In the shadows of Tampa, Florida, a ruthless gang leader known as El Cazador wreaks havoc, leaving a trail of terror and cryptic tarot cards at each crime scene. The Tower card, a haunting omen of destruction, is his sinister signature.
Florence, a determined and sharp-witted attorney, is thrust into this dark world when her fiancé, Kevin, is brutally murdered on the night of their engagement. Devastated and fueled by vengeance, Florence discovers her engagement ring now holds mystical powers, transforming her into Rosa, a fearless and powerful superhero. With her newfound powers, Rosa vows to avenge Kevin’s death and dismantle El Cazador’s reign of terror.
By day, Florence continues her investigative work as an attorney, gathering clues and intel. By night, Rosa takes to the streets, using her magical abilities to protect the innocent and bring justice to Tampa. From the sun-kissed streets of Tampa to the darkest corners of the underworld, Rosa’s quest for vengeance becomes a legendary force. Will she outsmart El Cazador and shatter his grip on the city, or will his cunning prove too powerful?
The Legend of Rosa is a thrilling tale of love, loss, and redemption, infused with magical realism and Latin American culture.
My thoughts: This was interesting, the ideas behind it were certainly strong but I don’t know if it entirely worked for me personally. I liked Florence, her desire for revenge and justice in an unjust world, where her fiancé is murdered by a gang that seems to be trying to take over Tampa, leaving tarot cards with each corpse they create.
But her transition into Rosa, a vigilante superhero seemed a bit abrupt and she doesn’t exactly try to keep her identity secret, which might be a problem in future books, if too many people, especially her enemies, know that Rosa and Florence are the same person, why go to the length of being someone else.
All the build-up to learning El Cazador’s identity was well done – the reveal was hinted at, but then you’re wrong-footed, that was a clever move.
I would be interested in seeing where this story goes next, considering what the ending leaves you with. How Rosa and the supposed plan El Cazador has will work.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 