this was a great introduction to the world, the characters were great and I really liked the worldbuilding. I look forward to more in this series and the author.

This was a strange book for me to read. I do not usually read this type of book especially as it starts in a very sad way. The burial of the dog is an unusual start to the book. The characters were interesting and there was a story which kept me intrigued .

Eighteenth-century Maracaibo is a bustling port city in Venezuela, filled with everyday personal dramas and commerce. Wealthy merchants, hard-working laborers, slaves, and sailors along with the indigenous Wayuu people create a rich mix of humanity with its assortment of major conflicts and petty jealousies. Sixteen-year-old Mariah`s mother died when she was born, leaving her heartbroken father, merchant Don Bosque to raise her. Naïve, somewhat spoiled Mariah knows almost nothing about her mother because her father refuses to discuss his dead wife. On the day Mariah mourns another emotional loss and feels a subtle calling from the sea, Michael/Miguel, a mysterious sailor, enters her life. Without a surname, and with only vague references to his early life with his father, Miguel’s curious omissions lure Mariah and her three friends closer to him once Don Bosque employs him and invites him to live in Mariah's family home.

Aura of Dawn is a clever origin story about itself and other types of origin stories—personal, cultural, mythic, and legendary. Knowing and being known are other recurring themes examined from different angles. Descriptions of busy Maracaibo geography and society create a dynamic backdrop for Mariah and Miguel's angsty, volatile interactions. There are information gaps regarding Don Bosque and a dangerous foe that suggest having read books one and two in the Zyanya Cycle series would provide greater clarity. This prequel hints at entertaining significant and shocking revelations to come for those who have yet to read books one and two. It also deepens current fans' appreciation for the featured characters' histories and motivations, which make it an alluring story for fans of historical romance with implications of supernatural elements.

Page turner! This book is a great coming of age book, a good read for all ages. The descriptions the author conveys brings you into the depths of the story and makes you want to dive right into the next book of the series.