While the premise of this book - historical fantasy set in an alternate version of 16th Century Mexico, weaving in Mesoamerican mythology and themes of colonisation and resistance - sounds really up my street, unfortunately it didn't deliver for me. It is refreshing to read a fantasy inspired by something non-European, if you have an interest in this era and mythology in general, I'd still recommend trying this out for that reason. I also enjoyed the main character Leonora, who is strong and really drives the story. However, I found it hard to follow, and the pacing was very all or nothing. This decreased my emotional investment and therefore enjoyment. Thank you to Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for the honest review. I definitely think that this will have a readership who will love it, I'm just not one of those readers.

Dawn of Fate and Fire is a rich and evocative conclusion to Mariely Lares’ duology, following Sun of Blood and Ruin. Picking up immediately where the first book ends, this sequel offers a sweeping continuation of Leonora’s journey as she embraces her identity as Pantera, navigating both the weight of her magical legacy and the dangers of a world at war.

What stands out most in this novel is its deep sense of place. Rooted in Mexican history and Mesoamerican mythology, Lares masterfully brings the setting to life in a way that feels both immersive and essential—this story simply couldn’t be told anywhere else. The blending of historical figures with magical elements lends the book a haunting realism, especially for readers familiar with the country’s tumultuous colonial past. The tension between the fantastical and historical creates a narrative that is both exciting and emotionally heavy.

Leonora shines as a fierce, determined protagonist. Her grit in the face of betrayal, loss, and impossible choices makes her compelling to follow. Her complex relationships—particularly with Tezca and Martin—add emotional depth to the action, with Martin acting as a grounding presence amidst the chaos. The side characters also offer moments of levity that balance out the darker moments of the story.

That said, the novel can feel overwhelming at times. With many plot lines, characters with multiple names and identities, and a fast pace full of battles and political intrigue, it can be a challenge to keep track of everything. While some action sequences felt repetitive, the final confrontation delivers a powerful payoff.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This duology really didn’t work for me. I think others will love this but for me I just didn’t enjoy it. I didn’t enjoy book 1 and almost DNFed it but stuck it out hoping this one would be better and I just didn’t enjoy this one either.

This the second book in duology and I can confirm that I was quite excited to lay my eyes on it. Author is doing a fabulous job weaving me so American mythology, bits of history into full of action, quick paced novel. Seamless continuation of the first book, with brief reminder what has happened before. There's a healthy amount of romance but I love how other things a prioritised and/or uqualed to the benefit of the story. A historical fiction sometimes attempts to interpret lives of people that are no longer with us... Sometimes, attempts slightly different route - a "what if" one. It is exactly the case with this book with and interesting spin on the history.
If you have read the first book and enjoyed, I'm sure you'll enjoy the second one as well!

Book Review:

Dawn of Fate and Fire by Mariely Lares

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)

As the conclusion to Sun of Blood and Ruin, Mariely Lares’ ~Dawn of Fate and Fire~ continues her bold, myth-infused reimagining of Zorro with a rich historical fantasy set in 16th-century Mexico.

While the book offers plenty of drama, magic, and intrigue, the finale didn’t quite hit as hard for me as the first.

What I Enjoyed:

* The world remains a standout — full of lush Mesoamerican mythology and vivid historical detail.

* Leonora is still a strong and layered protagonist, and her role as both Pantera and Godslayer adds weight to her journey.

* The writing is atmospheric, with action scenes and magical elements that pop.

* Themes of identity, sacrifice, and rebellion are woven in with care.

What Didn’t Work as Well:

* Pacing felt uneven — slow in some parts, then too fast in others, especially near the end.

* A few side characters and plot threads could’ve used more development or resolution.

* The emotional and romantic stakes weren’t as compelling this time around.

Overall, a solid and imaginative finale, even if it didn’t completely deliver the emotional punch I was hoping for.

Thank you @netgalley @harpervoyager_uk @harperfirebooks for the opportunity to read this book

#bookreview #netgalley #dawnoffateandfire

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

This is the second book in a series. What I liked about this book is it did feel like a satisfying conclusion to the various storylines. Both books did actually do this well, with providing a strong wrap up to the events they were exploring. I would definitely recommend reading these in order. You need the context of the first book to properly understand the second.

This book evokes sense of place extremely well. It’s so heavily influenced by the culture, location and historical period it’s exploring and it brings this to life for the reader. This book couldn’t have been set anywhere else and I really liked that. It felt like the author was really trying to provide a feeling of the time and place and I thought this was done really well.

With both books I did feel like there was so much going on it was hard to keep track of. Characters have multiple names and identities and this can be a bit confusing with keeping track of who knows who they are and who doesn’t.

Excuse me. I can't believe this ending!!
It's worth it but now I'm upset it's done. I love the characters so much, it'll be a book to stick with you!