On the Wings of la Noche

by Vanessa L. Torres

Noche is a Lechuza by night, an ethereal jet-black owl who guides the dead to the after. Except now, Noche cannot bring herself to escort her dead girlfriend, whose soul is fading the harder Noche holds on—an aching romance about first and second loves and finding the strength to let go.

Death waits for Estrella (Noche) Villanueva. In her human form, she is a lonely science girl grieving the tragic accidental drowning of her girlfriend, Dante Fuentes. At night, she is a Lechuza who visits her dead girlfriend at the lake, desperate for more time with her. The longer Dante’s soul roams the earth, the more likely it is that she will fade into the unknown, lost forever, but Noche cannot let go . . .

That’s when a new kid comes to town, Jax, another science nerd like Noche. They connect in a way she can’t ignore, seemingly pulled together by an invisible thread. For the first time, Noche begins to imagine a life without Dante. As Noche’s heart begins to beat for two people, her guilt flares. Then, she finds herself at risk of losing both Jax and Dante, and Noche is forced to question her purpose as a lechuza and everything she has ever believed in.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Queer

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 28, 2025

About the author

Vanessa L. Torres is former dancer and an author of books for young readers. She loves to read anything with a vivid setting, but there's a special place in her heart for urban tales. She was born and raised in Minneapolis Minnesota, and now lives in Olympia Washington with her husband and daughter. When she's not writing, she balances her time between anything outdoors, and her other job as a firefighter/paramedic. And when the snow hits, you might catch a glimpse of her ski patrolling on the mountain.

Reviews

[crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was beautifully well written. it dealt with grief of a loved one, creating new relationships, coming to terms, and finding out who exactly you are. noche is just a teenager with the weight of being a lechuza at night, an owl who guides the dead to the afterlife, but noche cannot and is not ready to guide her girlfriend to the afterlife.

i loved this book so much! as a Mexican-American, i felt this book to my bones! the love, the lore, the Spanish, everything about it, I adored. the magical aspect was amazing. it was so so different from any other fantasies I have read before!

thank you so much Random House Children’s and Knopf Books for Young Readers for the ARC!

[Mai H.]

Latine Heritage Month TBR

📖 Thank you to Goodreads and Knopf Books for Young Readers

[Cherish Word · Rating 5 out of 5]

So beautifully written💕

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I think the hardest part of this book for me is that it lacks a real sense of urgency. That's what really lets this one down. Because I think all of the other pieces are there for a really awesome book. The wintery setting, the well-defined characters, and the mingling supernatural and grief plotlines are really great. But it felt like a lot of this book was hinging on an urgency that I just didn't feel as a reader.

There's a lot more to say on that, but I'm not ready to parse it all yet. I'm saving that for the new year when my full review will go up at Gateway Reviews on January 17, 2025. Swing by if you get the chance.


Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I finally took the time to read Torres's sophomore YA novel about Estrella "Noche" Villanueva, a young Lechuza (a mythological shapeshifting owl who helps usher the dead to the beyond) but who is still grieving the death of her girlfriend, Dante Fuentes, who disappeared in the lake. Unable to let go, Noche continues to visit Dante's spirit in her owl form, refusing to help her move on.

Full of longing, friendship, Sapphic love, great disability rep (her best friend has a congenital heart condition and needs a transplant) and the perfect blend of fantasy with Latinx mythology. Great on audio narrated by Frankie Corzo and perfect for fans of authors like Aiden Thomas or books like The hills of Estrella Roja. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Lahna · Rating 5 out of 5]

*an advanced digital copy was received from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

The beautiful cover of this book is what originally drew me in, and after reading the premise I knew it was something I needed to read. Let me just say, this book did not disappoint. It had a beautiful blend of urban fantasy combined with this coming of age story. With grief being a main theme in this book, the emotions of the characters felt very deep and real.

The main character Noche, is a science-loving, metalhead teenage girl, who just also happens to transform into a Lechuza, a mystic owl that leads spirits to their afterlives. After her girlfriend Dante dies in an accidental drowning, Noche can’t bring herself to lead Dante’s spirit away. Our MMC is Jax, the new kid who Noche is immediately drawn to.

Noche has very deep emotions and has to do a lot of things by herself in this book, or at least that’s what she thinks. She really grows into herself and her confidence throughout the book, and I appreciate how she’s not a “perfect main character.” She has her flaws and what’s seen as ‘negative emotions,’ the likes of which aren’t as widely talked about in some books. At the end of this book I really was bawling my eyes out. Noche is such a beautiful character and I love how she’s come to accept herself at the end.
What I thought was really great about this book is that there was no unnecessary animosity between the “love triangle” characters. Noche’s relationship with the other characters represented different parts of her life, and the new characters that were introduced had a lot of respect for that old life of Noche’s and the people that were in it.

Regarding the fantasy elements of this book, I thought it was very refreshing to see a story deeply rooted in Mexican folklore. As a huge fantasy nerd I personally would have liked to see the story delve a bit more into the lechuza histories, but I was still very happy with what was talked about.

All in all this book was a beautiful story about love and loss, about learning to embrace your differences, and finding the people who make you feel the most true to yourself. An emotional read that will probably make you cry, just like it did for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Chante Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion ~

I truly loved this story, with its enchanting blend of folklore woven into the everyday life of a teenager. I empathized with Noche as she struggled with her role as an afterlife guide, the challenges of moving on from her first love, and the complexities of friendships, grief, and new romance. I was completely captivated.

[Tai · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I heard a fantasy novel taking place in Duluth existed I had no idea that this was what I was going to get myself into. This isn't just a fantasy novel but a beautiful story about grief and acceptance.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is very well written, balancing some pretty deep sadness and grief with realistic humor and familial love. It is a rare novel that manages to be gripping and interesting while not having to make one or two characters into unrealistically mean antagonists. Noche's parents are kind and understanding but still real, her friends make mistakes and all the characters are at odds occasionally, but no one is uncharacteristically mean. The author conveys a clear vision of the setting on the shores of Lake Superior, and the descriptions are lovely. This could have been a depressing read, based on the events, but it somehow remained hopeful.

[Frida · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Kassidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Random House Children’s publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of On The Wings of La Noche by Vanessa L. Torres in exchange for my honest review.

Noche is not just an ordinary girl. In fact, her life is opposite of that and that’s because she a La Lechuza. This new role she is unsure of everything from how she transforms to why must she be the person that takes the dead people to the sky. One thing she does know is that she has kept her girlfriend’s spirit, Dante from leaving this world. Every night she sees her, but as time goes on Dante is fading and loosing herself. Meanwhile, Noche is living or trying to live a normal life by going back to school, etc. In Biology, she is paired up with a new lab partner named Jax. Noche gets these strange feelings with Jax, but also feels like she is betraying Dante. Noche grief consumes her and prevents her from truly enjoying her life. In order to live, she has to make an important decision and she has to make it quick.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

This is a quiet, slow kinda book of grief and identity and trying to let go and move forward when it hurts so much. I loved this and the world building and mythology was some of my favorite. I also really love the themes of assimilation and how the cost can be parts of heritage and culture you don’t even recognize you’re missing. This is a really beautiful book and gave me many feelings, especially around letting go and the conflicts of moving on. I also enjoyed the messy friendship dynamics as Noche and Julien are both grieving and hurting, and how they hurt each other. Definitely a book pulling a lot of emotional weight, but I think it was pulled off beautifully. Definitely recommend if you like quiet, sad type books.

[JamiReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“On the Wings of la Noche” by Vanessa L. Torres is a beautifully written book about grief, self-discovery, and love. Torres does a fantastic job of balancing emotional depth with hope. I really appreciated how Torres portrayed Noche’s path toward self-acceptance, showing that healing doesn’t happen overnight. While the book does deal with heavy themes, it never feels overwhelmingly sad but it was still an emotional read for me. I did appreciated the cultural representation of the Mexican-American experience. I also enjoyed Noche’s relationship with her parents. I feel like often in YA books the parents do not understand the main characters in order to propel the story forward. Torres was able to include plenty of tension and drama while surrounding her main character with loving supportive parents.
A must-read for fans of heartfelt, emotional stories. Also, that cover is just stunning!
Thanks to NetGallery and Random House Children's for an advanced copy of this eBook in exchange for my honest review.

[Michele Cacano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been dreading the ending of this because I don't want to stop contact with these characters! They live in my mind and my heart, and I think about them between reading sessions. And now I've completed their story...but I'm sure to remember them all fondly and think of them often. They are all so real.

[Tremmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to put into words what this book made me feel. I went in expecting fantasy elements, Latine culture, queer rep, and a character arc touching on grief. Instead I got the most beautiful, soul-crushing, heart-wrenching story I've ever had the pleasure to read. The way that the theme of grief is handled in this book is transcendent - you really do feel it all as you follow Noche's complicated feelings for her first love, her best friend, her new love, her blood family, and her found family. I had to put the book down several times to take a breath and recentre myself after being pushed almost to the point of tears. This was beautifully told and skillfully written and I look forward to the author's next work. There were a few bits and pieces that made it clear this was a debut novel, but for a debut novel, this was magnificent.
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars, would definitely recommend.

[Deke Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book utterly destroyed me.

This was a really slow read, because the overall sense of melancholy almost requires a very slow sipping of the material. It was cerebral in ways I haven’t seen in any other book for young adults- messy and guilty and ugly and selfish and selfish and beautiful and gut wrenching and an overall emotional unexpected trip.

This is the story of a girl named Noche, who is a Lechuza, an ethereal owl who delivers the dead to the sky - so the angst ante is increased when her girlfriend Dante dies and Noche decides to skip her duties and hold onto her ghost forever.

But as she slowly tries to return to school and a normal life, a new crush confuses Noche’s entire design- not to mention that her best friend has feelings for Dante (that maybe Dante reciprocated?!)

A story about fighting against new beginnings and sad endings and the way in which life isn’t fair in the worst ways and beautiful and worth living for in the best ways.

So highly recommend.

[Mere · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC!

This book is a very, very bittersweet love story, but also a coming of age story tied up in Mexican myth set in a Mexican-American household. Some of the themes that are dealt with in this book have to do with belonging - to our past, to our history, to our future. I think this will resonate a with a lot of people.

But it also deals with emotions and emotional heartbreak.

I can’t quite put my finger on it, but while it did make me emotional, getting there was a bit of a middle path for me. I really loved the lore and history of how this story was presented.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed the book! This was definitely a solid read, and well written!

[Izzys_Internet_Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

I don't know if I'm just having a good time reading or if I'm just hitting gold but OMG. I loved this book so much. The characters, the plot. It was so unique, and I loved the descriptive language in this book. My only reasoning for not giving it the 5/5 rating is because I wished that some scenes were expanded upon more. but besides that, it was a truly enchanting read, and I highly recommend it.

[Alondra Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful young adult story. I will think about Noche forever. 💜🪻

[Sally Felt · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the first few pages, I wondered if this book was going to work for me. It seemed deliberately opaque and I hesitated to trust the author. Lucky for me, I persisted and wow, was I rewarded. What unfolded was lyrical and romantic, a coming-of-age story built on a bit of Mexican folklore.

Seventeen year old Noche is grieving her first love, who drowned in Lake Superior a couple of months before our story begins. Now it’s deep winter in northern Minnesota, but she still has responsibilities. She’s a Lechuza — every night, she shape-shifts into a large black owl and escorts the souls of the newly dead to the sky.

Trouble is, she can’t bring herself to take her girlfriend. Consequences are closing in.

Another author might have used just these threads to make a novel. But Torres creates a tapestry with characters and complications that make the story rich and real. The best friend, the attractive new boy at school — an entire clan of Lechuza — and even the dead girlfriend herself bring forward heartbreaking secrets. And it’s all colored by the intensity of teen emotion.

Things I liked about this book:
- I enjoyed Noche’s relationship with her parents. She doesn’t keep her mystical identity secret from them, which is refreshing in a YA. (Of course, she’s keeping it secret from everyone else, which creates essential angst.)
- I found the book a relatable meditation on the crazy ride that is grief
- The humor created a nice balance for the heavier themes
- One reviewer complained about the story’s lack of urgency, but I appreciated that Noche had some personal, emotional work to do before she could let Dante go. A strong external ticking clock would have cheated the character of some well-earned growth. That said, the author perfectly timed the incident that gets the climax rolling
- The story’s climax actually made me tear up

The author subtly makes Noche’s experience shifting in and out of her owl form a reflection of how she was coping with grief, including how out of control she feels. I applaud the author’s choice to highlight the foreignness of being owl versus human, for instance an owl’s digestion, fixed eye placement and swivel neck, and how these characteristics bleed into Noche’s sleep-deprived human experience.

In the book’s acknowledgments, the author says this is the first book she ever wrote (though it’s the second she’s had published). I’m amazed. It feels like the work of a very experienced author. Nicely done.

[kim baccellia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventeen-year-old Noche is grieving the death of her girlfriend Dante. Noche also has a secret-she's a lechuza, a shape-shifting owl who carries the dead to the afterlife. Only she refuses to take Dante to the other side. There's further complications when Jax, a new boy, shows up to be her lab partner. There's a connection between the two of them, and Noche wonders if she can move on from Dante. But Noche can't help but feel guilty whenever she's around Jax. Is it too soon to move on from Dante, or is it? Noche then finds out there are consequences to not delivering the dead. Consequences that involve not only her staying an owl, but also losing Dante's spirit forever.

What worked: I love this twist on a Mexican urban legend. Noche's nocturnal life is one she still can't make sense of. What is beyond painful is losing her girlfriend, Dante. Noche can't take Dante's spirit to the other side, as life without her means nothing. The rawness of that emotion is intensified when others like Noche's friend Julian and her family try to help, but she pushes them all away. The descriptions of the pain are very realistic. So are the emotions of moving on and the guilt that tears at someone.

I also liked when Noche meets Evie, another Lechuza, who shows Noche she isn't alone. The idea of the Lechuza trading cards was really cool too!

The trio of friends has their own secrets, even after Dante's death. Secrets that are crushing and difficult for Noche.

The pacing is slow at times, especially when Noche meets the recently deceased. There is no description of what the afterlife is, which in a way makes sense, as I'm sure it's different for every individual. The ending is beautiful and shows that life does go on.

Haunting, magical tale of La Lechuza, a shape-shifting owl responsible for carrying the dead to the afterlife, but mostly a story of grief and moving on.

Original post: https://yabookscentral.com/on-the-win...

[Lin · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the Wings of La Noche has a really unique concept but I felt that it was ruined by the mild melodrama and lukewarm romance. Even though I enjoyed it and thought it was a fun read, I think it could have done better if it focused solely on overcoming the grief of losing a significant other and I don't agree with the idea of jumping into a new relationship to heal from a past relationship. I can't remember how much time passed in between relationships (I'm not even sure if it was specified, but I'm guessing it was within a year or there about), but I didn't feel that Noche's journey through the stages of grief was well earned or believable. I'm not even really sure if she did go through the stages of grief, she just ends up at the stage of acceptance but it was all tell and no show. Then again, I guess believability it subjective when she's a girl that can turn into an owl to guide the souls of the dead to the light, but even then, if you want to emotionally connect readers to the character, I don't think this was the right way.

I feel that it could have been a meaningful and interesting journey about overcoming grief while being a weird, bird thing, but the author opted to cater to typical YA tropes and melodrama, which did itself a major disservice. Anyway, if nothing else, it has a unique premise and I recommend giving it a chance, if only to try something different. The writing style made it a quick read and I would consider trying Vanessa Torres' other work if our paths cross again.

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been drawn to many a book by a captivating cover, but never before have I had two (not a pair, but two separate) citrine eyes look into me and compel me to want to read a book. And I'm glad a trusted that compulsion. The story is one of love, loss, and growth. It is written for a young adult audience with young adult main characters, but with a style that could be appreciated by adults as well (there are certainly a few cultural references that anyone growing up in the '90's might get flashbacks from). Part of this story is also based in myth or folklore, and as with many authors that share parts of their culture, there is great care in this aspect of the story. The main character, Noche, must come to terms with the loss of her first love, while already dealing with some interesting magical powers that come with some serious responsibilities. A few new people come into her life to affect her acceptance of these things, learn more about her powers, learn to love again, and find a path forward for her life. The story hits notes of sadness and joy as it chronicles Noche's journey to a satisfying conclusion. I appreciated the chance to read this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a magical story to touch their heart.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Random House Children's - Knopf Books for Young Readers) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

[Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I averaged this out because my enjoyment was closer to a 3, but objectively this is a very well-written story and I think a younger reader might really connect with it. I found it difficult to read at times because the 17yo lead is so VERY seventeen. I wanted to shake her and yell "you're only 17, give it some time" every time she talked about "forever and always" 😅 But I fully recognize how realistic this was. I was also uncomfortable with the almost sex scene in the book. Again, I recognize that it is very realistic and might be very different for a younger audience. But I don't want to read about teenagers in a sexual way like that.

I found it oddly distracting the way the lead constantly refers to Lake Superior as simply Superior. It just felt to weird to me. I live on one of the Great Lakes and we never refer to it as simply "Huron".

All that said, the concept of the story is very interesting, and the storytelling is quite good.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m in my feelings about this story. So much grief, so much love. All the characters felt really real, and their families were cool to see as well. I’d read separate books on all the side characters.

This is the first book I’ve read about lechuzas, and I think Vanessa Torres did a great job weaving in the lore into the story. Later I looked up La Lechuza and read up on the myth that La Lechuza is a witch who preys on people and carries them away in the night, so this was a somewhat different take on that. Taking La Lachuza and transforming her into a teenager who escorts souls into the beyond reframes the meaning that La Lechuza is an “omen of death” and combines it with how we think of a reaper. Noche’s struggles with identity and trying to keep her human life separate from her Lechuza side added some uniqueness into normal coming of age stories.

Grief was present throughout the whole story, but it was handled with a lot of care. I came out of it sad, but hopeful.

[Aliya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished reading this while working a slow shift that suddenly was not so slow, and several customers offered me tissues. I will remember that humiliation and the snot.

This book is about death, but also about LIFE, love, family, history, and healing through grief. The middle was a little slow and I would've liked more of the romance build-up with Jax (it was a bit too "instant attraction" for me), but GUH everything with Dante. My heart, my soul. I'm getting choked up now just thinking about the resolution. E.E. Cummings said it best:

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart)

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

[Vanessa Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was born out of tales my grandmother used to tell me about La Lechuza. They were scary stories for my young ears, but riveting and rich with mystical magic all the same. I wish with all my heart she could read what she inspired in me all those years ago. I am so excited to share Noche's journey with you. Thank you, readers, for turning the pages and taking flight on the wings of la Noche.
Much peace to you all, Vanessa L. Torres

[Maya Prasad · Rating 5 out of 5]

ON THE WINGS OF LA NOCHE features many musical references, lovely descriptions of the Minnesotan outdoors, and a contemporary spin on Mexican folklore. It also digs deep into feelings of grief, exploring how hard it is to let go, and how important it is to do so anyway even after a devastating loss. It's a coming-of-age story about love in many forms, exploring complicated and messy relationships as well as new and old friendships. Such a beautiful book, and gorgeously written!

[Crystal-Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows a young girl, Noche, who turns into an owl at night and helps shepherd the recently deceased to the afterlife. Although Noche has grown into her role as Lechuza, she is struggling to bring the soul of her girlfriend into the afterlife. On the Wings of la Noche explores Noche’s grief and her journey to let go not only of Dante, but also free herself from the pain she feels. The beginning of this book was slow, but picked up about halfway through. Overall, this book was fine.

[kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars

I almost gave up on this book. For the first half of the story, it dragged. Yet, in the second half, I was able to fly through the story and end up as a sobbing mess at the end. I do not cry easily with books, but the conversations and discussions about grief + death and see Noche’s character development just touched me emotionally. I recommend this book if you’re in the right mindset and willing to digest this story slowly.

Side note, I love Jax and his sweetness.