in psychology at the University of Queensland, in Australia. She currently lives with her husband and son in London.
Her debut historical fiction novel, Daughter of Fire, was an Amazon First Reads and Editor's Pick for July 2024 and a top 100 Kindle bestseller. It has been translated into Spanish.
Robleda applied the Page 69 Test to her new novel, The Other Moctezuma Girls, with the following results:
From page 69:Visit Sofia Robleda's website.To her credit, Elvira did not make any fuss of the stilted interaction and said, “How are you finding the party?”While I don’t think you can gain a thorough idea of the main plot in the novel from just this page, I do think it does a good job of showcasing the personalities and dynamics between the main character, Isabel, and her two siblings, Catina and Nano.
“It’s quite . . . fine.” I shrugged.
“Oh yes, it can be a little boring, especially if you’re not keen on dancing. I love dancing, but . . .” Her voice wavered. “Anyway, the food is magnificent, have you tried these tiny baked fish wrapped in corn husks? Mextlapique, I believe the dish is called. Does Catina like fish? Tell her it’s delicious, please, I don’t want her to be left out!”
I interpreted what she’d said. Catina nodded, still looking at the floor, and whispered, “I love fish.” My feelings for her mellowed, for I knew she was trying her hardest. I squeezed her hand and said, “Yes, we love fish infinitely more than dancing, which is the opposite of Nano. Alas, our older brothers have chased all his admirers away!”
Elvira’s smile faltered. “He is ever so popular at court.”
“Ah, but we prefer quality over quantity, don’t we?” I nudged him, and he returned a threatening smile. I fluttered my eyelashes back at him. “In fact, I was just telling him how much happier he’d be on the dance floor. Why don’t you indulge us all, brother. Take Elvira with you! You can’t possibly deny her, not after all the effort she’s made for Catina!”
His jaw set. A myriad of emotions flickered across his features. He pinned me with a look that conveyed his deep desire to strangle me, but when his gaze landed on Elvira’s glowing, expectant face, he warmed and slowly extended his palm.
“May I please have the pleasure of this dance, Señorita de Toledo?”
Her shoulders dropped infinitesimally. Likely she would’ve preferred for him to call her by her first name, like she had done with him, and the return to formality was disappointing. Regardless, she didn’t wait long before nodding and taking his hand.
“Don’t you dare move,” he said under his breath as they left.
I bent low as I bowed so he wouldn’t see the victorious smile on my face.
The page shows Isabel’s feistiness, her cheek and her daring. We glean Catina’s shyness, but also her courage at trying to speak in front of other people. We also witness Nano’s inner conflict, his frustration towards his sisters, born from a need to protect them, and the way his kindness overpowers him in spite of himself.
The scene shows the reader that these are the children of nobility. They belong to the upper echelons of New Spain society in the sixteenth century, although the only clue to the wider setting comes from the dish that Elvira mentions, mextlapique, a type of tamale made with native Mexican fish.
The scene also asks the question, why is Isabel trying to get rid of Nano? Why does she feel victorious when he leads Elvira away to the dance floor? Why does Nano resist?
At first glance, it may seem that Isabel is trying to set Nano up with Elvira, in which case the reader might be tempted to think this is perhaps a historical romance – and while there is a minor romantic subplot, it’s not the main theme of the book.
In fact, Isabel is trying to manoeuvre her brother away, because she wants to search the viceroyal palace for her dead mother’s journal. She is desperate to find it, as it contains part of the story of her mother’s life as the last Aztec empress before and after the Spanish conquest.
Catina has joined Isabel on this mission, but Nano knows nothing about it at that point. He is only vaguely aware that his sisters are plotting something. He knows Isabel like the palm of his hand, he knows she is reckless and headstrong, and he rightly guesses that she is up to no good.
Luckily for Isabel, she knows how to play her brother just right.
The Page 69 Test: Daughter of Fire.
--Marshal Zeringue
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