"His obsessions were not historical titles or duels of nobility, as it seemed at first view, but justice...the master felt that finally his life had a high purpose: to guide this young man to follow in his footsteps, to convert him into a paladin of just causes" (132) These fencing stories, while brief, indicate what I expected of "Zorro" when I picked it up. It had our hero learning about the sword, in order to save others. But it's more than that--it's also is a Bildungsroman, on how Diego and Bernando grow up amongst the upheaval of early 19th century California and Spain. Later, we get to know the creation of "Zorro", one whose myth eventually transcends the man. The prologue to the story, in which we meet Toypurnia (later Regina) who fights against the mission in California. From the outset I'm impressed by Allende's research onto the topic; she paints the scene fantastically and made the actual altercation believable. At the same time, she tells a lot, like with how she survived out in the woods and received her great destiny as a result, though it doesn't bother the overall flow of the story. Once we meet the young Diego and his "milk-brother", Bernando, we get to know them quite well (even though the former is the main character)! The pirates' raid was quite strong, though quite sad, as "The boy sat down beside her and took her hand, calm, and silent. He would not speak again for many years" (61), referring to Bernando. While White Owl would teach him to how to communicate through other means, as "she did not try to console him or cure him...Bernando had every right in the world not to speak" (66), I wonder how the story would've changed had he did. The scenes with Light-in-the-night solidify his arc, as a normal boy despite his muteness,"when Bernando emerged from his undreamed-of bliss and was able to think again, he dared suggest the unthinkable to Light-in-the-dark: that they spend their lives together" (89). I thought that would've been an interesting angle to take. I didn't think Diego would become Zorro right away; and it clearly showed. "Diego's sense of direction was not as good as Bernando's, and he was quickly lost...He ended up devouring ants, worms, and lizards" (76) during his test out in the California desert, only to find a wolf which keeps following him--a zorro. Later, when he grows up and studies in Barcelona, he learns about fencing and justice; the latter shows in the short duel with his brother. I was actually surprised that he didn't utilize his sword, rather a pistol. The scene where he takes on the Zorro persona for the first time was quite well-written; I get to see a bit of his wit too when he goes through the first challenge, and he only becomes more heroic as time goes on. I always assumed the narrator would be just a chronicler, especially in the beginning of part three with Diego's affair with Amalia. It was only when they "regret to tell you that I can write no more, because I have run out of the goose-quill pens I always use" (237) in which something seems a bit off about them. I was shaken off at first, When I found out it was Isabel in the end, it was quite surprising, but funny! And that's where the final part of the book sometimes falters--while the first parts of their journey back to California was more of the adventure-novel kind, it starts dragging by the end. I didn't get most of what's going on. As a coming-of-age, Zorro works well--you get to see how he grows up in the two societies he lives in, and how he wants to bring justice to it. As an adventure story, it's less good, in that I didn't get much of the fighting and got more narrating and journeying. That would warrant a second read, to see what I have missed amongst the pages of narration and such (7.5/10)

Si no lo hubiera escrito Isabel... jamás hubiera considerado siquiera acercarme a una historia sobre el tan famoso Zorro. Nunca me llamó la atención en lo más mínimo. Recuerdo que cuando chico me enganchaba con algún capitulo de la serie, pero nada más. Sin embargo, en este libro Isabel crea unos personajes sólidos y los hace vivir aventuras geniales. Es una maldita maravilla! Acá, entre nos, el arco de Juliana no me gustó como terminó, pero se lo perdono a la autora. Eso no opacó para nada la genialidad del libro en su totalidad!