this was fascinating.

i know nothing about Spanish history and don't often read historical fiction but I really enjoyed this. I was honestly pleasantly surprised as I love Leigh Bardugo's other fantasy novels to varying degree but for some reason had low expectations for this deviation from her norm.

This is a story about women, women in power, women who gain power, and women who flaunt power to put other women down. Luiza is maid in a dwindling wealthy house who is blessed with magic. But magic is feared and so she keeps her magic and her Judiasim secret. Doña Valentina is the lady of the house that Luiza works in, she has little but is proud and uses what she can to keep the family's status in nobility. Haulit is Luiza's aunt but also a wealthy mistress of Victor de Paredes. She's worked her way up from nothing using her body but through little contact attempts to help Luiza. After discovering Luiza's magic Dona Valentina immediately takes it for granted and flaunts Luiza as entertainment. This results in them catching the eye of the king and sending them on a wild court politic-filled adventure as part of the battle to become close to the king. Luiza must become the King's magician or be killed for witchcraft and heresy. 

Overall the story was fascinating and apparently the characters and general concept are all based on real people and historical events, albeit without the magic. I feel my main problems lay with the amount of Spanish woven into the story and my general lack of Spanish knowledge. I know 0 about Spain's history basically and although I was able to mostly follow I think if I knew some base facts going into it I would've been able to follow easier and enjoy it more. (For example, I was confused by the names because I didn't realize Dona and Don are just honorifics like Lady/Dame/Madam and Sir.) The end also felt a bit rushed to me, there was so much build-up of the world and dynamics only for them to get to the tournament and it all happened quite quickly and not as exciting as I would've hoped. I did like the new tournament competitors they were very interesting and I wish we got more of them. I was also quite disappointed in the romance. I didn't love it, it felt icky but I'm not sure if perhaps that was the point...So I guess I wish it was more intentional, or alternatively not there at all.