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kshertz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It was a fascinating fantasy book about loving yourself despite the systems around you trying to destroy you. But yet, quoting Harry Potter, whose author would rather you not be your authentic self. So I loved this book so much and became very attached to the characters. Then the Harry reference would take me out of it. But overall, totally an amazing YA book that I recommend reading. There’s so much there about the systems and fighting back while coming of age.
Content Warnings
Minor: Abandonment, Death, Deportation, Lesbophobia, Police brutality, Bullying, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
cozylifewithabby's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I really enjoyed this. I have never read anything like it. Check it out if you like YA Fantasy and are interested in Argentinian mythology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Homophobia, Body horror, Death, and Forced institutionalization
plumpaperbacks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? No
5.0
[second read, July 2022]
I mostly reread this on a whim because I missed Manu and Tiago, but I’m so glad I did!! I didn’t realize just how much I missed them. They’re absolutely adorable and must be protected at all costs, especially Tiago. Literal cinnamon roll. 🥹🥹❤️❤️
I’ve covered all of the bases in my OG review, but I want to make one thing absolutely clear: Romina Garber is BRILLIANT. Her world-building? INCREDIBLE. Her foreshadowing? LITERAL GENIUS.
“‘Now go forth and shatter every convention.’”
“‘Why be the son of a system when you can mother a movement?’”
THE POWER???
“‘I want to be with you, only you, and I don’t care who knows it.’
‘But they’re going to talk—‘
‘Let them. Yours is the only voice that matters.’”
MY HEART???
And then there was this scene—
Tiago: I’m coming with you.
Manu: You have the life so many people want! Think about what you’d lose!
Tiago: [looking at her] I am.
And don’t even get me STARTED on him calling her “solazos” because I!! Cannot!! Handle it!!!! *shrieking in the distance*
I’ve covered all of the bases in my OG review, but I want to make one thing absolutely clear: Romina Garber is BRILLIANT. Her world-building? INCREDIBLE. Her foreshadowing? LITERAL GENIUS.
“‘Now go forth and shatter every convention.’”
“‘Why be the son of a system when you can mother a movement?’”
THE POWER???
“‘I want to be with you, only you, and I don’t care who knows it.’
‘But they’re going to talk—‘
‘Let them. Yours is the only voice that matters.’”
MY HEART???
And then there was this scene—
Tiago: I’m coming with you.
Manu: You have the life so many people want! Think about what you’d lose!
Tiago: [looking at her] I am.
And don’t even get me STARTED on him calling her “solazos” because I!! Cannot!! Handle it!!!! *shrieking in the distance*
[first read, August 2020]
I didn’t plan to stay up so late last night or marathon the entire second half of this book, but both ended up happening. No regrets. Lobizona is phenomenal, and one of the most unique books I’ve read in some time.
To be honest, I didn’t originally plan to pick this up, and only added it to my TBR after seeing so many positive reviews from people with early copies. I’m extremely glad I gave it a chance, because I loved it. At this moment, I want two things: the sequel, and more YA werewolf books to read since I can’t have the sequel yet.
I love that this book has werewolves front and center. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that done before in a YA novel. Sure, I’ve read books with the creatures in them, but unless I’m forgetting something, never any about them. Garber uses Argentinian mythology to create a lush, intricate world hidden alongside our own, where lobizones (werewolves) and brujas (witches) exist. Every bit of it was fascinating to me, and the world-building was expertly woven into the story without any info dumps.
This book also features a magic school, and I can honestly say it’s one of the coolest settings I’ve ever read. We’re told there are many like the one we see, where teenaged lobizones and brujas go to harness their abilities. At El Laberinto, located deep in the Everglades, there’s a sentient tree used to travel around the school, doors unlocked with blood, and a magical version of soccer made dangerous by brujas that attempt to turn the tide in their team’s favor and make matches tougher for the opposing team. Everything about is so unique and intriguing.
You know what else is unique? This book actually mentions periods! Manu talks about hers coming every full moon and awful cramps, all of which is actually explanation for something else. But anyway, props to Garber for casually including periods. Other authors, please take notes.
As is usually the case for me, though, my favorite part of Lobizona was the characters. Manu, Saysa, Catalina, and Tiago are all complex characters, with memorable personalities and brilliantly developed dynamics. I admired Manu’s strength and dedication from the beginning, and as a whole, just really liked her. Tiago and Saysa were also quite easy to love, in my opinion, and it didn’t take much for me to love them. Catalina was the one that really surprised me, as she seemed, at first, to be a basic mean girl and ended up with so much unexpected depth. I appreciate Garber taking a different path in that regard, especially since the end result was a friendship I love with my whole heart.
Shoutout to the rest of Cata, Saysa, and Tiago’s friend group, as only one person was awful and everyone else joined them in protecting Manu. All of them together just makes me so happy.
Garber also knows how to write exquisite romances. There are two in this book—one that develops as the story progresses and leads to something completely worth waiting for, and one already established that’s kept secret until the end. I can’t handle how cute and good and generally amazing they are. The tension and yearning between Manu and Tiago is *chefs kiss*. Everything about them is *chefs kiss*.
There was a lot of unexpected intensity and mystery in the plot as well. At first, Manu and her mother are hiding from ICE, and later, Manu is hiding her identity and lack of identification from the academy’s principal and authorities. There are moments where I was truly worried she’d be discovered, and on top of that, an interesting mystery regarding her father’s whereabouts and whether or not he’s even alive. Many secrets and surprises are hidden throughout the book, keeping me intrigued consistently after the novel’s beginning hooked me.
And the last few chapters? Seriously intense. Absolutely wild. With romantic moments, secrets revealed, and more showdowns and daring escapes than I can count, it felt like a roller coaster worthy of an amusement park. I kept intending to stop and go to sleep, to finish the book in the morning, but now it is morning and I slept late because I stayed up late finishing this. I sped through the entire second half of this book in just a couple of hours, four at the most. I don’t regret it for a second.
Lastly, I want to mention the themes present in the novel, and the discussions throughout that are incredibly relevant to our society: immigration, the struggle undocumented immigrants face, and how that affects every part of their lives. This isn’t in my lane to discuss in any depth, but I wanted to acknowledge it. This is the first YA novel I’ve read (that I can recall) that is so unflinchingly honest about the topic. There are also discussions sprinkled in about sexism and gender equality, equally honest and necessary.
Alright, I’ve legitimately been writing this review for hours and I think I’ve said all I can say. Lobizona is a unique, brilliantly crafted and executed story and I love everything about it. I can’t wait for the next book!
”’Now go forth and shatter every convention.’”
—My favorite quote
Representation:
To be honest, I didn’t originally plan to pick this up, and only added it to my TBR after seeing so many positive reviews from people with early copies. I’m extremely glad I gave it a chance, because I loved it. At this moment, I want two things: the sequel, and more YA werewolf books to read since I can’t have the sequel yet.
I love that this book has werewolves front and center. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that done before in a YA novel. Sure, I’ve read books with the creatures in them, but unless I’m forgetting something, never any about them. Garber uses Argentinian mythology to create a lush, intricate world hidden alongside our own, where lobizones (werewolves) and brujas (witches) exist. Every bit of it was fascinating to me, and the world-building was expertly woven into the story without any info dumps.
This book also features a magic school, and I can honestly say it’s one of the coolest settings I’ve ever read. We’re told there are many like the one we see, where teenaged lobizones and brujas go to harness their abilities. At El Laberinto, located deep in the Everglades, there’s a sentient tree used to travel around the school, doors unlocked with blood, and a magical version of soccer made dangerous by brujas that attempt to turn the tide in their team’s favor and make matches tougher for the opposing team. Everything about is so unique and intriguing.
You know what else is unique? This book actually mentions periods! Manu talks about hers coming every full moon and awful cramps, all of which is actually explanation for something else. But anyway, props to Garber for casually including periods. Other authors, please take notes.
As is usually the case for me, though, my favorite part of Lobizona was the characters. Manu, Saysa, Catalina, and Tiago are all complex characters, with memorable personalities and brilliantly developed dynamics. I admired Manu’s strength and dedication from the beginning, and as a whole, just really liked her. Tiago and Saysa were also quite easy to love, in my opinion, and it didn’t take much for me to love them. Catalina was the one that really surprised me, as she seemed, at first, to be a basic mean girl and ended up with so much unexpected depth. I appreciate Garber taking a different path in that regard, especially since the end result was a friendship I love with my whole heart.
Shoutout to the rest of Cata, Saysa, and Tiago’s friend group, as only one person was awful and everyone else joined them in protecting Manu. All of them together just makes me so happy.
Garber also knows how to write exquisite romances. There are two in this book—one that develops as the story progresses and leads to something completely worth waiting for, and one already established that’s kept secret until the end. I can’t handle how cute and good and generally amazing they are. The tension and yearning between Manu and Tiago is *chefs kiss*. Everything about them is *chefs kiss*.
There was a lot of unexpected intensity and mystery in the plot as well. At first, Manu and her mother are hiding from ICE, and later, Manu is hiding her identity and lack of identification from the academy’s principal and authorities. There are moments where I was truly worried she’d be discovered, and on top of that, an interesting mystery regarding her father’s whereabouts and whether or not he’s even alive. Many secrets and surprises are hidden throughout the book, keeping me intrigued consistently after the novel’s beginning hooked me.
And the last few chapters? Seriously intense. Absolutely wild. With romantic moments, secrets revealed, and more showdowns and daring escapes than I can count, it felt like a roller coaster worthy of an amusement park. I kept intending to stop and go to sleep, to finish the book in the morning, but now it is morning and I slept late because I stayed up late finishing this. I sped through the entire second half of this book in just a couple of hours, four at the most. I don’t regret it for a second.
Lastly, I want to mention the themes present in the novel, and the discussions throughout that are incredibly relevant to our society: immigration, the struggle undocumented immigrants face, and how that affects every part of their lives. This isn’t in my lane to discuss in any depth, but I wanted to acknowledge it. This is the first YA novel I’ve read (that I can recall) that is so unflinchingly honest about the topic. There are also discussions sprinkled in about sexism and gender equality, equally honest and necessary.
Alright, I’ve legitimately been writing this review for hours and I think I’ve said all I can say. Lobizona is a unique, brilliantly crafted and executed story and I love everything about it. I can’t wait for the next book!
”’Now go forth and shatter every convention.’”
—My favorite quote
Representation:
- Argentinian protagonist
- Majority Argentinian or otherwise Latine cast
- Sapphic side couple
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Minor: Blood, Death, and Violence
Also includes semi-frequent mentions/discussions of menstruation and menstrual cramps.
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