Asiri and the Amaru

Pisqu Sweet and Sour #1

by Natalia Hernandez

Asiri has a gift - she has the ability to speak to animals. However, when she begins to feel that her talents are being abused in her home, she escapes to a delightful coastal village where she plans to hide her gift and finally live a “normal” life.

This proves difficult as her path keeps crossing with Dario, the village’s charming and handsome animal healer - and the person most likely to guess her secret.

Through a twist of fate, Asiri and Dario stumble across an injured Amaru, a creature who had, up until then, been thought only to be myth.

Now, Asiri has a mission.

Convince Dario to help the creature.
Protect it from the superstitious town people.
Keep her gift a secret.

And absolutely, most definitely, NOT fall in love while doing so.

Asiri and the Amaru is a Cozy Latin Fantasy Romance based on Peruvian mythology and is intended for adult audiences.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Cozy Fantasy, Cozy, Mythology, Fantasy Romance, Fiction

271 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 22, 2023

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m so torn about this book! I LOVED (love, love, loved) the mythology, setting, cultural education, ADHD rep, animal communication, general cozy fantasy vibes… and then BAM unexpected smut. My dear buddy reader described it as middle grade with explicit sex and now I can’t unsee it 😬

Jury’s still out on whether I’ll continue with the series, but the things I loved I really really loved, and I absolutely want more Peruvian myth in my stories, but I just wish this one were a little more polished and pulled together and less jarring in tone shift.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot overstate how much I thoroughly enjoyed this comforting, cozy romance fantasy book that is rich in Quechuan folklore

[Ayushi (bookwormbullet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg this was so cute!! I can't wait for Paloma's book! 4.5 stars rounded up

[Itzel Labra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautifully written book! I loved all the education about Mythology in the book. You could tell there was so much passion written into it.

[a seductive cactus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorably fluffy. Great Peruvian mythology and so many cute animals. Dario’s dog captured my heart.

[girlwithhearteyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

This was so sweet and cozy! I think it’s magical realism? Like a fairytale for grown ups, complete with talking animals (that only Asiri can hear).

It took me a couple of chapters to get into the story, but then I was quickly won over by all the cute animals that Asiri could communicate with.

Asiri and Dario were both very endearing — two soft hearted people finding love in an adorably heartwarming story.

[Shayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sweet story that was just a little too light on “Very Grumpy Guinea Pig with little dog energy”.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

so so so cute

[Divya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect blend of cozy wholesome fluff and spice. Quick read. Definitely going to read the second book!

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorably sweet and cute with a little bit of spice thrown in for pizazz!

[ces · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have no notes. this was so cute and fun and just WOW 💛🫶🏽

[Z.S. Diamanti]

🌶️Spice Warning!

I normally don’t read any spicy books. They’re not my jam.

But let’s talk about the features of this book that I really enjoyed for those readers who don’t mind spice.

Asiri and the Amaru has a lot of really interesting Peruvian mythology in it, which for me, was just so fascinating to read about!

The two main characters, Asiri (she can speak to animals and escapes her old life, looking for a fresh start) and Dario (a handsome local veterinarian) are both likable in their own ways. Their “Will they, won’t they” interactions are made all the more interesting by animals that interrupt their conversations as they speak to Asiri.

Again, there is some significant spice in this book, so definitely be wary of that. If you don’t mind spice in your books and you’re looking for an interesting cultural magic and mythology in a sweet (and spicy) book, you may really enjoy this one.

[USOM · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the author. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

Asiri and the Amaru being dual POV is brilliant. Not only do we get to witness the mis-conceptions and misunderstandings, we can see - from early on - the similarities between Asiri and Dario. The way they are struggling to be seen for who they are. How they've been so hurt by those who should have loved them, seen them, accepted them for who they are. But how their love, their passions, their words, their abilities were used against them. It hurt my heart to see! I just want to scoop them up and protect them.

[mayarí · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was so sweet! i loved the story and i don’t think i’ve ever read such an educational romance, and it showcased peruvian culture, foods, animals and folklore so beautifully.

my one issue with this book was the pacing. you could tell me all this happens within three days and i would believe you, and it really prevented me from fully getting into this story.

[Theresa Waller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and easy read! Very excited for the next book in the series. I had to be careful when telling people I was reading this because I didn’t want co-workers or family to go read this book and then realize I’m just reading smut oopsies🤭🤭

[MikeLikesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great introduction to Peruvian mythology. Siri has a special gift. She can speak with animals. Dario is a young veterinarian. There is a strong chemistry between them that turns into a spicy romance. Yhey need to help a mystical creature, the Amari. In order to do so, Asiri has to take a perilous journey.

I thought this book was sweet, magical and spicy. I was happy to read this novel.

[rena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐
this was so cute and actually funny something that i dont find easily in books (marco was the star of the story btw). it was like an animation in my head and the drawings were a lovely bonus. the feeling the book gave me is what i expect from cozy fantasy!

the only things i didn't enjoy was the characters sometimes acting too.. silly? like dario being too accepting of the fact that in his point of view asiri has been rude more than once to him and asiri answering animals when she shouldn't more than two times.
plus the fact that the book didn't decide if they would speak spanish or not? words that cant be translated right i can understand, but characters speaking a whole spanish sentence in the midle of an english conversation without explanation kept happening and that didn't make sense to me. not a big issue when i could understand what was being said, but still.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This cover is so freaking beautiful that I want to hang the book up so I can look at it all day long.

While the plot of this one sounded just prefect the story felt a little lacking to me. It might have been the longer set up needed before the story could really get rolling and the shorter page length but the plot and the relationship didn't feel fully fleshed out to me. There were great secondary characters, including all the animals, but I felt like we just got tiny glimpses that left me wanting more.

[Camille R · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was probably like 3.5 stars for me, as much as I wanted to love this story because of Peruvian representation, I feel like the writing was definitely a bit too clunky at times for me. The plot sort of jumped around and spent too long in some scenes and way too short of a time in others. Although I can appreciate a simple plot, at times it felt underdeveloped. Some of the dialogue was a little corny, but cute, but overall, I was not as attached to these characters/story as I hoped I would be. That being said I loved the concept of paying homage to Peruvian mythology, fauna, and landscapes. Side note: as a Peruvian there were some references that did NOT make sense to me historically/geographically, but to this books case, it is hard to tell when exactly Hernandez meant to set this story in, but it still bugged me quite a bit.

[Stephanie Ascough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet!

This sweet adult romance is full of colorful Peruvian culture, funny animals, and small-town vibes. It’s very light-hearted. It feels almost like a YA novel to begin with, but the author skillfully clues readers in to the fact that this is definitely adult-level romance. As someone who grew up around lots of animals, I loved the animals in this book, their unique personalities, and their humor. The characters are so endearing. I was rooting for Asiri & Dario from the moment I met them, both for their personal lives and for them to be together! I highly recommend this story if you’re looking for a feel-good romantic fantasy with a unique South American flare.

[Taylor Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

The vibes of this book were immaculate! The Quechuan folklore was my favorite part. It added so much to the world and made the story so unique. It felt like a love letter to the culture and I absolutely loved it. The appreciation and connections with animals had me tearing up and the fact that Asiri and Dario bonded over their love of animals was so cute.

I think the pacing was slightly off. The beginning felt very slow and then the ending felt very rushed. Overall, a very good book, and I'm super excited for the next one!

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a 3.5⭐️ read for me. I really enjoyed the Peruvian mythology, especially the end notes after each chapter that provided more in depth explanations. Both the FMC and MMC were engaging, and I appreciated the dual POV, though I didn’t feel it was necessary. Some parts of the story had a more YA tone, which gave it a cozy feel. Also, while I knew the spice was coming, it didn’t add much to the story for me. I also felt that the relationship between Asiri and Dario developed a bit too quickly and could have been built up more. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would definitely read the next one!

[Macie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so good! It had all the cozy vibes and the Mexican culture and folklore made the read so delightful. It felt unique and fun! My only hold back from 5 stars was the spice. It came out of the blue and didn’t seem to fit with the rest of the writing. Their relationship was cute and healthy and fun! I didn’t mind that there was sex described but it didn’t seem to flow with the rest of the story.

I love having this book on my shelf! It is so cute and I cannot wait to read more from Natalia Hernandez!

[Courtney Aguilar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. The only thing that sucks about it is how short it is, I would have loved to see a flash forward of the mains even if it was a small time jump. I guess that's gonna have to wait until the next book!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Perfect mix of funny and sweet with a little bit of spice.

I loved the different personalities for all the animals and the found family.

This also has one of my favorite relationship dynamics: one MC has always been told they are too much and the other has been told they aren't enough. I loved the way Asiri and Dario came together to support each other.

[Hannah Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐ very easy read, I loved the pictures and all the references to the animals and traditional Peruvian culture. it was much more of a romance book then I originally thought it was going to be but its definitely a perfect beach read.

[Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

this may be the most lovable cast of characters I have ever come across. truly so wholesome that i couldn’t put it down, Asiri and the Amaru is the most delightful book i’ve read this year.

[Kristina J · Rating 5 out of 5]

the sweetest, coziest, most whimsical book!!! loved every second of it from start to finish 🫶🏻 my favorite read of 2024!!!!

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. this was SO cute!! I had a great time reading this.

[Marietere T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am obsessed with the magic in this book. Especially the random things the animals said sometimes. Like I was laughing and was obsessed with this. Like I am. So much. SO MUCH.