Sonido Reyes, author of National Book Award finalist The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School, is known for his amplification of Mexican and queer stories. Continuing these explorations within To Our Untamed Core, Reyes, who uses he and they pronouns, drops readers into a religious dystopian world of tyranny and resistance where “you’re bound only by the choice you make.”
Over 600 years after conquistadores came to the Afueras, Temo’s life involves the daily, mandatory Eucharist ritual, followed by a full day working in the fields. While his family and close friends know Temo’s trans identity, he must keep this a secret from everyone else, especially the Holy Guards constantly watching. As his 18th birthday approaches, Temo knows he will be assigned a “life’s purpose,” which will consequently reveal what he has been hiding. At the same time, the yearly El Torneo is beginning—a tournament to the death for the “untamed” citizens of the Afueras. Untamed people include anyone not following the authoritarian rule, and they are entered into the tournament to fight not only each other, but also the king’s champion. When Temo’s boyfriend, Ollin, is captured for the El Torneo, Temo aims to rescue him, ultimately uncovering secrets about the corrupt theocracy in charge and being pushed to his own limits.
The gravity of Reyes’ dystopian world is palpable from the first chapter. The combination of poverty, mandatory religious rituals and constant observation constructs a bleak setting. When Temo finds himself within the tournament walls, Reyes does not shy away from the physical and mental brutality of the trial, sensitively crafting equally dramatic and gory scenes with care and honesty. The novel is also layered with multiple perspectives, maintaining a quick pace while remaining tenderly character-driven amid the violent setting. What begins as a story focused on Temo’s own experience ultimately highlights many dynamic figures who have suffered deeply because of the violence around them.
Exploring the untamable spirit of resilience within us as well as those who aim to snuff out the spark, To Our Untamed Core is both a page-turning adventure and a solemn reflection on power, choices and identity.