Romina Garber

A Novel

Lobizona

Stas

«i go for a purple flower […] that somehow tastes like the colour purple! […] I’m seeing everything through a purple filter!»

In Lobizona, the first in the Wolves of No World series, bestselling author Romina Garber weaves together Argentine folklore and what it means to be illegal in a timely, intimate, and emotionally powerful narrative. Some people ARE illegal. Lobizonas do NOT exist. Both of these statements are false. Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who's on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida. Until Manu's protective bubble is shattered. Her surrogate grandmother is attacked, lifelong lies are exposed, and her mother is arrested by ICE. Without a home, without answers, and finally without shackles, Manu investigates the only clue she has about her past—a mysterious "Z" emblem—which leads her to a secret world buried within our own. A world connected to her dead father and his criminal past. A world straight out of Argentine folklore, where the seventh consecutive daughter is born a bruja and the seventh consecutive son is a lobizón, a werewolf. A world where her unusual eyes allow her to belong. As Manu uncovers her own story and traces her real heritage all the way back to a cursed city in Argentina, she learns it's not just her U.S. residency that's illegal. . . .it’s her entire existence.

Patrick Book

I adored the first section, but the ‘Hogwarts for Latinx monsters’ elements felt very redundant and pretty unnecessary.

TLDR: an absolute trainwreck of a book, if you value literacy, STAY AWAY

Finding out Garber said "these terrorist attacks do nothing to help the lives of palestinian people" while reading her book about being rejected from, not one, but two communities bc you're different, was an experience for sure. 

I didn't find out she was a zionist before I had about an hour left of the audiobook, so believe me when I say the book absolutely sucks, all on its own. 

The premise was promising, and the start of the book was good! We met Manu, her mom and the woman they lived with (dont remember her name), and we get to know about how they've been living as they fled Argentina to be safe from Manus dad and his people (lmao). 

The stakes are high, Manu hears a scream and runs down to the apartment, where the woman they live with has been attacked and is on the floor bleeding. Manu calls 911 and gives them basic info, and then runs, so there wont be questions about their documents. She runs to where her mom works, and turns out her mom is part of running an underground "hospital" for people who can't go to the actual hospital. Things turn sour when her mom is taken by ICE. Manu is set on finding out why these things are happening to her and her family, and whoooo her father is. So she does the one logical thing...she jumps in the car of a stranger who she 

 might know something. And this is where it all goes wrong.

She gets out of the car and we enter a werewolf x harry potter fanfic. (speaking of harry potter...please STOP SPEAKING ABOUT HARRY POTTER!!!!) ((and that fuckass sport, i dont give a shit about messi))

I really can't say anything more than the writing is probably the worst thing i have ever had the displeasure of sitting through. Why are we growling. 

The romance in this book is forced and weird and did you know Tiagos eyes are sapphire, because i sure didnt, but when she mentioned it for the 40th time it started sinking in. It's also not a slow burn romance, as the author wants it to be, when Manu is willing to risk basically everything the first time she sees him. So so sooo stupid. Like girl i get it you're horny but STAND UP. 

ANYWAYS, Manu...she's not like other girls...at all...never. She makes sure to rub this in every single chapter. She's literally the chosen one, the most special, never seen before, naturally talented, special eyes, everyone lied to her. I'm going to bash my head into a wall. 

lastly, idk, i honestly cannot express how absolutely horrible this book is. I was promised commentary on being undocumented and feeling like an outcast, and instead i got alphas, "MEN are werewolves, FEMALES are witches" 

, the most bland and annoying characters, weird comments on feminism, no consideration of nonbinaries etc in this weird magic system (do they not exist? what is going on!!!!), and  a headache

!!ZIONIST AUTHOR!!

TLDR: an absolute trainwreck of a book, if you value literacy, STAY AWAY

Finding out Garber said "these terrorist attacks do nothing to help the lives of palestinian people" while reading her book about being rejected from, not one, but two communities bc you're different, was an experience for sure. 

I didn't find out she was a zionist before I had about an hour left of the audiobook, so believe me when I say the book absolutely sucks, all on its own. 

The premise was promising, and the start of the book was good! We met Manu, her mom and the woman they lived with (dont remember her name), and we get to know about how they've been living as they fled Argentina to be safe from Manus dad and his people (lmao). 
The stakes are high, Manu hears a scream and runs down to the apartment, where the woman they live with has been attacked and is on the floor bleeding. Manu calls 911 and gives them basic info, and then runs, so there wont be questions about their documents. She runs to where her mom works, and turns out her mom is part of running an underground "hospital" for people who can't go to the actual hospital. Things turn sour when her mom is taken by ICE. Manu is set on finding out why these things are happening to her and her family, and whoooo her father is. So she does the one logical thing...she jumps in the car of a stranger who she thinks might know something. And this is where it all goes wrong.

She gets out of the car and we enter a werewolf x harry potter fanfic. (speaking of harry potter...please STOP SPEAKING ABOUT HARRY POTTER!!!!) ((and that fuckass sport, i dont give a shit about messi))

I really can't say anything more than the writing is probably the worst thing i have ever had the displeasure of sitting through. Why are we growling. 

The romance in this book is forced and weird and did you know Tiagos eyes are sapphire, because i sure didnt, but when she mentioned it for the 40th time it started sinking in. It's also not a slow burn romance, as the author wants it to be, when Manu is willing to risk basically everything the first time she sees him. So so sooo stupid. Like girl i get it you're horny but STAND UP. 

ANYWAYS, Manu...she's not like other girls...at all...never. She makes sure to rub this in every single chapter. She's literally the chosen one, the most special, never seen before, naturally talented, special eyes, everyone lied to her. I'm going to bash my head into a wall. 

lastly, idk, i honestly cannot express how absolutely horrible this book is. I was promised commentary on being undocumented and feeling like an outcast, and instead i got alphas, "MEN are werewolves, FEMALES are witches" growl, the most bland and annoying characters, weird comments on feminism, no consideration of nonbinaries etc in this weird magic system (do they not exist? what is going on!!!!), and  a headache

Andrea Pozo

I'm giving it 5* because this is a guilty pleasure read and I've enjoyed it a lot. The Harry Potter + Argentinian lore combo is great, but if you really want to enjoy this book find the audio version, because the accent in Spanish is everything. Also kudos on the parallels and inversion of HP roles and situations, the spotlight for undocumented immigrants in the USA, the belonging theme and the hard look onto gender roles and expectations.

"Garber’s gorgeous novel combines the wonder of a Hogwarts-style magic school with the Twilight-esque dynamics of a hidden magical species that has strict rules about interacting with the human world." - BOOKLIST (Starred Review) Some people ARE illegal. Lobizonas do NOT exist. Both of these statements are false. Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who's on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida. Until Manu's protective bubble is shattered. Her surrogate grandmother is attacked, lifelong lies are exposed, and her mother is arrested by ICE. Without a home, without answers, and finally without shackles, Manu investigates the only clue she has about her past—a mysterious "Z" emblem—which leads her to a secret world buried within our own. A world connected to her dead father and his criminal past. A world straight out of Argentine folklore, where the seventh consecutive daughter is born a bruja and the seventh consecutive son is a lobizón, a werewolf. A world where her unusual eyes allow her to belong. As Manu uncovers her own story and traces her real heritage all the way back to a cursed city in Argentina, she learns it's not just her U.S. residency that's illegal. . . .it’s her entire existence. “With vivid characters that take on a life of their own, beautiful details that peel back the curtain on Romina's Argentinian heritage, and cutting prose Romina Garber crafts a timely tale of identity and adventure.”–Tomi Adeyemi New York Times bestselling author of Children of Blood and Bone

Laura Kehoe

Normally I'm not as big a fan of werewolf stories, but Lobizona is definitely one of the exceptions. This was such a fun story, filled with great writing and compelling characters. There were only a few things that stopped this book from being a five-star-read for me.

I did really like the characters. Each one was so well-developed and fascinating. And seeing Manu grow throughout the book was so much fun. That being said, there were a few cliches involving the characters that drove me a little crazy. One of which being a bit of insta-love, which is generally a massive pet peeve of mine. But aside from that, I adored these characters and loved watching their stories unfold! 

The beginning also moved a little slow for my taste. But, once the pace picked up, I was completely drawn into this story. The plot and the world are so interesting that even with the slower beginning, I still ended up loving this book!

I would definitely recommend giving Lobizona a read! It's fun, well-written, and is just a great story. I'm excited to see what happens next!

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

mel 

Clara Moore

This was a fun read, a bit of a slow burn but it's worth it. Manu's a great character and she really develops throughout the story. She is strong willed and intelligent. She holds her own even when she is thrust into a world she knew nothing about. It definitely ends on a cliffhanger though so you will have to wait until August 2021 for the next installment!

Sarahi Flores

A very magical read that definitely replaces Harry Potter lol.

I don’t really much fantasy novels for young adults, by given that it was Latinx Heritage Month I thought it was a great idea to jump in. Also, I kept seeing the book everywhere in the book community AND the cover is gorgeous!

This is a book that has tons of Harry Potter reference and in a way that’s a good thing. Everyone knows the magical world of Harry Potter so this was in a way to compare this book because it also had magical elements and of course there’s a magic school! Basically this is a Latino version of Harry Potter and I love that.

The protagonist, Manu is someone who doesn’t really know who she is and is wanting to know the whereabouts of her father. Having to discover her true identity was crazy. The way the author announces it in the book sounded epic in my opinion lol. I love the personality of Manu. She’s a badass.

The plot overall was great and I wish to say more without spoiling it but I rather let you read the book. I recommend it and if you are looking for another magical reading. Also, please support Latinx authors 🙂

Manuela is a young woman who has spent her entire life hiding away. An undocumented immigrant in Miami, daughter of a member of an Argentine-based crime family that would hunt her down if they knew she existed, possessor of eyes with a genetic mutation that makes her striking and instantly recognizable, Manu has always had to be careful about where she goes, what she does, who she talks to. When Manu is suddenly left without support, she is swept into a world she thought existed only in her dreams. 

For me, one of the strongest aspects of this book was the way that Manu's experiences in Miami and in El Laberinto parallel each other. So often in fantasy books, authors will include some kind of magical bigotry that's supposed to be an allegory for racism or homophobia but then not actually include any people of color or queer people *cough*Harry Potter*cough*. Garber doesn't do that. Manu is an "illegal" immigrant in Miami and she is also an "illegal" half-breed in El Laberinto; she has to hide who she really is in order to stay safe in both worlds. But in El Laberinto she finally has friends and allies who help her to push back against the system that would happily see her dead. Her defiance against the Septimus makes it feel like defiance against the US government is possible as well. Like all good spec fic, the speculative elements provide space to imagine that our own world could be different; that our current systems aren't unchangeable forces of nature but rather malleable human-made structures. 

The book ended on a note that definitely had me wishing I had the sequel in my hands right now. I can't wait to see what else Garber comes up with in this world.

Amanda Rocha

If you enjoy magical realism, you will love Romina Garber's newest book Lobizóna. I have seen this title around on bookstagram for a while and the cover is what really drew me in. I absolutely love the art style, but the title seemed really interesting also. I was delighted to find the naked book is just as beautiful as the sleeve!

Netgalley gifted me a free e-ARC of this title, which I am so grateful for! It allowed me to start reading it, which sucked me in after the first few pages. I got about halfway through on Kindle before deciding to buy the physical copy. For one, I wanted to support this author (I devoured her Zodiac series a few years ago!) and two, I ended up taking a lot of annotations which I wanted to keep. And I bounced back and forth between the e-book and the physical copy; the e-book is amazing for reading in bed, but the physical is better for daytime reading (and is less of a strain on my eyes, TBH.)

"We use magical realism in our daily lives too. Consider our superstitions. We are always willing magic into reality—that's our way."

I love that this book was stippled with Spanish aphorisms and phrases, and included an impressive amount of vocabulary in-context to help teach Spanish to non-speakers. As someone who is constantly trying to improve my Spanish, this is something I really appreciate seeing in new books. Garber does it well, allowing the reader to infer meaning from context clues without needing to use a translator. However, I can really appreciate having the translation dictionary available if I do need it, conveniently built into my e-reader. It saves a lot of time not having to click out of the book, and as a visual learner I enjoy seeing side-by-side translations because it really helps me understand spelling and pronunciation.

Another thing that I loved about this book was name-dropping of famous and works of literature written by Latin authors. Books like One Hundred Years of Solitude and Don Quijote are read by the main character; important and overlooked authors that more people should know about and read! This is such a great way to introduce readers to Latin classics, and I will be looking forward to more book recommendations in the next installment of this series!

I've been trying to read Gabriel García Márquez's masterpiece as slowly as possible so I can relish the writing, but it's so good that I'm already two-thirds of the way through.

The entire novel raises questions on important issues, like gender, sexuality, and the complications that arise for Latin-Americans who grow up caught between two cultures. In the same way that Manu and her Ma tread between being Argentinean Americans, Manu must find balance between her human and werewolf sides. In the world of Lunaris, gender roles still dominate the culture: girls are Brujas and boys are Lobizónes. Manu is one of the first female werewolf's and she has to overcome the "narrow and outdated approach to identity" that permeates Lunaris culture. Even the fast that her "irises are yellow suns and pupils are silver stars" contain contrasting symbolism and foreshadows the male-female dichotomy. 

"But if no one knows we exist, how can the system ever hope to accommodate us?"

Identity is a large theme in the novel: Manu wants to belong, but must, above all things, be true to herself. Manu feels "suffocated" by her mother's "invasive" gaze and feels as if she doesn't belong. "I don't fit into any of the groupings around me, and the things that make me different always seem to count against me." Though she is forced out of her comfort zone, the path she finds herself taking is essential to her growth and will lead her to finding who she truly is. But there is danger in being the first of her kind, and the outdated laws potentially endanger Manu's life. But as she finds friends whose beliefs align with her own she finds the comfort to "come out" as a female werewolf and is ultimately accepted and appreciated, despite her differences.

"You're a wolf, you part of the pack, period."

Though she is reserved at first, Manu believes she belongs in Lunaris. She makes friends with people who support her and defend her, and ultimately feels accepted once she reveals her secret. And not only do they accept her, they begin to follow her lead. When she challenges the binary norms and joins the team of boys, the desire for changes has an immediate ripple effect through her peers. 

"She has the same abilities as any lobizón here."

Femininity is another huge theme within this book. The first line of the book circles back to this theme, drawing a parallel between the lunar and the feminine: "I always bleed on the full moon." Chapter transitions are divided into moon phases. Water is used to represent emotions, which are constantly compared to the changing tides. I was so happy to see the normalizing of period talk. As a YA book that is a really important and underrepresented topic and I hope books start doing this more. When Manu feels "shameful or repulsive or wrong" about her body, be it her eyes or her menstruation, she is reminded that "it is only natural". Perla recognizes the power in Manu and gives her the permission to take pride in her body.

"Your eyes are your lightning mark--be proud of them."

By the end of the novel, the reader can work out themes of gender and friendship, but more than anything this novel is about listening to your gut and following your own path. Not only must the characters support and accept each other -- they must learn to accept and believe in themselves.

Qaisarah Kamal Fariz

STOPP I LOVED THIS SO MUCH
i really didn’t think i would like this at first bc i normally hate fantasy but i feel like this was different?? like i feel like a lot if fantasies have a certain writing style that’s hard for he to read but i think this was written a lot like a regular YA book so even if you also don’t lie fantasy i definitely recommend!! 
this is gonna sound weird but sometimes when i judge a book its cover i also assume that boon with TOO pretty covers aren’t gone be very good and this is one one of them LMAO 
but obv i was wrong bc i enjoyed it so much <3
 
 it’s about a girl named manuela who’s an illegal argentine immigrant living in miami, florida. however, not only she illegal there but she is also not supposed to exist in the alternate universe she belongs to. girls are strictly witches and boys are werewolves, but many defies this rule. in miami,she constantly has to lay low and hide her glowing eyes in fear of drawing attention and attracting the people who killed her father, but turns out her father is infamous in the magic world too. OKAY IM RLLY BAD AT EXPLAINING THE BOOK BUT ITS RLLY GOOD!!

Jessica Williamson

4.25 Stars

This book was so wonderful! If you're waffling on if you want to pick this one up, I highly recommend it!

Let's start with the characters. I feel like Manu is so wonderfully done. She feels like a very real girl discovering the world for the first time. Though Manu has been a part of our world all her life, she's never been allowed to do much or leave her home really. So she's not only experiencing the fantasy world in which this story takes place, but she's also learning what it's like to be a teen in a regular social setting and how to deal with best friends and dating. It is such a great look at the teen world, even from a fantasy perspective. 

Cata, Saysa, Diego, are all great characters. It's this rag-tag group that allows Manu to be the person she needs to be to hopefully create change in the world some day. The romances in this one kinda took me by surprise and I'm soooo okay with that! It was not what I expected at all.

If you've been around for a while, you know how much I live for political and societal issues in my books. This one has some serious issues. I'm excited to see how the social standards of societal norms change throughout this series. I can tell that Manu is going to struggle to make the changes she hopes for, but I can also see her potential for greatness.

The writing is spectacular. Romina really showed her strengths here and I could not be happier with the outcome. 

Side note, this is not the book to skip the author's note on. Read it. You'll cry. I know I did.

Additional side note, I think I'm in the minority when I say I GREATLY dislike the cover. It's just not for me.

Characters 4; Cover 2; Plot 4; Pace 5; Writing 5; Enjoyment 4; Cry 1.

laura

* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I really loved how this book tackled harder topics like immigration and being illegal in american. I really enjoy that part of the book. I struggled a tad with the pacing and feeling connected to the characters. It was read that did capture my attention. I really did like the like the magic system, its reminded almost of the avatar system, but i struggled with the pacing of the year. I think if you like gritty reads or reads set in the modern world with a fun magic system, this might be the read for you!

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Lobizona

Author: Romina Garber

Book Series: Wolves of No World Book 1

Diversity: Argentina characters, lesbian couple

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: Werewolves, witches, other planets, Argentinian characters And lore

Publication Date: August 4, 2020

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Pages: 400

Recommended Age: 16+ (sexual content, drugging, drugs mentioned, rape mention)

Synopsis: Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who's on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida.

Until Manu's protective bubble is shattered.

Her surrogate grandmother is attacked, lifelong lies are exposed, and her mother is arrested by ICE. Without a home, without answers, and finally without shackles, Manu investigates the only clue she has about her past--a mysterious "Z" emblem—which leads her to a secret world buried within our own. A world connected to her dead father and his criminal past. A world straight out of Argentine folklore, where the seventh consecutive daughter is born a bruja and the seventh consecutive son is a lobizón, a werewolf. A world where her unusual eyes allow her to belong.

As Manu uncovers her own story and traces her real heritage all the way back to a cursed city in Argentina, she learns it's not just her U.S. residency that's illegal. . . .it's her entire existence.

Review: Overall, I thought the book was amazing. I loved the mythology and lore of Lobizones and Brujas (werewolves and witches basically). I liked how the author intermingled issues of ICE into this story and also sexism. The book had a well done story arc and plot and I loved the world building. Other things of note are that the book addresses sexism and homophobia and the menstrual cycle is important to the storyline.

However, I did think the pacing was a bit too fast for me and I think the book had a lot of characters that weren't fully developed.

Verdict: Recommended read! I can't wait for the next one!!

Samantha Bass

Reading Manu's story brings up issues of immigration through a fantastical lens, as well as a realistic one. The separation between the real world and the fictional is a thin line that is crossed about 1/4-1/3 of the way through and highlights similar issues between these two worlds. Between the review version (300 pages) and what seems to be the final version (400 pages) there is a lot of details that could have been added, moments that changed, or even new scenes that I didn't get in the review, but I hope are there. I feel like the beginning, which takes place in Miami, is more fleshed out than the fantastical world. It's not clear whether it's due to lack of explanation, or that it's a completely different world these characters are living in, but I felt a bit lost.

I assume, and I hope, that the fantastical world is fleshed out a bit more in the final copy. If so, then I think the book is going to connect and resonate a lot more with readers than it would right now.

Overall, I really liked the story. I'm a fan of Romina's work in general and I'm excited to see this new story come to light soon!

Trigger warnings: (view spoiler)[traumatic menstrual cycles, self-injury, sedative-use, organised crime (off-the-page), undocumented immigrants, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), xenophobia, fear of arrest and deportation, misogyny, homophobia (hide spoiler)]

NOTE: While I adored this book, I recently came across an #ownvoice reviewer who spoke in some depth about the issues surrounding the marketing of this book, that I would like readers to be aware of. Please check out the video by lous reading things.

This is a book which I loved so darn much, for SO MANY reasons that this will probably be a mediocre review because I am just too overwhelmed with love and feelings. 

Lobizona is about Manu - an undocumented teen living with her single mother and hidden from the world. Her entire world is restricted, from who she can talk with to hiding her unique eyes from the outside world. And then things start to fall apart and secrets about her family start to come to light. 

This is a fantasy book that feels wildly authentic. Not in the sense that it is set in the modern day, which it is. But because real world issues - from immigration, fear of deportation, broken families and xenophobia - play a core role in the both the characters and the plot line.


  “[W]hy settle for being a son of the system, when you can mother a movement?”



The world-building in the story is incredible. The way Garber blends reality with fiction is spot on, both really engaging and fluid. This story involves multiple "worlds", but they are put together and jumped between in a way that feels seamless. 

The characters have an incredible amount of depth, which truly kept me invested throughout. This stands true both for the main character, Manu, as well as smaller, side characters. Backstories, interactions and relationships were all thoroughly fleshed out, adding purpose, character and feeling to each person included in this creation. 

Oh and I peeked a sample of the audiobook and the narrator has done an incredible job!


  “Now go forth and shatter every convention.”



I highly recommend all fantasy lovers check out this brand new gem. I absolutely adored it and am super excited to pick up the sequel and see what else Romina Garber has in store. 



  Note: Review copy received via NetGalley. This does not impact opinions within this review.


blog •  trigger warning database • more links

Happy reading! ❤

Dearna Mulvaney

For full review: https://wordsoftheroses.com/2020/07/2...

“Sometimes reality strays so far from what’s rational that we can only explain it through fantasy.” 

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for sending a copy my way!

Lobizona had me utterly enchanted. I adored the exploration of Argentine folklore. I flew through this, especially during the last half which hit me with all the emotion.

Romina Garber explores what it means to be an illegal immigrant. She doesn’t hold back from the horrors. When escaping ICE Manu stumbles into El Laberinto, a magical academy for elemental witches or bruja and werewolves or lobizon. To stay in the academy, Manu needs to learn everything there is to know about this world and her place in it.

The folklore elements give the world a magical realism feel rather than a typical urban or portal fantasy. I was completely sucked into the world. Lunaris is whimsical. There are fizzy flowers that you can drink and sentient trees filled with books.

I cannot wait for the sequel to be released so we can see what happens to Manu and the rest of her pack. This perfect for those who are interested in diverse fantasy and those who are interested in a look at Lantix culture and injustices Lantix immigrants face daily.

Belle Ellrich

*I WAS PROVIDED A DIGITAL GALLEY FOR THE PURPOSES OF A TOUR. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION*

This book was magical. I wasn't expecting what we readers were given, but Romina Garber has shocked me to my core.

I'll admit, I had a little trouble getting into this book at first. The first few chapters were slow-moving, and the sudden three-day time skip kind of threw me off.

But after that point, this book was addicting.

Manu's character was one I had no trouble loving. She is portrayed as being both strong and vulnerable. The circumstances she started out with really gave us some background later on in the book on why she acts or reacts the way she does. She was constantly trying to prove herself to be a different person than she was in the beginning of the book, and the character development showcased that perfectly.

I was also really impressed by the fact that Garber didn't allow for Manu's character to betray the friends she makes a good chunk of the way into the story. Manu is determined to keep her friends, and she'll do anything she can to prevent any falling-outs, and that includes not allowing her crush on Triago to become anything more. That's a detail you don't see too often in teen stories nowadays, and I was really happy it was included.

One thing I couldn't get over was how this story doesn't allow for any messing around when it comes to the female menstrual cycle. For the first fourth of the book, Manu is on her period, and the author continuously reminds us readers of this throughout it. I loved that addition, and I honestly found it both funny and endearing.

Something that really tugged on my heartstrings was the importance Manu felt at fitting in. In the beginning of the novel, she was constantly worried over being an undocumented immigrant. And when push came to shove regarding her mother's secrets, it soon became imperative for her to fit in with people like herself as well. Garber constantly reminded us that, no matter where Manu went, she never felt like she belonged. And as the reader, I really felt for her.

Lastly, Garber did a fantastic job centering the story around a Spanish-speaking main character. Unfortunately, in a lot of books nowadays, Spanish is almost always italicized. With this book, Garber said "I don't think so," and wrote us a beautifully plotted, written and developed fantasy with non-italicized Spanish. I also really liked that she didn't always include translations for some of the dialogue. As someone who can speak Spanish, I understood the majority of it. But for others who don't, they can understand now what it might be like for someone who doesn't speak English. It added in that element of "now, it's your time to learn," and I really did appreciate and love that.

All in all, Garber really stunned me with this novel. For that, I rate it 4.75 stars. I can't wait to read the sequel, and I'll definitely be picking up the author's previous novels as well. I highly suggest y'all pick this book up before/when it releases.

Manon van Heumen

This was a bit average to me. I did find the message of belonging extremely powerful, but the rest fell a little flat for me, unfortunately.

Pamela Alvarado

An incredible adventure that reminds me of the YA I love. There are so many things to highlight here, so many elements that I wish I could see more of in other books.

What I liked most was the represantation, obviously. Even though Manu is argentinian, just the fact she's latina makes me so happy, and having so many latinx characters in this fantasy adventure... I'd always wanted to read more books like this.

On my blog you cand find my full review> http://www.reveriesociety.com/lobizon...

Ashlee

I’m disappointed to say that this one seemed to miss its mark. It continually felt like something was off and it wasn’t sure what direction it wanted to go.

On one hand, I felt as though the cultural aspects, commentary on and representation of immigration in the United States, and challenging of gender stereotypes and norms were the most powerful parts of this book. It was refreshing to see a modern world, with modern systems of oppression represented in this story, particularly one that weaves magical realism into its storyline.

However, I also felt like this book took quite a lot of time to really get going and even when it finally did, it was difficult to ascertain the direction of the story. To a degree, it felt as though it was simply circling around everything Manu has happening in her life, without actually jumping in to tackle any of it until well past the halfway point. 

I was also uncomfortable with all of the allusions to a certain bestselling series that also features a magical boarding school. I certainly understand how important it is to Manu and it’s significance to the themes of this story, but it was almost -too- obvious a piece of the story, to the degree it was overshadowed at times. I believe the story would have been stronger without the allusions. 

The premise in this is great and I definitely enjoyed Manu’s discovery of the school and making friends with her classmates and discovering more about who she is, but it takes too long to take off and once it does, it seems to be split down too many paths. It takes over half of the book for a specific event to occur, despite knowing it was coming from the very first chapter. 

I was tempted to set this book aside a few times, but I really wanted to give it a chance and definitely am interested in Manu’s journey. I’m just not sure this book truly has much to offer as far as the magical realism and fantasy aspects go. The aspects of Manu’s human life/world were infinitely more compelling and the strongest part of the plot.

Solange Bello

I'm not gonna lie I'm sure when exactly I started reading this book since I started back when Wednesday books sent me the arc BUT goodness did I love this!! 

It took me so long to read cause im a chaotic ass reader 

I'll update my full review later

Mekhala Rogers

How fun! This book starts off a bit slow for my taste but what a fun adventure and world we dive into after that beginning parts. I loved that culture and family was important for both parts of Manu’s life. I love how the author describes the Latinx culture is this book and I am not disappointed by any of it concerning representation. The book community could use more stories like this, by Latinx authors who know what it means to be a part of this cultura.

Lobizona A Novel

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