A review by reliures
The Jaguar Path by Anna Stephens

5.0

Book 2 in the (grim) dark fantasy series The Songs of the Drowned, The Jaguar Path returns to a Mesoamerican inspired world as characters from the previous novel deal with the aftermath of what happened two years before. 

As with the previous book, the author does a great job creating and expanding an original world building, full of violence and complex characters. The plot moved less at the beginning but picked up midway, yet remained interesting with some good twists. Focusing more on the characters in their new situation, the author did a great job showing them each as truly realistic being with their own flaws and qualities, sometimes touching sometimes irritating but always compelling. The overall themes of colonialism, sacrifice, survival, racism, religion and acculturation present in the previous was still touched upon throughout the book. 

The writing is sharp and engaging with some truly gruesome sequences and great fighting scenes. The diversity with disability and queerness representation was again the cherry on top. 

I can’t wait to read the next book in this story.