shereadytoread's Reviews (806)

 

This is a solid 3.5 read. The issue was that it wad originally published as novellas and then republished as one cohesive story. However, because they somewhat stood alone, the story becomes pretty repetitive for the first third of the book. After that it's more of a solid sci-fi horror with an interesting main character Mitzi with a fleshed out team. Very different from her typical haunted horror but still worth the read!

 

 A book about what happens when SOMETHING happens. The reader is meant to (or try to) align themselves with a middle class white family who rents an airbnb for vacation, and slowly it is revealed how internal biases and general dependence on every day luxuries leave us stranded in times of confusion.

It plays into race and class when the middle class family is unexpectedly faced with the rich black homeowners unexpectedly crashing their vacation. How do we decide who to trust and who is part of our community and safety.

This style of writing knocked it down a little for me. It is overly descriptive in areas of little importance and then big issues seemed to be glossed over. It is written in a relatable way since our brains often work that way, but it can be off-putting just looking at some else's internal monologue for that long when there are other things to focus on.

One issue for a lot of people is the rather abrupt ending, but I think that was actually a shining point. If you are seeking an emergency/apocalyptic/adventure then this is probably not for you. A disaster novel for modern times, is more about figuring out what is coming and how to react than actually experiencing it. 

There was nothing drawing me in. The world-building was nice but felt incomplete and I didn't find anything to connect with in the characters. 

 This book is a cute (adventure?) of an aspiring brujo looking to prove himself to his family with the aid of a ghost with some unfinished business. Yadriel is a trans teenager looking for his place in a family he feels doesn't understand him.

Pros:
- trans MC
- an emphasis on sticking with your values even when there are easier paths
- cultural traditions
- I really appreciate a book that doesn't use english translations for every line of spanish

I didn't have any noticable cons for this book.