge was interesting to follow through the story. The writing itself was fabulous, almost poetic, and captured so much nuance in the characters and their actions.
I did feel this book was missing some sense of place, as I found it hard to visualize exactly what was happening and where. I also felt that so much attention to detail and depth was given to the first half of the book that it almost seemed the author had exhausted her powers by the time things got really good - very little time was spent dissecting Malinalli’s dynamic with Cortes and I definitely wanted it to be fleshed out more. Some of the minor characters also could have used a little more page time. Overall an excellent read that I would recommend, I just thought the emphasis should be redistributed somewhat.

4⭐

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for ARC!

𝙈𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞 by Veronica Chapa is an imaginative retelling of one of the most controversial and misunderstood women of Mexican history, reinterpreting the story by giving Malinalli empathy, humanity, and awe.

The fantasy aspect of the book gave a deeper impact to the overall story. The mythology and lore mentioned in the book were very intriguing and kept me hooked.

Malinalli is a complex character whose fate is said to be ill and constantly fuelled by her anger and longing to keep her loved ones safe. At times, it felt very intense from the added magical realism and religious themes but it felt like a compensation for her real world reputation.

The writing style took some time for me to get used to but the pacing for the last two books was perfect.

Veronica Chapa portrays Malinalli as a deeply complex character—both a survivor and a fighter—navigating the devastation of conquest and the heavy burden of her role as interpreter and protector.

𝙈𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞 in overall was written beautifully, with an emphasis on a misunderstood voice whose impression was emotionally powerful.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

This stunning reimagining brings humanity and depth to one of Mexico’s most controversial historical figures, blending history, magic, and mythology into a vivid, emotional tale.

I enjoyed reading this one. It got me emotional a bit but I enjoyed the portrayal of Malinalli.

This was a very interesting read! This is a retelling about Malinalli, one of the most controversial women in Mexico’s history and mythology. Known by many names Malinalli was the Nahua interpreter who helped Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. She is a misunderstood figure in history and this book reimagines and reinterprets her story.

With fantasy aspects added to this book I felt like the story had a deeper impact. It really adds to the mythology and lore and helps to shape Malinalli’s story from a young age. Her journey is based on revenge but as she grows older it slowly transforms into something else. Malinalli goes through so much from a young age and as someone unfamiliar with her story outside of brief mentions from history I loved seeing her development.

At times this book felt a little slow but overall I really enjoyed it! The characters and history were very interesting and I liked the use of magic that added to the story. I recently started reading more historical fantasy books and I am loving this sub-genre! I hope to see more from Veronica Chapa as I really enjoyed the writing style!

Thank you to Veronica Chapa and Atria Books for an eARC!

+ I loved this *+ fantastical retelling + of La Malinche. The story and writing makes Malinalli seem like she's literally just a girl going through it. I loved how the author made her seem like a true person not like the legends or retellings we see on tv that made her seem different. The descriptive writing made me feel like I was Malinalli going through everything.
I also love love love the history and Nahuatl language that was incorporated into the story. I learned so much and that made me so happy "
Fun fact: Whenever I would go to Puebla my cousins would always show me La Malinche, the inactive volcano between Tlaxcala and Puebla. They would tell me her story and I was always so fascinated

The novel was very informative and interesting. I love using historical fiction/fantasy to learn more about histories and mythology. The beginning of the novel was my favorite. The description of things and her time in the temple were so interesting. The middle kind of slowed down and the ending did not have that same lush descriptions in my opinion. Still a very good read.

3 stars to Malinalli, an exciting retelling of the life of Cortez's famed interpreter, La Malinche. In this story, Malinalli is born to a noble family and raised alongside her twin brother, Eagle. As the firstborn of the twins, it is Malinalli's destiny to one day enter the school of magic, alongside the firstborns of other noble families. But tragedy strikes and Malinalli's fate rises before her, to be a reed ever blown in the wind.

What I liked:
- an entertaining story capturing the character of a greatly misunderstood historical figure.
-the Temple of the Eighteen Moons was a brilliant addition to Malinalli's life. So little is known of her life before Cortes. It was nice for her to be given a family and an education before she was misplaced and set adrift. The more magical, mythical twist to her tale is an equally brilliant addition by Chapa.

What I didn't like:
- The beginning was slow and hard to get into. It read like a journal or diary: "I woke up and had breakfast." That sort of thing. It finally picked up about 1/3 of the way through.
- Malinalli is given a "love interest" in the form of a Maya Warrior (presumably a grown-butt man) when she is about 13-14. This romance may have been intended to be joyful or innocent, compared to the abuse as an enslaved concubine and by the hand of Cortes later in her life. Though this would have been acceptable at the time and within the culture, her age and the circumstances around the romance made it feel forced and unnecessary.

Overall, an entertaining historical fiction that beautifully ties in the history of La Malinche with the history, mythology, and culture of the indigenous people of Mexico.

I think I have become disenchanted with the microtrope of feminist retellings of mythology from history centering women as fierce, power-hungry girlbosses. This book was okay but I just wasn't the right audience for it.

I was intrigued by this book because I see very few books about indigenous Mexican history. I was expecting more fantasy from this book but it was very much historical fiction without many fantastical elements; the "magic" in it was cultural legends come to life. Malinalli, or Malinalxochitl, uses her goddess namesake to cement her power but isn't really a goddess herself. She is a Nahua woman who works as a translator for Cortes and claws her way to power.

While these books are historically accurate in the sense that the only avenues women had to claiming power was through marriage or serving as enslaved concubines, and this book did show that, they make these women such unlikable people and universally give them, as much as I hate to say this, masculine traits to secure power and fortune. The women in these mythology retellings all seem to have the same personality. Narcissistic, self-absorbed, never in love but uses sex for personal gain, greedy, experts in battle, brash and outspoken, brushing aside friendships and love interests in pursuit of power at all costs. It's hard to care about the story when you hate the protagonist. I kind of skimmed the last half.

I found it worked best in its descriptions of indigenous culture except a lot of the worldbuilding became very info-dumpey. So in short: Another person may love this who likes books like Babylonia, Circe and Medusa but that person isn't me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Veronica Chapa’s debut does an amazing job bringing Malinalli—aka La Malinche—back to life in a way that feels both powerful and relatable. This is the story of a girl caught in the chaos of history, trying to survive and make sense of her place in a world torn apart by colonization.

What makes this book stand out is the way Chapa adds magic and sisterhood to the mix. It turns Malinalli’s story into something more than just a historical retelling—it’s a story about resilience, hope, and finding strength even when the odds are stacked against you.

The writing is vivid and emotional, and it’s the kind of book that’ll stick with you long after you’ve finished it. If you’re into stories that blend history with fantasy this is a must read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria / Primero Sueno Press, who provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Malinalli is jam-packed with stunning imagery, rich mythology, and compelling characters, making it a refreshing twist on the Greek-mythology-dominated retelling genre. Though I’m unfamiliar with the historical figure that inspired this story, the novel feels deep in culture and folklore and the vivid depictions and deep connection to the natural world hooked me from the very first page. Malinalli’s well-intentioned yet deeply flawed character and motivations make her an authentic and engaging protagonist, and her growth is palpable as she navigates one challenge after another.

The writing style blends magic and reality, though at times it was difficult to tell the boundaries of what magic was truly possible (for example, the sorceresses mention the ability to perform many powerful spells that could solve problems directly, but they rarely seem to perform them). In some ways, this ambiguity adds to the overall dreamy, fantastical tone.

All in all, this is a great read! While the comparisons to Gods of Jade and Shadow and The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina are warranted, Malinalli stands apart with a unique voice, vivid natural imagery, and complex character arc.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a copy of Malinalli by Veronica Chapa.

This stunning reimagining brings humanity and depth to one of Mexico’s most controversial historical figures, blending history, magic, and mythology into a vivid, emotional tale.

Veronica Chapa portrays Malinalli as a deeply complex character—both a survivor and a fighter—navigating the devastation of conquest and the heavy burden of her role as interpreter and protector. The infusion of magical realism, with Mali blessed by divine power and supported by priestesses, adds richness to her journey without detracting from the historical weight of her story.

Beautifully written and emotionally powerful, Malinalli reclaims the voice of a woman often misunderstood by history. Fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Zoraida Córdova will find much to love in this heartfelt, imaginative, and compelling retelling.