Amparo Ortiz Books in Order

Where to Start with Amparo Ortiz

Amparo Ortiz writes across young adult fantasy, middle-grade graphic novels, and speculative anthologies. Because her works span different age groups and styles, the best starting point depends on your reading preferences:

• For YA Fantasy Fans: Start with Blazewrath Games (2020). This is her signature debut novel, blending international sports, dragon-riding, and contemporary fantasy. Since it is the first book in a duology, it should be followed directly by Dragonblood Ring (2021).
• For Standalone YA Readers: Start with Last Sunrise in Eterna (2023). This is a self-contained, darker urban fantasy that features elf mythology, dream-trading, and a goth protagonist navigating a dangerous magical black market.
• For Younger Readers or Comic Fans: Start with Saving Chupie (2023). This heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel deals with family, local Puerto Rican folklore, and the aftermath of Hurricane María through the lens of protecting a baby chupacabra.

The Blazewrath Games Duology

Ortiz's flagship fantasy series is a contemporary YA duology that has been described as a mix of How to Train Your Dragon and the World Cup. The story centers on Lana Torres, a Puerto Rican teenager who competes in a world where humans and dragons team up for a high-flying, international contact sport known as the Blazewrath Games. Unlike other competitors, Lana is a "Runner"—a position that plays on the ground without a dragon partner. The series explores themes of identity, belonging, and diasporic Puerto Rican heritage, alongside conspiracies involving a rogue dragon rider.

This series follows a strict narrative continuity and must be read in publication order:

1. Blazewrath Games (2020)
2. Dragonblood Ring (2021)

Standalone Young Adult Fantasy

In 2023, Ortiz published Last Sunrise in Eterna, showcasing a darker, more urban side of her fantasy writing. Set in Puerto Rico, the novel follows Sevim Burgos, a goth teen who illegally harvests and sells elven corpses on the black market to fund her mother's medical treatments. When Sevim is captured by an elven prince, she is forced to participate in the "Exchange"—an elite, week-long program where humans travel to the magical realm of Eterna and trade their dreams in exchange for elven magic. This standalone novel is highly recommended for readers who enjoy morally grey characters, unique magic systems, and romantic tension.

Graphic Novels and Disney Adventures

In addition to her prose novels, Ortiz has built a significant portfolio of graphic novels. These include both original stories and official tie-in work for major franchises:

• Saving Chupie (2023): Illustrated by Ronnie Garcia, this middle-grade graphic novel follows Violeta Rubio, a girl who returns to Puerto Rico to help her grandmother rebuild her hurricane-damaged restaurant. Along the way, Violeta discovers a baby chupacabra and must protect it from monster hunters and smugglers.
• Disney The Never Girls: Magic in the Mist (2023): Ortiz wrote the script for the third volume of the graphic novel adaptation of The Never Girls, which follows four young girls on an adventure to solve the mystery of Never Land's missing mist horses.
• The New Adventures of Encanto, Vol. 1: Time to Shine! (2024): Ortiz penned this graphic novel collection featuring original stories about the Madrigal family from Disney's Encanto. It is also available in a Spanish edition, Es Hora De Brillar.

Anthologies and Collaborative Works

Amparo Ortiz is a frequent contributor to anthologies and has also worked as an editor. Her short fiction offers an excellent introduction to her fast-paced storytelling style:

• Puerto Rico Strong (2018): Ortiz contributed the comic short story "What Remains in The Dark" to this Eisner Award-winning anthology, which was created in the wake of Hurricane María to celebrate Puerto Rican history, resilience, and culture.
• Our Shadows Have Claws: 15 Latin American Monster Stories (2022): Co-edited by Ortiz and Yamile Saied Méndez, this YA anthology features horror and fantasy retellings of classic Latin American myths. Ortiz contributed her own original short story, "The Boy From Hell," to the collection.
• To Root Somewhere Beautiful (2024): Edited by Lauren T. Davila, this speculative eco-horror and climate fiction anthology features a short story by Ortiz focused on theme of environmental revenge.

Complete Publication Order of Amparo Ortiz's Books

If you prefer to read Amparo Ortiz's works in the exact order they were released to the public, follow this chronological list:

1. "What Remains in The Dark" (published in the anthology Puerto Rico Strong) (2018)
2. Blazewrath Games (2020)
3. Dragonblood Ring (2021)
4. "The Boy From Hell" (published in the anthology Our Shadows Have Claws) (2022)
5. Saving Chupie (2023)
6. Disney The Never Girls: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 3: Magic in the Mist (2023)
7. Last Sunrise in Eterna (2023)
8. The New Adventures of Encanto, Vol. 1: Time to Shine! (2024)
9. "A story of revenge" (published in the anthology To Root Somewhere Beautiful) (2024)

What to Know Before You Start

Amparo Ortiz's stories are deeply rooted in her Puerto Rican identity. Readers should expect themes of diasporic identity, family loyalty, and cultural pride throughout her books. For example, Lana's struggle with her "Boricua-ness" in the Blazewrath Games duology mirrors real-world experiences of Latinx youth navigating multiple cultures. Additionally, her books frequently incorporate Spanish vocabulary, local myths, and the realities of life in Puerto Rico, including the community recovery efforts following natural disasters like Hurricane María.