Saint James Matamoros the Americas as a rival force to the indigenous gods, and protector of Spaniards from the indigenous peoples of the Americas. He was depicted as a conquistador. The Order of Santiago, a Spanish order of knighthood, originates from St. James' supposed involvement at the Battle of Clavijo. A wide number of Mexican settlements were named Matamoros by Spanish settlers in honour of their patron saint. Matamoros can also be found as a Hispanic family name, for instance Miguel Matamoros. In the 1620s Spain debated who should be the country's patron—James, the current patron, or a combination of him and the
The Patron Saint of Liars (novel) heart, nothing will keep Sissy from rekindling the friendship and love she had for her mother. Many reviews have praised Patchett for her first novel. Annabel Davis-Goff, for "Entertainment Weekly", wrote, "...this is a wonderful novel. Patchett writes with a simplicity of style and clarity of voice that make one eager for her next book." Gerald Costello, for U.S. Catholic, wrote, "One often hears of talented new writers that they show great promise... For Ann Patchett, the promise has already been fulfilled; with "The Patron Saint of Liars", she has arrived." Alice McDermott, of the "New York Times Book Review,"