First published 2025
Hernán Cortés marches into Tenochtitlan one morning in 1519 with nine captains, troops, and two translators. The Spanish conquistadors expect to meet Emperor Moctezuma, but first they must navigate a ceremonial welcome feast hosted by Princess Atotoxli, the emperor's sister and wife. Moctezuma struggles with political and spiritual crises, turning to hallucinogens as he seeks guidance from the gods. The Spanish wait in the vast palace while Captain Jazmín Caldera grows uneasy about their surprisingly smooth entry into the magnificent city. He begins to doubt they can escape alive, let alone conquer this empire. The translators, Friar Aguilar and the former princess Malinalli, bridge two worlds on the verge of collision. As the fateful meeting between Cortés and Moctezuma approaches, the encounter transforms from conquest into something unexpected. The novel reimagines this pivotal moment when two empires, languages, and possible futures hung in the balance.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, adventure, historical-drama
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Tenochtitlan
Period: 1519
206 pages · Paperback · Vintage
Content warnings: colonialism