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caroliiineb's review against another edition
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and Deportation
leesibadom's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
One thing I can’t deny is that this book has good bones, the premise of this book is a story that deserves to be told in any form of media available to us.
But did it feel a bit rushed to me? Absolutely.
Did I enjoy this? It was fun, if only a bit underdeveloped
Will I be reading book 2? Oh absolutely.
But did it feel a bit rushed to me? Absolutely.
Did I enjoy this? It was fun, if only a bit underdeveloped
Will I be reading book 2? Oh absolutely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Deportation, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Misogyny, and Bullying
Minor: Abandonment and Violence
corngod31's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Deportation
karwc's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Blood, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Deportation, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence
carolined314's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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
While featuring a lot of (justified) fear around being undocumented and deported, this book also has a ton of complex fantasy world and some fascinating character development. Great fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Abandonment, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Sexism, Deportation, and Sexual assault
Minor: Violence
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
ninamanon's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Very unique idea. Loved the first part and the magic system. I started losing some interest once Manu arrived in “the secret world”. For me personally, too many characters were introduced at once. I kept confusing them and didn’t get the chance to get to know any of them better. Even at the end of the book, the other characters still felt one dimensional. Also, Tiago annoyed me haha. I’m not sure what was to like about him.
The magic system and the world are beautiful though! Really loved that.
I really felt the loneliness and hopelessness of being considered “illegal”.
The magic system and the world are beautiful though! Really loved that.
I really felt the loneliness and hopelessness of being considered “illegal”.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence, Homophobia, Death of parent, Drug use, and Misogyny
joisaddler's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Violence and Deportation
bebidocrimes'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? It's complicated
4.0
Enchanting and well developed, I loved every page. Manu is such an interesting character, and I love the idea of a space-loving werewolf going to the moon. I would also like to make out with a boy in his secret illegal library. Javier was a red herring, I thought the queer rep would just be him as a closeted side character, but NOPE. I love how many layers of metaphors you can fit in a werewolf. This could have been just an incredible fantasy story that happened to feature a magical school, but it had to go and reference Harry Potter over and over again. Girlie, you're better than that in every way. Big sad my library doesn't have the sequel because I'm trying not to buy more books rn.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing, Body horror, Confinement, Deportation, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence
ericageorge91's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
4.25
I felt so full while reading this book. I immediately loved the writing. Often, Garber does a phenomenal job of showing and not telling with the readers. That’s something I really value in books and I don’t find as often as I would like in YA stories. This is an Argentinian story about a magical world of witches and werewolves. Garber deftly weaves and grounds these supernatural elements with social issues that we see today. I found this story really well-paced. I was never bored.
I also want to take a moment to commend the world-building in this story. I’m not one for setting or the outdoors for that matter. When I envision characters, they are always acting in the barest of backgrounds. That being said, I cannot emphasize enough how breathtaking El Laberinto sounds. I don’t want to spoil too much because I think that you should experience that magical place yourself. I will say that I have not felt that awe-inspired by a magical place in years. It felt so immersive. Garber, I—🧎🏾♀️
I also want to say, that for conflicted and former HP fans, there are a few references in this book. If you are full on anti-HP, I would say try the story anyway. I found echoes of that story in this one that made me feel so nostalgic, but in a story written by someone that I can happily support. Based on the premise of this book and the sex/gender discussions so far, I feel as if this author will not lead you astray. I’m very hopeful, at least!
Rep: Latinx, sapphic officially. There’s not explicit confirmation but I feel as if there’s incoming achillean and/or trans rep coming. I know it’s not much but I feel like the main character’s storyline has good discussion about existing outside of the sex/gender binary that might resonate with trans readers
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deportation, Homophobia, Police brutality, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Violence, Bullying, and Sexual content