The Other Moctezuma Girls

by Sofia Robleda

In sixteenth-century Mexico, a fearless young woman strives to uncover the secrets her mother kept as the last Aztec empress in a sweeping historical epic by the author of Daughter of Fire.

“A must-read!” ―Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi

"I adored every page.” ―Mariely Lares, international bestselling author of Sun of Blood and Ruin

“A tale so absorbing it claimed me completely.” ―Carolina Flórez-Cerchiaro, author of Bochica

“A love letter to the beauty and depth of Mexican history.” ―Liana De la Rosa, USA Today bestselling author

“A rare glimpse into the little-known history of Tecuichpoch, thoughtfully and vividly brought to life.” ―Eve J. Chung, USA Today bestselling author of Daughters of Shandong

“Gorgeously written and intricately woven with Aztec heritage.” ―O.O. Sangoyomi, author of Masquerade

Tenochtitlan, 1551. Thirty years after the Spanish Conquest destroyed everything she loved, the last Aztec empress has passed and left behind a pristine yet tenuous legacy for her children. As her last will and testament is read out, her daughter Isabel suspects that another account of her mother’s life may exist, hidden away chapter by chapter in the Valley of Mexico. Following each clue, Isabel is determined to find out who her mother really was and to discover the secrets she buried in order to survive.

Joined by her siblings and a handsome young cook named Juan, the party embarks on a perilous journey to piece together the past—a journey that will force them to brave the brutal viceroyal court, face fearsome legends in mystical chinampas, and trek through desert, fire, and snow. As Isabel’s feelings for Juan grow, she confronts everything she thought she knew about her Spanish father, her empress mother, and herself. From the tunnels of ancient pyramids to the summit of an active volcano, Isabel will meet every challenge to fulfill an epic quest for the truth.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Mystery, Audiobook, Indigenous

First published February 24, 2026

About the author

Sofia Robleda is a Mexican author. She spent her childhood and adolescence in Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Singapore. She completed her undergraduate and doctorate degrees in psychology at the University of Queensland, in Australia. She currently lives with her husband and son in London.

Her debut historical fiction novel, Daughter of Fire, was an Amazon First Reads and Editor's Pick for July 2024 and hit the top 100 Kindle bestselling list. It has been translated into Spanish.

Her second novel, The Other Moctezuma Girls, is now available for preorder. Join Sofia's newsletter Author Antics (via her website) for more insights into her writing process, travels, and historical research. You can also follow her on Instagram (@sofiarobleda).

Reviews

[Terry]

Reading The Other Moctezuma Girls by Sofía Robleda was like stepping back in time through a magic portal. I stepped immediately into Isabel's mind in her world. I was disappointed when I had to return to my own life.

Isabel's mother, the final Aztec Empress, has recently died, and her will has been read. She has bequeathed a set of cushions as a series of clues to find their inheritance. And we're off on an adventure that is rich with the flavor of life in 1500s Mexico.

Robleda's writing style is exactly what this story needs. It's lyrical without being flowery, emotionally devastating in a very controlled, human way, and historical without feeling distant. Cultural details are sprinkled over the story like cacao and spice in a pot of chocolatl. All of these things allowed me to move magically back in time and quest alongside Isabel. The three siblings I spent the most time with were Isabel, Catina, and Nano, all of whom had emotional depth that made their actions feel believable.

We see the story mostly through the lens of Isabel, but there are some chapters that are accounts of her mother's life from her mother's perspective. Getting most of my information from Isabel's perspective is what really allowed me to immerse myself into the story. Some of the chapters leaned long, and I was grateful for the occasional section breaks in each chapter. Otherwise, what was a steady journey would have felt more drawn out.

Robleda gives a voice to women during a time when women's lives were controlled by fathers, husbands, and conquerors. We gain insight into how their thoughts weren't all that different from ours today. She shows us how grief manifests differently for everyone, even those closest to one another. Most importantly, her story demonstrates how far a mother's love can reach, even after she's gone. Readers who enjoy authentic-feeling historical fiction should spoon this up like spiced chocolatl, but I believe that women, especially, will feel the impact of this delicious morsel of a book.

Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓🤓— Atmospheric historical fiction with real emotional weight

Let's Discuss:
How far do you think a mother's love can shape a child’s life, even after they’re gone?

I read a digital copy made available by AmazonCrossing through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.

📚 More book reviews and bookish content:

https://www.ispeakbooknerd.com

[Sofia Robleda]

Not gonna lie… this book is pretty darn good.

Thanks also to everyone who writes a review - I really appreciate it!

Viva Tecuichpoch y viva Mexico!

[readcomolaflor]

"Oh, but I know . . . men would leave us nameless, if they could." In a world where the stories of women are often erased or deemed not important enough, I'm grateful that this story exist. Sofia Robleda does a brilliant job delivering her own interpretation of the life Techuipochtzin, the last Empress of the Aztec empire, during and post-Spanish colonization.

Not only does this author do an incredible job transporting the reader into 1500s Tenonchtitlan-Mexico City with her descriptive imagery and beautifully detailed scenery, she sets the tone, both melancholic and hopeful, of a time period defined by violent conquest, forced conversion, and the erasure of an entire group of people and culture.

The Other Moctezuma Girls is a dual pov, dual timeline that follows the children of Techuipochtzin as they journey to find the last living testament of their mother. Reading her journal entries, my heart broke for Techuipochtzin - to have lived through a brutal conquest, plague, six marriages, including the most-likely unconsensual relationship with Hernan Cortes himself, seven childbirths and the struggles of motherhood. I can't say I would have survived half of what she experienced. "...was true happiness possible if one never had a choice, a say in one’s life?"

Still, I was completely invested in these characters, Techuipochtzin's children - Isabel (the headstrong and fierce fmc), Catina (the shy and deaf younger sister), and Nano (the protective and charming older brother). I loved the exploration of sisterhood and complex family dynamics, which was only accentuated by the sometimes humorous, sometimes emotional moments between them.

In short, I loved The Other Moctezuma Girls. This book gives insight into a significant period of time in Mesoamerican history and shines a light on one of its most prominent female figures whose story deserves to be known. In TOMG, you can also find a bit of romance, some magical realism, and significant Mexican cultural elements, in addition to many underlying themes of assimilation, colorism, and classism.

[Umaima Memon]

DNF at 20%. Something about this reads more like YA than adult. I think the characters are a bit flat? Or maybe the main character is just so immature. I liked the premise but execution wasn’t great.

[Dede]

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I loved the storyline and the characters. I thought it was well written. I look forward to reading more from this author. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Genevieve]

This book took me like four months to read! I was super excited due to loving Daughter of Fire but sadly The Other Moctezuma Girls almost let me down. I just felt it got quite slow and jumbled throughout the middle- i love the journal chapters and would become super engaged in the writing and story then just lose interest. I'm glad I kept reading because I enjoyed the ending and learning more about Indigenous Mexican history. Excited to see what the author comes out with next!

[Salomée Lou]

4.75

I absolutely loved this novel! Loved the alternate chapters, the diary entries, the quest to find the truth... It felt like an adventure / the cinematic writing made me feel like I was watching a movie.
And the themes were everything I loved: sisterhood, daughterhood, transmission...
Highly recommend :)

[Maria Fledgling Author Park]

Innocence Lost

Sofia Robleda writes English prose about Mexico's pre-Spanish indigenous lands. What we readers hear are lyrical words of the ancient language of Nahuatl. Words that chirp like birds, that sound like wind raging around an erupting volcano, that create in your mind how horrible a pandemic measles was to the Mexica.

Sophia's character Isabel is the last Mexica empress. Her children are Moctezumas, and they belong to this magnificent land, Anahuac, and to the People of the Sun. The book is Isabel's often gut-wrenching experience of the arrival of Hernan Cortez and his Spanish Conquistadors, the outright thievery of kingdoms, and the wholesale sexual assault of a country's women.

Through her children finding her diary, we get to know Isabel's family. Her father, Juan Cano, Nantzin’s (Nahuatl for mother)
heir, Pedro. Then, Gonzalo and Nano, her little sister, Catina, her half-brother, Andrade, and finally, her firstborn sister from Hernan Cortez, Leonor Cortés, living all by herself because she is a daughter of Cortez.

The Other Moctezuma Girls is a realistic, deeply researched, and sweeping account of the emotional legacy of the Spanish Conquistadors' invasion upon the Indigenous people. It is not a theoretical account. This book will break your heart, make you angry, leave you grieving lost innocence, or maybe you won't react at all. Personally, I found it hard not to empathize with all of the pain.

Sofia Robleda has a gift for poetic prose. Yet, she never hesitates to be truthful. Her writing conveys Isabel's fondest wish.

“You shall carry forth the light, whatever that looks like for you. It pains me to not grow old to see it, but I know it shall be great, your own special tale for another day. My hope is that you will be brave enough to find it.”

[Rita C]

The most beautifully written historical fiction I have read this year. This book spoke to my soul, it was a love letter to Mexico. 6 out of 5 stars. It was perfect amount of mystery, coming of age, and family feud vibes.

[Dana]

The Other Moctezuma Girls does an excellent job of blending historical fiction with a little scavenger hunt. I knew I was going to like this book when I saw the 'note on Nahuatl pronunciation" before the story even began. It has historical authenticity, a sweet love story, a set of siblings who are desperately trying to figure out their late mother.

I was drawn to this book because of the setting. The fact that it is set in 1550's Mexico, right after the invasion of conquistadors (Hernan Cortez) was what sold me in the first place. I was not disappointed. From the use of the Nahuatl language and the descriptions of Tenochtitlan, to the incorporation of the important historical figures at the time, I was captivated. I love when a book pulls me in so much that it makes me want to learn more about the time period/setting. During and after reading I was googling layouts of the city and how chinampas function. I went down a rabbit hole looking up Mexica rulers, Spanish colonization, and other traditions.

Our main character, Isabel, is one of seven siblings so I had to make sure I had a clear understanding of who was who, the only thing I found somewhat difficult in the beginning. What I did not know, however, was that there were actually seven siblings. They are all important to the story and a little bit into the book it was clearer. I think some people might be a little thrown with the Nahuatl names BUT it feels important to recognize this as a very necessary part of the story and how identity is shaped. (This is where the family chart at the beginning was helpful).

I just really liked this book. I reviewed this as an ARC from NetGalley but the opinions are all my own. It checked a lot of boxes for me, especially. because I may not have originally gravitated towards it. I plan on reading her other book now that has a similar setting.

[J. Else]

Tenochtitlan, 1551. The last Aztec empress has died, and her youngest daughters are left with a mystery. They’ve discovered their late mother’s secret diary. As she was previously believed to be illiterate, the diary reveals an entirely different identity to their mother, a woman once known as Tecuichpoch. It illuminates the turmoil she and her people faced amid the Spanish conquest. However, there are more journals to find and a trail of clues to follow. Yearning for the truth, Isabel leads a quest to find these journals across the Valley of Mexico and uncovers the remnants of her ancestral world. In their search, a family legacy unfolds against dangerous obstacles—including a brother intent on claiming their mother’s inheritance.

The story alternates between Tecuichpoch’s diary entries and Isabel’s journey, which constructs an intimate portrayal of female endurance and complex family dynamics. Beyond the drama and suspense, Robleda’s narrative is anchored by a deep emotional resonance as characters confront hard truths about themselves while confronting the shadows cast by conquest and betrayal. Tecuichpoch’s last journal entry is as bittersweet as it is heartbreaking, revealing the immense trauma she kept hidden in order to survive. Folklore and supernatural touches blend with carefully researched history, resulting in an immersive, gripping tale about reclaiming identity piece by aching piece. Exquisite prose, pulse-pounding adventure, a lost empire, evocative setting details, and dynamic characters blend together to create a story that will leave an indelible mark on those who dare to follow Isabel’s path. Highly recommended.

Review originally posted via the Historical Novel Society at https://historicalnovelsociety.org/re...

[lenore 🐦‍⬛✨]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
—
“But one thing that always makes me smile, now, laugh even, is the notion that the Spaniards conquered us. Oh, they sat, it only took five hundred men to conquer the Mexica, as if their thousands of Indigenous allies had been as useful as clouds of dust. It only took a year, they say. And I laugh, even now, I laugh at their bold-faced stupidity.

For it was not those men who conquered us.

No, it was the hueyzahuatl, the great pestilence they brought.”
—
words cannot express how much a story like this means to me. i feel like so many people forget that latinos are native, too, and having books like this that tell the stories of our ancestors is everything.

one thing i loved was how much of mexico’s history is acknowledged. the way different peoples were brought here, even people we often didn’t think about. re-learning traditions that we used to hold, and how important certain stones and jewels were. finding out that so many of our cultural foods were indigenous. the mythology and history that the country has had. and also the notion that the conquistadores were stinky just made me laugh. like take a bath, guys.

another thing i wanted to touch on was how amazing it is to have seen places that i’ve lived in and visited through the lens of the people who lived there 500 years ago. even references to the island of the dolls that people still tell legends about today was so iconic it almost made me cry. we know that these things and places have been here, but to see just how long they’ve endured and persisted was everything to me.

i would like to reiterate how important stories like this are. especially in a day and age like today, we matter.

[Zoe]

Captivating, enlightening, and immersive!⁣
⁣
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐙𝐔𝐌𝐀 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋𝐒 is a fascinating story that follows Isabel Cano, a strong-willed young woman who, after the death of her mother, the last Aztec empress, sets out to uncover the secrets her mother kept and the life she truly lived.⁣
⁣
The prose is vivid and evocative. The characters are passionate, determined, and courageous. And the plot, set in Mexico in 1551, unfolds as a compelling exploration of life, love, bravery, strength, loss, loyalty, danger, ambition, power, heritage, legacy, and family.⁣
⁣
Overall, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐌𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐙𝐔𝐌𝐀 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋𝐒 is an intricate, atmospheric, informative tale by Robleda that transports readers to another time and place and immerses you so deeply in the characters’ emotions, personalities, and lives that you can’t help but root for them.

[Marisol Lopez]

Giving this one a 3.5 but rounding off to 3. While I loved reading about the historical aspects of Mexico …. The story itself was a little too cheesy (for lack of a better word).

[Kimberlyyyreads]

*4.5

Thank you to Sofia Robleda for the gifted e-arc!

"Because one day, our children would rise up again, and gain strength, and the sun would return, and our children would fulfill the great destiny of our believed Anahuac"

This book left me speechless, reading Sofia's interpretation of the history of Tecuichpoch is amazing. The vivid imagery, details, and storytelling are so incredibly written.

One of the beautiful things about being Mexican is our familial relationships, Sofia embeds this in The Other Moctezuma Girls in a way that compliments the novel. Isabel, Juan, Catina, Nano, and the Moctezuma's siblings are truly unforgettable.

This book is told through dual narratives, Isabel's and her mothers, Techuipochtzin. We go through a journey with Isabel in which we see both women develop overtime. One's narrative is being revealed and the other is being lived. As someone who values complex family narratives, this book portrays this through a important historical lens.

Reading a novel based after the Spanish Conquest, where the indigenous Mexica's narrative is the dominant one is an immediate must read!

The book touches upon so many important subjects through the lens of the most valuable perspectives of Mexico, Women. Topics include; Assimilation, Colonization, Religion, Motherhood, Womanhood, Culture, Mythology, and so much more!

I cannot wait for everyone to read this!

Y que siempre viva mi Mexico lindo!

[JenBsBooks]

3.5 stars. I read this, mostly because it was one on the list for the GoodReads/HispanicHeritage challenge (Sep2026), and it was included in KindleUnlimited (read and listen) and I had a membership there at the moment. It also had high ratings. It was good, I just don't know that anything really stood out for me, that I'll remember it or go out of my way to recommend it.

Two timelines ... the majority of the book is from Isabel's POV, in 1551, with a few chapters from her mother's (Techichpoch) POV ... a bit of a biography written and left for her children (although not straight-forward, Isabel and her siblings have to search for the pages. It was all first person, past tense. There were actually three narrators listed (there were some extras, not sure if they were read by a different narrator? I really only recall the two for the two different POVs)

I appreciated that the Table of Contents listed these chapter headings (the POV). I had both the audio and Kindle copy, and it was easy to switch between formats as needed (I went primarily with the audio). There was a map and a family tree (kindle only) and some extras, including a pronunciation guide, which felt a tad redundant in audio (as we had the narrator doing the pronunciation, although I can imagine it is helpful to Kindle readers).

ProFanity x 4 ... some sexual content but nothing explicit.

[Constance]

The Other Moctezuma Girls takes place in sixteenth century Mexico, approximately 30 years after the fall of the Aztecs and the Spanish takeover. We follow Isabel Canos de Moctezuma, whose mother was one of the daughters of the last Aztec king before the forced colonization of their people.

Destined to join a convent with her sister Catina after their mother’s death, Isabel is determined to avoid that fate. When a journal seemingly written by their deceased mother appears, along with a map to find the others, the sisters decide to take it upon themselves to find the rest of their mother’s story.

This was a wonderfully researched novel, and it was so fascinating to learn more about Aztec, or Mexica culture both before the Conquistadors arrived and after. The things that the Moctezuma girls’ mother experienced were so harrowing, and while most of this is fictionalized, there is most likely truth to it. Tecuichpoch, or Isabel as she was baptized to, did endure six marriages from the age of 9, and three of them were former Conquistadors.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Crossing for the e-arc! The Other Moctezuma Girls releases on Feb 24!

[LilithNeverEve]

The Strength Our Mothers Leave Us

beautiful story about family, heritage, womanhood, and the strength that can be passed from one generation to the next.
At the center of the story is a mother whose own struggles and sacrifices shape the lives of her children. As they grow from young girls into women, they begin to understand love, family, endurance, and themselves in entirely new ways. And with age comes a deeper understanding of everything their mother endured and just how much of her strength lives within them.
I especially loved the celebration of Hispanic heritage and family, and the way the story explores the complicated but powerful bonds between mothers and daughters. There is love, hardship, growth, sacrifice, and that realization that sometimes you don't fully understand your mother's story until you've lived enough of your own.
A beautiful, heartfelt story about strong women raising strong women and the history and resilience carried through a family.

[Clair Atkins]

What a unique story! The story of Isabel Moctezuma who was a high-ranking Aztec princess, is told here through her children as they discover her secrets. It all kicks off with the reading of Isabel’s will, leading her daughters—Isabel and Catina—on a high-stakes quest to find their mother’s hidden diaries.
This was an unusual read - a blend of historical fiction and faced paced adventure and danger. It wasn’t a period of time I knew anything about so I’ve since read a little bit around the time period. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and I referred to the family tree often.
Thoroughly enjoyable, a must read for fans of historical fiction.

[Kristina]

what a book!
my first novel by sofia robleda and definitely not my last.

i honestly thought it'd be just another good historical fiction, but it was so so so much more! the family relationships and ties were so good and made me feel for all the characters (even some of the bad ones), because each person's pain was so prominent. the adventure was fun and i loved traveling along with our crew to all the places, even though sometimes it seemed that they got the clues a bit too easily. the culture, history, myths were incredible. i think i will spend some time in the future researching everything, because I found it all so fascinating.

and don't even get me started on the food descriptions !! everything sounded so delicious and made me so sad because my last (and first!) trip to mexico was only 4 months ago, and i already want to go back!

4.5 stars
thank you netgalley and amazon crossing for this arc.

[Jasminegalsreadinglog]

The Other Moctezuma is a raw and unflinching piece of historical fiction. The story of the last Aztec empress is far from an easy read, but it is an essential one. While her title suggests power, her actual life was anything but simple or straightforward.

​Set in the mid 16th century, the narrative follows Isabel as she navigates a world where her family is in shambles and her heritage is being erased. Her mother is gone, and she is left to fight against a destiny that seems preordained by both her bloodline and her conquerors. As she embarks on a dangerous journey to uncover the secrets of the last Aztec empress, she faces the dual threat of being a woman in a patriarchal society and a native in a land occupied by the Spanish.

​This book was truly hard to put down because the author does not shy away from the brutal realities of the era. It tackles heavy themes like colonialism, slavery, and misogyny with directness. Yet, in the middle of all that darkness, there are beautiful threads of friendship, strength, and compassion.

​The character development is where this novel really shines. Every person Isabel encounters feels like a real human being with complex motivations rather than a historical trope. It is one of those rare novels that forces you to sit with uncomfortable truths and think deeply about the cost of survival.

​Thank you to Amazon Crossing for providing the digital copy of this book.

[Deb]

I loved this book. Actually audiobook, so I was blessed with the correct pronunciation of the beautiful language. I will be listening over and over for the things I missed, and to hear the narration. Thank you to the author for this gift.

[Karen’s Library]

RTC

[Louis Muñoz]

3.5 stars, rounding down to 3. I very much appreciated having such a strong female protagonist, and the great care in presenting Indigenous people and culture in the context of the then still recent arrival of Europeans. These were the strongest parts of the story, along with the flashbacks via hidden letters of Montezuma's daughter and all that she and the native peoples had to suffer and endure.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Amanda]

This week, Sofia Robleda released her second novel, The Other Moctezuma Girls, and I’ve so been looking forward to it. Set in Mexico in 1551, this is part family drama and part unexpected adventure.

Isabel Moctezuma, the last Aztec princess, has just passed away, leaving behind several adult children, a shocking will, and an even more surprising gift for her daughter, Isabel. The unusual art Isabel receives after her mother’s death leads her and two siblings on a treasure hunt around Mexico, searching for chapters of their mother’s true story. Will they uncover the whole truth before their other brothers catch up and potentially harm them?

What I Liked:
- Getting to know 16th-century Mexico. I don’t know enough about Mexico’s history, and I enjoyed getting to see such a transitional time here, with a focus on Indigenous peoples and their complicated relationship with Spanish conquistadors. The family matriarch—known by many names, including Tecuichpoch and Nantzin—was a real historical figure. She was an Aztec princess and was married numerous times, including to various Spanish men, the last of whom is Isabel’s dad. She describes both the horrors of her experiences and the better times.
- Treasure hunt for their mother’s secret history. Isabel, her sister Catina, and her brother Nano follow the clues left in a strange painting, searching for the secret chapters of Nantzin’s life story. These clues take them all over Mexico, allowing readers to explore so much of the country. Each chapter is more securely hidden than the last, making the search increasingly exciting as they near the end of the story.
- Dual timeline. The main story is set in early 1551, shortly after Nantzin’s death as the three siblings search for the missing chapters. Upon finding each chapter, we get to hear Nantzin’s personal account of being married three times by the age of 12 (!!), losing most of her family members, and being pushed into the hands of the Spanish. These are some harrowing experiences, and it’s no wonder she was affected by these events later on.
- Complicated sibling relationships. Isabel, Catina, and Nano are close, even if they don’t always agree on things. Their other siblings range from distant to outright cruel, especially after hearing Nantzin’s final will. I enjoyed getting to see the myriad forms of sibling relationships, as well as the relationships with their parents.
- Use of language. This book uses a lot of Nahuatl, the Indigenous language spoken in their region of Mexico. And since Catina went deaf after an illness, she and her siblings use sign language to communicate. I loved seeing the range of languages used here and how it centered Indigenous peoples.

Audiobook:
The Other Moctezuma Girls is brilliantly narrated by Victoria Villarreal as Isabel and Diana Bustelo as Tecuichpoch (Nantzin). Both perfectly captured their characters’ voices. Isabel was young and brash; Nantzin was knowing yet slightly playful. This dual narration made for an engrossing read through the very last chapter.

Final Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed The Other Moctezuma Girls. This is book is for anyone who enjoys historical fiction about real past figures, learning about 1500s Mexico, and the complex relationship between a mother and her children. This brings a bit of mystery, adventure, and a lot of heart. I look forward to reading more from Sofia Robleda, including her debut novel, Daughter of Fire, which is already waiting on my shelf.

Special thanks to Amazon Crossing, Brilliance Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

* Please read my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *

[Rori.c]

A History That Still Lives in Each of Us

The Other Moctezuma Girls by Sofía Robleda is an absolutely gorgeous retelling of how that part of history occurred through the lens of one mother and one daughter’s experience within the class/caste system that was created postconquest within the Mexican Americas. It brings us into a world where race, ancestry, class, and gender dictated where someone was allowed to exist and who they were allowed to love/interact within society. Chilling what they were expected to endure simply because of who they were born to be.

So many of us have roots within this story as being someone who’s a perfect mix of Black, Spanish, and Indigenous. Just absolute beauty in these words and a heartwrenching story of suffering. So much suffering has befallen on our culture. It’s heartbreaking to know what your ancestors have suffered and endured just for you to exist. We have just as much as the individuals within this story, we know that suffering. Especially in this country we know it daily during this administration. I know that if you read this book your heart gets tied to that suffering because as I felt if you share my background in anyway you will know in your lineage that type of suffering exists.

At the hands of others, we have been and currently are forced to lower our gazes, forced to make ourselves small, forced to live within confines that are disagreeable to what is just as a human. Fear exists so prevalently now. Reading these experiences within the book and in our daily lives, that knowing those pieces exist within our own ancestral histories… it makes the story cut you in a personal way that jars you. There is pain in recognizing how much people endured simply to survive, but there is also beauty in knowing that despite everything being done or has come to pass, our lives, our culture, our families, and our descendants will continue vibrantly yet stronger due to those experiences.

This was an impactful story with such a beautiful message. It doesn’t separate the beauty of our people from the suffering they experienced, nor does it make that suffering the entirety of who our ancestors were. There is family, the characters identities, the acts of survival, and the complicated reality we are all living within. It allows us to see a world that has decided where we belong before you’ve ever had the opportunity to decide that for yourself. Then seeing the bravery and courage of heart to overcome the ingrained belief and fears to become your own person.

I highly suggest anyone who reads this to really take time to allow it to speak to your soul, and if you’re thinking about reading this book, be prepared for a journey. Be prepared for your heart to be pulled and torn in unexpected places and allow it to shine a light to see parts of your lineage and who you are with new fresh eyes. We are all a mix of everything in our DNA the beautiful and the ugly. There are stories that allow us to simply visit history, but this is a story that makes you recognize that history still lives within us. This book gave those realisations, and I hope you take a chance within these pages to face the same.

[Sabrina]

I can truly say that this book by Sofia Robleda is one of the best historical fiction novels I have read this year. "The Other Moctezuma Girls" takes place in sixteenth century Mexico and tells the story of the lasting and devastating effects of the Spanish conquest there. We follow the journey of Isabel Moctezuma, who is one of the daughters of the last empress of the Aztecs. Isabel's mother was also the daughter of the Aztecs' last emperor before the Spanish conquered the Aztecs. Isabel, along with her two siblings Catina and Nano and the family's young cook Juan, embark on a perilious journey to retrieve different writings left by Isabel's mother that tells them the story of her life. They all travel to different parts of Mexico in order to find these journals, and end up finding out more about themselves as well. The group also confronts mythical beings and legends along the way, which is a very intriguing aspect of the book.

This novel intimately explores themes including family dynamics, colonization, and identity. The complex relationships Isabel has with many members of her family, including her mother before she passed away, adds to the depth of the novel and made the characters very relatable to me.

One aspect of the book that I really loved was the author's style of writing as it felt very poetic and intimate. Robleda writes the characters beautifully and the events in the novel flow together seamlessly. I also enjoyed getting to know more about Aztec and Mexican culture, and we also get to hear about the effects of the Spanish invasion from voices typically marginalized in Mexican society. I appreciate the author including notes in the beginning of the novel that describe how to pronounce the Nahuatl words that are featured in the novel, as well as general information on the Aztec, or the Mexica, people. This novel is a stunning piece of historical fiction and I am sure that many people will fall in love with this story just as I did. I am looking forward to reading more of this author's work in the future as "The Other Moctezuma Girls" is now one of my favorite books.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[cosylittlereadingcorner]

“As she began to read, […] Her voice sounded just like Nantzin’s [=mother’s]. I turned to face the tapestry and looked at my mother’s face, and felt for a moment that she was in the room again. […] I bit my trembling lip and tried to breathe, listened to [her] story again. […] I knew it with every fiber in my body, […] it was real. And if it was the only thing left of her, I would search for it and have it. I would have every single part.”

And so begins the story of Isabel’s search for the truth her mother left for her in clues in a tapestry bequeathed to Isabel and her sister Catina in her will.

Based on facts, this novel is just the most beautiful blend of history, legend and adventure and I genuinely did not want to put it down. Historical fiction is my favourite genre and this book so delivered! It is easily a five star read for me.

I loved Isabel’s fierce spirit and the fact that the book took me to a place and time in history not often visited in fiction. It is set in 16th century Mexico and covers the arrival of the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés and his army and the impact of their arrival on the region. I learnt about this in school but nowhere near enough!!

It is only relatively bare facts that are known about the daughter of the then ruler of the Mexica Empire, Isabel Moctezuma (google her and you’ll see!) but Sofia has built a story around what is known and she has done this wonderfully. I love the mix of the present (in the story present, not our present) and the chapters, which are the voice of empress herself. I loved the sibling dynamics between the empress’ children, born to a number of different fathers and left differing legacies and I absolutely adored the love story included too.

The adventure (daughter) Isabel goes on gives the book a real fast pace and as a reader, you do get nervous with the perils she faces. If you love a story with a strong female character then this is for you, for both Isabel and her mother (and Catina!) are such characters! I also love a book that makes me pause and do a quick web search part way through to learn a bit more about the context in which the story is set and I did this more than once whilst reading this.

In short: a truly wonderful book and I now want to read Sofia’s other novel!

[Julia Rachelle]

The Other Moctezuma Girls

“But that is a tale for another day. My hope is that you will find it.”

Sofia Robleda has done it again. I loved her first novel-Daughter of Fire-and her second novel was just as amazing!

Set in 1500s Mexico, Isabel, the granddaughter of the famous Emperor Moctezuma, is faced with her mother’s death. Her mother’s will contains a few surprises, sending the men in her family into an uproar. When Isabel discovers clues to a secret account of her mother’s life, she sets off with two of her siblings and a cook named Juan to discover it. The account is hidden in parts spread across the Valley of Mexico, sending Isabel’s group on a perilous quest that takes them from tunnels beneath a pyramid to the island of la Llorona to the peak of a smoking volcano in order to discover the truth of the last Aztec empress’s life.

In true Sofia Robleda fashion, this novel highlights the horrors that the brutal conquistadors unleashed over the indigenous people of Latin America, particularly the women. Though the majority of the novel is set a few decades after the conquest, the pieces of Tecuichpoch’s life offer a glimpse into the brutality of the conquistadores as they ravaged the land. Robleda writes in such a way that you can feel the emotions of the characters on the page and see the historical events as if they are unfolding in front of you. She doesn’t hold back any punches, and the account of the fall of Tenochtitlan and subsequently the Mexica Empire is bloody and terrible, but important history to be remembered. Seeing these events and their consequences through the eyes of two characters, decades apart, really helped flesh out the changing é orld of New Spain.

This book is brimming with culture, from the food to the mythology to the vibrant descriptions of the Valley of Mexico. I loved the use of Nahuatl in the text as it helped me feel truly immersed in the story. Robleda includes a very helpful note on pronunciation at the beginning of the book.

This book is a must read for fans of historical novels. I’ll read anything Sofia writes and can’t wait to see what is next!

[Chantal Burgess]

The actual history behind The Other Moctezuma Girls was probably the most interesting part of this book for me. I went into it knowing basically nothing about Tecuichpoch, later known as Isabel Moctezuma, and finished genuinely wanting to learn more about her and this period of Mexican history.

Tecuichpoch was a daughter of Moctezuma II who survived the Spanish conquest of the Mexica Empire and the enormous loss and upheaval that followed. She was later baptized as Isabel Moctezuma, married multiple times, had seven children, and became a wealthy landowner in New Spain. Her life and what happened to Moctezuma’s descendants after the conquest is honestly fascinating, and I wish the book had leaned more heavily into that history.

Instead, the further I got into the story, the more it started to feel like a YA fantasy novel rather than the historical fiction I was expecting. Some of the dialogue felt way too modern for a story set in the 1500s, and there were definitely moments where it came across a little lame or cheesy. It kept pulling me out of the time period.

I don’t mind fantasy mixed with historical fiction, but there was already so much interesting real history here that I kept wishing we were getting more of that instead. I wanted the setting, characters, and events to feel a little more grounded and realistic.

Overall, this was just okay for me. I don’t regret reading it because it introduced me to a piece of history I knew absolutely nothing about, and now I’m actually interested in learning more about the real women and events behind the story.

And most importantly, I got my Goodreads badge. 😂 So really, mission accomplished.