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A review by mallorypen
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
3.75
I liked this book. The plot overall and the conclusion were enjoyable and unique, and I found Yadriel, Julian and Maritsa to be compelling and multifaceted characters.
The concept of the brujex was fascinating, and the lore was cohesive. Yadirel’s struggle to be seen as a brujo as well as a man was compelling, and it was interesting to think about the additional complications a trans person would face in a language so set in gendered terminology. It was a triumph at the end that his identity was confirmed so thoroughly by his community.
The relationship between Yadriel and Julian was very sweet. Julian’s panic and desire to keep even Yadirel’s family back when he came back to life was so fluffy and wonderful. The “mi querido” when Yadirel’s father asked if Julian was just a friend was amazing.
I also appreciated that there wasn’t a translation for all of the Spanish. Context clues and some of my comprehension were enough to get the gist, but it felt better than having a word-for-word translation from an authenticity standpoint.
My biggest drawback was the pacing. The first half of the book felt like it took forever to get through the plot. It was good to get a sense of the lore of the brujx, to understand how Yadirel’s trans identity was in conflict with their community’s traditions, and how Julian’s personality and home life impacted his character … but it took a LONG time to get to a point where I felt like the pacing was appropriate for the kind of story being told.
The concept of the brujex was fascinating, and the lore was cohesive. Yadirel’s struggle to be seen as a brujo as well as a man was compelling, and it was interesting to think about the additional complications a trans person would face in a language so set in gendered terminology. It was a triumph at the end that his identity was confirmed so thoroughly by his community.
The relationship between Yadriel and Julian was very sweet. Julian’s panic and desire to keep even Yadirel’s family back when he came back to life was so fluffy and wonderful. The “mi querido” when Yadirel’s father asked if Julian was just a friend was amazing.
I also appreciated that there wasn’t a translation for all of the Spanish. Context clues and some of my comprehension were enough to get the gist, but it felt better than having a word-for-word translation from an authenticity standpoint.
My biggest drawback was the pacing. The first half of the book felt like it took forever to get through the plot. It was good to get a sense of the lore of the brujx, to understand how Yadirel’s trans identity was in conflict with their community’s traditions, and how Julian’s personality and home life impacted his character … but it took a LONG time to get to a point where I felt like the pacing was appropriate for the kind of story being told.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Murder
Minor: Animal death