Malinalli - by Veronica Chapa (Hardcover)

About the Book

"An imaginative retelling of the triumphs and sorrows of one of the most controversial and misunderstood women in Mexico's history and mythology..."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

An imaginative retelling of the triumphs and sorrows of one of the most controversial and misunderstood women in Mexico's history and mythology, perfect for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Gods of Jade and Shadow and Zoraida Córdova's The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina.

A real-life historical figure, the woman known as Malinalli, Malintzin, La Malinche, Doña Marina, and Malinalxochitl was the Nahua interpreter who helped Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés communicate with the native people of Mexico. When indigenous leaders observed her marching into their cities, they believed she was a goddess--blessed with the divine power to interpret the Spaniards' intentions for their land. Later, historians and pop culture would deem her a traitor--the "Indian" girl who helped sell Mexico's future to an invader.

In this riveting, fantastical retelling, Malinalli is all of those things and more, but at heart, she's a young girl, kidnapped into slavery by age twelve, and fighting to survive the devastation wrought by both the Spanish and Moctezuma's greed and cruelty. Blessed with magical powers, and supported by a close-knit circle of priestesses, Mali vows to help defend her people's legacy. In vivid, compelling prose, debut author Veronica Chapa spins an epic tale of magic, sisterhood, survival, and Mexican resilience. This is the first novel to reimagine and reinterpret Malinalli's story with the empathy, humanity, and awe she's always deserved.

Review Quotes

"A lush tale about the power of language, the complexities of empire, and the bonds of sisterhood, with a heroine of mythical proportions at its center. Chapa introduces us to a new, captivating world in all its beauty and cruelty."--Rita Chang-Eppig, author of Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea

"Chapa brings Mexican indigenous empires to life with magic and fervor. A wild, unforgettable adventure."

--Reyna Grande, author of A Ballad of Love and Glory

"Chapa conjures Malinche's incredible story with the compassion and reverence she has always deserved. Tragic yet triumphant, it made my Mexican heart sing."--Sofia Robleda, bestselling author of Daughter of Fire

"In Veronica Chapa's stunning novel Malinalli, Mexican mythology and history mix in a propulsive story of magic, love, and the struggle for power in a new world."--Luis Jaramillo, author of The Witches of El Paso

"Veronica Chapa's stunning novel Malinalli takes us into the mystery of history with a vivid and unprecedented journey into the Spanish invasion of Aztec Mexico. It gives us a profound portrait of the mother of modern, mestizo, Mexico. Named La Malinche by Cortez and his men, she endured a cataclysmic battle for this continent. You won't be sorry." --Luis Alberto Urrea, acclaimed author of The House of Broken Angels