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Sofia Robleda
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Daughter of Fire: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Sofia Robleda (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 4,087 ratings
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For a young woman coming of age in sixteenth-century Guatemala, safeguarding her people’s legacy is a dangerous pursuit in a mystical, empowering, and richly imagined historical novel.

Catalina de Cerrato is being raised by her widowed father, Don Alonso, in 1551 Guatemala, scarcely thirty years since the Spanish invasion. A ruling member of the oppressive Spanish hierarchy, Don Alonso holds sway over the newly relegated lower class of Indigenous communities. Fiercely independent, Catalina struggles to honor her father and her late mother, a Maya noblewoman to whom Catalina made a vow that only she can keep: preserve the lost sacred text of the Popol Vuh, the treasured and now forbidden history of the K’iche’ people.

Urged on by her mother’s spirit voice, and possessing the gift of committing the invaluable stories to memory, Catalina embarks on a secret and transcendent quest to rewrite them. Through ancient pyramids, Spanish villas, and caves of masked devils, she finds an ally in the captivating Juan de Rojas, a lord whose rule was compromised by the invasion. But as their love and trust unfold, and Don Alonso’s tyranny escalates, Catalina must confront her conflicted blood heritage—and its secrets—once and for all if she’s to follow her dangerous quest to its historic end.

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  1. Print length
    280 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Amazon Crossing
  4. Publication date
    August 1, 2024
  5. File size
    5984 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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  9. See all details
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Popular Highlights in this book
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  1. “People are always arguing about which stories are true and which are not. It’s a pointless argument, for all contain a speck of truth about our world and ourselves. The only thing that matters is this: some stories are protected, safeguarded, and others are left to fade with time.”
    Highlighted by 170 Kindle readers
  2. The K’iche’ were the dominant Maya group, and their capital city, Q’umarkaj, was situated in the rocky Guatemalan highlands.
    Highlighted by 102 Kindle readers
  3. Father’s story gods had names like Hephaestus and Hera. Mother’s were Auilix and Xbalanque.
    Highlighted by 97 Kindle readers
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From the Publisher

DAUGHTER OF FIRE description

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Daughter of Fire is a gorgeous, gripping tale of one young woman’s struggle to find herself amid the terrors of colonialism and the desperate need to uphold the heritage of her people, bound up in her love for her mother.” —Booklist

“Robleda’s first novel shows promise and would be a good add to Latine mythology collections. Young adult readers will appreciate the chivalrous romance, and those with an interest in Latin American history will find the cultural perspective refreshing.” —Library Journal

“This is a well-researched novel telling of a time period which doesn’t often appear in fiction.” —Historical Novels Review

From the Publisher

When I first read Daughter of Fire, I immediately knew the story Sofia Robleda wanted to tell was important to her. She had crafted a cast of characters and a plot that were nothing short of inspiring, and I quickly realized this story was not only a special one, but one that hadn’t been told enough in fiction. It brings together two elements that, to me, make the perfect debut novel: an author with insurmountable passion and a story that is well-imagined, thoughtfully researched, and impeccably executed.

The fiery Catalina de Cerrato is coming of age in sixteenth-century Guatemala, only a few years after the Spanish invasion. She straddles two worlds: that of her father’s, a ruling member of the Spanish hierarchy, and her late mother’s, a Maya noblewoman. Catalina is determined to honor her mother’s legacy as the keeper of stories, and she sets out on a dangerous journey to fulfill her mother’s dying wish: that she safeguards her people’s sacred text, the Popul Vuh—a text that, in real life, has been preserved and venerated across generations and into the modern day.

Kudos to Sofia for so skillfully plucking the Popul Vuh from the history books and giving it a long-deserved place in a riveting piece of fiction. If you’re looking for a historical novel that transports you into a world unknown to many, you won’t be disappointed—I promise.

—Alexandra Torrealba, Editor

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CFD7PTKZ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amazon Crossing (August 1, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 1, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5984 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 4,087 ratings

About the author

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Sofia Robleda

Sofia Robleda

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Sofia is a Mexican writer. 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 in the UK with her husband and son, and splits her time writing, raising her son, and working as a psychologist, supporting people with brain injuries and neurological conditions.

The best way to follow Sofia's journey is by joining her newsletter (visit her main website) or through Instagram. A book club kit for DAUGHTER OF FIRE with a personal author letter, curated playlist, and discussion questions can also be found on her website. From time to time, Sofia also shares her thoughts on TikTok about the latest books she's enjoyed.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4,087 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the storyline intriguing, addictive, and spellbinding. They describe the book as unique, engrossing, and sacred. Readers praise the writing quality as eloquent, easy to read, and beautifully written. They say it keeps them captivated and provides real resolution to the characters' journeys. Opinions differ on the pace, with some finding it quick and thought-provoking, while others say it's slow.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
Story qualityHistorical accuracyWriting qualityEnthralling readCharacter developmentStrengthHeartbreakingPace
79 customers mention "Story quality"70 positive9 negative

Customers find the story intriguing, addictive, and spellbinding. They also say the book has history, action, and suspense all wrapped up together. Readers mention the topic and theme are challenging.

"...of “Daughter on Fire” has written a unique, creative, complex and intriguing novel...." Read more

"...Since this is a work of fiction, there’s plenty of action to boot that keeps the pages turning...." Read more

"The folklore and heritage entwined in the book was beautiful!..." Read more

"...It's a richly told tale that transcends the current blended culture and provides a new perspective on the early tribes of Mexico...." Read more

61 customers mention "Historical accuracy"61 positive0 negative

Customers find the book unique, engrossing, and amazing. They say the author does an admirable job of defining a lost culture and their demise. Readers also mention the story is interesting and stirs their inquisitive minds.

"Sofia Robleda, the Author of “Daughter on Fire” has written a unique, creative, complex and intriguing novel...." Read more

"...Despite this shortcoming, this book provides some insight into ancient Guatemalan history and shines a light around the brutal Spanish conquest of..." Read more

"...realization seemed to come a bit too easy but all in all it was a solid read." Read more

"...job of blending historical events, traditional Mayan culture, and magical realism. The world painted is lush and incredibly descriptive...." Read more

31 customers mention "Writing quality"28 positive3 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book eloquent, beautifully written, and easy to read. They appreciate the author's weaving of the importance of the ancient book and its magic and myth into a tightly constructed plot. Readers also appreciate the vivid descriptions and complex characters. They mention that barely a paragraph is wasted in the entire 280-page tale.

"...In beautiful prose, Sofia Robleda also writes in this coming of age novel, the importance of promises, family, friends, and tradition and..." Read more

"...Scarcely a paragraph is wasted in the entire 280-page tale. The writing and plot action are tightly constructed...." Read more

"...The writing is impeccable, Sofia does an amazing job of blending historical events, traditional Mayan culture, and magical realism...." Read more

"...It was refreshing to read about a time and place that is rarely explored - I was both intrigued by the story and edified by the learning." Read more

24 customers mention "Enthralling read"24 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enthralling, interesting, and entertaining. They say it's good to hear the story told from the Aztec perspective. Readers also mention the story is well-crafted and keeps them hooked till the very end.

"...This book is entertaining and enlightening – a good combination for a work of historical fiction...." Read more

"...sensitive, and fraught with danger and bravery, it was a compelling read." Read more

"...You captured my curiosity, tugged at my heart, and stirred my inquisitive mind. I highly recommend this read!" Read more

"...is rarely explored - I was both intrigued by the story and edified by the learning." Read more

21 customers mention "Character development"21 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters extremely believable and well-defined. They say the book provides real resolution to the characters' journeys and the quest they embark on. Readers also describe the characters as colorful, courageous, bold, and complex.

"...The author describes the dramatic and colorful characters as courageous, bold, complex and complicated. This is also told in terms of good and evil...." Read more

"...the fact that this is a standalone, so the book provides real resolution to the characters journeys and the quest they embark on...." Read more

"...The cast of characters was rich and engaging, descriptions of the landscapes and mythology beautifully captivating...." Read more

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is well written with interesting characters. The book kept my attention throughout...." Read more

7 customers mention "Strength"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book poignant, sad, and a monument to the strength and undying spirit of those. They describe the characters as courageous, bold, complex, and complicated. Readers also say the book is heartbreaking and hopeful.

"...The author describes the dramatic and colorful characters as courageous, bold, complex and complicated. This is also told in terms of good and evil...." Read more

"...to expect with this, but I loved the character development and strength of hope...." Read more

"This book was a wonderful read. So poignant, sad but also a monument to the strength and undying spirit of those who survived and were able to..." Read more

"This is a beautifully written story. It's heartbreaking and hopeful.The characters feel like family...." Read more

5 customers mention "Heartbreaking"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartbreaking, poignant, and sad. They say the characters feel like family.

"...It is also a story of love, hate, forgiveness, sadness, and happiness and how each of the characters dealt with the emotions...." Read more

"...The love story, beautiful. The historical realities, heartbreaking. Overall, a spectacular novel." Read more

"...A love story, an adventurous story and a heartbreaking one that helps you understand the torn emotions of those between two worlds...." Read more

"This book was a wonderful read. So poignant, sad but also a monument to the strength and undying spirit of those who survived and were able to..." Read more

7 customers mention "Pace"3 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pace of the book. Some mention it's a quick, thought-provoking, meaningful read, while others say it's slow and wordy at times.

"...A good story but gets a bit wordy at times, however if you r looking for a quick read I'd recommend it" Read more

"I did enjoy this book but it is not a favorite. It moved very quickly, which I like, but I have trouble reading about periods in history where women..." Read more

"This is more like a fairy tale. It’s slow building all the stories, family problems a love story...." Read more

"...Not if one was right or wrong, but trying to live in both. It was a quick, thought provoking, meaningful read." Read more

Fascinating Historical Fiction!
4 out of 5 stars
Fascinating Historical Fiction!
My favorite place to vacation is on the beaches of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. I absolutely love the Mayan culture and visit their ruins every chance I get, big or small. This extremely interesting Mayan historical fiction is set right around the Spanish Inquisition era.Catalina is the daughter of a member of the Spanish hierarchy and her mother was a Maya noblewoman. Unknown by her father, Catalina was entrusted with a sacred lost book of the Mayan history by her mother when Catalina was a child, right before her mother was slain.I found the historical aspects of this book so intriguing. I didn’t know anything about the Spanish invasion of Mexico and found book to be such an amazing read. I learned some of Mexico’s history and would really like to learn more.The ancient Mayan rites as described in this book were absolutely fascinating.
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Top reviews from the United States

teachlz
5.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Historical Fiction and Fantasy Novel
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2024
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Sofia Robleda, the Author of “Daughter on Fire” has written a unique, creative, complex and intriguing novel. The genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, and Magical Realism. The author has provided an historical and educational background for Guatemala in the sixteenth century. The author started with an ancestral search for history of the Mayan sacred text with stories. During this time of cultural and political change, the author vividly describes the lore, the land, the people, and the traditions. In beautiful prose, Sofia Robleda also writes in this coming of age novel, the importance of promises, family, friends, and tradition and heritage.

The author describes the dramatic and colorful characters as courageous, bold, complex and complicated. This is also told in terms of good and evil. The female protagonist, Catalina is being raised by her widowed father, Don Alonso, ‘a ruling member of the oppressive Spanish hierarchy in Guatemala.” Catalina is compelled by her mother’s spirit to preserve the documents of her people. Catalina discovers that there are betrayers, oppressors, and loyalty. There are symbolic references. I highly recommend this thought-provoking and magical book.
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Scott J. Pearson
4.0 out of 5 stars An informative, tightly constructed page-turner
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2024
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Catalina is born into privilege as a daughter of the president of Guatemala about thirty years after the Spanish invasion. However, she does not fully embrace that identity since her late mother has native blood. Catalina’s promise to her dying mother was to preserve the Popol Vuh, a collection of native Mayan writings describing their spiritual conception of the world. Her father has ruled as a moderate who seeks peace between the native tribes and the Spanish colonizers, but ethnic and religious conflict between the indigenous people and the Spanish has continued to intensify nonetheless.

Despite being treated as a Spaniard – and a privileged one at that – Catalina takes risk after risk to preserve the text of the Popol Vuh, a historical document still around today. In so doing, she discovers a deeper meaning of love, family, loyalty, and her native identity. Since this is a work of fiction, there’s plenty of action to boot that keeps the pages turning. Scarcely a paragraph is wasted in the entire 280-page tale. The writing and plot action are tightly constructed.

Still, Sofia Robleda clearly casts modern themes upon ancient times with this text. While I’m certain that independent women like Catalina, LGBTQ+ couples, and drama around cultural preservation existed in the 1500s, I doubt they all converged all at once around one focused plot. Despite this shortcoming, this book provides some insight into ancient Guatemalan history and shines a light around the brutal Spanish conquest of native peoples. While school textbooks can cast conquering Europeans in a noble light, Robleda rightly demonstrates that crude financial greed motivated much of the colonialist venture.

This book is entertaining and enlightening – a good combination for a work of historical fiction. Sadly, the implausibility keeps this book from transitioning from good to great. It does beneficially share about the cultural beauty of indigenous peoples and conveys the importance of cultural preservation. As the afterward shares, the Popol Vuh is preserved today, but ironically only through the pen of a Spanish Dominican monk. Cultural preservation is a very human virtue transcending any one group, but it’s a task that must be taken deliberately. Robleda’s tale reminds us of that while pushing us to turn the pages.
35 people found this helpful
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Allie Siebert
3.0 out of 5 stars Solid
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2024
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The folklore and heritage entwined in the book was beautiful! I had a hard time following the end of the romance, and her realization seemed to come a bit too easy but all in all it was a solid read.
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Sandy Penny
5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Historical Novel
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2024
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A look at the conquest of Mexico by the Spanish Conquistadors. A touch of magical realism enhances the stories of the Mexican resistance of the time and their ongoing quest to restore their freedom and prestige. The fears that threatened their lives every day and the overlords who tried to hide the Mexican culture of the indigenous people. Catalina's Mexican mother was claimed by her Spanish father, but her mother was the keeper of the legends and magical practices of the K'iche people. She taught her daughter the old ways and to keep the ancient bible of their people safe. It was a guiding principle in Catalina's life after her mother was killed for heresy, their language and culture suppressed, and their religion converted to Catholicism. It's a richly told tale that transcends the current blended culture and provides a new perspective on the early tribes of Mexico. Brilliant, sensitive, and fraught with danger and bravery, it was a compelling read.
One person found this helpful
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@bookdragonerin
4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5⭐️ Talk about complete stunner of a book.
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2024
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I am so glad I picked this one up through Amazon First Reads. The writing is impeccable, Sofia does an amazing job of blending historical events, traditional Mayan culture, and magical realism. The world painted is lush and incredibly descriptive. The pining romance between the FMC and MMC is perfection. The journey the FMC, Catalina goes on is at times heartbreaking but oh so beautiful as she learns to trust herself and her beliefs. I also really enjoyed the fact that this is a standalone, so the book provides real resolution to the characters journeys and the quest they embark on.

Highlights:
✨Forbidden Love
✨Historical Fantasy
✨Magical Realism
✨Mayan Culture
✨Slow Burn/Fade to Black

Favorite Quotes: "People are always arguing about which stories are true and which are not. It's a pointless argument, for all contain a speck of truth about our world and ourselves. The only thing that matters is this: some stores are protected, safeguarded, and others are left to fade with time."

"You don't need to shed blood in order to fight"
31 people found this helpful
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sylvia trujillo
5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2024
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I was revited to each page, turning and turning; didn't want to put it down. Thank you Sofia for the excitement in this beautiful brief history lesson. You captured my curiosity, tugged at my heart, and stirred my inquisitive mind. I highly recommend this read!
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Top reviews from other countries

Erin Michelle Ross
3.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing historical fiction
Reviewed in Canada on August 11, 2024
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Although it took a few chapters before I became immersed in the text, I found this to be an engaging story. I didn't know anything about the indigenous peoples of Guatemala and their interaction with the Spanish colonizers of the 16th century. Sofia Robleda uses her protagonist, Catalina de Cerrato as the lens in which we folow this story. The youngest daughter of a Spaniard and a Maya noblewoman, Catalina is caught in an ongoing war for power.

Lots of action in the book with a strong female protagonist.
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Diana David
5.0 out of 5 stars Unpredictable and deep
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 21, 2024
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I found this is an amazing book, very compelling to read, especially because of the plot being unpredictable, and the characters so deep.
The main character lives a clear dilemma between her too ancestries and it was very important for me as Portuguese and Catholic to deepen my understanding of the struggles of the colonized side - the importance of preserving one's heritage, culture, stories and spirituality in a dangerous environment and under oppression.
I found the plot not a cliché, which was one of the things I mostly appreciated. The main character was not always presented as perfect and beautiful, and she had to navigate complex feelings of regret, shame and fear.
Even though there was a romantic involvement in the story, the greatest love story in the book was much more profound and impressive - the one the main character writes with herself, the commitment to her mother and ancestry, being willing to sacrifice her happiness and give her life for something bigger.
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S Vajda
5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful & intriguing page-turner
Reviewed in Australia on August 20, 2024
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Achingly captivating, I found it hard to put this book down. Robleda beautifully captures the torsion that the main character, Catalina, experiences as she navigates the New World while fighting to protect a secret, ancient Mayan text. The story, though punctuated by tragedy, is easy to read and paints an intricate picture of life in 15th century Guatemala.
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Tina Hewitt
3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed the history
Reviewed in Canada on July 18, 2024
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This was a lovely read. A tribute to those who straddle multiple identities while trying exist in all equally. It doesn't always work. Our main character is one such individual, and seeing her struggle to honour both sides of her heritage was great.
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Dave Higgins
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Blend of History and Character
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 27, 2024
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Robleda blends historical research with subjective descriptions of faith, weaving a novel that is both a portrayal of 16th Century Guatemala under Spanish rule and a mystical quest to preserve the Mayan soul.

Daughter of a high-ranking member of the Spanish colonial government of Guatemala and a Mayan noblewoman, Catalina Cerrato is caught between her desire to be the respectable child her father wants and the ancient duty she inherited from her mother to preserve the last copy of the Popol Vuh, the sacred text of the K’iche people. With her mother murdered for not abandoning her beliefs, society finding out that she possesses a supposedly heretical work risks not merely disgrace but death. When disaster destroys most of the text, her vow to her mother draws her to rewrite it from memory; but how can she perform the sacred rituals when the one person she needs and who should be her greatest supporter, the heir to former Mayan throne, so despised the idea of her even having the text that he laid a curse on her?

This novel is set in 16th Century Guatemala following the conquest of most of the country by the Spanish Empire, and follows one possible explanation for what happened to the Popol Vuh between the defeat of the K’iche and a recent copy coming into the possession of a monk decades later. Skilfully balancing sweeping descriptions of history and culture with characterful details, Robleda provides the reader with a strong picture of the time while maintaining this fully as a novel rather than extended essay.

The focus on specific character perception rather than historical objectivity is further strengthened by Catalina’s experiences of the mystical deeply impacting her actions but each being capable of a mundane or supernatural explanation; thus, the book sits in the liminal zone between history and fantasy.

In addition to the racism between Spanish and K’iche, made more personally complex by Catalina being a child of a mixed marriage so vulnerable to being seen as “really” a member of the other group by both sides, Robleda’s choice to have her protagonist be a woman adds a further complicating layer of sexism. These prejudices collide and intersect, creating a powerful portrayal of both the tawdry cruelties that individuals can perform behind the curtain of “civilising the non-Christian natives”, and one person caught between cultures and their conflicting expectations of what a civilised and noble woman would do.

Catalina is a well-crafted protagonist, possessing the strength of will to break the bounds of the social roles Spaniard and K’iche expect her to follow without being merely a “strong female” character, and being open-minded enough that readers of differing sensibilities will find her sympathetic while still possessing unconscious prejudices that are plausible for her upbringing.

The supporting cast are similarly nuanced, each displaying a different blend of perspectives on racial worth, the place of women, and obedience to authority. This creates a complex and realistic set of characters who display virtues and vices, avoiding the preaching simplicity of a world where coloniser or colonised are all heroic upholders of civilisation against an immoral threat.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers seeking a tale of colonialism that focuses on the complexity of people and not monolithic binaries.
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