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smolhousewitch's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Sobbed through the last 30 pages or so. No coherent thoughts other than I am healed by being able to read such beautiful trans fantasy.
msrcreation's review against another edition
5.0
An absolutely adorable and heartwarming story. The main two are so incredibly cute and every moment they had together made me love them more and more. They don't instantly fall in love. It is a build from not really liking each other to learning to understand each other and become friends. I loved the culture and magic talked about in this wonderful story. It was a queer and magical romance story with a lot of heart. It's sadly real and heartbreaking watching Yadriel's family not accept who he truly is but seeing him accept himself and his friends and Julian love and accept him is absolutely lovely. In the interview at the end of the audiobook the author mentions possibly writing more in this world and I will absolutely be keeping my eye out for any story involving this world and it's characters.
lottespaar's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
menthe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ezrasupremacy's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
book one for my 2024 trans rights readathon.
this was a very fun read. i enjoyed the world building and thought it was very well done, although i cannot say how much of it is based on real folklore since i as a european i have very little connection to latin american culture, but i thought it was well explained and interesting nonetheless.
as for the spanish, i would say largely if you did spanish in highschool you should be able to figure everything out w/o having to look up translations, i only had to look up one thing towards the end of the book. and keep in mind my highest ever grade in spanish was a c-.
that aside i would say that while i enjoyed the plot and thought the end was fantastic (enough that this book should stay a standalone imo), it was also very slow paced and it felt like barely anything happened for the first, let’s say, 4/5 of the book. i enjoyed it every time any fantastical elements were brought up and explained, but if this author had made me sit through one more day of them at school i may have screamed.
the book is very clearly YA and that’s not something i would criticise objectively, but it is something that subjectively meant i would never be able to enjoy this enough for a five star rating. if i had read this at like 15 or 16 it probably would’ve meant the world to me though, so i’m very glad that it exists now for ppl who are that age currently to find and read.
this book handled the themes of transphobia and gender dysphoria very well and realistically, which again makes me thankful that there are now trans people telling these stories rather than cis people attempting to do so for them.
i was also actually surprised by the plot twist, less so because it was impossible to guess and more so because i had underestimated the book a bit too much due to its age rating, and therefore not looked at it with the same level of care and analysis i usually do when i read. i will not make that same mistake with the next book by this author i read, which will be very soon for this same readathon.
book one for my 2024 trans rights readathon.
this was a very fun read. i enjoyed the world building and thought it was very well done, although i cannot say how much of it is based on real folklore since i as a european i have very little connection to latin american culture, but i thought it was well explained and interesting nonetheless.
as for the spanish, i would say largely if you did spanish in highschool you should be able to figure everything out w/o having to look up translations, i only had to look up one thing towards the end of the book. and keep in mind my highest ever grade in spanish was a c-.
that aside i would say that while i enjoyed the plot and thought the end was fantastic (enough that this book should stay a standalone imo), it was also very slow paced and it felt like barely anything happened for the first, let’s say, 4/5 of the book. i enjoyed it every time any fantastical elements were brought up and explained, but if this author had made me sit through one more day of them at school i may have screamed.
the book is very clearly YA and that’s not something i would criticise objectively, but it is something that subjectively meant i would never be able to enjoy this enough for a five star rating. if i had read this at like 15 or 16 it probably would’ve meant the world to me though, so i’m very glad that it exists now for ppl who are that age currently to find and read.
this book handled the themes of transphobia and gender dysphoria very well and realistically, which again makes me thankful that there are now trans people telling these stories rather than cis people attempting to do so for them.
i was also actually surprised by the plot twist, less so because it was impossible to guess and more so because i had underestimated the book a bit too much due to its age rating, and therefore not looked at it with the same level of care and analysis i usually do when i read. i will not make that same mistake with the next book by this author i read, which will be very soon for this same readathon.
soulsbooks23's review against another edition
4.0
Empecé a leer este libro sin saber nada de qué iba ya que me llamaba la atención. Nos cuenta la vida de Yadriel, Maritza y Julian unos chicos que a lo largo del libro les tomé mucho cariño.
La trama es bastante original, tiene misterio y te engancha como no tienes idea. Es súper divertida, atrapante y emocionante. Hay momentos súper graciosos y otros que te hacen reflexionar.
Súper recomiendo este libro✨
La trama es bastante original, tiene misterio y te engancha como no tienes idea. Es súper divertida, atrapante y emocionante. Hay momentos súper graciosos y otros que te hacen reflexionar.
Súper recomiendo este libro✨
maryehavens's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
My audiobook had an interview with the author and narrator and it really helped tie the book together. Thomas modeled Yadriel after themself but said they identify more with Julian. "Cemetery Boys" comes up frequently on lists of trans protagonists and Yadriel's struggle for acceptance and the challenges of being trans is a big theme of the book.
I really liked the brujo parts but I wasn't sure how this was all going to wrap up. There seemed to be a lot of time spent trying to make something happen with Julian and Miguel was an after thought? I got a little lost, tbh.
I'm glad I read this but it didn't blow my mind. I'm sure it was a very new concept when it came out and it's still good but I wasn't completely enthralled. Maybe that's just me (probably).
I really liked the brujo parts but I wasn't sure how this was all going to wrap up. There seemed to be a lot of time spent trying to make something happen with Julian and Miguel was an after thought? I got a little lost, tbh.
I'm glad I read this but it didn't blow my mind. I'm sure it was a very new concept when it came out and it's still good but I wasn't completely enthralled. Maybe that's just me (probably).
pocromine's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
3.5
lauraslittlebooknook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
lenny_04's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0