I had a surprisingly good time with this!

Its Mexican-inspired mythology in particular made this fantasy setting really excellent. To the point where I was like, dang I do not speak Spanish. But in a good way.

Deadly trials? Love that. Especially when the MC’s friends-to-enemies crush was also in the trials—it had that ‘flirty flirty with your trial competitor who you should hate because whoever loses the trials dies' thing. Very Hunger Games meets The  Serpent and the Wings of Night.

Is there a person in the world who doesn’t eat that plot up? Because I’ve yet to meet them.

Also the trans MC rep in here was so touching. The own voices author factor came through really strongly in this one.

That said, it’s been a while since a YA-toned book got five stars from me. Not because YA is bad—obviously I’m not the target audience. But I think adults who read YA fantasy love the coziness, even the nostalgia, of this kind of fantasy? But I get my cozy plots from other genres (alien romances with fated mates where nothing bad happens, let’s be real) and I’ve been craving fantasy stories that really eff me up instead.

There were still some reveals that actually surprised me though! So if you can go either way with YA fantasy (especially when the characterization and world building is immaculate), then I’d highly recommend! Especially the audiobook.