A review by amigriffin
Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

4.5

Magic, myth, culture, and history weave together in this beautifully written fiction, bringing to life a story of oppression, resistance and reclamation. Rooted in the history, colonization and enslaving of the Taino people, an indigenous people of the Caribbean, this rich, fantastical narrative explores the power of joy, art, music and language and the importance of their role in resistance, revolution, and holding onto, reclaiming and determining identity. One of the most powerful elements of this book is how the author Rosalia Rodrigo navigates the complexity of having a mixed cultural identity, the conflicting feelings that it often brings and while being connected to the multiple cultural backgrounds, still feeling like an outsider straddling two (or more) worlds but never really belonging to or accepted by any of them wholly. 

It acknowledges brutality while being vulnerable, sensitive, beautiful and hopeful.
Like the Carnaval held within its pages “Beasts of Carnaval” mesmerizes with vivid imagery, appeals to all senses through description, and creates an immersive world you can lose yourself in. 

The characters are fully developed, engaging, and draw you into their lives and stories.  You want to be on this journey with them, want to protect them. Their stories are filled with heartbreak, nightmares, grit, gentleness, forgiveness and hope. And you hope for them. 

The writing is as lush and gorgeous as the magical and mythological world of Isla Bestia.  There are times you can find yourself lost in the writing, mired in the description, but even that works in favor of the idea of losing oneself fully in the delicacies, delights and delusions of Carnaval. 

I received this book as an audio ARC and the audiobook is absolutely phenomenal.  The vibrancy of language, culture and imagery surround the sense as you listen to it being read.  I loved this book so much that I pre-ordered a hardcover copy as well and will be buying another hard copy to gift to friend who I know will also love this book. 


I want to thank NetGalley and Harlequins Audio for the ARC of Beasts of Carnaval by Rosalia Rodrigo. This is my honest opinion and review of this book. 
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