Putting a different spin on a work of literature isn’t new, but it is really popular these days thanks to books like Madeline Miller’s Circe and Jennifer Saint’s Ariadne.
It is in this tradition, but also in its own way, that we find Mariely Lares’ historical fantasy novel Sun Of Blood And Ruin (hardcover, Kindle, audiobook), which not only puts a unique spin on the character of Zorro, but also sets said story in an alt-history world.
In the following email interview, Lares discusses what inspired and influenced this story, which is the first book of a duology…and (if she has her way) maybe more.
To start, what is Sun Of Blood And Ruin about, and when and where does it take place?
Sun Of Blood And Ruin is a historical fantasy, gender-bent Zorro reimagining set in 16th century Spain-occupied Mexico, weaving Mexican history and Mesoamerican mythology.
The story follows the morally upstanding Lady Leonora who leads a double life as the masked vigilante, Pantera.
Sun Of Blood And Ruin is based on when Spain conquered the Aztecs but is told with a fantasy bent. Did you start out wanting to retell a historical event but with a fantasy bent, or did you have the idea for the plot of Sun and then realize it would work just as well, or even better, if it connected to what happened between Spain and the Aztecs?
It was like the big bang, Paul. Everything happened at once. There wasn’t a single domino that tipped the rest, but if I have to pinpoint the biggest factor, it would probably be the setting.
Sun Of Blood And Ruin was born of my love for Zorro, among other things, but Zorro was too modern to me because Mexico gained independence from Spain in the 19th century, which is when Zorro’s adventures take place in Alta California. So, the time period was too late for my liking. We have centuries of unexplored history. I wanted to go back in time and drop a female Zorro with superpowers thirty years after the Spanish conquest of Mexico, which isn’t often delved into in historical fantasy, and because even today, there’s a lot of debate about it. I knew I wanted to challenge the Eurocentric narrative that the Spaniards came and conquered and destroyed everything by themselves. That’s simply not true.
Plus, I also wanted to infuse the story with the fantastical elements of Aztec mythology.
And last but not least, I wanted to imagine what could’ve happened 500 years ago, had there actually been a sorceress like Leonora whose magic could overpower the Spaniards, had there been an entire army of shapeshifting sorcerers.
I also have to ask, because I’m a jerk, has anyone made a good joke about the main character being Pantera? Or have they all been dumb stuff about her being “far beyond driven” or asking why she isn’t named Sepultura or Brujeria or Metallica? Or is it just me? It’s just me, isn’t it? I’ll shut up now.
Ha! Hate to break it to you, but it’s just you. I can’t say that I would have ever thought naming Leonora after a metal band. We’re sticking with animal names in true Zorro fashion. Plus, she can actually become a panther, obviously.
I’m broken.
Anyway, Sun Of Blood And Ruin is obviously a fantasy novel, but it seems more like a fable kind of fantasy than, say, the epic medieval fantasy of The Lord Of The Rings or the urban fantasy of Harry Potter…
You’re right. It’s definitely not high fantasy. It’s rooted in the real world.
It does share some genre DNA with urban fantasy, but again, we don’t have a modern setting and it explores a historical context vs. supernatural.
Now, Sun Of Blood And Ruin is your first published novel. Though I’d guess it’s not the only work of fiction you’ve written. Who do you consider to be the biggest influences on both what you wrote in Ruin and how you wrote it?
I have a bit of a soft spot for history. I read more historical fiction that I read fantasy, and that probably shows in my writing because I lean more heavily toward that.
That’s not to say that I don’t love fantasy. I do. I read and write all over the place, and we do see fantasy elements in many historical fiction works. That being said, Bernard Cornwell, Phillipa Gregory, Ken Follet, and Susanna Clarke are a few favs.
What about non-literary influences; was Sun Of Blood And Ruin influenced by any movies, TV shows, or games?
Hello, Marvel universe? Is that you? Big “Avengers Assemble” energy.
I also really love the historical TV series Vikings. I wager some of the gory bits found their way into the pages of Sun Of Blood And Ruin. Dragon Ball, for sure. Even Asian military movies and wuxia films like, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. If it’s historical, and on a streaming platform, chances are I’ve seen it. And it more than likely influenced my writing, or at least set the mood for it.
I don’t think I have to even mention The Mask Of Zorro movie, do I?
And what about your dog, Gaston? What influence did he have on Sun Of Blood And Ruin?
His ears perked up just now. Dogs always know when you’re talking about them, don’t they?
Gaston
As we know, Leonora can shapeshift into a jaguar, and tragically, I’ve never been a cool cat. No pun intended. I think Gaston has helped me tap into Leonora’s animalistic nature. He is the nicest, sweetest, friendliest dog you’ll ever meet, if I do say so myself. But if he sees a squirrel, he becomes the spawn of Satan, and all hell breaks loose. Very similar to when Leonora is in her jaguar form. Her predatory behavior kicks into high gear and it becomes run, chase, kill.
Sun Of Blood And Ruin is the first book in a duology. What was it about this story that made you realize it needed to be two volumes as opposed to one or, conversely, three or four or 37?
I mean, 37 would be a dream. With 500 years of history to play with, there’s endless material. But for now, I’m just locked in for two.
Originally, I had this grand vision of a trilogy. After the duology wraps up, though, I’m hoping to dive back into this world and explore other characters and their adventures. Whether that happens really depends on my publisher and if readers are up for it.
So, what is the other book going to be called, when will it be out, and when does it take place in relation to Sun Of Blood And Ruin?
Wouldn’t you like to know? Wouldn’t I like to know? Who knows? All I really know is that I wrote the sequel last year, and that it picks up a year after the events of Sun Of Blood And Ruin. We journey outside of Mexico City to the Northern desert. Is that a spoiler? Oh, well.
Upon hearing that Sun Of Blood And Ruin is the first book of a duology, some people will hold off reading it until the other book comes out, and some will further decide to read them back-to-back. But is there any reason why you think people shouldn’t wait to read Ruin? Or that they should wait but not binge them when the time comes?
Honestly, there’s no real story-related reason to hold off on reading the book now. It ties up its main threads, even though there are some loose ends left dangling. Sure, there’s a little teaser in the epilogue about what’s to come in book two, but it’s not a major cliffhanger.
Personally, I never wait for series to wrap up before diving in. Literature isn’t like binge-watching a TV show; it’s meant to be savored.
Plus, it’s just a duology, and the second book is dropping next year. You could grab each book as it releases and still support the author. Just saying.
Earlier I asked if Sun Of Blood And Ruin had been influenced by any movies, TV shows, or games. But to flip things around, do you think Ruin could work as a movie, or a TV show, or a game?
I think the story could thrive in various formats, but personally, a comic or a video game would be incredible. Maybe even an animated series, or a Marvel movie, but even then, there’s just a lot going on that wouldn’t work in movie-length format. A TV show would allow the story to breathe and for a deeper exploration of all the primary and secondary characters. HBO, call me.
And if someone liked your video game idea, what kind of game should it be?
I can definitely see it as an immersive, open world video game. The Nagualverse awaits you, or something like that. You could roam freely through Mexico City, the forest of Chapultepec, the basin of Mexico, the snowy volcano of Popocatepetl, the paradise of Tamoanchan, see giants, gods, find out what animal your nagual is, learn how to be a Nagual / shape-shifting sorcerer, spells, train, etc. And, of course, battle.
So, is there anything else people need to know about Sun Of Blood And Ruin?
Hope you enjoy the ride. And if you don’t, that’s cool, too.
Finally, if someone enjoys Sun Of Blood And Ruin, what reimagined fantasy novel of someone else’s would you suggest they read while waiting for the second book to come out?
Shelly Parker-Chan’s She Who Became The Sun is an absolutely tremendous alternate-China epic retelling with magic. It’s simply brilliant, and everyone should read it if they haven’t.
