A review by ronpayne
You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A historical fiction that very entertainingly portrays the meeting between Hernán Cortés and the Aztec Emperor Moctezuma in Tenochtitlan in 1519. The twisting political machinations of the vivid array of characters weave together into one of the best thematic conclusions I've ever read. Ultimately a book about how modern Mexican culture is the product of the conquerors and the conquered, it's funny and brutal, sometimes both at the same time.