Quetzal's Labyrinth
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected Sept 1, 2026
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
From the Pura Belpré Award–winning author of Lola comes an action-packed middle grade fantasy where Aztec mythology crashes into everyday life. When twelve-year old Diego discovers ancient gods are real, he must journey into a deadly labyrinth to stop a vengeful power before it destroys the world.
Diego never believed his abuelo's stories of gods and monsters and the ancient magic woven through Mexican history. Not until he finds himself sprinting down a dark hallway, chased by a beast straight out of lore—its fur as coarse as iron and five human hands clawing furiously at his throat.
Turns out, the myths are real, and their magic is erupting into Diego's world. As shadowy creatures besiege his apartment, abuelo's dog Cholo fixes Diego with a human gaze and speaks. Cholo reveals they've been unwittingly ensnared in a centuries-old rivalry between the great God Quetzal and his ruthless brother Tezca. Tezca is rising, summoning an army of minions, while Quetzal, the only one strong enough to stop him, has vanished.
Humanity hangs by a thread, and Diego has no choice but to enter Quetzal’s labyrinth—accompanied by his friends Violeta and Cholo, a sassy rubber chicken, and a bloodthirsty kitten—to face a power older than civilization itself.
The stakes are legendary, but maybe, deep down, Diego is too.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Arenas Valenti (Lola) crafts an enthralling fantasy adventure steeped in Aztec lore. Thirteen-year-old Diego is staying with his grandfather in Mexico City when a series of unsettling events strike within Abuelo's apartment building. The disturbances are linked to Tezcatlipoca, the god of death, who has escaped the labyrinthine prison where his brother Quetzalcoatl once confined him to protect humankind. After Abuelo falls mysteriously ill, he urges Diego to eat a moth, an action that awakens heightened senses within the teen and reveals a hidden world of gods, spirits, and magical creatures. Diego soon learns that Abuelo has long served as a guardian of a portal to Nahualan, and that Diego is destined to inherit the role. Joined by friend Violeta, who can command flora, and Abuelo's talking dog, Cholo—secretly the god Xolo—Diego sets out to help Quetzal stop Tezca's return. Aztec mythology is seamlessly integrated into a briskly paced narrative boasting inventive creatures, formidable deities, and escalating dangers. Vivid sensory details bring Nahualan to life, while occasional chapters from the perspectives of animals and monsters lend humor. Themes of self-discovery emerge organically through Diego's quest, resulting in a captivating fantasy. Ages 8–12.
