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thevieira's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Transphobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Homophobia, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Racism, Deadnaming, Child abuse, and Animal death
criticalgayze's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.25
I tried this one on audio several times last year and couldn't get past the first few chapters, so I was apprehensive when my grad school literature group picked this as one of our class reading selections. I am very thankful that I was forced into reading the whole thing in print because I wound up really enjoying the book, and it was the first book to make me cry this year.
I most appreciated the way that Aiden Thomas gets to live in so much of their truth and culture with their writing. There is such a clear awareness here of what it is like to inhabit a transgender body and to navigate a Latinx community, and I found there to be an incredible care and attention to detail here that you cannot get when people are not allowed to be the ones to tell their own stories. Thomas also does a lot to incorporate so many perspectives through pan-Latinx inclusion and a wonderful feminist lens. Yadriel and Julian were very cute together, their families (found and otherwise) were wonderfully crafted and loved in the writing, and the whirlwind amateur sleuth storyline was really enjoyable.
I do think the sleuthing does not get quite enough time, and the reader is kinda rushed along at the end to wrap things up. The emotional climax suffered as a result, and I don't think the reader got to live in that final tension as effectively as it could have been handled. I also don't know if approaching this through a lens of literary evaluation for class study made me notice the twist about halfway through the book or if it wasn't supposed to be difficult to spot.
Quotes:
They wouldn't even let him try. It was easier to hide behind their traditions than to challenge their own beliefs and understanding of how things in the world of the brujx worked. (Page 24)
Yadriel knew better than to decline an offer of food from a Latinx mom more than once. Carefully, he took a bite, shifting it to his cheek to avoid the cut. (Page 117)
Yadriel didn't think that was possible. He didn't see how anyone could get a clean break from Julien once they entered his orbit. (Page 157)
"Growth isn't a deviation from what we've done before, but a natural progression to honor all those who make this community strong." (Page 339)
I most appreciated the way that Aiden Thomas gets to live in so much of their truth and culture with their writing. There is such a clear awareness here of what it is like to inhabit a transgender body and to navigate a Latinx community, and I found there to be an incredible care and attention to detail here that you cannot get when people are not allowed to be the ones to tell their own stories. Thomas also does a lot to incorporate so many perspectives through pan-Latinx inclusion and a wonderful feminist lens. Yadriel and Julian were very cute together, their families (found and otherwise) were wonderfully crafted and loved in the writing, and the whirlwind amateur sleuth storyline was really enjoyable.
I do think the sleuthing does not get quite enough time, and the reader is kinda rushed along at the end to wrap things up. The emotional climax suffered as a result, and I don't think the reader got to live in that final tension as effectively as it could have been handled. I also don't know if approaching this through a lens of literary evaluation for class study made me notice the twist about halfway through the book or if it wasn't supposed to be difficult to spot.
Quotes:
They wouldn't even let him try. It was easier to hide behind their traditions than to challenge their own beliefs and understanding of how things in the world of the brujx worked. (Page 24)
Yadriel knew better than to decline an offer of food from a Latinx mom more than once. Carefully, he took a bite, shifting it to his cheek to avoid the cut. (Page 117)
Yadriel didn't think that was possible. He didn't see how anyone could get a clean break from Julien once they entered his orbit. (Page 157)
"Growth isn't a deviation from what we've done before, but a natural progression to honor all those who make this community strong." (Page 339)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Blood
Moderate: Deadnaming, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Confinement, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Homophobia
rainy_reverie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
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
5.0
This book is definitely my favorite.
I read this book back at the very end of December after going roughly 2-3 years without reading. It straight-up YANKED me out of a reading slump!
This book is beautifully written. The characters feel /real/ and the way Aiden Thomas describes things is phenomenal. My only complaint is that we didn't get more Martiza, but I can forgive that because Julien and Yadriel are adorable.
I read this book back at the very end of December after going roughly 2-3 years without reading. It straight-up YANKED me out of a reading slump!
This book is beautifully written. The characters feel /real/ and the way Aiden Thomas describes things is phenomenal. My only complaint is that we didn't get more Martiza, but I can forgive that because Julien and Yadriel are adorable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Murder, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Transphobia
jfield351's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I enjoyed this book especially because it was partly written in spanish, a language i understand! if i had not been able to understand it i don’t think i would have enjoyed it as much. It did make it a tiny bit hard to read, switching between languages. Maybe if i didn’t know spanish i could have skipped over those parts with no problem. Obviously, the LGBTQ+ representation was brilliant and unlike anything i’ve ever read (especially the trans representation) as well as the representation of the Latinx culture. I learnt more about the day of the dead festival and was charmed by the decorations, the mouth watering descriptions of food and the attitudes towards the day. Blending in fantasy, my favourite genre also made it a very fun read for me. The characters were well written, especially at the start. I read this within 24 hours from 1-2 March 2022. I did guess that the jaguar knives would have a role in the twist, because they were a seemingly insignificant detail that was mentioned in depth twice. however i had no idea it would be tío catriz (he seemed sooo nice!!) or that the sacrifices would be miguel and julian. . I was left wondering at some plot holes, such as, if only the one family was gifted with the power to see the dead, why could the whole family see it and not just the ones who weren’t married in? I did read this fast so maybe I missed something. I was hooked though, and I felt pain when Yadriel did, particularly when he faced transphobic comments and also in chapters 22/23. The ending was good, but to me i found it strange how the epilogue was literally just an hour after the ending - both boys were up and running without pain an hour after they had been dead. the ending felt a bit rushed . On the whole it was a great book and I want to read more like it!! And I want to read more from Aiden Thomas!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Abandonment, Blood, Violence, Deadnaming, Child abuse, Murder, Transphobia, Cursing, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Bullying, Car accident, Racism, Medical content, Alcohol, Gun violence, Child death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Physical abuse, and Xenophobia
acepersephone's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I can barely describe my love for this book. What a beautiful story. The characters, the plot, the traditions, the magical realism, it all melds together in a truly inspiring tale of love and community.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Deadnaming, Transphobia, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Racism
mileskayden's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This has become one of my new all-time favourites, and I don't give away that title easily. There is so much I love about this book. I felt like the characters were so whole, full and rounded - they felt like real people. The world was so immersive and atmospheric, the way Thomas describes things is so intricate and beautiful.
This was my first ever trans-read and I have to say, I was so incredibly grateful for the representation and how being transmasc was portrayed in this book. It never felt like it was making a point, and I think that is thanks to the author being trans themselves.
I cried, I laughed and I was angry. I don't think I will forget this book for a long, long time.
This was my first ever trans-read and I have to say, I was so incredibly grateful for the representation and how being transmasc was portrayed in this book. It never felt like it was making a point, and I think that is thanks to the author being trans themselves.
I cried, I laughed and I was angry. I don't think I will forget this book for a long, long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, Body horror, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Racism, and Physical abuse
Minor: Deadnaming
longlost's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
man this was a GOOD book. aiden thomas has crafted such interesting characters and their writing style is enamouring
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, and Child death
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Deadnaming, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Racism
Minor: Cultural appropriation
nicamooch's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
4.0
I love loved the concept and world building of this book.
I also really loved the banter and relationships Yadriel has with Julian and Martiza. The love story was so adorable I really wouldn’t have been able to handle a bittersweet ending between those two 😭
The climax had me simultaneously bawling and cursing @ Thomas for the pain! The way my gut dropped when I turned onto Chapter 24…it was narratively such a good choice but I was also pissed because it did its job of wrecking me, you know?
I found the twist/reveal upsetting, it’s like, even though I figured it out beforehand because this character was the only viable option—it’s just devastating because you don’t /want/ it to be them. But I also feel like that’s why it works 😭 yet another great narrative choice for maximum pain 😭😭!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Deadnaming, Death, Murder, and Transphobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Dysphoria, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Child death, Domestic abuse, Outing, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, and Medical content
scarlettskyes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Child death, Child abuse, Classism, Deadnaming, Death, Grief, Murder, Racism, Violence, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death of parent, Deadnaming, Dysphoria, Outing, and Panic attacks/disorders
victoriapatella's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Transphobia
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Car accident, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Deadnaming, and Racism