Reviews

Wayward Witch by Zoraida Córdova

hijinx_abound's review against another edition

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2.0

Although I still really love the characters in this series, this book was not as good as the two previous.
There were several things that must have occurred off page, between books. I don’t remember the dad returning or that he didn’t seem to be full there. There were also some stories involving their mom that I don’t remember from the other books.
This book focuses on the younger sister. Or it was supposed to. However, it was more about her father and his mistakes than about her magic.
There were several twists. One was a bit much for me.
I enjoyed the book but had it been book one, I might not have finished the series.

kimberleylynn74's review against another edition

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4.0

Audiobook.

The 3rd novel of the Brooklyn Brujas trilogy by Zoraida Córdova does not disappoint. Swept back into the Mortiz family, we enter the story at youngest-sister Rose's Death Day Ceremony, about which she has some mixed feelings - which is perhaps why she's hiding in the pantry trying to get a bit of space, peace, and quiet.

While this book has some characters-in-common - and mentions of characters from the previous books of the trilogy, such as Alex's girlfriend Rishii, Nova, and the supernatural hunters of book 2 - and there is some background continuation of the larger family situation, it centres on one of the Mortiz sisters and is very that-sister-specific: each has different powers, different personality traits, different challenges and experiences, both before we're immersed in their personal story and much much more as we get into each sister's chapter of the trilogy.

I am impressed at the ways that the author creates a new world and entirely new magical burdens, growth, and achievements for each of the Mortiz sisters. On her Death Day, after some family stress, Rose runs outside and is swept (with her father) through a portal to a land called Adas - a fairy realm hidden in the Caribbean Sea. She has been recruited by the King for her powers, because Adas is falling to a dark power that is taking over all that is good in the land.

Can Rose grow to understand her powers, and use them to help save Adas? What other secrets is her father hiding? Will the dark infestation of The Rot be too much for Rose and the other questers to conquer?

Hoping we get a book that centres on Nova, who leaves Rose's Death Day party and basically disappears to figure himself out, and I'd also like to know more about next steps for brujex Lin.

PS: Also, thank you for including a non-binary character as central to Rose's story, making them well-rounded and not relying on stereotypes. The term brujex (like Latinx or Mx as a non-gendered honorarium) is used without fanfare - it's just normal, and isn't that how we'd love to see 2SLGBTQIA+ folks integrated into stories more often? (Yes. Yes, it is.)

missprint_'s review against another edition

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3.0

This series has always been a struggle for me because it’s never been exactly what I wanted--largely because I would have written a different story which is why it's still one I recommend all the time even with that caveat as a reader. I want more Nova. I want different romances or just more. And this series is not those things. It's a lot of other great things for readers instead.

This one is a solid conclusion and leaves room for more in this world. I think Rose is still my favorite sister and I so appreciated seeing the way Cordova took feedback from her readers and made this world more inclusive with nonbinary Lin who identifies as a Brujex (instead of using the gendered bruja/brujo).

dami_96's review against another edition

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4.0

So I have a werid love/hate relationship with this book. I want to give 5 stars but the themes of this book made me realize I need to go back to therapy so 4.5. This books has it all, magic, drama, family issues, and a little bit of romance. The third book feels like a bitter sweet end which is perfect becuase this is the last book of the series. Rosie really proves that she just like her sisters cuz she literally fucked around and found out.!!!

slozano94's review against another edition

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5.0

I pre-order this book and I was so excited to have it. However, I was putting it off I just wasn’t ready to let go of the series. I finally dove into it and I think it’s wonderful. ZC really knows how to tell the perfect story for each sister. There was so much heartbreak and sweetness in this book. Like the other books I am so happy that there’s a fantasy book series featuring Latinx teens, not to mention queer characters.
I really hope that we get a fourth book about Nova one day because I’d love to see something that tackles masculinity in Latinx culture.

readingrainbun's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging funny informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

alisiakae's review against another edition

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adventurous sad slow-paced

3.0

kmhawley's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

lisaluvsliterature's review against another edition

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4.0

I loved the first two books in this series and have been waiting eagerly for this third and most likely final story. It had been a while since I’d read them though it seems, so there was a bit about Rose that I didn’t necessarily remember from before. As with other books like this during this crazy pandemic time, my mind had a bit of a struggle keeping on track with the story, so that is part of why I gave it 4 stars probably.

The world the author wrote for us in this book was beautiful and vivid and so colorful. I know part of the time it took me to read was spent stopping and trying to make pictures in my mind by rereading the details in the descriptions of each of the Adas, or fairies of this world that Rose ends up in with her father.

The book began and I wanted to shake Rose for doubting everyone, but of course like her sisters she had to cast a spell that would lead to a little bit different result than she’d hoped. She found out that there may be something to her feelings. And when she and her father got taken to the other world we learned just what her father had actually been through in his time when he’d been lost there before, and it made sense why he’d been so withdrawn and different when he’d come back and even still after he seemed to be getting back as part of the family.

All the characters we met were unique and so full of life, and made the story so much more. I also did really like the way the whole debacle was solved in the end, a very creative way that I was unsure how it would even happen until it did. And the extra things Rose learned and gained in the land of Adas made the book that much better.

Now while I think this is the final book in the series I have to wonder if we will get a book for one of the characters from the first book, Nova. I’d love to see what happens to him on the path he chooses at the beginning of this book.

bibookworm's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0