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Lucha Moya #2

Lucha of the Forgotten Spring

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Fresh off her triumph in the Night Forest, Lucha Moya is back in Robado to settle unfinished business. The stunning fantasy duology about addiction, power, and love comes to a close in tale of treacherous villains, environmental disaster, and a love triangle its heroine doesn’t see coming.

Lucha Moya has always wanted one thing--to be free of the place she once called home. After defeating the rogue god of olvida, the forgetting drug, Lucha leaves the fortress of the acolytes—which houses her sister and Paz, a girl she never thought she’d fall in love with—to return to Robado one last time and eradicate the drug from existence. There, everything is worse this time around. Amidst the suffering, she surprises herself by seeing something familiar in the eyes of the villagers--her own hope and desperation reflected back at her.

Suddenly, her village and, more importantly, the people who live in it, are worth saving, not discarding. She even finds herself falling for one of the Robadans, which puts her feelings for Paz into question. Lucha's training and whirlwind experiences develop her as a fierce leader who'll do anything to protect her people. But even as she tries, some thing is lurking once again in the Night Forest, eager to claim its prize.

Will Lucha be able to step into her power once again to save the only home she's ever known, or will she lose everything she's fought so hard to obtain?

In the finale of this gorgeous and fast-paced fantasy duology from acclaimed author Tehlor Kay Mejia is brimming with adventure, romance, the burning questions of what it means to be a leader and how to listen to your heart when it's being pulled in two directions.

416 pages, Hardcover

Published February 18, 2025

6 people are currently reading
280 people want to read

About the author

Tehlor Kay Mejia

21 books1,181 followers
TEHLOR KAY MEJIA (he/him) is a bestselling and award winning author of books for all ages.

His debut young adult novel, WE SET THE DARK ON FIRE, received six starred reviews, as well as the Oregon Spirit Book Award for debut fiction, and the Neukom Institute Literary Arts Award runner up honor for debut speculative fiction. It has been featured on Seventeen, Cosmopolitan, and O by Oprah Magazine’s best books lists, and was a 2019 book of the year selection by Kirkus and School Library Journal.

Tehlor’s debut middle grade novel, PAOLA SANTIAGO AND THE RIVER OF TEARS, was published by the Rick Riordan Presents imprint at Disney/Hyperion. It received four starred reviews, and was named Amazon’s best book of 2020 in the 9-12 age range.

Tehlor strives to create stories which showcase the importance of community, radical inclusion, and abolitionist values. He lives with his child, wife, and two dogs in his home state of Oregon, and is active on Instagram @tehlorkay.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Gohnar23.
1,071 reviews37 followers
June 29, 2025
#️⃣3️⃣1️⃣6️⃣ Read & Reviewed in 2025 ⛈️⚡🚨
Date : 📢 Saturday, June 28, 2025 🍙⚔️
Word Count📃: 99k Words 🏕️

──★ ˙💥🪨💣🪨💥 ̟ ⋆✮˚.*⋆

ദ്ദി ≽^⎚˕⎚^≼ .ᐟ My 54th read in "Explosive Impactful Reads June"

2️⃣🌟, still bad,, BUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY 🥰🥰🥰
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➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗

FINALLY IM DONEEEEE, FINALLY 😭😭😭😭😭 IVE ESCAPED HELLLLLLL,. THIS IS THE FINAL BOOK I'LL READ BY THIS AUTHOR CUZ DAMN HELL THIS WRITING IS TRASH.

But noticably there is a CLEAR plot and adventure that we go through (unlike the first book which is just, what even is happening & what will even happen here) but there is a new problem that springs up, and its called DETOURS. the plot detours like SO MUCH that even with the clear plot structure it still messy.

So basically it improved from being messy, but then it went back to being messy. 😵

The ending isssss..clean 🫧🫧 its a resolution truly, not something very grand tho it just..ends and the lore is more thorough and complicated like the world building really shines in this book but it's missing key points which just makes it have a lot of lore holes and plot holes in the side. Like the villains, the villains are really only focused on on the last part so the first part of the book doesn't make any progress on uncovering and fighting the villain because... THERE WAS NONE

The characters are welll NOTHING 😭😭😭, there is literally only like five characters but somehow it's still written undeveloped. Like can you really tell me who Mariel, Armando ant Rio is??? WHO ARE THEY? They're main characters that acts like side characters.

But Lucha as a character really improves here, she went through a journey of self discovery, overcoming biases and unfairness of the world like the corruption+political power struggles, and self strength, found family and the responsibilities into keeping that connection tight. There is a wonderful character developmental arc of Lucha but that's really the only positive thing i can say with this book, everything else is just straight badd. So you're getting a two star from me instead of one.
Profile Image for Carolina.
198 reviews6 followers
June 10, 2025
3.25 stars ⭐️
This was better than the 1st one.

PLOT:
The story picks up after the events of Lucha of the Night Forest, following Lucha as she grapples with the aftermath of her choices and steps further into a world of Gods, magic and political unrest.
The pacing is more balanced than the first book, with a clearer structure that makes the stakes easier to follow.
While the narrative sometimes loses momentum in the middle, the final third delivers strong emotional payoff and an actual satisfying resolution. However, not a “neat” resolution, there’s a lot left open and many possible ways that these stories could go from here.
The themes of identity, belief and resistance remain central, though the plot leans more into introspection than action this time around, which was a breath of fresh hair.

WORLD BUILDING:
The magical system expands in intriguing ways, particularly with deeper exploration into the divine forces and ancient rituals, not much tho.
The setting remains atmospheric, blending forest magic, decaying power and mythic resonance.
The lore feels more fully realised here, though some elements could benefit from clearer rules or limitations, again.

CHARACTERS:
Lucha: our protagonist, torn between survival and self discovery. Her internal conflict is better developed in this sequel, and her growth feels more organic.

Lis: our protagonist’s sister doesn’t appear pro eminently in this one and I missed her.

Paz: the romantic interest of the 1st book. We went deeper into Paz’s feelings toward Lucha finally and her own internal conflict and she had a big role in this one. I appreciated that, but Paz will always just be “the girl of the Goddess” for me sadly.

Cruz: the new romantic interest, because this book has kind of a love triangle. I really liked Cruz! We saw her motivations and objectives early on and that made a difference for me. She felt human since the beginning, not like Paz.

Other new characters: some felt underdeveloped or just to serve the plot rather than adding emotional depth again.

The antagonists are better in this one tho. First these forces are more abstract, with the Kings never being presented to us before and all that. But then, later in the book, the antagonists get better and with a twist that really surprised as I was not expecting it because of how the 1st book developed.

WRITING:
Tehlor Kay Mejia’s prose continues to shine in the descriptions of the forest and the magic itself. The vivid memories lend the story a dreamlike quality again. However, at times the beautiful writing detracts from clarity.
Dialogue is often poetic but not “naturalistic”, which affected immersion for me. Didn’t seem believable things to say in that specific way.

FINAL THOUGHTS:
While not as tightly plotted as I hoped, Lucha of the Forgotten Spring offers a richer continuation with stronger emotional stakes and deeper character development than the first book.
It doesn’t quite reach the full potential of its lush world and powerful themes still, but it’s a more cohesive and reflective entry than its predecessor.
Profile Image for Kristen.
98 reviews2 followers
June 8, 2025
I really wanted to like this book, but it just dragged on and on. I think the writing style was too dramatic, and the plot was very slow.
Profile Image for Hanna☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ (Free Palestine).
154 reviews36 followers
June 30, 2025
This isn’t a proper review, just me ranting so if you actually wanted something to give you an idea of the book, there are other reviews you’d be far better off reading.


I didn’t think this could actually be worse than the first one, but it was.


For one thing, the writing felt very cliche and typical. I read scenes that gave me the deja vu of watching an action movie multiple times and it was sooo irritating.


The main thing I disliked in this book, however, was the EXTREMELY unnecessary love triangle that took up the majority of the plot and the fmc’s utter stupidity in dealing with said triangle. Not only does initially leave behind Paz because she needs to ‘figure out this relationship’ or whatever bs she gave for an excuse, but then when they finally reunite, she constantly avoids her and seems to be allergic to the idea of open communication. Oh wait, sorry no, she CAN deal with being around her as long as it’s because they’re about to almost kiss but that’s the only time. The feelings she develops for the second girl seem so abrupt and thrown together by the author just to create drama. She then goes on to ditch Paz for Cruz time and time again, only remembering Paz when things get awkward with Cruz and so she doesn’t want to ask her to go somewhere with her and asks Paz because she knows she’ll say yes. There is absolutely no sense of her trying to figure anything out, it just hangs and hangs and hangs until things are decided for her and then she acts like this wasn’t something she really wanted. I’m so sick of her.
Profile Image for Air.
533 reviews27 followers
February 17, 2025
This end of a duology did what some can’t, which is wrap things up in a pretty gorgeous bow. Not to say there’s not a million challenges they face in here as well, but the ending was worth it. Not to mention seeing the struggles of leadership, of a home, and responsibility. The author did a great job touching on this. These books should definitely be on your tbr!
Profile Image for Tristin.
182 reviews30 followers
February 18, 2025

Review of Lucha of the Forgotten Spring by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Thank you to TBR & Beyond and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

This was such a strong conclusion to the duology, delivering closure to many lingering questions from the first book while continuing to expand on its rich themes of power, responsibility, and resilience. Lucha of the Forgotten Spring doesn’t just wrap up a story; it challenges its heroine to once again step into a role she never asked for, making her journey all the more compelling.

Lucha’s struggle with being seen as important to a cause—whether or not she consents to it—was one of the most gripping aspects of the book. She returns home intending to eliminate olvida once and for all, believing this is her final mission, but quickly realizes that her fight is much bigger than she ever imagined. The story does a great job of balancing her internal conflict with the larger external stakes, making her an incredibly relatable and layered protagonist.

I especially loved the themes of community, resilience, and both the power and fragility of hope. The novel also takes a hard look at corruption from multiple angles, particularly in systems of faith and power structures. While I appreciated this theme, it did feel a little heavy-handed at times, and some of the related plot twists were fairly easy to predict.

As for the romance, I was pleasantly surprised by how naturally the love triangle was woven into the story. Rather than being the central focus, it felt like an organic extension of Lucha’s complex emotions about everything unfolding around her. It never overshadowed the plot but instead added to her personal growth and internal struggles.

Final Thoughts:

This book delivers an emotionally satisfying conclusion that reinforces the power of community, self-discovery, and fighting for change, even when the burden feels overwhelming. While some of the themes were a little on the nose, the overall execution was compelling, and I loved seeing Lucha’s arc come full circle.

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Profile Image for Steph (starrysteph).
431 reviews633 followers
January 31, 2025
Lucha of the Forgotten Spring was a lovely end to the Lucha Moya duology, with themes of community care & responsibility, addiction, environmental respect & destruction, faith, leadership, and trust.

Lucha returns to her hometown after the most intense battle of her life. She has to learn to lead and rebuild, while making sure that the deadly drug she sought to destroy never haunts her community again. But the forest isn’t at peace quite yet, and the villagers of Robado face new dangers.

I continued to enjoy the thoughtful conversations around community and leadership. Lucha learns when to take charge and when to lean back - and everyone has to learn to communicate effectively and work together to build a better home. There are battling leadership styles at play and a whole lot of different motives, and it was interesting to see how different personalities meshed and fought for personal and communal interests.

Everything here was richer and deeper. Just a really great expansion on book one! The pacing was a little funky (some big scenes FLEW by while we lingering in some quieter conversations for a while), but I was engaged the whole way through.

I’m not one to care for a love triangle, but I thought both potential love interests were believable and the plot didn’t lean too heavily on any fighting between them. They were both just part of Lucha’s journey to forge a better world and future for herself and her loved ones.

I missed Lucha’s sister Lis in this one, though! Sisterhood was such a large part of book one and their relationship really resonated with me, so that was an aspect I was sad fell away here.

The ending was satisfying, but not TOO neat. There’s a lot left open and so many ways these stories could end.

Overall, I think that if you had a good time with book one then you’ll be very happy with this conclusion!

CW: death (child/parent), drug use, addiction, violence, confinement, body horror, grief, animal death, classism, fire

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(I received a free copy of this book; this is my honest review.)
Profile Image for Stephanie Tournas.
2,728 reviews36 followers
April 19, 2025
Sixteen year old Lucha Moya is a cazadora, a monster hunter. We learn that she recently defeated the god of destruction, in the duology’s first book, Lucha of the Night Forest. In so doing, she lost much of her power derived from the forest. But she still wants to return to her home town of Robado and save its citizens from the evil Los Ricos that employ the entire town in the production of Olvida, the drug for forgetting. What she finds in Robado is horrifying: hundreds of corpses, and the remnants of the population left starving and in withdrawal from the drug. The plants that could sustain them are dying. The challenge is to find the spring that will make the plants grow and broker a trust between herself, the people leading the remaining Robadans, and the head priestess leading her acolytes, one of whom is Paz, the lover Lucha left behind. There’s also the growing attraction with Cruz to contend with, once they decide that they can trust each other.

This is a gorgeous, rich fantasy with Latine characters and setting and a sapphic romance. The struggle for survival, forging leadership and figuring out one’s heart makes for an intensity that doesn’t let up. Lucha has a lot on her shoulders as the only person in Robado who has communed with the goddess. She also feels a deep love for the ethereal Paz, but Paz is next in line for leading the acolytes. There’s a lovely scene where Lucha and Paz make love. It’s not explicit, but very sensual. Cruz is a tough, dedicated leader of Robado, and she and Lucha share a kiss that is frankly very distracting to both of them. This fantasy will appeal to readers who love high fantasy with an eco component. There is a lot of violence, the presence of drugs and some grotesque monsters.

The author does a great job building the world and Lucha’s past, so this is a good offering for any teens who like fantasy with queer romance. No need to have read the first book. If anything, readers will be curious to go back and read the first book to explore Lucha’s beginnings.
Profile Image for Danielle Bush.
1,908 reviews23 followers
February 16, 2025
Lucha and the Forgotten Spring picks up right where the last book left off, and Lucha heads back home to Robado to finish what she started. I loved how this second book expanded the lore of this complex and detailed world. I also really enjoyed how Lucha and the other characters within the story grew, changed, and began working toward a greater goal.

This conclusion was an amazing addition to the first book, keeping me invested in the story of Lucha, Robado, and its citizens from page one. Although the story is dark and filled with dangerous situations, it also contains hope and the promise of something better.

I thoroughly enjoyed this duology, and I can't wait to explore more books by this author.
Profile Image for Maeve O'Brien.
61 reviews
July 31, 2025
i love this series. but also like imagine the person you’re in love with kissed a rando so then you turn into a goddess and she ends up with the rando 😭😭😭 no hate to Cruz but this storyline caught me off guard. i expected Lucha & Paz to be together. alas!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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