Author: Claudia H. Long
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Booktrope
Publish Date: June 2, 2014
Source: HF Virtual Book Tours
What's the Story?:
History, love, and faith combine in a gripping novel set in early 1700’s Mexico. In this second passionate and thrilling story of the Castillo family, the daughter of a secret Jew is caught between love and the burdens of a despised and threatened religion. The Enlightenment is making slow in-roads, but Consuelo’s world is still under the dark cloud of the Inquisition. Forced to choose between protecting her ailing mother and the love of dashing Juan Carlos Castillo, Consuelo’s personal dilemma reflects the conflicts of history as they unfold in 1711 Mexico. A rich, romantic story illuminating the timeless complexities of family, faith, and love.
My Two Cents:
"The Duel for Consuelo" is a historical fiction novel set in 1700s New Spain, now more commonly known as Mexico. I really love reading historical fiction set in Latin America and I don't find enough of it! The book is set in a time and a place I haven't read very much about. I love when historical fiction can teach you something new! Consuelo's lives with her family in New Spain. This book is both a love story and a story of family. There is also a heavy religious influence in this book since they acquisition is also taking place in new Spain. This is a fascinating book with very memorable characters.
I have read a lot of historical fiction set during the Inquisition; however, most of day historical fiction has been set in Spain. I really liked that this book looked at New Spain. It was interesting to see how the Inquisition affected those people of New Spain both similarly and differently than those people of Spain. Consuelo's family is hiding a major secret. Although the Inquisition seeks to punish those that are practicing Judaism, Consuelo's mother still practices in secret. Consuelo knows that her mother practices and is forced to keep her secret even though it means that she could possibly get in trouble by her self. I really liked the family aspect of this book and loved the relationship between Consuelo and her mother, Leila.
The writing of the book was good. The narrative is told from several different perspectives including that of Consuelo and Leila. I really liked having the different narratives in the book because it allows you to see how various members of society felt about what was going on with regard to the Inquisition. Each character truly had their own voice! Overall, I thought this was a very interesting historical fiction look at an event that changed the course of history.
Giveaway:
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Follow the Rest of the Tour:
This is one of the most fascinating periods in European/Spanish history. I'd love to win this book.
ReplyDeleteharvee44@yahoo.com
You are right about not finding much fiction set in Latin America! Now that I think about it, I'm not sure I've read any...
ReplyDeleteThis novel sounds captivating and fascinating. Thanks for this great giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've yet to read a story set in Mexico.....
ReplyDeleteI would like this one to be my first!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!
The setting and story sound promising, thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds quite good, and I am sitting here thinking to myself that I haven't read any books set in Mexico during this era. Hmm, I need to add these because I am curious.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like an unusual setting.
ReplyDeleteI've read Life in Mexico by Madame Calderón de la Barca, a journal/travelogue of a later period (1838-1842). I like to read something set in this earlier period.
ReplyDeleteLife in Mexico is available on Project Gutenberg