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A review by someonetookit
Wayward Witch by Zoraida Córdova
4.0
So here goes nothing. I am a massive fan of this series and every other damn book Zoraida Cordova has magicked into this world of disillusion and dread. But Wayward Witch seemed to not hit that important note that rounds out a series - it felt more like a second novel slump than the culmination of many years of waiting. This is not to say I didn't like it, I did, I just didn't like it as much as the last two.
First off Rose has always been the sibling that has seemed the least interesting to me. Alex is opinionated and firy; Lula is loyal to a fault; Rose just kind of exists and feels a little like an afterthought. She is a great person and has an amazing ability with being a siphon, but I feel like she was more worried about the fact that she wasn't in fact a healer than the fact that she can literally take anyone's power and use it as her own.
Now, the writing style still has the same flourish that Cordova always includes is her fantasy novels. They are upbeat and full of action but with a lead character who feels like they want to run away the whole time, that impact gets lost. Yes, there is action but it seems to take a backseat to Rose's lack of enthusiasm that SHE IS STUCK IN THE LAND OF THE FAE WITH IMMORTAL CREATURES.
I really loved the idea of Eterno being stuck in the throne for *reasons*. It gave the novel that villain that I always love to hate but also humanised the fair folk in a way by proving their actions could be emotionally charged. I also really loved Iris in all her snark and pomp despite being the 'lesser' sibling.
Overall, Wayward Witch is definitely a novel I would purchase because it finishes out the collection of stories but I'm not sure it would have drawn me in had it been the first Brooklyn Bruja novel. Me having read the first 2 in the leadup to this one may have also set the bar extremely high because, lets be honest, I thrust it at all my customers whenever it comes into stock.
First off Rose has always been the sibling that has seemed the least interesting to me. Alex is opinionated and firy; Lula is loyal to a fault; Rose just kind of exists and feels a little like an afterthought. She is a great person and has an amazing ability with being a siphon, but I feel like she was more worried about the fact that she wasn't in fact a healer than the fact that she can literally take anyone's power and use it as her own.
Now, the writing style still has the same flourish that Cordova always includes is her fantasy novels. They are upbeat and full of action but with a lead character who feels like they want to run away the whole time, that impact gets lost. Yes, there is action but it seems to take a backseat to Rose's lack of enthusiasm that SHE IS STUCK IN THE LAND OF THE FAE WITH IMMORTAL CREATURES.
I really loved the idea of Eterno being stuck in the throne for *reasons*. It gave the novel that villain that I always love to hate but also humanised the fair folk in a way by proving their actions could be emotionally charged. I also really loved Iris in all her snark and pomp despite being the 'lesser' sibling.
Overall, Wayward Witch is definitely a novel I would purchase because it finishes out the collection of stories but I'm not sure it would have drawn me in had it been the first Brooklyn Bruja novel. Me having read the first 2 in the leadup to this one may have also set the bar extremely high because, lets be honest, I thrust it at all my customers whenever it comes into stock.