España no se rinde

At the dawn of the 8th century, in Asturias, as in other regions of Hispania, Christians were brutally mistreated and forced to pay an exorbitant tax if they wished to continue practicing their religion and not convert to Islam. Discontent gradually grew until Pelayo and a few brave men decided to rebel against the invaders. They hoped that other regions would follow their example, but things were not going to be as easy as they had anticipated. Nevertheless, against all odds and human logic, they remained determined to resist and defeat an army that vastly outnumbered them. This was the beginning of the Reconquista, which would culminate in the liberation of the Kingdom of Granada by the Catholic Monarchs. Juan Pérez-Foncea, the acclaimed author of titles such as "The Tercios Do Not Surrender," "Invincibles," and "The First Men of the Philippines," tackles in this novel a historical period that, besides being fascinating, is perhaps the most crucial in defining the essence of Spain, for it was during this era that Spaniards forged their deepest identity by taking up arms against an invading culture. He does so through the figure of Sisnando, barely a child when he receives the news that his two older brothers have died in the Battle of Guadalete, which will later inspire him to join the ongoing rebellion. His life story, full of adversities he must overcome, and that of his sweetheart, Isela, form the core of this absorbing novel about a pivotal moment in Spanish history.