Valiant Ladies is an entertaining read, breezy but not totally frivolous. Loosely based on genuine historical characters, Eustaquia “Kiki” de Sonza and Ana Lezama de Urinza attempt to be proper seventeenth-century young ladies. But by their spirited temperaments alone, they fail. When night falls, they venture into the seedy underworld of Potosí, Peru. Cross-dressed in men’s clothing and carrying swords and muskets, they mete out much needed discipline to the law-breakers of Potosí—rich and poor alike—and protect women, particularly prostitutes. When Kiki’s engagement to the Viceroy’s son is announced at a fancy ball, her older brother―heir to the family fortune―is found hanging from a tree. His death looks like a suicide, but is it? The girls’ investigation carries them from the most elite haciendas to the lowest brothels and danger to themselves and others.
The sapphic romance is fairly well written without being graphic, sweet yearnings of two young women for each other. They are best friends trying to deny their attraction to each other and their growing sapphic love. There is a nice chemistry between the two girls, and I enjoyed how they always had each other’s backs. The vocabulary is rich and varied if a tad too contemporary at times. Beyond the romance, there is murder, familial interactions, a spritz of feminism, and lovely swashbuckling scenes worthy of Zorro. I would like a bit more back story, particularly what initially motivated Ana and Kiki to become vigilantes. This definitely reads as young adult, though a bit toward the older group. There are depictions of sword-fighting, torture, prostitution, and expletives some people might find objectionable.
********************
Valiant Ladies (Feiwel & Friends, June 14, 2022) is available through:
********************
This post may contain Amazon Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small amount from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
