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The Mexica Chronicles #1
The Tournament of Heirs: The Mexica Chronicles: Book One
Bloodshed is Coming
Acalan and Metztli Amos have been preparing for The Tournament of Heirs their entire lives. Ignoring their duty has never been an option. They must do whatever it takes to win, or leave their empire heirless.
It's simple.
Six Houses,
Twelve Heirs,
Only two blood bound tributes can win and bring home victory.
Acalan has a duty to the empire he will inherit, and his sister Metztli has to make sure to keep Acalan alive long enough to see his rule come to fruition. Together, both siblings must compete in The Tournament of Heirs, but nothing in the empire is quite as it seems, and destiny has plans of it's own.
Only one thing is certain for the two heirs of the House of Life.
Sacrifices must be made
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
The Tournament of Heirs is a NA Fantasy Novel where a Deadly Tournament meets Aztec Mythology and of course, there's a sprinkle of romance too!
Acalan and Metztli Amos have been preparing for The Tournament of Heirs their entire lives. Ignoring their duty has never been an option. They must do whatever it takes to win, or leave their empire heirless.
It's simple.
Six Houses,
Twelve Heirs,
Only two blood bound tributes can win and bring home victory.
Acalan has a duty to the empire he will inherit, and his sister Metztli has to make sure to keep Acalan alive long enough to see his rule come to fruition. Together, both siblings must compete in The Tournament of Heirs, but nothing in the empire is quite as it seems, and destiny has plans of it's own.
Only one thing is certain for the two heirs of the House of Life.
Sacrifices must be made
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
The Tournament of Heirs is a NA Fantasy Novel where a Deadly Tournament meets Aztec Mythology and of course, there's a sprinkle of romance too!
534 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2024
200 people are currently reading
3183 people want to read
About the author
Amilea Perez
3 books129 followersAmilea Perez is a Mexican-American author and full-time student based in Utah. When she’s not buried in textbooks or conducting research, she enjoys spending time with her family, binge watching TV shows, rewatching her favorite movies, and most of all, crafting stories that celebrate Mexican main characters and cultural pride.
Growing up, Amilea longed to see her heritage reflected in media and higher education. With the guidance of her parents, she learned that change only happens when we take action. Motivated by this belief, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in Biological Chemistry and was named Utah’s Young Humanitarian for her work in improving medical access to underserved communities.
While she takes great pride in her academic and humanitarian accomplishments, Amilea’s heart has always belonged to storytelling. She began writing in 2020 as an outlet for artistic expression, and in 2024, she released her debut novel, The Tournament of Heirs. Through her books, she hopes to continue bringing diverse stories to life and to inspire other Latinx writers to embrace their voices and heritage.
Follow Amilea Perez on social media to stay up to date on her latest projects and upcoming releases.
Website: Amileaauthor.com
Instagram: Amilea.writes
TikTok: Amilea.writes
Growing up, Amilea longed to see her heritage reflected in media and higher education. With the guidance of her parents, she learned that change only happens when we take action. Motivated by this belief, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in Biological Chemistry and was named Utah’s Young Humanitarian for her work in improving medical access to underserved communities.
While she takes great pride in her academic and humanitarian accomplishments, Amilea’s heart has always belonged to storytelling. She began writing in 2020 as an outlet for artistic expression, and in 2024, she released her debut novel, The Tournament of Heirs. Through her books, she hopes to continue bringing diverse stories to life and to inspire other Latinx writers to embrace their voices and heritage.
Follow Amilea Perez on social media to stay up to date on her latest projects and upcoming releases.
Website: Amileaauthor.com
Instagram: Amilea.writes
TikTok: Amilea.writes
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
October 2, 2024
I received a beautiful PR Box from the author that included an ARC that releases on 10/22/24 and these are my unbiased thoughts on the story:
While the PR package was beautiful, the story unfortunately was not. The majority of the story, I was just bored. It just seemed like nothing was happening for 90% of the book. The romance was lacking also. If anyone knows me, I cannot read a book without romance and while it was sprinkled in here and there, it was very lackluster. I didn’t feel either siblings’ love story. There were a lot of grammatical errors and sentence structures that took me out of the story. I did have high hopes for this one because of the synopsis and pretty package I received but the story left a lot to be desired.
*2.5⭐️
While the PR package was beautiful, the story unfortunately was not. The majority of the story, I was just bored. It just seemed like nothing was happening for 90% of the book. The romance was lacking also. If anyone knows me, I cannot read a book without romance and while it was sprinkled in here and there, it was very lackluster. I didn’t feel either siblings’ love story. There were a lot of grammatical errors and sentence structures that took me out of the story. I did have high hopes for this one because of the synopsis and pretty package I received but the story left a lot to be desired.
*2.5⭐️
October 29, 2024
I was so excited to read this one when I learned it was like the Hunger games x game of thrones x Aztec mythology!
We follow two siblings- Acalan and Metztli (my favorite baddie) and they've been preparing for the tournament of heirs their entire lives.
They have a sweet sibling dynamic, and how Acalan ends up being the golden retriever kind older brother (who loves reading and journaling) and Metztli is the fierce, touch my brother and you die, black cat energy we need.
There are also two romance subplots, and my favorite was watching the enemies to lovers unfold between Metztli and her greatest rival during the bloody tournament.
I loved having the world based on Aztec mythology, something I have yet to see in romantasy!
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC!
We follow two siblings- Acalan and Metztli (my favorite baddie) and they've been preparing for the tournament of heirs their entire lives.
They have a sweet sibling dynamic, and how Acalan ends up being the golden retriever kind older brother (who loves reading and journaling) and Metztli is the fierce, touch my brother and you die, black cat energy we need.
There are also two romance subplots, and my favorite was watching the enemies to lovers unfold between Metztli and her greatest rival during the bloody tournament.
I loved having the world based on Aztec mythology, something I have yet to see in romantasy!
Thank you so much to the author for the ARC!
September 7, 2024
I really really wanted to love this book because the synopsis sounded like it would be right up my alley. Unfortunately this book was way too much of a slow burn for me and really didn’t grab my attention until about 60% through but then my attention started to dwindle again until 86%. I felt like I struggled and had to force myself to push my way through. If you like slow burns this may be a good book for you.
There was also difficulty for me of staying in the era the book was intended to be themed, but because phrases used, it unfortunately took me back to a modern day feeling.
I think overall, all I can say is it that it was okay to me. 3 stars because although slow burns are not for me, I know others do like them.
There was also difficulty for me of staying in the era the book was intended to be themed, but because phrases used, it unfortunately took me back to a modern day feeling.
I think overall, all I can say is it that it was okay to me. 3 stars because although slow burns are not for me, I know others do like them.
October 23, 2024
i had an absolute BLAST reading this book and can’t wait for you guys to dive into the action, lore, and heartbreak. tToH is new adult fantasy, so perfect for readers who want a fresh fantasy world with a romance subplot to keep them going. i fell in LOVE with these characters and am invested for the rest of the series🥹
The Tournament of Heirs follows Metzli and Acalan, a sister brother duo who were raised to compete in a deadly tournament between the six “houses” to defend their right to rule the kingdom. it’s giving hunger games x aztec mythology and i ATE IT UP!! i loved learning about the different houses (oh nooo the heir to the house of blood is hot and mysterious??? 😫), and the politics were 🤌🏼. once we got to the games i was absolutely sat and was NOT prepared for the twists thrown our way. there’s definitely a more grand scale scheme unfolding, and i can’t wait to see how it plays out.
i will say, the plot is pretty slow burn especially in the beginning. the tournament doesn’t start until over the 50% mark, but i really enjoyed the world building and character setting in the beginning. patience pays off with this one!
some things to look forward to:
🌿 deadly tournament
🗡️ aztec mythology
🌿 brother / sister bond
🗡️ ancient prophecy
🌿 enemies to lovers
🗡️ warring kingdoms
🌿 meddling gods / goddesses
🗡️ romance subplot
🌿 sacrifice (ow)
The Tournament of Heirs follows Metzli and Acalan, a sister brother duo who were raised to compete in a deadly tournament between the six “houses” to defend their right to rule the kingdom. it’s giving hunger games x aztec mythology and i ATE IT UP!! i loved learning about the different houses (oh nooo the heir to the house of blood is hot and mysterious??? 😫), and the politics were 🤌🏼. once we got to the games i was absolutely sat and was NOT prepared for the twists thrown our way. there’s definitely a more grand scale scheme unfolding, and i can’t wait to see how it plays out.
i will say, the plot is pretty slow burn especially in the beginning. the tournament doesn’t start until over the 50% mark, but i really enjoyed the world building and character setting in the beginning. patience pays off with this one!
some things to look forward to:
🌿 deadly tournament
🗡️ aztec mythology
🌿 brother / sister bond
🗡️ ancient prophecy
🌿 enemies to lovers
🗡️ warring kingdoms
🌿 meddling gods / goddesses
🗡️ romance subplot
🌿 sacrifice (ow)
October 23, 2024
This was my first Aztec inspired book and the vibes were there!
Deadly trials. Two siblings. Only 2 blood related heirs can win and get a wish from the Gods, as well as sit on the throne.
It was slightly slow at the beginning but I enjoyed it. The bond between Acalan and Metztli was so adorable and the world building was truly interesting!
The romance was not really developed in this but I hope it gets better in the next installments.
Also, there’s a dog sidekick in the story and he was so cute 🥰
This got me intrigued about book 2 and I’m really thankful to the author for the ARC!
Deadly trials. Two siblings. Only 2 blood related heirs can win and get a wish from the Gods, as well as sit on the throne.
It was slightly slow at the beginning but I enjoyed it. The bond between Acalan and Metztli was so adorable and the world building was truly interesting!
The romance was not really developed in this but I hope it gets better in the next installments.
Also, there’s a dog sidekick in the story and he was so cute 🥰
This got me intrigued about book 2 and I’m really thankful to the author for the ARC!
September 27, 2024
YEEESH. You are not ready for this book. This is the adult hunger games we didn’t know we asked for but that we NEEDED!
♛ 𝙆𝙞𝙡𝙡. 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙚. 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩. 𝙒𝙞𝙣.
Metztli is such a fierce and determined force throughout the entire story; her single-minded goal is constantly at the forefront of her mind and actions. It was bittersweet but beautiful to eventually see her become vulnerable near the end of the book—you’ll know when you know. 😭 she’s the epitome of “let’s rally” though and I love that about her lol I can’t wait to see her level it up even more so in book 2.
"𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙛 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚."
The love between the familial dynamic of Metztli, Acalan, and their parents is palpable on every page. They have an inherent dedication to and irrefutable trust for each other. As someone who falls into the deadbeat-dad-having category (shout out to you, Daniel lmao), this aspect was extra special to me. I really love when I can experience someone else receiving fatherly love and pride for even a minute. Amilea Perez succeeded in writing about an authentic family and the intricate challenges they face as a unit in this world.
"𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙄 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙."
I’ll wrap it up but leave with this:
Vibes: immaculate
Spice: slow burn, 1-2 scenes, but 🥵🫠😍
Side characters: love them all
The ending: FUCK. Not a cliff hanger necessarily, but also, catch me clawing at Amilea until we get book 2.
♛ 𝙆𝙞𝙡𝙡. 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙚. 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩. 𝙒𝙞𝙣.
Metztli is such a fierce and determined force throughout the entire story; her single-minded goal is constantly at the forefront of her mind and actions. It was bittersweet but beautiful to eventually see her become vulnerable near the end of the book—you’ll know when you know. 😭 she’s the epitome of “let’s rally” though and I love that about her lol I can’t wait to see her level it up even more so in book 2.
"𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙛 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚."
The love between the familial dynamic of Metztli, Acalan, and their parents is palpable on every page. They have an inherent dedication to and irrefutable trust for each other. As someone who falls into the deadbeat-dad-having category (shout out to you, Daniel lmao), this aspect was extra special to me. I really love when I can experience someone else receiving fatherly love and pride for even a minute. Amilea Perez succeeded in writing about an authentic family and the intricate challenges they face as a unit in this world.
"𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙄 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙."
I’ll wrap it up but leave with this:
Vibes: immaculate
Spice: slow burn, 1-2 scenes, but 🥵🫠😍
Side characters: love them all
The ending: FUCK. Not a cliff hanger necessarily, but also, catch me clawing at Amilea until we get book 2.
September 21, 2024
I feel so grateful and honored to be selected to read this before its release date.
I will admit that I struggled to get thru this book. I felt the book had so much repetitive inner dialogue to a fault. It felt like filler information.
I loved the loyalty Acalan and Metztli had for each other and their love; however, it quickly became too much for me when well known knowledge is repeated many times over.
A “prophecy” is referenced many times but we’re given no actual account of what the prophecy is. I realize this may be intentional but I struggled with characters referencing it over and over again with no actual light as to what the exact prophecy is.
Here’s what I loved:
The books picks up drastically a couple days into the tournament. Alliances are made. Twists and turns start happening (I’m so sad about Coatl) and absolutely heartbroken over Acalan. The ultimate sacrifice. I loved Metzlti’s badassery and her willingness to fight. Her and her companion are perfect for each other. I appreciated the character development that occurred.
The ending was by far the best part. While I wish the pacing was a bit different, I’m grateful for the opportunity to read this book. I’m looking forward to the second one!
I will admit that I struggled to get thru this book. I felt the book had so much repetitive inner dialogue to a fault. It felt like filler information.
I loved the loyalty Acalan and Metztli had for each other and their love; however, it quickly became too much for me when well known knowledge is repeated many times over.
A “prophecy” is referenced many times but we’re given no actual account of what the prophecy is. I realize this may be intentional but I struggled with characters referencing it over and over again with no actual light as to what the exact prophecy is.
Here’s what I loved:
The books picks up drastically a couple days into the tournament. Alliances are made. Twists and turns start happening (I’m so sad about Coatl) and absolutely heartbroken over Acalan. The ultimate sacrifice. I loved Metzlti’s badassery and her willingness to fight. Her and her companion are perfect for each other. I appreciated the character development that occurred.
The ending was by far the best part. While I wish the pacing was a bit different, I’m grateful for the opportunity to read this book. I’m looking forward to the second one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2024
DNF.
This book had potential but it took way too long to get anywhere with the plot. I stopped at 252 out of 511 pages and was nowhere near the start of the tournament. We halfway into the book! Other things that bothered me, a lot of redundancy about the sibling’s prophecy and their destiny and their survival in a tournament that was taking too long to happen. Also, the book needed another round of editing because there were quite a few spelling and grammar errors.
This was disappointing. I really wanted to like this one.
This book had potential but it took way too long to get anywhere with the plot. I stopped at 252 out of 511 pages and was nowhere near the start of the tournament. We halfway into the book! Other things that bothered me, a lot of redundancy about the sibling’s prophecy and their destiny and their survival in a tournament that was taking too long to happen. Also, the book needed another round of editing because there were quite a few spelling and grammar errors.
This was disappointing. I really wanted to like this one.
September 4, 2024
Final Rating: ♾⭐️
Holy. freaking. heck. WOW. just wow. I love everything about this book - the brother/sister bond between our two MC’s, the two separate love stories woven in, the buildup to the tournament, the deep exploration of aztec culture, everything. Perez flawlessly communicates themes of deep responsibility, loyalty, unconditional love, grief and loss. Metztli is such a strong character and I love her complete devotion to her brother. I loved the duality of Metztli’s strong, bada**, black cat energy personality and approach to protecting her brother and Acalan’s golden retriever, lover boy, gentle personality. They really were a perfect example of complete opposites coming together for a shared purpose - protecting each other at all costs.
Also, I will say - Necalli actually really surprised me by the end of this one and ended up being one of my favorite characters (the orange???? PLS!!! i was literally drooling - iykyk).
Overall, I would recommend to absolutely everyone and anyone! Actually, i’m literally begging yall to read this and message me your thoughts bc I HAVE TO DISCUSS! Once you start reading, it is almost impossible to put down - I read 60% of this book in one day (~345 pages). This book is very reminiscent of the hunger games, so if you were a fan of that series i BEG you PLS read this - you will be obsessed. This was an absolutely PHENOMENAL debut (actually so hard to believe this is her first book) and I will be impatiently frothing at the mouth waiting for book 2!
Holy. freaking. heck. WOW. just wow. I love everything about this book - the brother/sister bond between our two MC’s, the two separate love stories woven in, the buildup to the tournament, the deep exploration of aztec culture, everything. Perez flawlessly communicates themes of deep responsibility, loyalty, unconditional love, grief and loss. Metztli is such a strong character and I love her complete devotion to her brother. I loved the duality of Metztli’s strong, bada**, black cat energy personality and approach to protecting her brother and Acalan’s golden retriever, lover boy, gentle personality. They really were a perfect example of complete opposites coming together for a shared purpose - protecting each other at all costs.
Also, I will say - Necalli actually really surprised me by the end of this one and ended up being one of my favorite characters (the orange???? PLS!!! i was literally drooling - iykyk).
Overall, I would recommend to absolutely everyone and anyone! Actually, i’m literally begging yall to read this and message me your thoughts bc I HAVE TO DISCUSS! Once you start reading, it is almost impossible to put down - I read 60% of this book in one day (~345 pages). This book is very reminiscent of the hunger games, so if you were a fan of that series i BEG you PLS read this - you will be obsessed. This was an absolutely PHENOMENAL debut (actually so hard to believe this is her first book) and I will be impatiently frothing at the mouth waiting for book 2!
September 20, 2024
This book wow just wow. I absolutely fell in love with the characters and this story. Did this book break my heart? Yes. Did it have me on the edge of my seat? Yes. The ending was just WOW. Fantastic read!
May 2, 2025
4.5, rounded up.
I received this through a PR box for this one last year and it was absolutely stunning!
As soon as I heard about this book, I knew I needed it in my life. The premise sounded amazing, Aztec Mythology mixed with the Hunger Games! Sign me up! And it delivered. This is definitely a slow burn so expect a lot of character and world building to take place. There's two POVs and sometimes that can be hard for them not to sound the same, but the author did a great job on giving them their own voice, goals, and aspirations. Each character felt rich and it was hard to root for just one person. I loved learning about the culture and learning new words as well. The author included a glossary with how to say names and words and the meaning behind them. It was a great addition and one I appreciated.
Sometimes I did feel like the pacing was a little too slow but overall, I really enjoyed this read. There were many twists and a lot of them I wasn't expecting. I'm excited to read the next one in the series!
If you enjoy the Hunger Games or Game of Thrones, this might be the read for you!
I received this through a PR box for this one last year and it was absolutely stunning!
As soon as I heard about this book, I knew I needed it in my life. The premise sounded amazing, Aztec Mythology mixed with the Hunger Games! Sign me up! And it delivered. This is definitely a slow burn so expect a lot of character and world building to take place. There's two POVs and sometimes that can be hard for them not to sound the same, but the author did a great job on giving them their own voice, goals, and aspirations. Each character felt rich and it was hard to root for just one person. I loved learning about the culture and learning new words as well. The author included a glossary with how to say names and words and the meaning behind them. It was a great addition and one I appreciated.
Sometimes I did feel like the pacing was a little too slow but overall, I really enjoyed this read. There were many twists and a lot of them I wasn't expecting. I'm excited to read the next one in the series!
If you enjoy the Hunger Games or Game of Thrones, this might be the read for you!
November 29, 2024
Dnf @ 10%
I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, it’s just not for me.
The book starts off extremely slow. While I enjoyed the exploration of Aztec culture and religion, there was no explanation of the premise. All I knew was that this book was comped with the hunger games, which I love. In the 10% I read, we were told WHY the tournament happens, but not the rules. Like can only one person win? Can two? If two, do they need to be from the same house like THG? It just felt like there was a heavy reliance on the assumption that the reader has read the hunger games to know what was happening.
Not knowing anything about the premise of the book made it difficult to pick up because I felt like I wasn’t going to get any of my questions answered. I was given an ARC of this book, but again, it wasn’t for me. These are my own thoughts.
I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately, it’s just not for me.
The book starts off extremely slow. While I enjoyed the exploration of Aztec culture and religion, there was no explanation of the premise. All I knew was that this book was comped with the hunger games, which I love. In the 10% I read, we were told WHY the tournament happens, but not the rules. Like can only one person win? Can two? If two, do they need to be from the same house like THG? It just felt like there was a heavy reliance on the assumption that the reader has read the hunger games to know what was happening.
Not knowing anything about the premise of the book made it difficult to pick up because I felt like I wasn’t going to get any of my questions answered. I was given an ARC of this book, but again, it wasn’t for me. These are my own thoughts.
October 31, 2024
Overall, I think this was a good set up for the next book, in fact, my absolute favorite part of this book was the ending. That cliffhanger is BRUTAL. But oh man, am I excited to see what happens next!
Unfortunately for me, the ending isn’t going to save the entire book for me. This was a pretty lengthy book and while some parts really picked up once the tournament starts, the beginning was a bit too slow for me, I found myself pushing myself through it despite not really feeling connected to anyone (at first). I really liked the 2 MCs, and eventually was pretty attached to Acalan. And so heart broken during a specific part.
I think the world she has built is so unique and different from other stories I have read. I would consider reading the next one, especially after the ending. I think book 2 has some crazy things coming up!!
I think if you like slow burn build up into a Hunger Games/deadly tournament, you should check this book out.
Thank you @hearourvoicestours for this beautiful ARC!
Unfortunately for me, the ending isn’t going to save the entire book for me. This was a pretty lengthy book and while some parts really picked up once the tournament starts, the beginning was a bit too slow for me, I found myself pushing myself through it despite not really feeling connected to anyone (at first). I really liked the 2 MCs, and eventually was pretty attached to Acalan. And so heart broken during a specific part.
I think the world she has built is so unique and different from other stories I have read. I would consider reading the next one, especially after the ending. I think book 2 has some crazy things coming up!!
I think if you like slow burn build up into a Hunger Games/deadly tournament, you should check this book out.
Thank you @hearourvoicestours for this beautiful ARC!
September 17, 2024
This book gave me Hunger Games vibes but it was still very much it's own story. Although I hated those gods like I hated president Snow.
The worldbuilding was excellent and the way Amilea just kept turning the tension up how closer to the Tournement the characters came was great writing. You really were there with them dreading this.
I really liked Metztli and Acalan and some twist and turns I really didn't (wanted to) see coming. And those doomed lovestories.. Or are they?
This book is just gorgeous inside and out :).
The worldbuilding was excellent and the way Amilea just kept turning the tension up how closer to the Tournement the characters came was great writing. You really were there with them dreading this.
I really liked Metztli and Acalan and some twist and turns I really didn't (wanted to) see coming. And those doomed lovestories.. Or are they?
This book is just gorgeous inside and out :).
August 31, 2024
Thank you for the arc!! I enjoyed the build up before the tournament. I think it’s important to learn about the people and the histories and see the heirs before the tournament actually starts. The reader’s anticipation is slowly building along side our main character’s.
I thought there was enough foreshadowing for the reader to get an idea of what was to come, but the question was the “how.” I could somewhat see what was going to happen but the fun lies in the fine details of how everything plays out.
Without spoiling too much I LOVED our animal sidekick! Such a good friend. Definitely deserves to live his best life. 🥹
I thought this book had just the right amount of romance. It wasn’t a lot but it was enough to give me butterflies. The orange 🥹 (Iykyk) I didn’t want the romance to really over power the familial bonds and I was not disappointed.
Overall I enjoyed this book. If you like world building or a good slow burn with tons of action then I recommend this book for sure! Solid start to the series. Can’t wait for book 2!
I thought there was enough foreshadowing for the reader to get an idea of what was to come, but the question was the “how.” I could somewhat see what was going to happen but the fun lies in the fine details of how everything plays out.
Without spoiling too much I LOVED our animal sidekick! Such a good friend. Definitely deserves to live his best life. 🥹
I thought this book had just the right amount of romance. It wasn’t a lot but it was enough to give me butterflies. The orange 🥹 (Iykyk) I didn’t want the romance to really over power the familial bonds and I was not disappointed.
Overall I enjoyed this book. If you like world building or a good slow burn with tons of action then I recommend this book for sure! Solid start to the series. Can’t wait for book 2!
September 12, 2024
An interesting debut with a killer cliffhanger. Some aspects of the book didn’t work for me (modern dialogue/elements in an ancient setting, the insta-love/lust trope, more telling than showing, characters changing to suit the plot/scene) but that being said! I would definitely like to continue the series because I liked the characters; I want to know what happens next; and, I think it’s cool to read an Aztec mythology inspired story.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. “The Tournament of Heirs” comes out October 22nd.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. “The Tournament of Heirs” comes out October 22nd.
January 20, 2025
This was disappointing. Read the full review over at The Litt Librarian
The Tournament of Heirs boasts a Mexican/Aztec version of The Hunger Games with a little bit of romance and the promise of savagery. However, despite the promising premise, I was deeply disappointed with this book.
I should have DNFed. This is what I get for volunteering myself as a tribute to see it to the end. My biggest problem was the pacing. I have never read a dystopian that read so slowly. Talk about a sloooooooooowburn! It should not have taken 60% of the book to finally step into the arena to duke it out with the other heirs in the tournament. And, AND we don't even see bloodshed until another hour in the story! I don't think you hear me: It should not have taken up to page 319 out of 532 to get in the arena finally. Katniss Everdeen would never.
I'll credit Perez for building up the anticipation of the tournament by throwing in words of prophecies, familial love and support, and forbidden romance. But wrap it up! I wanted to love this book. I really did. But the wait was not worth it.
Rating it 1.5 stars
Read the full review over at The Litt Librarian
The Tournament of Heirs boasts a Mexican/Aztec version of The Hunger Games with a little bit of romance and the promise of savagery. However, despite the promising premise, I was deeply disappointed with this book.
I should have DNFed. This is what I get for volunteering myself as a tribute to see it to the end. My biggest problem was the pacing. I have never read a dystopian that read so slowly. Talk about a sloooooooooowburn! It should not have taken 60% of the book to finally step into the arena to duke it out with the other heirs in the tournament. And, AND we don't even see bloodshed until another hour in the story! I don't think you hear me: It should not have taken up to page 319 out of 532 to get in the arena finally. Katniss Everdeen would never.
I'll credit Perez for building up the anticipation of the tournament by throwing in words of prophecies, familial love and support, and forbidden romance. But wrap it up! I wanted to love this book. I really did. But the wait was not worth it.
Rating it 1.5 stars
Read the full review over at The Litt Librarian
August 19, 2025
*3.5
The Tournament of Heirs is perfect for fans of the Hungers Games or Divergent.
This book is a build up to the future series, Metzil and Acalan are set up to enter the Tournament of Heirs in which they must compete with other heirs to inherit the ruling house of the 6.
70% of the book is set up in which the action is little to none. You are just getting to meet the characters and are being introduced to their dynamics.
This can make it a hard read because you are anticipating the trails and what's to come. There was a lot of filler pages in this book which is always a hit or miss for readers, I read this via audio so the filler wasn't the worst but would make it feel like I was reading a YA novel rather than NA.
The characters also act a lot younger than their ages, which I struggled with at times especially with Metzil and her love interest. A lot of their dialogue and form of flirtation would feel childish rather than actual banter between the 2.
The ending was really interesting, I look forward to reading book 2 because I do see the potential in this series.
The Tournament of Heirs is perfect for fans of the Hungers Games or Divergent.
This book is a build up to the future series, Metzil and Acalan are set up to enter the Tournament of Heirs in which they must compete with other heirs to inherit the ruling house of the 6.
70% of the book is set up in which the action is little to none. You are just getting to meet the characters and are being introduced to their dynamics.
This can make it a hard read because you are anticipating the trails and what's to come. There was a lot of filler pages in this book which is always a hit or miss for readers, I read this via audio so the filler wasn't the worst but would make it feel like I was reading a YA novel rather than NA.
The characters also act a lot younger than their ages, which I struggled with at times especially with Metzil and her love interest. A lot of their dialogue and form of flirtation would feel childish rather than actual banter between the 2.
The ending was really interesting, I look forward to reading book 2 because I do see the potential in this series.
October 28, 2024
I received this book in a PR package from the author. I was very excited to read this novel as the Hunger Games x Aztec Mythology sounded so incredible. Overall I did enjoy the book and thought it was great for a debut. I did not love it as much as I hoped I would but I am excited to see how this author grows. I will still be reading the next book as I'm invested in the story and characters.
Potential spoilers beyond this point.
What I liked:
- Aztec Mythology
- Terminology w/ pronunciation guide
- That the siblings weren't rivals
- The plot concept
- The characters
- the banter between Metztli and Necalli
-
-
- The cliffhanger
What I disliked:
- The pacing was off. The entire plot is a slow burn not just the romance. There was a lot of reading where nothing was happening (though the writing was decent). I struggled to pick up this book during the first 60% and I kept waiting for the thrilling action. The book was 60% pre-tournament and 40% tournament. This ratio needed to be flipped in my opinion. However, slow burn could be your thing!
- The writing in the first 55% felt too repetitive with the internal dialogue. I totally understand the MCs frustrations their feelings towards other MC or SC and the tournament. It ended up feeling like filler.
- I wanted more interation between the heirs. The tournament didn't feel as high stakes as it should've because we didn't get as much time with the side characters. Some of the events could have been more impactful with increase interaction.
- Similar to the line above but the romance felt off because of the minimal interaction between characters. Though I did really like all four of the characters involved in the romance plot and I thought they were great matches for each other. I just wasn't invested in them due to the lack of interaction
- Dialogue felt too modern compared to the ancient setting and Aztec terminology
-
Thank you Amilea for the PR Box in exchange for an honest review.
Potential spoilers beyond this point.
What I liked:
- Aztec Mythology
- Terminology w/ pronunciation guide
- That the siblings weren't rivals
- The plot concept
- The characters
- the banter between Metztli and Necalli
-
-
- The cliffhanger
What I disliked:
- The pacing was off. The entire plot is a slow burn not just the romance. There was a lot of reading where nothing was happening (though the writing was decent). I struggled to pick up this book during the first 60% and I kept waiting for the thrilling action. The book was 60% pre-tournament and 40% tournament. This ratio needed to be flipped in my opinion. However, slow burn could be your thing!
- The writing in the first 55% felt too repetitive with the internal dialogue. I totally understand the MCs frustrations their feelings towards other MC or SC and the tournament. It ended up feeling like filler.
- I wanted more interation between the heirs. The tournament didn't feel as high stakes as it should've because we didn't get as much time with the side characters. Some of the events could have been more impactful with increase interaction.
- Similar to the line above but the romance felt off because of the minimal interaction between characters. Though I did really like all four of the characters involved in the romance plot and I thought they were great matches for each other. I just wasn't invested in them due to the lack of interaction
- Dialogue felt too modern compared to the ancient setting and Aztec terminology
-
Thank you Amilea for the PR Box in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2024
This was a fantastic read! It's a slow burn full of action with a mix of the hunger games and game of thrones! I loved the sibling dynamic! Acalan is the calm love of books and journals one and Metztli is the strong and protective one! They are very different but have that sibling bond! The romance for both brothers was fun and interesting! I especially enjoyed Metztli's enemies to lovers! There is so much to like and enjoy in this book! You have the romance, the build up to the tournament, exploration of Aztec culture, an animal sidekick and more! I absolutely cannot wait to read more! Thank you Amilea Perez for sharing this book with me!
November 27, 2024
One of the first things that caught my eye about this book was the incredible effort the author put into her PR boxes and artwork. They’re some of the most beautiful promotional materials I’ve seen, and they reflect the love and care she has for her story. It’s something to be proud of!
Aside from the stunning artwork and bookish goodies, let's talk about the story. This is where my opinion might differ from the majority.
The Tournament of Heirs is labeled as a New Adult Fantasy and marketed as The Hunger Games meets Aztec culture—essentially a dystopian tale with a cultural twist. Personally, I found the story closer to All of Us Villains than The Hunger Games, which might be a better comparison.
As a dystopian novel, it follows a storyline that will feel familiar to many readers, especially those who have read a few books in the genre. While the inclusion of Aztec culture added a unique and intriguing layer, I felt the story struggled to offer something truly fresh or unexpected.
At over 500 pages, the book felt longer than necessary. Some sections were repetitive and overexplained, which slowed the pacing and made it harder to stay fully engaged. With 63% of the book serving as an introduction, the buildup felt too drawn out. Although there were many events, they didn’t always feel like they moved the story forward meaningfully. Additionally, I would have loved more vivid descriptions in certain areas to enhance the setting.
That said, the cultural aspect was wonderful. I loved being immersed in the Aztec-inspired setting—it was vibrant and rich, though I wished for even more depth. The mythology was one of the most fascinating parts of the book and made for an engaging learning experience. I also really enjoyed the dynamics between the siblings, which stood out as one of the strongest elements of the story.
Overall, I think this book might resonate more with readers who are newer to the dystopian genre or those who enjoy a slower, more detailed narrative. Even if it wasn’t entirely for me, I admire how the author brought Aztec mythology to life and portrayed the sibling dynamics so well. All of this could make it a worthwhile read for the right audience.
Aside from the stunning artwork and bookish goodies, let's talk about the story. This is where my opinion might differ from the majority.
The Tournament of Heirs is labeled as a New Adult Fantasy and marketed as The Hunger Games meets Aztec culture—essentially a dystopian tale with a cultural twist. Personally, I found the story closer to All of Us Villains than The Hunger Games, which might be a better comparison.
As a dystopian novel, it follows a storyline that will feel familiar to many readers, especially those who have read a few books in the genre. While the inclusion of Aztec culture added a unique and intriguing layer, I felt the story struggled to offer something truly fresh or unexpected.
At over 500 pages, the book felt longer than necessary. Some sections were repetitive and overexplained, which slowed the pacing and made it harder to stay fully engaged. With 63% of the book serving as an introduction, the buildup felt too drawn out. Although there were many events, they didn’t always feel like they moved the story forward meaningfully. Additionally, I would have loved more vivid descriptions in certain areas to enhance the setting.
That said, the cultural aspect was wonderful. I loved being immersed in the Aztec-inspired setting—it was vibrant and rich, though I wished for even more depth. The mythology was one of the most fascinating parts of the book and made for an engaging learning experience. I also really enjoyed the dynamics between the siblings, which stood out as one of the strongest elements of the story.
Overall, I think this book might resonate more with readers who are newer to the dystopian genre or those who enjoy a slower, more detailed narrative. Even if it wasn’t entirely for me, I admire how the author brought Aztec mythology to life and portrayed the sibling dynamics so well. All of this could make it a worthwhile read for the right audience.
January 23, 2025
An ambitious debut, The Tournament of Heirs delivers on its theme of an unbreakable sibling bond and its promise that sacrifices must be made.
CHARACTERS:
I loved the dual POV narration, which showed strong characterization of the two protagonists, Metzli and Acalan. Their character voices and personalities were well differentiated, showing Metztli's fierce and protective nature while Acalan is more bookish and sensitive. Their strong sibling bond and their sense of duty to each other was very apparent.
WORLD BUILDING:
The history and traditions of the Mexica people are organically shared through the narrative without overwhelming the reader. The story is slow paced at the start, thoroughly demonstrating the Metzli and Acalan's relationship, and sets up expectations for the tournament while introducing the heirs from the other houses.
THE TOURNAMENT:
Since the first half of the story focuses on set up and character development, the tournament doesn't begin until about 60% into the book. Once it starts, the pace picks up and we get the promised bloodshed and sacrifice.
ROMANCE:
I would classify this novel as fantasy rather than romantasy. The author describes this book as having "a sprinkle of romance" and that feels accurate, especially since the romantic interests are not introduced immediately. There is one closed door sex scene and one more explicit scene. So if you prefer fantasy with light romance, this will be perfect for you!
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
This is an indie / self published novel. The author provides content warnings at the beginning of the book. I received an advance review copy of this novel from the author.
CHARACTERS:
I loved the dual POV narration, which showed strong characterization of the two protagonists, Metzli and Acalan. Their character voices and personalities were well differentiated, showing Metztli's fierce and protective nature while Acalan is more bookish and sensitive. Their strong sibling bond and their sense of duty to each other was very apparent.
WORLD BUILDING:
The history and traditions of the Mexica people are organically shared through the narrative without overwhelming the reader. The story is slow paced at the start, thoroughly demonstrating the Metzli and Acalan's relationship, and sets up expectations for the tournament while introducing the heirs from the other houses.
THE TOURNAMENT:
Since the first half of the story focuses on set up and character development, the tournament doesn't begin until about 60% into the book. Once it starts, the pace picks up and we get the promised bloodshed and sacrifice.
ROMANCE:
I would classify this novel as fantasy rather than romantasy. The author describes this book as having "a sprinkle of romance" and that feels accurate, especially since the romantic interests are not introduced immediately. There is one closed door sex scene and one more explicit scene. So if you prefer fantasy with light romance, this will be perfect for you!
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
This is an indie / self published novel. The author provides content warnings at the beginning of the book. I received an advance review copy of this novel from the author.
October 27, 2025
4.5⭐️
🏹 “But underestimating a woman with a purpose was a fatal mistake.”
🐾 HOLY COW!! This book took so many turns that I did not see coming! Metztli is such a baddie FMC and I was deeply invested in her storyline and character growth from start to finish. 💪
🛕 I LOVED the Aztec culture and mythology elements and am very excited for more of those details in book 2! It was so cool to read a fantasy/Hunger Games style novel set in Mexica and with roots in Latinx history. Definitely makes me want to learn more about my ancestors and my Mexican indigenous heritage!
⚔️ I also really enjoyed the character dynamics and the slow burn elements throughout the plot. I gave 4.5 because the beginning was a *tad* long-winded and took a while to see where the story was going. But I could tell the author really found her footing and I’m very excited to see her writing, characters, and story continue to grow in book 2!
🛡️ I have to say, the ending of this book takes the cake for the most bad*ss ending line of any book I’ve read this year!! 😤 I literally yelled when I read the ending line and am SO HYPED for book 2!!!
***Special thanks to the author for the gifted PR box and ARC!***
🏹 “But underestimating a woman with a purpose was a fatal mistake.”
🐾 HOLY COW!! This book took so many turns that I did not see coming! Metztli is such a baddie FMC and I was deeply invested in her storyline and character growth from start to finish. 💪
🛕 I LOVED the Aztec culture and mythology elements and am very excited for more of those details in book 2! It was so cool to read a fantasy/Hunger Games style novel set in Mexica and with roots in Latinx history. Definitely makes me want to learn more about my ancestors and my Mexican indigenous heritage!
⚔️ I also really enjoyed the character dynamics and the slow burn elements throughout the plot. I gave 4.5 because the beginning was a *tad* long-winded and took a while to see where the story was going. But I could tell the author really found her footing and I’m very excited to see her writing, characters, and story continue to grow in book 2!
🛡️ I have to say, the ending of this book takes the cake for the most bad*ss ending line of any book I’ve read this year!! 😤 I literally yelled when I read the ending line and am SO HYPED for book 2!!!
***Special thanks to the author for the gifted PR box and ARC!***
December 1, 2024
You can find this review of The Tournament of Heirs on my blog, Heart's Content!
A big shout out and thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
I’m going to split this review down the middle—unlike my usual style—to expand upon the things that worked for me and the aspects I struggled with. Some of these aspects might repeat under both categories, because there are elements within them that were great, while others I'd like to share my thoughts on.
I’ll start with the aspects of The Tournament of Heirs that worked for me.
From the very first page, I was extremely drawn to the writing in the book. There was emotion and heart in abundance and while I was surprised to see this in a book promoted to be brutal and competitive, I was extremely glad for it. The writing ensures that the readers are well aware of the effect the tournament has on those who are to engage in it, those who are to watch them and of course, the Gods who designed it.
Personal Anecdote: In fact, I enjoyed the writing so much, even just 5% into the book, that I reached out to the author to gush (two times) how much I was liking it! Thank you Amilea for being so warm and welcoming despite my sliding straight into your DMs uninvited.
This leads us, of course, to the world building. Despite what the blurb claims, the book doesn’t dive straight into brutality and violence, in fact the actual tournament only begins about 60% into the book. This means that the book has a lot of time (as it’s a little over 500 pages) to establish characters, their personalities, their cultures, their circumstances and the overall nature and rules of the world. I would say however that quite early you’re fairly sure of everyone’s roles, emotions, personalities and responsibilities. Surprisingly, the reader can pick up on the underlying plot points quick enough that you know what the primary purpose is and are waiting anxiously to see it unfold. (Another tie in to how well TToH was written that you settle in fast and comfortably into the book.)
The plot, as mentioned earlier, is very clear to the readers from about 10, maybe 15% into the book and given how long the characters have to interact with one another, it only gets further established in our minds.
The characters in any story are extremely vital to how I feel about a book. TToH alternates neatly between the perspective of both heirs and while dual perspective are not my favourite, I easily saw the purpose for it in this book and found myself quite interested in both of their thoughts fairly equally. At one point of the story there is an influx of characters—which the author prepares us for much earlier—and they’re all written in a way that ensures you're perfectly capable of separating characters from one another. Even if it doesn’t happen immediately, in a few chapters, you’re well aware of who’s who.
The cultural aspects in this book, I enjoyed so much. While I agree it’s part of the world building, I want to mention it separately just for the love I felt for it.
Another aspect I’d life to mention separately, even though it technically falls under characters is relationship dynamics. There were several types of relationships in this book, from parental, to sibling, to rival, to vague and they were all cast in the perfect light by the writing and I enjoyed how much emotion is brought into each interaction between the different characters; even if sometimes that emotion was bitterness or anger.
Now, let’s gentle tip our toes into the aspects of the book that didn’t work for me personally.
As fantastic as the writing and world-building were, there was a small issue that appeared initially that slowly grew over the course of the first 60% of the book. Initially, I loved that there was a bit of time before the Tournament began. But by the 30% mark, we knew so much about the Tournament and it was already built up so much in our minds that you’re wondering where it is at this point. So you can imagine by 60% you’re quite… exhausted waiting for the Tournament to start. It’s now two times the anticipation, two times the hype and four times the expectation.
Sadly, this expectation is not met. The Tournament does not come across as brutal as it seems or the expectations the readers have for it from all the information and anticipation render it that way. I think maybe the struggle was that the blurb promotes this book as a fight for the throne/power but the book itself is … not that. While the Tournament is spoken about a lot, the book doesn’t centre around the competition itself, as much as the emotions related to it, the hidden lore behind it and the bigger storyline beyond it. I think it would work greatly in the author’s favour if the blurb was tweaked to speak less about the Tournament itself and instead focus on the … bigger plot point beyond it. That I think would ensure readers don’t go in with an expectation that they’re bound to feel disappointed about.
There was also lots of things that we are kept in the dark about, despite the first sixty percent that does a lot of world building. Which makes me wonder if that was intentional? I would say there was some rush in some of the connections in the book (typically in the romantic ones), which I honestly got in some ways. For one, everyone’s living in a maybe-there’s-a-tomorrow-maybe-there’s-not state of mind and that does of course colour everyone’s interaction. However… there is a sense of connection between the characters that’s both… elusive at times and not at other times. I’m mostly understanding of it, but it’s sometimes a little disconcerting when it slips into the more elusive nature of itself, where it goes from feeling deep to not at all.
The pace dances between even, swift and slow as it tries to balance the reader’s experiences of the drawn out anticipation that goes on for many days before the Tournament, the not-as-brutal Tournament and the borderline insta-connections that toe the line of being plot props at times.
Three stars. This book has so much heart, it’s impossible that it does not move you.
Please check trigger warnings as always, the book has content and themes that can be triggering and difficult for some. Happy reading.
A big shout out and thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
I’m going to split this review down the middle—unlike my usual style—to expand upon the things that worked for me and the aspects I struggled with. Some of these aspects might repeat under both categories, because there are elements within them that were great, while others I'd like to share my thoughts on.
I’ll start with the aspects of The Tournament of Heirs that worked for me.
From the very first page, I was extremely drawn to the writing in the book. There was emotion and heart in abundance and while I was surprised to see this in a book promoted to be brutal and competitive, I was extremely glad for it. The writing ensures that the readers are well aware of the effect the tournament has on those who are to engage in it, those who are to watch them and of course, the Gods who designed it.
Personal Anecdote: In fact, I enjoyed the writing so much, even just 5% into the book, that I reached out to the author to gush (two times) how much I was liking it! Thank you Amilea for being so warm and welcoming despite my sliding straight into your DMs uninvited.
This leads us, of course, to the world building. Despite what the blurb claims, the book doesn’t dive straight into brutality and violence, in fact the actual tournament only begins about 60% into the book. This means that the book has a lot of time (as it’s a little over 500 pages) to establish characters, their personalities, their cultures, their circumstances and the overall nature and rules of the world. I would say however that quite early you’re fairly sure of everyone’s roles, emotions, personalities and responsibilities. Surprisingly, the reader can pick up on the underlying plot points quick enough that you know what the primary purpose is and are waiting anxiously to see it unfold. (Another tie in to how well TToH was written that you settle in fast and comfortably into the book.)
The plot, as mentioned earlier, is very clear to the readers from about 10, maybe 15% into the book and given how long the characters have to interact with one another, it only gets further established in our minds.
The characters in any story are extremely vital to how I feel about a book. TToH alternates neatly between the perspective of both heirs and while dual perspective are not my favourite, I easily saw the purpose for it in this book and found myself quite interested in both of their thoughts fairly equally. At one point of the story there is an influx of characters—which the author prepares us for much earlier—and they’re all written in a way that ensures you're perfectly capable of separating characters from one another. Even if it doesn’t happen immediately, in a few chapters, you’re well aware of who’s who.
The cultural aspects in this book, I enjoyed so much. While I agree it’s part of the world building, I want to mention it separately just for the love I felt for it.
Another aspect I’d life to mention separately, even though it technically falls under characters is relationship dynamics. There were several types of relationships in this book, from parental, to sibling, to rival, to vague and they were all cast in the perfect light by the writing and I enjoyed how much emotion is brought into each interaction between the different characters; even if sometimes that emotion was bitterness or anger.
Now, let’s gentle tip our toes into the aspects of the book that didn’t work for me personally.
As fantastic as the writing and world-building were, there was a small issue that appeared initially that slowly grew over the course of the first 60% of the book. Initially, I loved that there was a bit of time before the Tournament began. But by the 30% mark, we knew so much about the Tournament and it was already built up so much in our minds that you’re wondering where it is at this point. So you can imagine by 60% you’re quite… exhausted waiting for the Tournament to start. It’s now two times the anticipation, two times the hype and four times the expectation.
Sadly, this expectation is not met. The Tournament does not come across as brutal as it seems or the expectations the readers have for it from all the information and anticipation render it that way. I think maybe the struggle was that the blurb promotes this book as a fight for the throne/power but the book itself is … not that. While the Tournament is spoken about a lot, the book doesn’t centre around the competition itself, as much as the emotions related to it, the hidden lore behind it and the bigger storyline beyond it. I think it would work greatly in the author’s favour if the blurb was tweaked to speak less about the Tournament itself and instead focus on the … bigger plot point beyond it. That I think would ensure readers don’t go in with an expectation that they’re bound to feel disappointed about.
There was also lots of things that we are kept in the dark about, despite the first sixty percent that does a lot of world building. Which makes me wonder if that was intentional? I would say there was some rush in some of the connections in the book (typically in the romantic ones), which I honestly got in some ways. For one, everyone’s living in a maybe-there’s-a-tomorrow-maybe-there’s-not state of mind and that does of course colour everyone’s interaction. However… there is a sense of connection between the characters that’s both… elusive at times and not at other times. I’m mostly understanding of it, but it’s sometimes a little disconcerting when it slips into the more elusive nature of itself, where it goes from feeling deep to not at all.
The pace dances between even, swift and slow as it tries to balance the reader’s experiences of the drawn out anticipation that goes on for many days before the Tournament, the not-as-brutal Tournament and the borderline insta-connections that toe the line of being plot props at times.
Three stars. This book has so much heart, it’s impossible that it does not move you.
Please check trigger warnings as always, the book has content and themes that can be triggering and difficult for some. Happy reading.
December 9, 2024
3.75 stars
This world was so cool and unique. I loved the Aztec mythology and the concept of the heirs to the Houses competing in a bloody tournament for power. The tournament was my favorite part, there was a lot of world building and preparing leading up to it but it was worth it to be invested in the characters so much. The family and sibling bonds made me love the main characters even more. I enjoyed both main characters’ POVs and their love interests. Both of the relationships were sweet and tried their best to love each other despite their unfortunate circumstances. Unsurprisingly, my favorite couple of the two has enemies to lovers vibes. I think this was a great first book in the series with an expansive world and I’m excited to see what happens next.
This world was so cool and unique. I loved the Aztec mythology and the concept of the heirs to the Houses competing in a bloody tournament for power. The tournament was my favorite part, there was a lot of world building and preparing leading up to it but it was worth it to be invested in the characters so much. The family and sibling bonds made me love the main characters even more. I enjoyed both main characters’ POVs and their love interests. Both of the relationships were sweet and tried their best to love each other despite their unfortunate circumstances. Unsurprisingly, my favorite couple of the two has enemies to lovers vibes. I think this was a great first book in the series with an expansive world and I’m excited to see what happens next.
February 6, 2025
I got this through a book swap I did with the author. I sent her my book Moon Soul, she sent me this.
It's funny because we're complete opposites when it comes to writing. I cut right to the story and keep things short. She expands and writes around her concepts. While this felt a bit long at times, I did thoroughly enjoy it and I look forward to seeing where the series goes. Amilea Perez is objectively a good writer and that alone makes this worth picking up. It's a 'hunger games' type competition book, but it takes about half the book before we actually get to the competition. That's what I struggled with for a bit, but I enjoyed the character and plot developments that happened during that time so I really can't complain.
Pick this one up if you want a rich fantasy novel!
It's funny because we're complete opposites when it comes to writing. I cut right to the story and keep things short. She expands and writes around her concepts. While this felt a bit long at times, I did thoroughly enjoy it and I look forward to seeing where the series goes. Amilea Perez is objectively a good writer and that alone makes this worth picking up. It's a 'hunger games' type competition book, but it takes about half the book before we actually get to the competition. That's what I struggled with for a bit, but I enjoyed the character and plot developments that happened during that time so I really can't complain.
Pick this one up if you want a rich fantasy novel!
November 4, 2024
Es 3.5 redondeado a 4.
🇲🇽Terminé recientemente The tournament of heirs de la autora Amilea Perez. La primera vez que escuché de este libro lo describieron como los juegos del hambre pero en tiempos del imperio Mexica.
Este torneo ocurre cada 25 años y lo impusieron los dioses como castigo a los humanos. En él, las 6 casas principales deberán elegir a dos de sus herederos para entrar a una pirámide y combatir a muerte. Los últimos herederos de una sola casa que sobrevivan, reinarán sobre Mexica hasta el próximo torneo.
Me gustó mucho la relación entre los protagonistas, Metztli y Acalan, los herederos de la Casa de la vida. El amor entre los miembros de esa familia me pareció genuino. La historia tiene un buen ritmo y no se siente extenso pese a tener poco más de 500 páginas, en verdad lo disfruté.
Lo que no me gustó tanto fue que hay algunas expresiones que se sienten muy modernas o que pertenecen a la cultura que nosotros conocemos, pero que no tendría sentido usar en tiempos del imperio Mexica. Me sacó un poco de la narración, pero aún así continué y disfruté la historia.
Hay acción, profecías y un poco de romance. Si quieres leer un libro de fantasía inspirado en mitología Mexica con vibes de THG, dale una oportunidad a este primer libro de la saga de las crónicas Mexicas.
¿Te gustaría leerlo?
🇺🇲 I just finished The Tournament of Heirs by author Amilea Perez. The first time I heard about this book, it was described as The Hunger Games, but in the time of the Mexica Empire.
This tournament takes place every 25 years and was imposed by the gods as a punishment for humans. In this tournament, the 6 main houses must choose two of their heirs to enter a pyramid and fight to death. The last heirs of a single house that survive will reign over Mexica until the next tournament.
I really liked the relationship between the protagonists, Metztli and Acalan, the heirs of the House of Life. The love between the members of that family seemed genuine. The story has a good pace and doesn't feel long despite having just over 500 pages, I really enjoyed it.
My least favorite part was that there are some expressions that feel very modern or belong to the culture that we know, but it wouldn't make sense for the Mexican to know it. It took me a bit out of the story, but I kept reading and ended up enjoying it.
There's action, prophecies, and a bit of romance. If you want to read a fantasy book inspired by Mexica mythology with THG vibes, give this first book in the Mexica Chronicles series a chance.
Would you like to read it?
Thank you to @hearourvoices and the author for my ARC.
🇲🇽Terminé recientemente The tournament of heirs de la autora Amilea Perez. La primera vez que escuché de este libro lo describieron como los juegos del hambre pero en tiempos del imperio Mexica.
Este torneo ocurre cada 25 años y lo impusieron los dioses como castigo a los humanos. En él, las 6 casas principales deberán elegir a dos de sus herederos para entrar a una pirámide y combatir a muerte. Los últimos herederos de una sola casa que sobrevivan, reinarán sobre Mexica hasta el próximo torneo.
Me gustó mucho la relación entre los protagonistas, Metztli y Acalan, los herederos de la Casa de la vida. El amor entre los miembros de esa familia me pareció genuino. La historia tiene un buen ritmo y no se siente extenso pese a tener poco más de 500 páginas, en verdad lo disfruté.
Lo que no me gustó tanto fue que hay algunas expresiones que se sienten muy modernas o que pertenecen a la cultura que nosotros conocemos, pero que no tendría sentido usar en tiempos del imperio Mexica. Me sacó un poco de la narración, pero aún así continué y disfruté la historia.
Hay acción, profecías y un poco de romance. Si quieres leer un libro de fantasía inspirado en mitología Mexica con vibes de THG, dale una oportunidad a este primer libro de la saga de las crónicas Mexicas.
¿Te gustaría leerlo?
🇺🇲 I just finished The Tournament of Heirs by author Amilea Perez. The first time I heard about this book, it was described as The Hunger Games, but in the time of the Mexica Empire.
This tournament takes place every 25 years and was imposed by the gods as a punishment for humans. In this tournament, the 6 main houses must choose two of their heirs to enter a pyramid and fight to death. The last heirs of a single house that survive will reign over Mexica until the next tournament.
I really liked the relationship between the protagonists, Metztli and Acalan, the heirs of the House of Life. The love between the members of that family seemed genuine. The story has a good pace and doesn't feel long despite having just over 500 pages, I really enjoyed it.
My least favorite part was that there are some expressions that feel very modern or belong to the culture that we know, but it wouldn't make sense for the Mexican to know it. It took me a bit out of the story, but I kept reading and ended up enjoying it.
There's action, prophecies, and a bit of romance. If you want to read a fantasy book inspired by Mexica mythology with THG vibes, give this first book in the Mexica Chronicles series a chance.
Would you like to read it?
Thank you to @hearourvoices and the author for my ARC.
December 10, 2024
When this book came on my radar, I knew I wanted to give it a read, a Hunger Games meet Mexica/Aztec Culture? Sign me up!
This book is like nothing I have read before, whilst being dual POV, it wasn't between the love interests, but between siblings so we got to see how they prepared for and dealt with the Tournament and potential alliances. The love these two had for each, as brother and sister, was heartwarming, with each sibling wanting to protect and care for the other.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It pulled out all the emotions as I read it. The banter between some of the characters was entertaining and kept me wanting to know how those particular relationships were going to grow, if at all. I laughed, I swooned, I was rooting for the Heirs and I cried (and if that isn't a good reason to read I don't know what is, because we all love a book that makes us cry, right?!)
The Tournament of Heirs is the first book in The Mexica Chronicles, an exciting New-Adult Fantasy where the Hunger Games meets Mexica/Aztec Culture. Out now and it's available to read with Kindle Unlimited!
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Unbreakable sibling bonds
✨A Tournament to the Death
✨Hunger Games meets Mexica/Aztec Culture
✨Love at First Sight
Book Blurb:
Bloodshed is coming
Acalan and Metztli Amos have been preparing for the Tournament of Heirs their entire lives. Ignoring their duty has never been an option. They must do whatever it takes to win, or leave their empire heirless.
It’s simple.
Six Houses
Twelve Heirs
Only Two Blood Bound tributes can win and bring home victory.
Acalan has a duty to the empire he will inherit, and his sister Metztli has to make sure she keeps Acalan alive long enough to see his rule come to fruition. Together, both siblings must compete in the Tournament and win, but nothing in the empire is quite as it seems, and destiny has plans of its own.
Only one thing is certain for the two heirs of the House of Life.
Sacrifices must be made.
This book is like nothing I have read before, whilst being dual POV, it wasn't between the love interests, but between siblings so we got to see how they prepared for and dealt with the Tournament and potential alliances. The love these two had for each, as brother and sister, was heartwarming, with each sibling wanting to protect and care for the other.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It pulled out all the emotions as I read it. The banter between some of the characters was entertaining and kept me wanting to know how those particular relationships were going to grow, if at all. I laughed, I swooned, I was rooting for the Heirs and I cried (and if that isn't a good reason to read I don't know what is, because we all love a book that makes us cry, right?!)
The Tournament of Heirs is the first book in The Mexica Chronicles, an exciting New-Adult Fantasy where the Hunger Games meets Mexica/Aztec Culture. Out now and it's available to read with Kindle Unlimited!
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Unbreakable sibling bonds
✨A Tournament to the Death
✨Hunger Games meets Mexica/Aztec Culture
✨Love at First Sight
Book Blurb:
Bloodshed is coming
Acalan and Metztli Amos have been preparing for the Tournament of Heirs their entire lives. Ignoring their duty has never been an option. They must do whatever it takes to win, or leave their empire heirless.
It’s simple.
Six Houses
Twelve Heirs
Only Two Blood Bound tributes can win and bring home victory.
Acalan has a duty to the empire he will inherit, and his sister Metztli has to make sure she keeps Acalan alive long enough to see his rule come to fruition. Together, both siblings must compete in the Tournament and win, but nothing in the empire is quite as it seems, and destiny has plans of its own.
Only one thing is certain for the two heirs of the House of Life.
Sacrifices must be made.
October 6, 2024
Hmm, going to be rather hard to get my thoughts into a sentences here. Review to come! ⚔️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
This was pitched as an Aztec mythology meets The Hunger Games start to a new series and while I saw the clear elements of Collins’ world and Aztec culture, I could’ve done with more mythology and less anxiety drama between the characters. 😐
The story follows the siblings from the House of Life, Melitzi and Acalan. I really liked the strong bond between the two and the love that is clearly held within the family itself. Perez did a wonderful job showcasing this love and devotion in the family. ❤️
As individuals, the characters themselves were good, but I did wish that Acalan wasn’t so good natured and that Melitzi was a bit more rebellious, but that’s a personal thought. What really threw me for a bit of a loop was Necalli’s weird flipping back and forth from Mr. Macho to Mr. Nice Guy. It just didn’t sit very well with me and I was rather confused if he either of his sides were masks. 😕
The one thing that I wish was more prevalent was the Aztec mythology element that was promised. While yes the characters were seen praying and talking about the gods, I was expecting more interactions between them and/or creatures from this pantheon to show up. I’m going to guess that since this is going to be a series, this book did a lot of heavy duty work to build the world and set up the characters, but still. 🤷🏻♀️
Other than a rather slow start and sped through ending, I’m still interested in continuing the series because I am interested to see what Perez will do now that the conflict has been tee’d up. ⚔️
Thank you goes out to the author for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review! 🫶🏼
Publication date: October 22!
Overall: settling on a 3.75/5 ⭐️
(FINAL REVIEW:)
This was pitched as an Aztec mythology meets The Hunger Games start to a new series and while I saw the clear elements of Collins’ world and Aztec culture, I could’ve done with more mythology and less anxiety drama between the characters. 😐
The story follows the siblings from the House of Life, Melitzi and Acalan. I really liked the strong bond between the two and the love that is clearly held within the family itself. Perez did a wonderful job showcasing this love and devotion in the family. ❤️
As individuals, the characters themselves were good, but I did wish that Acalan wasn’t so good natured and that Melitzi was a bit more rebellious, but that’s a personal thought. What really threw me for a bit of a loop was Necalli’s weird flipping back and forth from Mr. Macho to Mr. Nice Guy. It just didn’t sit very well with me and I was rather confused if he either of his sides were masks. 😕
The one thing that I wish was more prevalent was the Aztec mythology element that was promised. While yes the characters were seen praying and talking about the gods, I was expecting more interactions between them and/or creatures from this pantheon to show up. I’m going to guess that since this is going to be a series, this book did a lot of heavy duty work to build the world and set up the characters, but still. 🤷🏻♀️
Other than a rather slow start and sped through ending, I’m still interested in continuing the series because I am interested to see what Perez will do now that the conflict has been tee’d up. ⚔️
Thank you goes out to the author for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review! 🫶🏼
Publication date: October 22!
Overall: settling on a 3.75/5 ⭐️
October 30, 2024
Este libro lo recibí como ARC gracias a BOMM✨
Este libro me lo dio todo, un torneo entre los herederos de las casas más importantes en donde solo un par de hermanos podrá proclamarse como vencedores y eso lo sabe muy bien Metztli, quien es nuestra protagonista, ella hará todo para que su hermano Acalan gane y obtenga su derecho al trono.
Toda la ambientación azteca, la mitología, la ambientación, incluso los personajes y como cada familia tiene mucha cultura detrás y eso me gustó muchísimo.
Aunque es un libro un tanto largo, la verdad se pasan súper rápidos, además de que tenemos dos POV con los hermanos, vemos cuáles son sus miedos, que es lo que quieren lograr con este torneo y sobre todo el amor que se tienen el uno por el otro y como serían capaces de darlo todo por su bienestar.
El torneo es brutal, leer cada pelea y el estrés que están viviendo los personajes me hizo picarme aún más y querer saber que es lo que pasaba con ellos y como es que iban a sobrevivir.
Es un libro atrapante, con una historia que te mantendrá muy enganchada en sus páginas y tiene una narración extraordinaria y todo fluye muy bien, siempre están pasando cosas y la autora los explica muy bien. La verdad es que si lo recomiendo mucho, y hace unos días salió a la venta para que vayan a buscarlo✨
Nuevamente mil gracias a Book of Matches Media y a la autora por permitirme leer este libro y traerles mi opinión sincera sobre el libro☺️
Estoy ansiosa por leer el siguiente libroooo!🙌🏻
Este libro me lo dio todo, un torneo entre los herederos de las casas más importantes en donde solo un par de hermanos podrá proclamarse como vencedores y eso lo sabe muy bien Metztli, quien es nuestra protagonista, ella hará todo para que su hermano Acalan gane y obtenga su derecho al trono.
Toda la ambientación azteca, la mitología, la ambientación, incluso los personajes y como cada familia tiene mucha cultura detrás y eso me gustó muchísimo.
Aunque es un libro un tanto largo, la verdad se pasan súper rápidos, además de que tenemos dos POV con los hermanos, vemos cuáles son sus miedos, que es lo que quieren lograr con este torneo y sobre todo el amor que se tienen el uno por el otro y como serían capaces de darlo todo por su bienestar.
El torneo es brutal, leer cada pelea y el estrés que están viviendo los personajes me hizo picarme aún más y querer saber que es lo que pasaba con ellos y como es que iban a sobrevivir.
Es un libro atrapante, con una historia que te mantendrá muy enganchada en sus páginas y tiene una narración extraordinaria y todo fluye muy bien, siempre están pasando cosas y la autora los explica muy bien. La verdad es que si lo recomiendo mucho, y hace unos días salió a la venta para que vayan a buscarlo✨
Nuevamente mil gracias a Book of Matches Media y a la autora por permitirme leer este libro y traerles mi opinión sincera sobre el libro☺️
Estoy ansiosa por leer el siguiente libroooo!🙌🏻
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