Daughter of Fire

DEBUT Catalina de Cerrato, a young woman in 16th-century Guatemala, is the daughter of a Spanish Catholic nobleman loyal to the crown. When Catalina’s Indigenous Maya K’iche’ mother is executed by the Church, Catalina is tasked with guarding the sacred texts of her mother’s people. An accident destroys the only surviving copy, so Catalina must work with the proud but honorable Lord Juan, a young K’iche’ leader, to create a new manuscript from their memories—without being caught by her father. Historical notes help to contextualize the story. Robleda’s first novel leads with an engaging premise but struggles with uneven pacing. Underdeveloped character motivations contribute to turnabout story beats that lack clear direction, and an unexpected twist at the midway point halts the momentum built in the first half, which may leave readers feeling unsatisfied. The novel’s first-person retellings of Guatemalan folklore shine, but they are unfortunately few and far between.