October 2024: “The Sons of El Rey” by Alex Espinoza
Spoiler-Free Story Blurb
Ernesto and Elena Vega leave the ranches of Michoacán to pursue better opportunities in Mexico City. While working in construction, Ernesto is noticed by a lucha libre trainer and is thrust into the world of Mexican wrestling. Ernesto finds success and notoriety throughout Mexico as the luchador known as El Rey Coyote. But his devotion to El Rey Coyote creates unbridgeable divides between him, his wife Elena, and others he cares about. Elena did not sign up for a marriage of neglect and rejection. She made a vow, but even she has her limits. Could Ernesto ever truly be only hers?
Freddy Vega continued his father’s legacy in East Los Angeles, California, as El Rey Coyote Jr. Years later, Freddy is doing what he can to keep his father’s gym open in a post-pandemic world. But the pressure of Ernesto’s legacy is only made heavier for Freddy as he faces the reality that his once larger-than-life father is dying. And Freddy’s attempts to connect with and support his son always seem to come across the wrong way.
Julian Vega, the only son of Freddy Vega, wants to support his father during this time: his grandfather is dying and the family’s gym is suffering. But Freddy’s pride and apparent machismo prevent Julian from getting close. Julian did not follow his father and grandfather’s tradition of lucha libre, but that does not mean that the expectations and stereotypes of luchador culture do not follow him. Julian wants happiness in his professional and romantic life as a gay Mexican-American man. And he refuses to let such expectations and stereotypes tell him what that happiness should look like.
The Sons of El Rey follows three generations of the Vega family as their lives take them from 1960s Mexico City to 2020s Los Angeles. This epic story uses the voices of multiple perspectives to explore family secrets, forbidden love, and the internal conflict that arises when who you think others want you to be collides with who you are.
Important Trigger Warning for The Sons of El Rey
The Sons of El Rey portrays derogatory language against members of the LGBT+ community. The use of this language is essential to the plot. If derogatory language against members of the LGBT+ community causes you distress or discomfort in any way, then please make sure to take necessary steps to prepare and protect yourself before and after reading this book.
Discussion Questions
How well does the author connect the narrative of each generation?
To what extent should societal norms or family legacy influence individual identity and expression?
Where is the line drawn between the public optics of family reputation and the private workings of family support?
What arises when honoring your family’s past conflicts with honoring who you are today?
Click on the book cover image to see what people are saying about The Sons of El Rey on Goodreads. Visit the Fiction bookshelf to read my review of The Sons of El Rey.
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Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 11 June 2024
