Za. 7 April
For some reason I always liked the word Bruja. Yes that is reason enough for me to buy a book.

***WHO SUCKED ME IN?***
NekuTheBOOKlocke on YouTube in their APRIL 2018 TBR published on 5 April 2018

full review here

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ( )

Originally posted at RoadsideReader

Though I was initially hesitant on what Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova could be out as I discovered that the narrative focus would change from first book in the series, Labyrinth Lost, where we followed bi/pansexual Alex and her story, to that of eldest sister Lula. Though I loved Lula in Labyrinth Lost, I wanted to see Alex’s story continue. That said, Bruja Born completely blew Labyrinth Lost out of the water.

Labyrinth Lost has moments where I would stop and think why are you so foolish Alex, and then I would realize well of course she’s foolish, she’s a young teen! So when Córdova switches to Lula’s point of view, it was such a difference. Córdova is absolutely amazing at creating two completely different people with different and distinct manners of speech, of thought, of feeling. Where she had us feeling uncertain and unsure with Alex in Labyrinth Lost, we have such an unwavering feeling of anger, betrayal, and realization. Above all, we feel Lula’s whole heart that is ever certain. With Lula, I could completely connect. The times this book has made me cry is ridiculous.

Where the first book in the Brooklyn Brujas series takes us away to a magical world, Bruja Born keeps us in New York and keeps things grounded. A simple love story that Córdova crafts so delicately and tenderly you can’t help but feel connected to this world that continues feeling fresh, yet familiar for those of us who are New Yorkers.

Bruja Born by Zoraida Córdova is absolutely, heartbreakingly wonderful in every way. She remains masterful at creating real, likable, and human characters and infusing the latinx way of being into a world of magic and wonder. If there were more authors like Córdova and more books like Bruja Born, I could honestly say we Latinx may feel a bit more at home in the fantasy literary community, seeing a slice of our lives on the written page.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this title. ( )

This second instalment of the Brooklyn Brujas series was SO MUCH BETTER than the first! Where the first book felt too fast and missed opportunities, BRUJA BORN was WONDERFUL! I felt so much closer to this character, Lula, then I did to Alex. Where Alex was quick-tempered, Lula was thoughtful. She felt how things would affect not just herself, but her family, which was one of the things that I didn't like about Alex, but all three of the sisters seem to have grown in this book.

Lula, the oldest of the Mortiz sisters, has just been broken up with before boarding the bus to the district championship soccer game with her friends and teammates. On the way to the game, there is a terrible accident and everyone is killed except for Lula. In the hospital, she and her sisters stop death from coming for Macks, Lula's (ex) boyfriend and create a much bigger problem than 28 dead teenagers-they end up keeping them all from fully dying and creating an army of "casimuertos" or non-dead people who live off of human hearts and can't pass on. Lula has to figure out how to help these casimiertos move on from this world BEFORE they destroy all of New York, and free Lady de la Muerte-Lady Death-who is trapped between worlds.

The whole "having to find the Spear of Death" piece of the story honestly felt a bit unnecessary, but I see how it made the family and community have to come together to help Lula. The scenes leading up to finding the spear and returning it to La Muerte felt rushed, but great and anticipatory nonetheless.

Overall, the book had a very familiar feel as the movie Practical Magic, but with more culture and history embedded which I appreciated. Strong female lead characters, a great family theme, and plenty of magic gave this book five stars. My favorite thing about this book that the first didn't have was how there are other magical groups at play in New York that are both for regulatory purposes but also that help keep the non-magical people safe as well as some hinting as to where Lula and Alex' father was while he was "gone."

Zoraida Cordova outdid herself with this story; my only complaint is having to wait for the next one! ( )

This is the second book in the Brooklyn Brujas series, Lula's story. I didn't like it as much as the first book. What really appealed to me in Labyrinth Lost was the other world Alex and Nova went to and the trials they faced. Lula created zombies and then wouldn't listen to the God of Death to solve the problem. It wasn't as intriguing to me and I would have liked to see more supernatural creatures. But it was nice to see Alex and Rose using their powers and I do love sibling relationships. I'm sad Rishi was gone the entire book so we didn't get to see her and Alex's relationship at all, but Nova came back at least.
Overall, it wasn't as good as book 1, but I will read the third book when that comes out. ( )