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queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
3.75
3.75 ⭐ CW: Menstruation, misogyny, HP references, ICE/deportation, police brutality
Lobizona by Romina Garber is book one in the Wolves of No World duology. I really enjoyed this book, but I docked a partial star, because this book was chock full of HP references, and it was distracting. I will be so happy when we can get to a place where authors realize they can reference other magical books instead of the one written by a Transphobe.
We follow Manu, an undocumented girl living in Miami, FL, where she is cooped up in a small apartment and can't risk being seen. According to her mother, being noticeable = deportation, and Manu's yellow star shaped eyes definitely make her noticeable. When her mom is arrested by ICE, Manu finds herself in a world where everyone has eyes like hers. A secret world where boys are werewolves and girls are Brujas, but the problem is, Manu finds herself to be an outsider here too.
I love coming back to Romina's writing, her world building is always spectacular! She really sucks you in with her descriptions and imagination. Romina put a lot of her Argentine culture in here, and it seems like it's a love letter to undocumented kids everywhere who straddle an impossible line. We get messages about the horrors or deportation and the absurdity of claiming a human is illegal.
A big theme in this book is the idea that binary thinking is limited and oppressive. In the world Manu ends up in, girls are only allowed to do certain things and boys are only allowed to do certain things, so when Manu's very existence challenges those traditional binary notions, she doesn't get the support she wants. I'm so glad the gender essentialism in this book is challenged, because there is a lot of it. Manu's story is about living in the in between, about not fitting in, and about growing up and figuring things out without your parents to guide you.
I'm excited to start Cazadora, and hopefully there will be fewer (ideally none) HP references.
Lobizona by Romina Garber is book one in the Wolves of No World duology. I really enjoyed this book, but I docked a partial star, because this book was chock full of HP references, and it was distracting. I will be so happy when we can get to a place where authors realize they can reference other magical books instead of the one written by a Transphobe.
We follow Manu, an undocumented girl living in Miami, FL, where she is cooped up in a small apartment and can't risk being seen. According to her mother, being noticeable = deportation, and Manu's yellow star shaped eyes definitely make her noticeable. When her mom is arrested by ICE, Manu finds herself in a world where everyone has eyes like hers. A secret world where boys are werewolves and girls are Brujas, but the problem is, Manu finds herself to be an outsider here too.
I love coming back to Romina's writing, her world building is always spectacular! She really sucks you in with her descriptions and imagination. Romina put a lot of her Argentine culture in here, and it seems like it's a love letter to undocumented kids everywhere who straddle an impossible line. We get messages about the horrors or deportation and the absurdity of claiming a human is illegal.
A big theme in this book is the idea that binary thinking is limited and oppressive. In the world Manu ends up in, girls are only allowed to do certain things and boys are only allowed to do certain things, so when Manu's very existence challenges those traditional binary notions, she doesn't get the support she wants. I'm so glad the gender essentialism in this book is challenged, because there is a lot of it. Manu's story is about living in the in between, about not fitting in, and about growing up and figuring things out without your parents to guide you.
I'm excited to start Cazadora, and hopefully there will be fewer (ideally none) HP references.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality
Moderate: Misogyny
ava_cowbell's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
This book was amazing and I could not put it down. I’m so lucky that I happened to spot it on the shelf. The writing is beautiful, the character developement is amazing, and there’s just enough romance to satisfy. The representation in the book is amazing and so is the tackling of issues. My first five star read of the year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Police brutality
melinabarbuto's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Xenophobia, and Stalking
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Police brutality, Homophobia, and Drug use
rachelgronbach's review
adventurous
dark
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality, Racism, and Xenophobia
gagne's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Police brutality
e_flah's review
Since learning of J.K. Rowling's transphobic views in 2019, the Harry Potter series has become an open wound for me. For reasons I truly do not understand, there have been 3-4 instances -- some very detailed -- of framing world-building through Harry Potter so far in Lobizona. These descriptions actually take away from how wonderfully immersive and original the world of Lobizona is. I wish I could keep reading this as I'm otherwise enjoying the story but these repeated HP references are too much for me right now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Death of parent
gentlethem94's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really enjoyed this book and it’s profoundly YA and bringing up difficult topics like immigration and deportation. I will say, it felt edited to be more marketable to white, non-Latine readers. There’s a lot of hand holding to explain Latine traditions, culture, and experiences, when it would still be incredible without it. Still enjoyed reading it and recommending it to fellow Latine readers!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Police brutality
TW for descriptions of deportation threats and ICE presencemaruu_t's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, and Violence
Moderate: Blood and Police brutality
sealbrecht's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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
4.0
This was such a solid read! While the book relied on a lot of YA cliches, Garber did a great job of putting a little twist on each one, and Lobizona ended up being a completely immersive fantasy story with a lot of heart and a lot to say about important topics like immigration and dismantling systems of oppression. This call to action is voiced through our strong protagonist, Manu, who is so compelling to follow as she navigates finding her place in both the real world and the fantasy world. Also, it has a magic academy, so what's not to love?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Misogyny
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Police brutality
meaghanelizabook's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Xenophobia, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Homophobia, and Kidnapping
Minor: Police brutality, Sexual assault, and Grief