I recently read the Letters of Cortes and also The Memoirs of Bernal Diaz del Castillo. I find the subject utterly fascinating and would love to learn more.
I would be interested in reading primary documents as well as more modern history books. Something older like William H. Prescott is also of interest to me.
Finally, materials discussing the culture and history of the period immediately preceding this era on both the Spanish and American side is welcome.
Thank you in advance.
I'm currently reading The Broken Spears by Miguel Leon-Portilla and am greatly enjoying it. It tells the conquest from the Aztec's point of view starting ten years before the conquest and it covers the first contact, the conversation between Montezuma and Cortés, Noche Triste, the siege of Tenochtitlan… that's where I'm at right now. It uses various codexes as its sources. Definitely check it out.
If you haven't already, you should check out Restall's Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest. This is a quick read and provides a great introduction to the creation of conquest myths, and how those myths influence our modern discussion of conquest. My focus is the Spanish presence in North America, so I love Weber's The Spanish Frontier in North America for a great overview of the northern reaches of the empire, but I understand not everyone shares my obsession.
For a cool primary source, check out The Narrative of Cabeza de Vaca. He accompanied the ill-fated 1527 Pánfilo de Narváez entrada to Florida, was shipwrecked off the Gulf Coast, and wandered throughout the Southeast traveling among the Native American communities as both a healer and a slave, before finally making his way to Mexico a decade later. You've likely already heard of de las Casas' A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indes, but I wanted to recommend it just in case.
Hope these recommendations help. Best of luck.