Ancient Night by David Bowles; illustrated by David Álvarez

An enchanting, beautiful, and calming picture book with sweeping illustrations, inspired by Mesoamerican mythology.

Before the Devil Knows You’re Here by Autumn Krause

A lyrical and immersive young adult (YA) historical fantasy infused with a haunting gothic atmosphere, tall tales, and a Faustian bargain, set in 1836.

Burnout Summer by Jenna Ramirez

A sunny, swoony, and vibrant contemporary romance of burnout, friendship, and love, set in Rhode Island.

Carnival Fantástico by Angela Montoya

An exhilarating and romantic YA fantasy filled with love, dark magic, circus whimsy, and a wonderful ostrich.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

A spellbinding YA contemporary fantasy threaded with Latine culture and traditions—including Día de los Muertos—and brimming with ghosts, queer love, brujx, found family, and mystery.

Gods of Jade & Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

A sweeping and riveting historical fantasy set in Jazz Age Mexico, filled with Mexican folklore, adventure, and love.

Into the Mighty Sea by Arlene Abundis; illustrated by Cynthia Alonso

A glimmering, vivid, and heartfelt picture book of big emotions, family, and art, complete with stunning illustrations.

Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie

 An emotional, heartwarming YA novel threaded with Shakespeare, Spanglish, and queer community.

Pretend You’re Dead and I Carry You by Julián Delgado Lopera 

A poignant, vibrant, and raw literary fiction novel brimming with Spanglish, Colombian culture, family, queer history, and a pinch of magical realism.

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

A touching and welcoming YA novel of coming out, love, sexuality, friendship, and discovering who you are.

Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho

A heartwarming and charming Romeo & Juliet-inspired YA rom-com set in Brazil, brimming with scrumptious baking scenes and swoon-worthy romance.

Salvación by Sandra Proudman

A thrilling, immersive YA fantasy of magic, adventure, family, and love, inspired by El Zorro.

The Huntsman and the Witches by Abraham Matias; illustrated by Molly Mendoza

A vivid, captivating, and witty picture book inspired by a Mexican folktale, filled with lush illustrations and a stunning celebration of Mexican folklore, food, and imagery.

The Last Vampire by Romina Garber

A romantic and addictive YA gothic fantasy that is a love letter to classics, set at an eerie boarding school with an intriguing twist on vampires.

The Other Moctezuma Girls by Sofia Robleda

A captivating and propulsive historical fiction novel set in sixteenth-century Mexico and filled with adventure, mouthwateringly delicious food descriptions, and sweeping historical details.

The Quince Project by Jessica Parra

A sweet, fun, and hopeful YA contemporary novel of grief, joy, love, and rewriting your happily ever after, filled with Southern California adventures, quinceañera planning, and adorable romances.

These Vengeful Wishes by Vanessa Montalban

An atmospheric, haunting YA contemporary fantasy inspired by the myth of La Cegua, threaded with chilling horror and romance.

We Could Be Anyone by Anna-Marie McLemore

A gripping, sharp YA thriller with a glamorous and haunting gothic atmosphere, Latine culture, mythology, and tender queer romances, set during Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez

A sweeping and fierce YA fantasy of celestial magic, love, and politics, inspired by Bolivian history.

Brimming with Latine culture, folklore, food, and family, these brilliant books are perfect to kick off the Latine Heritage Month celebration. Happy reading, and Happy Latine Heritage Month!

The post 19 Must-Reads for Latine Heritage Month appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen

A sweet and tender young adult (YA) contemporary romance set in Vietnam brimming with sapphic love, family, and street food.

A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa 

A lush, compelling cozy novel with an adorable cat and delicious treats set at a magical bakery.

A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic by J. Penner 

A whimsical, vibrant cozy fantasy with magical creatures, a gripping bake-off, and found family.

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle 

An addictive and lush story of hunger, food, love, ghosts, desire, and loss set in the New York City culinary scene, perfect for fans of Hadestown.

Bread is Love written by Pooja Makhijani; illustrated by Lavanya Naidu 

A beautiful, sweet, and heartwarming children’s book of bread, family, and joy.

Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim

A captivating, immersive YA fantasy with a cutthroat cooking competition, Chinese and Southeast Asian folklore, and vivid food descriptions that explores food’s connection to culture and the ones we love.

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee 

A cute, uplifting YA romcom with a mooncake-making competition, fake-dating romance, and the sweetest corgi.

Field Guide for the Formerly Villainous by Autumn K. England 

A comforting, sweeping cozy fantasy filled with farmers market trips, magical baked goods, a ghost granny, and a tender romance.

Gwei the Hungry Ghost written by Emeline Lee; illustrated by Basia Tran

A stunning, lush, and vivid children’s book with Chinese folklore, food, friendship, and community set during the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Hangry Hearts by Jennifer Chen 

A tender and tasty YA romcom inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, brimming with banter, Asian food, family, love, and trips to the Pasadena Farmers Market.

Knife Skills for Beginners by Orlando Murrin

A riveting and sharp cozy whodunit set in London with cinematic cooking scenes and a propulsive murder mystery.

Legendary Frybread Drive-In edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith 

A beautiful, welcoming collection of interconnected stories with Native pride, frybread, laughter, belonging, and love.

Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree 

A charming, calming cozy fantasy set in a coffee shop with sapphic love, pastries, fantastical creatures, and, of course, coffee.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

A sharp, witty, and empowering historical fiction novel filled with wit, chemistry, and cooking set in the 1960s.

Like Wafers in Honey by Leah Eskin

A sweeping, atmospheric, and witty debut following two timelines filled with vivid historical details, recipes, and family.

Nacho Boyfriend by Gigi Blume 

A funny and swoony romcom with tender family dynamics, delicious Mexican food, and a delightful fake-dating romance.

Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho 

A swoon-worthy and sweet YA romance set in Brazil that blends the family feud and enemies-to-lovers romance of Romeo & Juliet with delicious baking scenes.

Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst 

A sea-swept, lyrical, and adventurous cozy fantasy brimming with sentient plants, peach pie, yearning, and the perfect dose of danger.

Secrets, Spells, and Chocolate by Marisa Churchill 

A spellbinding and scrumptious YA debut with immersive baking scenes, exhilarating culinary challenges, and heartwarming friendship, perfect for readers transitioning from middle-grade to YA reads.

The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz 

An adorable, charming, and immersive children’s book with baked goods and the cutest tiny dragon.

The Hearth Witch’s Guide to Magic and Murder by Kiri Callaghan 

An enchanting and gripping cozy fantasy with a thrilling murder mystery, sapphic love, tea, mythology, and sweet treats.

The Leaving Room by Amber McBride

A sweeping, emotional YA novel-in-verse with an achingly beautiful sapphic romance, family recipes, and a twisty plot.

The Lone Wolf Café by Sydney Wilder

A welcoming and magical cozy fantasy with baking, tea, witches, and werewolves, perfect for autumnal reading and Halloween.

The Other Moctezuma Girls by Sofia Robleda 

A cinematic, lyrical historical novel set in sixteenth-century Mexico with adventure, sisterhood, and pre-Hispanic food.

The Road of Bones by Demi Winters 

An adventurous, fierce fantasy infused with Norse mythology, action, food, and a pinch of spice.

The Subtle Art of Folding Space by John Chu 

A creative and propulsive sci-fi novel filled with physics, dim sum, and family.

From charming children’s books to heartfelt YA romcoms to gripping adult murder mysteries, there’s a little something for every foodie here. These books serve up delicious food descriptions alongside their captivating characters, cinematic settings, and propulsive plots. Happy reading!

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Tales You Can Taste: 26 Fiction Book Recommendations for Foodies appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from The Other Moctezuma Girls by Sofia Robleda, which releases on February 24th 2026.

Tenochtitlan, 1551. Thirty years after the Spanish Conquest destroyed everything she loved, the last Aztec empress has passed and left behind a pristine yet tenuous legacy for her children. As her last will and testament is read out, her daughter Isabel suspects that another account of her mother’s life may exist, hidden away, chapter by chapter, in the Valley of Mexico. Following each clue, Isabel is determined to find out who her mother really was and to discover the secrets she buried in order to survive.

Joined by her siblings and a handsome young cook named Juan, Isabel embarks on a perilous journey to piece together the past—a journey that will force the party to brave the brutal viceroyal court, face fearsome legends in mystical chinampas, and trek through desert, fire, and snow. As Isabel’s feelings for Juan grow, she confronts everything she thought she knew about her Spanish father, her empress mother, and herself. Facing everything from the tunnels of ancient pyramids to the summit of an active volcano, Isabel will meet every challenge to fulfill an epic quest for the truth.

Excerpt from THE OTHER MOCTEZUMA GIRLS by Sofia Robleda, Text Copyright © 2025 by Sofia Robleda Published by Amazon Crossing

Chapter 5

Tecuichpoch
1509–1519

When you are born, as I have been born, the favored daughter of the huey tlatoani—una princesa, as they say in Castellano—you have but two fates: to die, or to be married. And what is the latter but a long, drawn-out version of the first? I would know, for I had already been married three times by the age of twelve.

Oh, how it will stun you to hear me speak so. To hear me speak at all, in this last great act of defiance. I say last, for there have been many, although I could never stake my claim to them. I did not wish to add suffering to my life.

But this is Tecuichpoch indeed, daughter of Moctezuma Xocoyotzin and his principal wife, Chimalexochitl, “Shield-Bearer Flower.” The Spanish called her Teotlalco, but that was the place she was from. Writing that sets me more at ease, for how can I leave a world that does not know my mother’s true name?

Oh, but I know . . . men would leave us nameless, if they could.

Who shall suffer the consequences of my indiscretion? When no one believes you can read, write, or strategize, these musings may well be explained as the ramblings of a frail old woman, a ruse, or a lie. It will be up to you to decide, but one thing is certain: I will not die silent. Now that I must die, I will speak my truth.

I must speak my truth, for I cannot be free while this great turmoil lives inside me. I must expel it, lest I be damned to wander throughout the earth as a restless wind spirit. I do not wish to wander the world any longer. I wish to be at ease. Oh, how I have earned it.

Indeed, death has threatened me many times, though my survival was foretold. It was written in star and blood, that I would not perish. The soothsayers said, upon my birth, that I would live until I had borne all my seven children and seen my first son’s wife carrying my line forth, a line that would never end. Then, and only then, would death come for my soul, my yolia, and take me to Mictlan, where Xolotl the salamander dog would carry me swiftly on his back to paradise in the ninth level.

I know I shall be spared the trials of the underworld, for there are no jagged winds and crashing mountains, no rivers of blood that I have not already swum through in life tenfold and over. And if it is indeed true that there is no underworld, but only a golden heavenly sky with a great bearded god who is my one true father . . .

Well, I already know what it is to be the favorite child of a man who is revered as a thing divine, who holds the power of life and death at his hands. The love of gods and kings is a double-pointed lance, black and sharp, glimmering and deadly.

Indeed, I was his silken feather, his spring hummingbird, his heart of jade. Yet it did not stop my father from giving me as a prize to his enemy. It was he who taught me not to trust in the pretty words of men. But I will say this of my father: He was no coward.

Oh, he was beautiful, and powerful. Even the priests of the Flayed Lord, Xipe Totec, feared him. Yes, even the ones who dressed themselves with the skins of captured slaves. Not even us, his own children, were allowed to look at the huey tlatoani’s face.

But I always did, and he never once scolded me as he did my brother and sisters. His eyes, large and black and piercing, would twinkle in amusement at my daring. For a blink, he’d break his grave, majestic veneer, and twitch the emerald piercings above his nostrils up and down, to watch me struggle not to laugh. I never did, for he was much too imposing and I was not fool enough to push my luck.

But it is that image of him that I wish to take with me, that I wish you to have. My father, standing in all his glory in front of the carved stone throne covered for his comfort in jaguar and deer pelts, his copper brow adorned with a panache of a thousand quetzal feathers, his earlobes weighed down with jade and emeralds, his neck shining with light reflected from the plaque of gold and macaw feathers resting on his chest. His luxurious mantle, dyed a brilliant shade of turquoise, embroidered with perfect geometric patterns.

My father, doting on his prized daughter. The mighty warrior, an emperor who wished to spare his people a war he knew he could not win. Not from prophecy or misplaced belief, and never from lack of nerve, but because he was a perfect scholar. He was used to studying his enemy like a jaguar tracking his prey through the underbrush, and he’d scarcely ever failed. Only the Tlaxcalteca had ever outwitted him before.

Yet he was a veteran, a conqueror himself, precise and ruthless. Before they even set foot in our city, my father knew everything about the weaponry the Spanish men carried, unlike anything we’d ever seen. He knew they were only men—not teteoh, not gods. He knew that even if we won the battle against this company, more were coming from across the seas. He saw the truth as clearly as the sun shining on a cloudless day.

The Spaniards were greed incarnate, insatiable, a swarm of chapulin grasshoppers that would wreak destruction on his empire. And still, he tried bribing, diplomacy, subterfuge, everything except warfare. When they eventually marched into our city, he welcomed them as honored guests, as though he had expected them all along, and gave his entire nation a sublime performance. Their huey tlatoani, entirely in charge of an unfathomable situation. In the end, he fulfilled his ultimate duty as a ruler. He gave up everything he loved to protect his people. Even though he failed, I believe—I must believe—that when he gave me to the Spanish, he thought there was some hope.

But this is not his story, it is mine. Though I must admit, it is truly difficult for me to disentangle myself from the people who claimed to love me, whose schemes and battles, victories and defeats engulfed my life in such a way that I look back sometimes and blink in astonishment that I am here when they are not.

Moctezuma, Cuauhtemoc, Cortés, Malintzin . . . they reshaped the order of the entire world. They may be dead, but by God, they are known.

Yet no one but you will know me. I may be mentioned in passing as the child, the wife, the mistress. People shall assume all things about my courtly life and training, which was rigorous and relentless. They’ll guess how my mother schooled me on palace manners and the endless rules of protocol, religion, ceremony, self-sacrifice, cleanliness, order, and virtue. They might imagine the way she taught me how to moderate my voice and keep my face serene. How to show no fear, no hesitation.

They’ll believe, because I have said naught until now, that I learned my place, to bite my tongue and obey my mother and father and my six husbands.

They will swear I was the perfect woman.

Indeed, these were my lessons, and I was expected, as the daughter of the huey tlatoani’s principal wife, to excel at them. It was demanded of me, and I met those demands without complaint, for I wished more than anything to make my father proud.

Yet no one but you will know about my stone tank full of axolotl, the two dogs, and the seven monkeys that I kept in Father’s zoo, near the family of tapirs.

No one but you will know that, whenever I could, usually at dawn after the priests sounded the enormous drum to wake the city and greet our lord Quetzalcoatl, I’d give our guards the slip, and take my beloved brother Axayacatzin with me to the palace gardens to swim in the freshwater pools and catch lizards. We’d sneak them into the other wives’ chambers and wait outside their windows to hear their shrieks. Oh, how we used to laugh! Indeed, that was me!

No one but you will know how my mother became so frustrated at my tricks that she pricked my arm with a sharp maguey thorn and threatened to take me to the Great Temple to bathe me with the clotting blood of the newly sacrificed. She knew I hated the sight and the clouds of flies. When this warning didn’t work, she swore she’d tell my father.

I never got caught again.

Listen to me, rambling on. Trying to carve out a pinprick of light in the darkness these people have cast over my life. It is very difficult, for I was also taught, as all Nahua are, not to exalt myself, not to seek attention, lest I be judged or mocked, or worse, publicly shamed. As my mother would say, Tlacoqualli in monequi—moderation is a must.

Her counsel served me well. Modesty and moderation and silence helped me survive, but I no longer need to. I no longer can. I feel instead, in my dying bones, in this well of pressure in my throat, that I must speak. I must share everything I have held back all these years.

And perhaps speaking about motherly threats and monkeys and lizards doesn’t matter. But Axayacatzin loved them, delighted in them, and I delighted in him.

He is worth remembering. His cheeks stuffed to bursting with tamalli. His long brown hair fluttering above him as he leapt off a boulder into the clear pools blanketed in a rainbow of fragrant flowers. His eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he pulled the string of his bow. The look of wonder on his face when he struck his first kill, a turkey.

He loved birds and rocks, which he used to collect in a little wooden box. Obsidian, crystals, amber, volcanic rocks—he would find them and pick them up and say, “Look, sister, is this not a wonder? I shall save it in my box.”

He was the only one of my family who shed tears when I was taken away. I wish my mother had cried too, for then I might not have felt ashamed of my own soaking cheeks. Although I found out much later that she begged my father to spare me, and never spoke a word to him after that day. When my captivity began.

Though that is a tale for another day.

My hope is that you will find it.

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About Carnival Fantástico: An unputdownable romantasy following a young woman posing as fortune-teller at a magical traveling carnival, where the handsome boy who once broke her heart resurfaces and warns her that the carnival is more sinister than it appears. Out February 3rd 2026.

The three full-length YA novels I have written might seem vastly different at first glance. In Sinner’s Isle, a witch held captive on a remote island finds a way to escape by blackmailing a handsome, recently marooned pirate. In A Cruel Thirst, a freshly turned vampire longs to reclaim his humanity, but instead collides with a determined, wannabe vampire huntress. In Carnival Fantástico, an ex-thief and spy hides within a magical traveling carnival and is willing to do whatever it takes to become the lead act, including teaming up with the boy who once broke her heart.

On the surface, these three tales may seem unrelated, but a single thread weaves through them all: trickster deities and mythological creatures who shape the fates of the characters. To take it further, all of these supernatural beings are inspired by Mexica (Me-shee-ka) mythology––often referred to as Aztec mythology––which holds a special place in my heart.

We so often see fantasy novels set in Eurocentric worlds, which I love, but I also love exploring the dynamic, complex deities that can only be found in Mesoamerican legends. Below, you will find five other novels that celebrate these beautiful, terrible, awe-inspiring deities and mythological beings, and the Mesoamerican cultures from which they emerged.

Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Gritty, dark, and thrilling, this fresh take on vampire lore is an electrifying neo-noir set in a reimagined Mexico City. The protagonist, descended from Aztec blood drinkers, is on the run from a rival narco-vampire clan determined to hunt her down. This story sank its fangs into me and never let go––but all of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing has a way of doing that. If you’d like to explore more of Moreno-Garcia’s works steeped in Mesoamerican traditions, I highly recommend Gods of Jade and Shadow.

The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas

I will read anything Aiden Thomas writes, but The Sunbearer Trials is one of my absolute favorites. The story introduces us to Teo, the trans son of Quetzal, the goddess of birds. When Teo is chosen against all odds to compete in the Sun Bearer Trials, he must face opponents who are far more powerful and far better equipped to survive. During our hero’s journey, we meet a rich cast of deities that have been reimagined from Mesoamerican legend, making this story feel epic, daring, and truly unique. Celestial Monsters, the second book in this duology, is equally remarkable.

Secret of the Moon Conch by David Bowles and Guadalupe García McCall

Intricate, clever, and set in parallel timelines that are masterfully woven together, this novel was one of my favorite reads of 2025. We meet Sitlali, a young Mexican woman in the modern day searching for her family and a safe place to rest her head, and Calizto, a young Aztec warrior in 1521 Tenochtitlan fighting to save his city from Spanish imperialists. Connected by an enchanted conch, the two find each other across time and help each other face the biggest trials of their lives––while also falling deeply in love. What more can you ask for?

Daughter of Fire by Sofia Robleda

With magnificent prose and captivating storytelling, Robleda is an author whose books will always have a special place on my shelves. Set during 16^th-century Guatemala, this historical fantasy draws heavily from Mesoamerican lore and history–– specifically K’iche’ Maya traditions. Catalina, our biracial protagonist, works in secret to preserve the sacred texts in the face of Spanish colonization. She is the kind of main character you root for the second you meet her on the page. Robleda weaves a tale that is heartbreaking, beautiful, and profoundly inspiring, rooted in the real-life suppression of the Mayan culture during this period. This is a novel that must not be missed. I’m also extremely excited for her upcoming book, The Other Moctezuma Girls.

The Actual Star by Monica Byrne

This novel came highly recommended by a friend, and I am so very glad I listened to her. What a powerful showcase of intricate worldbuilding and storytelling. This ambitious and immersive novel unfolds across three interconnected timelines (1012 CE, 2012, and 3012) which are all tied to an ancient Maya city. My brain was on fire while listening to the audiobook, and I absolutely loved every second of it.

I’d also like to highlight Their Will Undone by R.J. Valldeperas. Though this novel isn’t Mesoamerican-inspired, it draws from Inca culture and the author’s own heritage, making it well worth celebrating. A fierce debut steeped in ancestral magic, betrayal, and defiance, Their Will Undone is a powerful exploration of what happens when we reclaim our fate and fight back against those who seek to control us. Valldeperas spoke truly when she described this book as not just a coming-of-age story, but a coming-of-rage.

There are so many more books I couldn’t fit into this list, but I hope I inspired you to explore other works rooted in Mesoamerican mythologies. Each is unique, rich in culture, steeped in fascinating mythos, and exceptionally creative, and all of them deserve a place in libraries, bookstores, and on your shelves.

The post Five Novels that Celebrate Mesoamerican Cultures and Mythologies appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

When I first thought to make a list of 7-10 contemporary books set in Guatemala, I realized right away there was a challenge. This gorgeous country, the backdrop to my debut novel DAUGHTER OF FIRE, is one that has been largely overlooked in traditional publishing, which is a dire shame.

Sure, there are classics like MEN OF MAIZE written by Nobel Prize-winning Guatemalan author, Miguel Angel Asturias, but I wouldn’t call novels written in the 1940s contemporary. And, as much as it physically pains me to admit, the 1980s happened 40 years ago, so I think that also excludes the autobiography: I, RIGOBERTA MENCHU, AN INDIAN WOMAN IN GUATEMALA, written in 1984 by the titular K’iche’ Maya human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, whose immediate family was murdered during the Guatemalan Civil War.

With all this in mind, I immediately broadened my criteria to Central America, a term which seems to mean different things to different people. Generally speaking, however, Central America includes the following seven countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. These countries have a shared, often volatile, political and cultural pre-and post-Colonial history, a stunning abundance of biodiversity and an incredible geological backdrop, characterised mainly by long, beautiful coastlines and furious, volcanic cores.

I’ve tried to include novels that share some of the themes in DAUGHTER OF FIRE, my debut historical fiction novel about a young mixed-race woman coming-of-age in 16^th century Guatemala, who is tasked with the dangerous quest of writing the forbidden holy book of her mother’s people, the Popol Vuh. 

For this list, I looked for stories that explored the struggle to feel a sense of belonging, to not just survive but thrive when the systems around you seem devoted to destroying you, stories which try to center the plight of women, particularly those who have Indigenous roots and therefore have to deal with the added weight of classism and racism plaguing our machismo-loving countries. I’ve also included only Latin American authors on this list, because we also don’t get enough airtime as it is. I hope these novels will give you a flavor for Central America and inspire you to learn more about our kaleidoscope of cultures as a whole.

THE GREAT DIVIDE by Cristina Henríquez

An epic novel about the construction of the Panama Canal, casting light on the unsung people who lived, loved, and labored there.

THE VOLCANO DAUGHTERS by Gina Maria Balibrera

An original debut about two sisters raised in the shadow of El Salvador’s brutal dictator, El Gran Pendejo, and their flight from genocide, which takes them from Hollywood to Paris to cannery row, each followed by a chorus of furies, the ghosts of their murdered friends, who aren’t yet done telling their stories. Out in August 2024.

THE AFTERPAINS by Anna Julia Stainsby

A heartbreaking portrait of two Honduran families trying to cope with grief, isolation, and living far from one’s homeland—told in the voices of four distinct narrators.

BORDERLESS by Jennifer de Leon

Caught in the crosshairs of gang violence, a teen girl and her mother set off on a perilous journey from Guatemala City to the US border in this engrossing young adult novel.

WHERE THERE WAS FIRE by John Manuel Arias

When a lethal fire erupts at the American Fruit Company’s most lucrative banana plantation in Costa Rica, burning all evidence of a massive cover-up, the future of Teresa Cepeda Valverde’s family is changed forever.

MEET ME UNDER THE CEIBA by Silvio Sirias

This novel revolves around the mysterious murder of Adán, a beloved teacher. Through stories and gossip that expose jealousies, scandals, and misfortunes, Sirias lovingly portrays the community of La Curva, Nicaragua, in all its evil and goodness.

HARSH TIMES by Mario Vargas Llosa

A thrilling historical fiction centred on the CIA-backed military coup in Guatemala. Behind this violent act is a lie passed off as truth, which forever changes the development of Latin America. Harsh Times is a story of international conspiracies and conflicting interests in the time of the Cold War, the echoes of which are still felt today.

BEKA LAMB by Zee Edgell

The record of a few months in the life of Beka and her family. The politics of the small colony, the influence of the matriarchal society and the dominating presence of the Catholic Church are woven into the fabric of the story to provide a compelling portrait of ordinary life in Belize. Even though this novel was written in the 80s, I’ve decided to include it as one of the only novels set in Belize, written by a Latin American author.

THERE IS A RIO GRANDE IN HEAVEN by Ruben Reyes

Salvadorian author Ruben Reyes, who conjures strange dreamlike worlds to explore what we would do if we woke up one morning and our lives were unrecognizable. An electrifying debut story collection about Central American identity that spans past, present, and future worlds to reveal what happens when your life is no longer your own. Out in August 2024.

The post Nine Books Set In Central America appeared first on The Nerd Daily.