Sangre Matriarca

by Maribel Rubio

Chuy is a young and naive woman from a small town in Mexico in charge of the well-being of her younger siblings after her mother died in childbirth. Later, as a teenage wife and mother, two consecutive tragedies leave her without much hope for her future unless she emigrates to Ciudad Juarez. Believing she is in charge of her life and seeing a bright path ahead of her, she enthusiastically prepares for whatever life throws at her. She soon finds love, betrayal, loss, and ultimately a family of her own which proves to be the pillar of her love and continued strength through her journey. Elena is a young woman in another small town in Mexico who is trapped in a relationship with an alcoholic abusive man. She is forced to learn how to survive a life of abuse and neglect. A strong-willed woman who tries to help her children endure their childhood after having responsibilities no young child should have to worry about. After moving to Ciudad Juarez, Elena finds strength and independence once she feels her children are old enough to be safe by themselves. Chuy and Elena cross paths in their new home and their families become one when two of their children fall in love.

455 pages, Paperback

Published May 11, 2017

Reviews

[Erica R · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, one of the ways I fall in love with a book is how my mind and heart relates to characters. Chuy and Elena have very different backgrounds, cultures, and upbringings than myself. However, the experiences and raw emotions that come through the pages of these women grabbed me by the heartstrings and made me feel so connected to them; as stories share various similarities.

It’s not often a book has me avoiding my responsibilities as a wife and mother. This was a difficult read, because people were begging me for dinner and entertainment. All I wanted was to stay curled up with this book. Those people living in my house are so demanding! Every moment of peace was spent connecting and relating to the journeys of each character. I enjoyed reading this book so much.

[Diana Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked for days. If it weren’t for work, I would’ve finished it in a single sitting. There were no fairy tale happy endings—just real-life struggles and real-life solutions, which made it feel incredibly personal. I could easily relate to many of the dichos and even some of the challenges the characters faced. I truly understood and felt what the author was expressing on a deeply personal level. The writing was powerful, and the descriptions were vivid. I found myself loving some characters intensely and disliking others just as strongly. I only wish there were a sequel—I’m eager to know what happens with the children and how their stories unfold.