Azreya, Aztec Priestess: An Illustrated Mythology Legend by Tricia Copeland, Illustrated by Matt Maes – Review by Desiree Ottinger
Azreya, Aztec Priestess by Tricia Copeland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Azreya is a young girl born with a mark on her hand and a demon inside her. Her parents are convinced that she needs to be turned over to their priest, Nukpana, by age of three to protect them from her. They turn her over and expect to see her again, however, that is not what happens. Once they turn her over, Nukpana takes over her training and her life. As she grows, she begins to realize that he is just using her to increase his standing in the community. When Nukpana decides to only share part of Azreya’s vision concerning the Spanish and the Aztecs, she realizes that she must take matters into her own hands and runs away. But at the young age of 13, how will she convince others to take her seriously? Who can she trust? Will she be able to bring the Aztecs together in order to stand against the Spanish in time?
First of all, I really like this author! The characters are well written, and the story was like a movie playing in my head. I enjoyed learning about the Aztec culture and gods while reading about a girl that just wants to be loved. She’s thrown into a life she didn’t choose and is doing her best to keep the balance between an angry beast inside of her and the real-world struggles that surround her. She does find that balance and it was fascinating to read how she does.
