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amanda_laurieann's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
5⭐️
4.5🌶
I literally have no words to describe this book to do it justice. The best I can think of is fantastic and extremely spicy. I always love a curvy FMC who is a major badass! Xochi's journey was beautifully written. Especially since it touches on mental health. And Sal has been added to the never ending book boyfriend list.
The culture, lore, and mythology is so fascinating! This is very much a dark monster/shifter romance. And the monsters are some of the best I have ever read. They are like shadow werewolves, but they are not werewolves. It will all make sense when you read it.
This author has become an instant buy for me! Please check the trigger warnings, it is a whole list.
Overall, I loved this book! I can't wait for future books!
4.5🌶
I literally have no words to describe this book to do it justice. The best I can think of is fantastic and extremely spicy. I always love a curvy FMC who is a major badass! Xochi's journey was beautifully written. Especially since it touches on mental health. And Sal has been added to the never ending book boyfriend list.
The culture, lore, and mythology is so fascinating! This is very much a dark monster/shifter romance. And the monsters are some of the best I have ever read. They are like shadow werewolves, but they are not werewolves. It will all make sense when you read it.
This author has become an instant buy for me! Please check the trigger warnings, it is a whole list.
Overall, I loved this book! I can't wait for future books!
rubysbiblioteca's review
5.0
My first dark romance!🤪 And I loved it! The smut 😜, characters 😍…everything was PERFECT! I am obsessed with Xochitl’s character growth! In the beginning, Xochitl has low self-esteem, broken down by her mother and fiance. By the end, she grew into not only her true self but into the badass QUEEN! The found family in this book is done so well. I love so many of the other characters: Ixchel, Cesar, and Julia. They are exactly what Xochitl needs. Now this is a dark romance, so there are some OUT THERE scenes, and not just the spicy ones! Some of the gore described was 🤮but at the same time, it goes to show how much Xochitl has grown! Page 469🫣🤭🤯 had me completely speechless!!! Like it was gory, intense, CRAZY, and holy crap was it EVERYTHING! I despise the POS characters so they definitely got what they deserve!
N. Caceres writing is beautiful, descriptive, and overall addicting! I started this and binged it! I literally only stopped reading due to falling asleep while reading. I cannot wait for the next book! You need to read this if you like Dark Romance, plus-size curvy main characters, found family, and fantasy elements!
offmyredcarpet's review against another edition
4.0
Debut novel by independent author. The world building is absolutely exquisite. The author did a beautiful job blending Latin American folklore and religious rites with real world indigenous cultures creating a visually rich dark paranormal fantasy that is wholly her own. You can tell the care with which the author researched and crafted this story into being. She truly created something new that is riveting and magical.
Overall the writing is quite beautiful if occasionally punctuated with odd diction or an overused phrase. I did read a couple of passages that could be construed as ageism though I don’t believe that was the author’s intent.
Definitely check the trigger and content warnings at the front of the book as they are numerous and arranged by category for easy perusal.
What I liked:
*That the FMC’s strength hovers on the fringes even as she is controlled, manipulated, and cowed by her mother.
*The side character of César; particularly his wisdom and ability to cut through the haze of other peoples bullshit to reveal transparency and truth.
*The machinations of the MMC getting the FMC to El Salvador so he can finally be with his mate. That he fights the entirety of his adult existence to build a place for her there.
*I don’t care for the MMC for much of the book as he comes off as yet one more person attempting to control the FMC. However we are given the why of it all and the author does successfully redeem his behavior.
*The way the FMC savagely blossoms into her external strength becoming a vicious being of beauty. Absolutely adored that transformation.
What I didn’t like:
*Miscommunication trope - much could have been avoided had the MMC been forthcoming and shared with the FMC
*Pacing in the middle of the book; particularly the romance. The FMC goes from being a woman with a quiet inner strength cowed into submission through her mothers manipulations to believing herself unworthy of an MMC who wasn’t fully honest and up front with her. That she thought herself unworthy of him felt like it came out of nowhere.
*Confusing relationship elements. The FMC says “thinking about all the f*cked up things we’ve done to each other and all the ways we’ve cut each other up.” Except the FMC doesn’t do anything wrong. She makes decisions with the information she has; she doesn’t want to be controlled by yet another person. She wants to escape the expectations people have for her life. The burden of their relationship strife lays solely with the MMC for not communicating who/what they are to each other.
Will I read book two? Absolutely I will.
Overall the writing is quite beautiful if occasionally punctuated with odd diction or an overused phrase. I did read a couple of passages that could be construed as ageism though I don’t believe that was the author’s intent.
Definitely check the trigger and content warnings at the front of the book as they are numerous and arranged by category for easy perusal.
What I liked:
*That the FMC’s strength hovers on the fringes even as she is controlled, manipulated, and cowed by her mother.
*The side character of César; particularly his wisdom and ability to cut through the haze of other peoples bullshit to reveal transparency and truth.
*The machinations of the MMC getting the FMC to El Salvador so he can finally be with his mate. That he fights the entirety of his adult existence to build a place for her there.
*I don’t care for the MMC for much of the book as he comes off as yet one more person attempting to control the FMC. However we are given the why of it all and the author does successfully redeem his behavior.
*The way the FMC savagely blossoms into her external strength becoming a vicious being of beauty. Absolutely adored that transformation.
What I didn’t like:
*Miscommunication trope - much could have been avoided had the MMC been forthcoming and shared with the FMC
*Pacing in the middle of the book; particularly the romance. The FMC goes from being a woman with a quiet inner strength cowed into submission through her mothers manipulations to believing herself unworthy of an MMC who wasn’t fully honest and up front with her. That she thought herself unworthy of him felt like it came out of nowhere.
*Confusing relationship elements. The FMC says “thinking about all the f*cked up things we’ve done to each other and all the ways we’ve cut each other up.” Except the FMC doesn’t do anything wrong. She makes decisions with the information she has; she doesn’t want to be controlled by yet another person. She wants to escape the expectations people have for her life. The burden of their relationship strife lays solely with the MMC for not communicating who/what they are to each other.
Will I read book two? Absolutely I will.
ireadinbed's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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
4.5
I enjoued this book so much i moved up my rotating KU month a whole month because i couldnt wait to finish it :)
I think the prose is lovely. This reads so naturally and sucks you right in, just like you want from a dark romantasy!
The characters are really well done. Its super easy to fall in love with this cast (and easy to hate the villains which is a nice change of pace for me! Lol). The main characters are flawed people but no less lovable for it and i adored the large supporting cast.
The setting really transported me and i love the authors descriptions. It definitely inspired me to look up the myths that inspired the unique worldbuilding!
The spicy scenes are intense and compliment the dark elements of the book perfectly.
Tread carefully! There are TWs on the authors site :)
Honestly it would be a 5 for me except there were a few sections that i think could have used a bit of trimming (or it could have been two books and been expanded!) Because i found myself getting lost or skipping ahead. Also some of the ADHD related talk was a bit too close to indigo children type theory for me. But not so upsetting i couldnt move past it to keep loving the book!
I definitely want to continue the series and I am excited for the next one coming out soon.
I think the prose is lovely. This reads so naturally and sucks you right in, just like you want from a dark romantasy!
The characters are really well done. Its super easy to fall in love with this cast (and easy to hate the villains which is a nice change of pace for me! Lol). The main characters are flawed people but no less lovable for it and i adored the large supporting cast.
The setting really transported me and i love the authors descriptions. It definitely inspired me to look up the myths that inspired the unique worldbuilding!
The spicy scenes are intense and compliment the dark elements of the book perfectly.
Tread carefully! There are TWs on the authors site :)
Honestly it would be a 5 for me except there were a few sections that i think could have used a bit of trimming (or it could have been two books and been expanded!) Because i found myself getting lost or skipping ahead. Also some of the ADHD related talk was a bit too close to indigo children type theory for me. But not so upsetting i couldnt move past it to keep loving the book!
I definitely want to continue the series and I am excited for the next one coming out soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Cannibalism, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Stalking
Minor: Fatphobia
kassiebetweenpages's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? No
5.0
this debut book will dig its claws into you and take up residence in your brain forever! I finished it a week ago and am still thinking about it.
It is dark with delicious spicy scenes and an emotional journey full of self-awakening and healing from our fmc. the Latine & indigenous culture interlaced into this story was absolute perfection. Sal and Xochi ughhhh they have my entire fucking heart!
I already want to re-read this book because I just cannot get enough of this world and the sense of community within it.
It is dark with delicious spicy scenes and an emotional journey full of self-awakening and healing from our fmc. the Latine & indigenous culture interlaced into this story was absolute perfection. Sal and Xochi ughhhh they have my entire fucking heart!
I already want to re-read this book because I just cannot get enough of this world and the sense of community within it.
thirdeyeangel23's review
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
5.0
This story is so incredibly rich and captivating. Angie is at a tipping point in her life when she’s forced to take a business trip to El Salvador. There she meets Sal, a broody and doting stranger that seems too good to be true. But Sal isn’t a stranger and their connection runs deeper than Angie could imagine. This is my first experience with the story of the cadejo and I am hooked. This story is tense, primal, and seductive. A must read if you love dark and/or shifter romances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, and Gaslighting
exclusivepalmbeachliving's review against another edition
5.0
I just finished this book and I need time to process my feelings
noellelovesbooks's review
5.0
Content Warnings: Sexual content, sexual violence, racism, blood play, dubcon, blood, gore, body horror, murder, death, fatphobia, child abuse, forced isolation, loss of body autonomy, slavery, ableism, emotional abuse, physical abuse, cannibalism, gaslighting, kidnapping, child murder, rape, self harm, drugs, man taking contraceptive control over a woman [destroying her birth control...but don't worry he learns the error of his ways real quick lol] and PTSD.
Mention of: deportation, genocide, and colonialism.
"...be a good girl, be a bad girl. I'll enjoy it either way. Though good girls get treats, and bad girls give me treats. You pick, beloved."
~Sal
Gah damn. This book...is just incredible. The amazing history and lore along with the passion of the two MCs...and the way our leading lady learns to love herself and finds her strength *chefs kiss*
This book does cover really heavy and dark subjects along with a lot of blood and violence so don't go into this without checking content warnings.
Don't read this if you "can't relate" to brown women🙄 ...this book is filled with beautiful and rich history, lore, and tradition...the story of a woman finding her strength, her truth, and love she didn't know she could have for herself, her culture, and for others. A woman who's always felt out of place...finally finds the place she truly belongs.
A freaking incredible book and I cannot wait to read the books that continue this series!
Mention of: deportation, genocide, and colonialism.
"...be a good girl, be a bad girl. I'll enjoy it either way. Though good girls get treats, and bad girls give me treats. You pick, beloved."
~Sal
Gah damn. This book...is just incredible. The amazing history and lore along with the passion of the two MCs...and the way our leading lady learns to love herself and finds her strength *chefs kiss*
This book does cover really heavy and dark subjects along with a lot of blood and violence so don't go into this without checking content warnings.
Don't read this if you "can't relate" to brown women🙄 ...this book is filled with beautiful and rich history, lore, and tradition...the story of a woman finding her strength, her truth, and love she didn't know she could have for herself, her culture, and for others. A woman who's always felt out of place...finally finds the place she truly belongs.
A freaking incredible book and I cannot wait to read the books that continue this series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Genocide, Colonisation, and Deportation
jaynellewags's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.5
- This book was a lot- it is a dark romance, fantasy, with monsters, and some horror elements.
- The spice was top-tier- it was *chef's kiss*
- If you have triggers, check them. I gagged a few times due to the gore.
- I hate Annette with every fiber of my being, the amount of things that woman did to her kids is mind-boggling. She is the worst kind of person.
- Sal and Xochitl's relationship is complex. She has very little self-confidence at the beginning of the book- at the end, she is an entirely different person.
- I loved the concept of this book and it makes me want to learn more about the Poton Lenca and other tribe's traditions/stories from Mesoamerica.
- Thank you for doing a glossary and pronunciation guide- I prefer knowing how to say what I am reading in the books.
- The bond between the characters in the book is so wonderful. I love the found family trope and this book does it so well.