Published 24th February 2026 by Amazon Crossing.
From the cover of the book:
In sixteenth-century Mexico, a fearless young woman strives to uncover the secrets her mother kept as the last Aztec empress in a sweeping historical epic by the author of Daughter of Fire.
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 fulfil an epic quest for the truth.
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1551, Tenochtitlan, Mexico. Tecuichpoch, the last Aztec empress (known as Isabel Moctezuma), has died leaving behind a will that causes consternation amongst her children. Brothers and sisters have been set against each other over Tecuichpoch's wishes. And for her youngest daughters, Isabel and Catina, the retired life of nuns in a convent beckons.
But Isabel has other ideas. A stunning tapestry left behind by their beloved mother convinces Isabel that there is more to her life than she revealed. Fleeing the wrath of their embittered elder brothers, Isabel, Catina (who is deaf), their closest brother Nano, and a young Moorish cook named Juan, set off on a dangerous quest to discover the real story of the last Aztec empress.
Inspired by what little remains about the life of Tecuichpoch and her children, Sofia Robleda weaves an utterly absorbing adventure, set thirty years after the Spanish Conquest, that delves into the fascinating, and heart-wrenching history of sixteenth century Mexico.
The story unfurls from the perspective of fiery Isabel, beginning with a gripping scene where the reading of Tecuichpoch's will sets the seeds for sibling discontent amongst her seven children. When their Spanish father Juan Cano heads to his mother country to attend to the endless political wrangling that has kept Tecuichpoch's empire intact, discontent spills over into shocking violence - spurring Isabel, Catina, and Nano to escape, with the threat of their older brothers' wrath constantly dogging their heels.
In the company of Juan, the handsome gentle cook (who has a sad story of his own to tell), the siblings find themselves in ever more perilous situations in locations related to Tecuichpoch's life, on a quest for a series of diaries she has left behind. Each diary tells them a little more about her history, from her childhood as the favourite daughter of Emperor Moctezuma, through to her experiences following the Spanish Conquest at the hands of infamous Conquistador Hernán Cortés and her six husbands.
Robleda pitches this story beautifully, incorporating the kind of history that sends you down endless rabbit holes into a heart-pounding adventure at the side of the three siblings, Juan, and a host of unexpected allies. Each stage of the quest brings alive the life of suffering and sacrifice Tecuichpoch endured, explaining the decisions she made in order to survive the destruction of everything she knew when the Conquistadors arrived, and vividly juxtaposes aspects of pre-Hispanic old world with the new reality under cruel Spanish rule.
Along the way, the Isabel, Catina, and Nano learn things about themselves, their relationships with full and half-siblings, their father, the sides of their mother they never knew, and the history of their country. A slow-burn romance between Isabel and Juan intertwines all the fast-paced, mystery-laden loveliness, for top-notch emotional content too.
I could not put this book down. The characters are wonderful, especially the fire-brand women who shine through the entire novel; the well-written, coming of age plot captures you completely; and Robleda's passion for Mexico in all its complexity sings out. I learned so much about the uncomfortable history of the Spanish Conquest, and the powerful legacy of pre-Hispanic culture. And all the little touches around Catina's deafness added an intriguing extra dimension.
The forewords about Mexica history, Nahuatl pronunciation, and inclusion of a handy Family Tree were so helpful before embarking on the story - and for fellow fans of such things, there is even a map to help you navigate the journey of Isabel and her companions!
Highly recommended to lovers of captivating historical fiction (with an undercurrent of magical realism and folklore) that opens your heart and mind to the past in the best way possible. I loved it from atmospheric beginning to the clever twist in the tail at the end!
I also recommend signing up to Sofia Robleda's newsletter via the link at the end of the book for some welcome bonus content.
The Other Moctezuma Girls is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.
Thank you to Folk PR for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to join this blog tour.
About the author:
Sofia Robleda is a Mexican writer and author of Daughter of Fire. She spent her childhood and adolescence in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore, and completed her undergraduate and doctorate degrees in psychology at the University of Queensland, Australia. She currently lives in the UK with her husband and son, and splits her time between writing, raising her son, and working as a psychologist, supporting people with brain injuries and neurological conditions.
