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freadomlibrary's review
4.0
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
Critically
Plot – 4 out of 5 stars
The plot of this book is totally action packed and exciting, though it could get a bit confusing. The world we travel to, Los Lagos, is such an expansive and well described world though I had issues picturing it sometimes. This story is full of magic, family, self-acceptance and just a little splash of romance. It was really fun and entertaining and I’m looking forward to the next book.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
Cordova’s writing style is simple and easy to read. It’s descriptive and detailed but like I mentioned above, sometimes I had a hard time picturing things, though that could be just me. The narration and point of view is a bit dry because of the main character and I felt like I couldn’t feel from her enough. But I loved that it was fast paced and that it had so much Latinx influence and Spanish dialect in it.
Characters – 3.5 out of 5 stars
There’s a huge cast of characters in this series but I feel like I didn’t get to know them as much as I wanted to. Alex is the narrator and our main character. She’s actually a bit selfish but it comes from a place of fear and worry. She’s reluctant (to say the least) to receive her powers and her family blessing and she does anything to stop it which causes a huge back fire that affects her entire family. However on her journey she becomes determined and powerful. Towards the end she’s remorseful and much more willing to embrace her destiny. Yet, even with all this emotional turmoil and trauma, I just felt like I didn’t get much emotion from her. I didn’t feel her pain or struggle as intimately as I wanted to. There are two side characters that get more attention in this book than the rest and I found both of them to be really different from each other. One is smart, sweet and funny. They have a very gentle personality but also tends to be really encouraging and positive. They also have great sassy comebacks that pretty much made my day. The other is a lot more mysterious and quiet. They put up a front to protect themselves but also come off as rude and uncaring at times which was annoying. Alex’s family is also a huge part of this book and while I loved their dynamic and how each member was a complex individual, I felt like I didn’t get to see Alex’s relationship with them as much because they were absent from her presence throughout most of the book. I hope that’s rectified in the next one.
Emotionally
The plot is intense. We follow Alex, a reluctant bruja (or witch but don’t call them that) who on her Deathday (kind of a like a witchy Quinceañera) manages to make her entire family disappear into a place called Los Lagos by accident and has to get them back. First of all, my favorite part about this book is how the world building is embedded with so much Latinx culture. Practically over-saturated with it and it’s magical and beautiful and just SO GOOD. And the best part about it is that it’s not just one country, it’s several. The author explains a bit of the inspiration for her ideas at the end of the book and she explains where she took from real life Latinx cultures to create her world and it’s so awesome. She has influences from Cuba, Mexico, her native country of Ecuador and more, so while I’m from none of those places, it still feels so inherently Latinx that I can’t help but feel identified even with the crazy fantasy and paranormal setting. Sometimes I had a hard time grasping the world of Los Lagos. Cordova described it very well, incredibly vividly in fact, but for some reason I still struggled with where things where and how things looked and the distance that the characters were traveling. Some of the different paranormal creatures were also a bit hard to imagine but I have to say that things got better as I got used to the setting. The plot itself was very fast paced and full of twists and turns. The trio on this particular journey encounter different paranormal creatures and residents of Los Lagos which made for entertaining brief encounters which helped them understand the bigger villain at play. I was really surprised by the ending because I assumed this particular conflict was going to prevail through the rest of the series but now it makes me even more interested and intrigued to see how the author is going to continue to develop the series.
I had trouble connecting with Alex. I don’t know if it was the writing style (which I doubt because I’ve connected with Cordova’s characters extremely well before) or Alex’s personality, but she felt almost dry and unemotional. She was going through a lot of tough situations and hardship but I just didn’t feel any emotional attachment or empathy toward her. She didn’t make me feel for her or feel her emotions like I like main characters to do when I read, I almost want to feel like what’s happening is happening to me, but that was impossible with her. However, I really enjoyed her character development. Throughout her Los Lagos journey, she learns a lot about herself and what she can do. She learns to accept her powers even if they scare her and she learns how to control them to the best of her abilities so they stop scaring her. My favorite part though is her acceptance to her heritage as a bruja. I think a lot of people can relate to that, sometimes feeling like you don’t feel comfortable about where you come from or that you don’t like all the details about your family and how they are. That’s how I manage to connect with her the most though it did take her awhile to get to that realization. You might have read in a review or heard from someone promoting this book that the main character is bisexual and the thing I love about that is the way that bisexuality is shown. For some reason, I find that sexual orientation to be the hardest to portray with respect and accuracy. I’ve seen people complain about various books with bisexual characters that they misrepresented and while I wouldn’t know, I feel like this one does a great job. The word is never written throughout the whole book as far as I remember, but Alex is without a shadow of a doubt bisexual. She feels attracted to and interested in both sexes. She can see a relationship developing with both sexes and it’s just so natural for her. She finds someone attractive and she thinks so and it never matters what gender they are because they’re both ones that she feels an interest toward. As I am not bisexual, I wouldn’t know if this is a good thing or not but it was a really honest approach in my opinion and I really liked it.
As for the side characters, I really loved Rishi. She’s amazing. She’s funny and charming and has this overall positive attitude that’s just really appreciated I think in these kinds of high fantasy, action packed, high stakes stories. I loved her friendship with Alex and how she took everything with such stride. It’s quite refreshing to know a character who has no idea about supernatural things existing and yet being totally cool with the idea once encountered with it. It’s new and unique and it definitely made me love her more. Nova on the other hand has always made me feel a bit wary. He’s mysterious and secretive and you don’t really understand his motives. He was kind of the typical bad boy who you want to see has a good side but he does everything to make sure you don’t really believe it completely. It was frustrating, specially when he made things worse for everyone but there’s hope for him yet I think. Alex also has a lot of family members as well as her immediate family and they all have an important role in this book. I loved seeing her relationship with them and how they all differ depending on who it is. However, I felt like I didn’t get to see enough of it. I knew it was coming since the synopsis says the family disappears but I didn’t realize I’d feel so attached to them so quickly so it was sad when I didn’t see more of them until the end.
Overall, I really liked this book. I loved the plot which was fast paced, action packed and entertaining. The world building of the mythical land Los Lagos took me a while to get used to but it was rich and expansive and well described. I had a few problems connecting with the main character but I loved the journey she went on in this book. I loved how much Latinx culture was infused into this book and the side characters were all unique and interesting. I can’t wait to see what the next book brings.
Critically
Plot – 4 out of 5 stars
The plot of this book is totally action packed and exciting, though it could get a bit confusing. The world we travel to, Los Lagos, is such an expansive and well described world though I had issues picturing it sometimes. This story is full of magic, family, self-acceptance and just a little splash of romance. It was really fun and entertaining and I’m looking forward to the next book.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
Cordova’s writing style is simple and easy to read. It’s descriptive and detailed but like I mentioned above, sometimes I had a hard time picturing things, though that could be just me. The narration and point of view is a bit dry because of the main character and I felt like I couldn’t feel from her enough. But I loved that it was fast paced and that it had so much Latinx influence and Spanish dialect in it.
Characters – 3.5 out of 5 stars
There’s a huge cast of characters in this series but I feel like I didn’t get to know them as much as I wanted to. Alex is the narrator and our main character. She’s actually a bit selfish but it comes from a place of fear and worry. She’s reluctant (to say the least) to receive her powers and her family blessing and she does anything to stop it which causes a huge back fire that affects her entire family. However on her journey she becomes determined and powerful. Towards the end she’s remorseful and much more willing to embrace her destiny. Yet, even with all this emotional turmoil and trauma, I just felt like I didn’t get much emotion from her. I didn’t feel her pain or struggle as intimately as I wanted to. There are two side characters that get more attention in this book than the rest and I found both of them to be really different from each other. One is smart, sweet and funny. They have a very gentle personality but also tends to be really encouraging and positive. They also have great sassy comebacks that pretty much made my day. The other is a lot more mysterious and quiet. They put up a front to protect themselves but also come off as rude and uncaring at times which was annoying. Alex’s family is also a huge part of this book and while I loved their dynamic and how each member was a complex individual, I felt like I didn’t get to see Alex’s relationship with them as much because they were absent from her presence throughout most of the book. I hope that’s rectified in the next one.
Emotionally
Spoiler
I knew this book was going to be good, since I’m a fan of this author, but I had a hard time getting into it in the beginning.The plot is intense. We follow Alex, a reluctant bruja (or witch but don’t call them that) who on her Deathday (kind of a like a witchy Quinceañera) manages to make her entire family disappear into a place called Los Lagos by accident and has to get them back. First of all, my favorite part about this book is how the world building is embedded with so much Latinx culture. Practically over-saturated with it and it’s magical and beautiful and just SO GOOD. And the best part about it is that it’s not just one country, it’s several. The author explains a bit of the inspiration for her ideas at the end of the book and she explains where she took from real life Latinx cultures to create her world and it’s so awesome. She has influences from Cuba, Mexico, her native country of Ecuador and more, so while I’m from none of those places, it still feels so inherently Latinx that I can’t help but feel identified even with the crazy fantasy and paranormal setting. Sometimes I had a hard time grasping the world of Los Lagos. Cordova described it very well, incredibly vividly in fact, but for some reason I still struggled with where things where and how things looked and the distance that the characters were traveling. Some of the different paranormal creatures were also a bit hard to imagine but I have to say that things got better as I got used to the setting. The plot itself was very fast paced and full of twists and turns. The trio on this particular journey encounter different paranormal creatures and residents of Los Lagos which made for entertaining brief encounters which helped them understand the bigger villain at play. I was really surprised by the ending because I assumed this particular conflict was going to prevail through the rest of the series but now it makes me even more interested and intrigued to see how the author is going to continue to develop the series.
I had trouble connecting with Alex. I don’t know if it was the writing style (which I doubt because I’ve connected with Cordova’s characters extremely well before) or Alex’s personality, but she felt almost dry and unemotional. She was going through a lot of tough situations and hardship but I just didn’t feel any emotional attachment or empathy toward her. She didn’t make me feel for her or feel her emotions like I like main characters to do when I read, I almost want to feel like what’s happening is happening to me, but that was impossible with her. However, I really enjoyed her character development. Throughout her Los Lagos journey, she learns a lot about herself and what she can do. She learns to accept her powers even if they scare her and she learns how to control them to the best of her abilities so they stop scaring her. My favorite part though is her acceptance to her heritage as a bruja. I think a lot of people can relate to that, sometimes feeling like you don’t feel comfortable about where you come from or that you don’t like all the details about your family and how they are. That’s how I manage to connect with her the most though it did take her awhile to get to that realization. You might have read in a review or heard from someone promoting this book that the main character is bisexual and the thing I love about that is the way that bisexuality is shown. For some reason, I find that sexual orientation to be the hardest to portray with respect and accuracy. I’ve seen people complain about various books with bisexual characters that they misrepresented and while I wouldn’t know, I feel like this one does a great job. The word is never written throughout the whole book as far as I remember, but Alex is without a shadow of a doubt bisexual. She feels attracted to and interested in both sexes. She can see a relationship developing with both sexes and it’s just so natural for her. She finds someone attractive and she thinks so and it never matters what gender they are because they’re both ones that she feels an interest toward. As I am not bisexual, I wouldn’t know if this is a good thing or not but it was a really honest approach in my opinion and I really liked it.
As for the side characters, I really loved Rishi. She’s amazing. She’s funny and charming and has this overall positive attitude that’s just really appreciated I think in these kinds of high fantasy, action packed, high stakes stories. I loved her friendship with Alex and how she took everything with such stride. It’s quite refreshing to know a character who has no idea about supernatural things existing and yet being totally cool with the idea once encountered with it. It’s new and unique and it definitely made me love her more. Nova on the other hand has always made me feel a bit wary. He’s mysterious and secretive and you don’t really understand his motives. He was kind of the typical bad boy who you want to see has a good side but he does everything to make sure you don’t really believe it completely. It was frustrating, specially when he made things worse for everyone but there’s hope for him yet I think. Alex also has a lot of family members as well as her immediate family and they all have an important role in this book. I loved seeing her relationship with them and how they all differ depending on who it is. However, I felt like I didn’t get to see enough of it. I knew it was coming since the synopsis says the family disappears but I didn’t realize I’d feel so attached to them so quickly so it was sad when I didn’t see more of them until the end.
Overall, I really liked this book. I loved the plot which was fast paced, action packed and entertaining. The world building of the mythical land Los Lagos took me a while to get used to but it was rich and expansive and well described. I had a few problems connecting with the main character but I loved the journey she went on in this book. I loved how much Latinx culture was infused into this book and the side characters were all unique and interesting. I can’t wait to see what the next book brings.
mea9an's review
3.0
Labyrinth Lost was... okay. It didn't really have much going for it other than characters of color. There were parts that I did like, but what prevented me from liking it was the characters. I wasn't really a fan of the family in this book, just because they didn't seem to feel like they could be real people.
Obviously, witches aren't real in our world, but these characters felt like a drawing on a piece of paper, rather than a person.
Obviously, witches aren't real in our world, but these characters felt like a drawing on a piece of paper, rather than a person.
wishfulfillment's review
2.0
Why You Might Bump This Down On Your TBR: The fantasy world they enter wasn't developed well and as soon as they entered it, the writing was hard to get through. I DNFed it.
Why You Might Bump This Up On Your TBR: The protagonist is bisexual and Latinx. I loved the incorporation of cultural ideas into the creation of the urban fantasy setting. I loved everything about the family dynamics.
Why You Might Bump This Up On Your TBR: The protagonist is bisexual and Latinx. I loved the incorporation of cultural ideas into the creation of the urban fantasy setting. I loved everything about the family dynamics.
rainbowbookworm's review
3.0
I had zero expectations for this book and found myself entertained. I love that there is a lesbian romance storyline, but I fear for their future in book 2. There have been so many books and movies where a character dumps the girl to be with the guy that I am fearful this will happen in book two. That dread is what makes it a 3-star read instead of a 4.
maraec5c4's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
2.5
marieintheraw's review
3.0
I'm glad to see bisexual love triangle for once, but in terms of paranormal this seemed less unique; however, I did find it enjoyable.
beatricezs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-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
3.25
yeontan's review
4.0
Labyrinth Lost is the story of Alex, an ecantrix, the most powerful bruja (witch) in a generation. Alex hates her magic. It is a dark reminder of the death and destruction she leaves in her wake and of the day her family was torn apart. On her death day ceremony Alex makes the ill-fated decision to free herself of her magic for good – and casts a canto (spell) to rid herself of her dark powers for good. When the canto backfires and Alex’s entire family disappears in a single moment she’s left alone and terrified. Alex finds herself being hunted by a monster and with a brujo she’s not sure she can trust. With no choice but to trust, Alex follows Nova into the mysterious land of Los Lagos in search of her family. All the while, the devourer, a powerful and evil bruja is hunting Alex in order to steal her power.
Labyrinth Lost was my second read of 2017 and is up for being one of my favorites. The opening chapter has an immediate hook and draws you into the magical world of the Brooklyn Brujas. The language Cordova uses is engaging and filled with a haunting eeriness (I constantly felt like I needed to look over my shoulder). Alex and her sisters spoke with such teen authenticity it reminded me of the way I am with my own two sisters.
Alex’s character arc was engaging and I believe teenagers struggling with loving their heritage will relate. She grows form a girl who resents who she is and wants to turn her back on it, into a proud young bruja. I was rooting for her the entire way and felt as though my family member had come to accept herself when she finally did.
The world-building in this story is intricate and detailed. A stand out scene took place in Los Lagos where Alex and her friends (Nova and Rishi) find themselves captivated by magical beings who trap them like sirens. The scene was filled with a sense of urgency carefully woven in with calm. I felt as though I were experiencing the same muddled emotions as Alex and her friends.
There is a love triangle in this story but it is not what you think. I do not want to spoil anything all I will say is Alex is bisexual and this is clearly represented. Alex’s chemistry with both of her love interests was electric, I knew who they were before she did. I do think the story would have benefited more with explaining why Alex felt the way she did about Nova a part from thinking he was pretty. While their chemistry was palpable the relationship did not have much depth.
In the story Alex is being hunted by the devourer, an evil presence in Los Lagos who is hungry for her power. The devourer proved to be a truly terrifying villain, cloaked in mystery. I was a little let down by her arrival and felt it could have used more urgency and danger. However, her motives were strong and she was a fun villain overall.
Over all, it was an engaging read. While the story did slow down at points it was still extremely enjoyable. If you were a fan of the TV shows Charmed and The Secret Circle, you love the same sisterhood and eeriness Labyrinth Lost provides.
Review on Blog
Labyrinth Lost was my second read of 2017 and is up for being one of my favorites. The opening chapter has an immediate hook and draws you into the magical world of the Brooklyn Brujas. The language Cordova uses is engaging and filled with a haunting eeriness (I constantly felt like I needed to look over my shoulder). Alex and her sisters spoke with such teen authenticity it reminded me of the way I am with my own two sisters.
Alex’s character arc was engaging and I believe teenagers struggling with loving their heritage will relate. She grows form a girl who resents who she is and wants to turn her back on it, into a proud young bruja. I was rooting for her the entire way and felt as though my family member had come to accept herself when she finally did.
The world-building in this story is intricate and detailed. A stand out scene took place in Los Lagos where Alex and her friends (Nova and Rishi) find themselves captivated by magical beings who trap them like sirens. The scene was filled with a sense of urgency carefully woven in with calm. I felt as though I were experiencing the same muddled emotions as Alex and her friends.
There is a love triangle in this story but it is not what you think. I do not want to spoil anything all I will say is Alex is bisexual and this is clearly represented. Alex’s chemistry with both of her love interests was electric, I knew who they were before she did. I do think the story would have benefited more with explaining why Alex felt the way she did about Nova a part from thinking he was pretty. While their chemistry was palpable the relationship did not have much depth.
In the story Alex is being hunted by the devourer, an evil presence in Los Lagos who is hungry for her power. The devourer proved to be a truly terrifying villain, cloaked in mystery. I was a little let down by her arrival and felt it could have used more urgency and danger. However, her motives were strong and she was a fun villain overall.
Over all, it was an engaging read. While the story did slow down at points it was still extremely enjoyable. If you were a fan of the TV shows Charmed and The Secret Circle, you love the same sisterhood and eeriness Labyrinth Lost provides.
Review on Blog
mrqreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5