Bruja Born

Brooklyn Brujas #2

by Zoraida Córdova

Next in the Brooklyn Brujas series of fantasy novels that follow three witch born sisters as they develop their powers and battle magic in their hometown and the worlds beyond, from the author of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina. Lula must let go of the ghosts of her past to face the actual living dead of her present. Lula Mortiz feels like an outsider. Her sister's newfound Encantrix powers have wounded her in ways that Lula's bruja healing powers can't fix, and she longs for the comfort her family once brought her. Thank the Deos for Maks, her sweet, steady boyfriend who sees the beauty within her and brings light to her life. Then a bus crash turns Lula's world upside down. Her classmates are all dead, including Maks. But Lula was born to heal, to fix. She can bring Maks back, even if it means seeking help from her sisters and defying Death herself. But magic that defies the laws of the deos is dangerous. Unpredictable. And when the dust settles, Maks isn't the only one who's been brought back… "Cordova keeps the flame on high… Fantasy and zombie fans looking for flavor―organ-meat, in particular―will not be disappointed." ― New York Times Book Review Brooklyn Brujas Perfect for fans

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Witches, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2018

About the author

Zoraida Córdova is the author of many fantasy novels for kids and teens, including the award-winning Brooklyn Brujas series, Incendiary, and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: A Crash of Fate. Her short fiction has appeared in the New York Times bestselling anthology Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View, Star Wars The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark, Come on In: 15 Stories About Immigration and Finding Home, and Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women and Witchcraft. She is the co-editor of the bestselling anthology Vampires Never Get Old. Her debut middle grade novel is The Way to Rio Luna. She is the co-host of the podcast Deadline City with Dhonielle Clayton. Zoraida was born in Ecuador and raised in Queens, New York. When she isn’t working on her next novel, she’s planning a new adventure.

NOTE: Direct messages on this account may not be seen. Send her an email at zoraidabooks@gmail.com

Reviews

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review.

1.) Labyrinth Lost ★★★★

🔮 My favorite review for Bruja Born: Lilly's!

“This is a love story. At least, it was, before my sister sent me to hell.”

Friends, Bruja Born was such a treat. It’s the ownvoices, Latinx, magical story you’ve been looking for. And I liked it even more than Labyrinth Lost, which I loved! When I first requested an ARC of this, I was completely surprised when I found out it wouldn’t be following Alex, the main character of Labyrinth Lost, but her sister, Lula, who I quickly and easily fell in love with, too.

“Magic transforms you. Magic changes you. Magic saves you. I want to still believe in all those things.”

But Lula’s story also quickly and easily breaks my heart. I want to write so much here to give you guys a synopsis, but I’m going to be very vague. The book’s actual synopsis feels really spoilery, in my opinion. I went into the book without reading the synopsis, and I truly think I had a better reading experience because of it. But Lula finds herself in a very heartbreaking situation, and when this tragedy strikes, the goddess of death herself is there to pick up the pieces. Lula finds herself unable to give someone up and uses her magic to desperately try to keep them close to her, but she quickly discovers that not all things are meant to stay.

Trigger and content warnings (please do not read if you want to go into this book completely unaware of the events) for car crash, blood, gore, loss of a loved one, grief, trauma, a lot of talk of death, talk of dead bodies, and scenes with physically harming oneself.

One of the best elements of Bruja Born is the strong emphasis on familial bonds, and how unconditional love will always be the most powerful kind of magic any of us will ever possess. Lula, Alex, and Rose are such sister goals, but their entire family and their willingness to sacrifice is something so beautiful that I don’t even have words for it.

“You really think I’m going to betray my sister for you? Boy, bye.”

And Lula’s personal journey, to loving herself, outside and inside, is so powerful that I wish I could put this book in the hands of every teenage girl in the world. Being able to sacrifice for the ones you love, but to ultimately put yourself and your life first is a combination I hardly ever read in books, but it is so very needed. This truly is the most beautiful love story of all time: the love story of loving yourself, unapologetically.

“My mother told me beauty was a gift. If they’re right, then what am I now? All I know is I left fragments of myself in Los Lagos and I don’t know how to get them back.”

And this book also heavily deals with the effects of grief. Everyone in this family is grieving from what they’ve lost or what they’ve found. PTSD, trauma, and grief are all touched upon in this book, and everyone is coping and dealing with it differently. Lula is the star of this book, and everything she is dealing with breaks my heart, but seeing her deal with it is so important and so inspiring.

Overall, I loved this and I think the world will love it, too. And I feel like I could never get enough stories about these Brooklyn Brujas! I’m guessing the next installment will be about Rose, and I’ll be honest with you all: she’s my favorite sister. So, I’m extra hyped. Also, Nova totally won me over in this book as well. So, hopefully we get both of them and more paranormal beings, because this book had vampires, shifters, zombies, and more! Please, Zoraida, give me all the fae! I loved Bruja Born and I hope you all fall in love with it too!

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The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Buddy read with Lilly at Lair of Books, Alexis at The Sloth Reader, Amy at A Court of Crowns and Quills, & Lori at Reading with Lori! ❤

[Acqua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bruja Born is the second book in the urban fantasy series Brooklyn Brujas, and one of the best YA fantasy novels I've read in 2018.
I almost didn't read this. The first book, Labyrinth Lost, followed middle sister Alex. I read it when I was Alex's age, and I still found both the narration and the writing to be very juvenile, the plot predictable.
I didn't have any of these problems with Bruja Born, and I think this book is worth reading even if you were disappointed by Labyrinth Lost. This novel follows older sister Lula, who is struggling to cope with the return of her dad and the way Los Lagos affected her. When her boyfriend breaks up with her and is victim of a car accident just a few minutes later, Lula knows she will do anything to get him back. She is a healer Bruja, after all: can't she make him return from his coma and heal their love?

Bruja Born is a very unique book. I've always been fascinated by the novels who choose to deal with the dark side of crushes, with the intensity of teenage love. For a genre that is so obsessed with teenagers and their romantic relationships (finding a YA book without a romance is a struggle), I rarely see this aspect in YA fiction, especially in regard to the protagonist's crushes (the evil ex trope does not count). Also, Lula isn't demonized for it, which is important.
This is not a love story, and I loved it for that.

Because here's the thing about magical teenagers: they are going to be selfish and mess up, again and again, and that will become even worse when they're in love. Most of them will probably use their power not only to unselfishly save the world. I love how in the Brooklyn Brujas series the conflict is driven by the main character's mistakes. It feels far more real than any demon invasion or urban fantasy supervillain.

Another of my problems with Labyrinth Lost was that it didn't go far enough. It was set in a paranormal world but it was never as creepy and atmospheric as it could have been. Bruja Born didn't have this problem. It's one of the creepiest books I've read in a while, and the scenes in which Lady de la Muerte is described gave me chills. It's the kind of book that makes you want to look around you when you're alone in your room because it makes silence feel unsettling. Also, real-world casimuerto-infested New York is far more atmospheric than Los Lagos was.

I feel like this series is very underrated. This book made me want to reread Labyrinth Lost to see if I'd like it more now, to understand if I reviewed it too harshly because I wasn't in the mood for it when I read it.
The Brooklyn Brujas series reminds me of The Shadowhunter Chronicles, except there's more diversity, less cheesy romance tropes, and more depth in far less pages. If you like The Shadowhunters Chronicles, you should try this series - the magic system (Brujeria) and the atmosphere are unique, but they have the same feel. Also, in this novel we're introduced to a wider variety of magical creatures: vampires, shifters, hunters, zombies...

Another thing I love about this series is the focus on family. Brooklyn Brujas is a series about sisters, and their bond it's one of the things that makes it stand out from many other urban fantasy series. Parents and extended family are also relevant to the plot.

While I liked this book far more than I expected, I can't say it was flawless. Some of the small problems I had with the writing in book one are still here - mostly, the descriptions of Nova's eyes, at least they aren't "bipolar" anymore, but why would you describe someone's eyes as "Caribbean Sea" eyes?
The other small problem I had with this is also one of the main reasons I didn't like the first book: Rishi, Alex's female love interest, is not in this book. Instead, we get a lot of Nova. In the first book, Alex spends a lot of time describing how attractive is Nova, and says almost nothing about Rishi - and then the endgame relationship is her and Rishi. It almost comes out of nowhere, and it has very little development, so much that in the second book Rishi isn't there at all. What's the point of having an f/f relationship if you're never going to show it?

[Anna Petruk · Rating 2 out of 5]

BRUJA BORN AS A PART OF A SERIES

This is the second book of the Brooklyn Brujas series, and as such it has two problems:

- it was completely unnecessary as a sequel. The events are in no way connected to what happened in book 1. Seriously, there is absolutely no reason this book exists, except that perhaps the author signed a 3-book contract.
- it's not a very good book.

BRUJA BORN AS A BOOK

What I liked:

“I have a plan.” She squints in my direction.
“I don’t like that face.”
“I don’t like your face either, but I still have to look at it”

- The family dynamics were fun. Also touching.

- It improved the "Spanglish" issue I referred to in my review of the first book.

What I didn't like (spoilers ahead)

- very banal plot. Remember how in books and movies with magic in it, one of the rules of magic is inevitably "don't try to raise the dead" with a two-sentence-long cautionary tale of someone who did try to bring a lover back from the dead and it went wrong. Well, Bruja Born is this cautionary tale blown up to novel length. It didn't need to longer than 2 sentences. It was beyond boring, predictable and generic.

- lots of whining and moping done by the main character Lula

- who is also a very selfish jerk. She keeps doing lots of stupid selfish shit which endanger, harm and kill lots of innocent people. Still, she insists she can handle it, keeps secrets from competent people who could help, making things worse.

- when faced with the consequences of her actions, instead of improving, feeling contrite, stepping back and letting sane people clean up her mess, she just starts yelling at everyone stuff like "I did this terrible thing! Do you know how hard it is to be me?! You think I don't know how terrible it is?!", which, surprisingly makes everyone apologize. Lula then proceeds to boss everyone around, and THEY LISTEN TO HER. Why?! Why would anyone listen to this stupid teenager who is responsible for so many continuing deaths? Not only that, Lula has no problem literally bossing Gods around either!

- there's a really easy way of stopping these deaths - by killing Lula. But for some unknown reason, no one even considers it. All of these powerful people trip over themselves trying to help her and save her, while others die in dozens every hour. WHY?! How is she more valuable than all those people? Honestly, I wanted to kill her myself. The book would have been 3 pages long.

- oh, the convenience is taken to a shameless level:

“I am trapped between—” she says, the last word cuts out in static. The possessed man’s neck turns at an unnatural angle, bones snapping when the head moves too close to the shoulder. “You must free me.” Death isn’t here to kill me. My moment of brief relief is instantly replaced with panic. “Free you? How? Where are you?” The man starts to shake and cough up black mucus. His head rolls back and his mouth snaps wide open as the living shadow starts to escape.

Hahahaha! Static? Seriously? The voice of the goddess is interrupted by static when she conveys her message by possessing a man? Is she possessing him via radio waves or what? And, of course, the static shows up in a way that interrupts crucial information, for no other reason than to make the book 200 pages longer than it would otherwise be. Some lazy-ass writing right here.

You'll have to catch me first

Says dying, beaten, sick and bleeding Lula to a monster with super-human strength and speed. And you know what? He doesn't catch her. For no reason at all. Two minutes before he moved with lightning speed, now a hurt teenager outruns him with no problem at all, because the plot demands it.

- Love story? As in many YA love triangles, when the "romantic interest" status switches to another character, the former one needs to turn out to be a complete monster and then preferably die. The new interest needs to turn out to be a sappy and valiant romantic who's had an invisible crush on the heroine for the last 20000 years. Yuck.

- the whole book the characters need a solution to their problem, but they don't really search for it or get any closer. They just walk around watching shit go down, not having any clue what to do. Understandable, since there is no logic to the magic in this world. Then, out of nowhere, descends an idea - the first and only idea - which immediately proves correct. A completely stupid, arbitrary and unexplainable solution, I might add. This was some lazy writing, again.

- weak world-building. We're in book 2, and still have very little understanding of what exists and is possible in this world, how the magic works, what creatures live here and what they are like, how the magical beings are managed and kept secret from mere humans etc. It all seems like the author relies on all the urban fantasy books you've previously read and says "well, this is a vampire. Imagine a generic YA vampire."

- weirdly Bruja Born undid the resolution to the Alex-Nova-Rishi love triangle. At the end of Labyrinth Lost, Alex ends up in a relationship with Rishi. But in Bruja Born, Rishi doesn't appear even once, is barely even mentioned. Nova, however, is a prominent character.

I doubt I will be continuing this series, given the track record of the first 2 books.

[h o l l i s · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm just a girl, forcing myself through a diverse fantasy series, wanting to love it.. and failing.

Despite a really strong start that had me super duper excited, BRUJA BORN, the second in the Brooklyn Brujas series, once again failed to win me over. Everything about this series, the diversity of the cast, the coolness factor of the bruja mythology (not to mention the expanded universe and paranormal types we got in this installment), all of it, should be a guaranteed win for me. But I'm just not connecting to these characters. Lula, for all I thought she was a great supporting character in book one, did not live up to her POV potential.. and I worry I'll end up having the same problem with Rose, even though right now she's kicking major ass as the littlest bruja sister.

The plot for this one just seemed to be centered around doing things you know you shouldn't be because wrong and consequences and yet doing them anyway. And also being really slow on the uptake. A cycle of constant injuries, healings, and more injuries. And a whole lot of waiting for things to get worse.

I appreciate that the narrative of this story kept repeating that 'this isn't a love story' because in a lot of ways it isn't. It's about letting go because holding on eventually becomes unhealthy, except Córdova's used zombie-like creatures to express the moral of her story. I don't know. There's just too much happening in these books and yet not enough substance, or the substance is just overwhelmed by flash.

Because I'm a masochist I'll read the final book, close out this sisterhood of Girls Who Make Bad Decisions, and hope Rose is less inclined to almost end the world. And also because I really want a happy ending for Nova. But my hopes, they are not high.


** I received an ARC from Edelweiss and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **

[Brooke — brooklynnnnereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I much mention right out the gate that I much preferred this novel in comparison to "Labyrinth Lost". One of my biggest issues with the original novel was that I became confused in how the different language was used with the assumption that the reader would simply understand. That issue was resolved in this sequel and it was done amazingly well, allowing a different language to be integrated in the story with small explanations subtly coinciding with their use.

As well, I really enjoyed the plot of this sequel. It was different, intriguing, and very emotional. I didn't know what to predict for the ending as the decision Lula had to make was an extremely difficult one and I could not predict whether there could be a possible solution.

Unfortunately, I felt that as much as the story and plot started out strong in the beginning, my attention did seem to peter out midway through and I was losing my focus. Eventually, the story gathered my attention again but that was nearing the end of the book. It just read kind of slow halfway through.

I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in this trilogy which I'm imagining to be coming from Rose's point of view. She's such a complex character (all the sisters are though) with complex powers so I'm excited to learn more about her.

***Thank you to Raincoast Books and Sourcebooks for sending me this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review***

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lula feels like an outsider. After Alex gains newfound Encantrix powers have scarred her more than her healing abilities can fix, Lula just wants to be comforted by her family. Thank the Deos for Maks, her boyfriend who sees the best in her and brings a spark of light to her life. Then a bus crash changes everything. All of her classmates are dead, including Maks. With her powers Lula can resurrect Maks, even if she needs the help of her sisters in order to defy Death. Magic that defies the laws of the deos is unpredictable and dangerous. When it's all said and done, though, Maks isn't the only one that's back.

Bruja Born (Brooklyn Brujas #2) by Zoraida Córdova is a fantastic sequel to Labyrinth Lost. In fact, I definitely preferred this sequel to book one. Labyrinth Lost was good and very promising, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. However, I needed to return to the world that Córdova created because her world-building is top notch. As much as I enjoyed exploring the world of Los Lagos the first time around, I loved exploring the sisters' expanding world at home seeing more of the magic they're capable of since they've really started to come into their own. Without the Alice in Wonderland major inspiration, this novel is able to stand more on its own two feet. Honestly, I think I prefer Lula more than Alex as the leading perspective character. I found myself much more invested in Lula and her story rather than Alex who sometimes fell a bit short for me. Lula goes through a lot here, and as far as I'm concerned she's more realistic and relatable overall despite her flaws. My one favorite "cameo" in this story is at the 26% - Adam Silvera get a shout out! Finally, I just want to mention that this novel is more a companion to book one rather than a direct sequel. You wouldn't necessarily need to be familiar with Labyrinth Lost to appreciate Bruja Born, but honestly it just makes the story more intriguing to know the characters, world, and everything the Moritz family has been through.

Overall, Bruja Born hooked me right from the get go. I'm can't wait to see book three - and, of course, I expect it's going to feature Rose, the third Moritz sister, who has psychic abilities. I'm also looking forward to seeing more of the Thorne Hill Alliance and the Knights of Lavant in the next book. In the meantime, though, I will need to pick up the Cordova's other fantasy series, The Vicious Deep to tide myself over. If you're a fan of dark YA urban fantasies, witches, magic, you'll need to try this companion novel.

[Lilly (Lair Of Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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UPDATE: 5/25/2018
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

Buddy Read with Melanie from Meltotheany


FULL REVIEW MAY ALSO BE VIEWED ON LAIR OF BOOKS

MY REVIEW...

There's something special about the second book in a trilogy, it's almost always the book to determine whether you keep going or hit the brakes. Bruja Born had me entranced in its spell, I couldn't think of anything else when I wasn't reading it. I enjoyed Labyrinth Lost last year but Bruja Born has left me head over heels in love with Zoraida Córdova's writing, characters, and expanded world (more on this further down). I'm a Latinx Brooklynite myself & all I would've needed to top this read off was a front stoop or Brooklyn rooftop to read under the night sky. Atmospheric, dark, lush with culture & lore, a story filled with magic & its consequences. A tale about love & letting go, acceptance and self-love...I didn't expect the many layers we got in this book but can honestly say Bruja Born blew me away!

“Follow my voice, my love, my love. Death cannot tear us apart. Take my hand, my love, my love. Follow the light of my heart. —Lula’s Healing Canto, Book of Cantos”

Bruja Born picks up after the events in Los Lagos (the underworld) in the first book Labyrinth Lost. Since this is a sequel I won't go into too much detail to avoid all the spoilery things. When I think of Los Lagos I picture Guillermo Del Torro's Pan's Labyrinth in terms of how dark this world is. Labyrinth Lost was told from the point of view of Alex, the actions she took had some serious shared consequences between her & her sisters. These consequences play out in this second installment which is told from Alex's sister Lula's POV. Lula has had the most burden to bear from the events in the last book but they all pretty much came back changed one way or another. Lula is struggling with all of her relationships & is facing a possible break-up with her boyfriend Maks who cares a lot for her but is finding it hard to deal with her distance. Lula is hiding things from Maks both beneath & on surface level. In the Goodreads blurb we are told there's an accident that leads to the deaths of many of Lula's classmates including Maks. Lula's inability to let Maks go leads her down a path of defiance where she'll have to answer to Lady De La Muerte aka Lady Death herself. Lula and her sisters have a history of going up against the Deos (Gods) but this time they may have bitten off more than they can chew.

“The Deos, too, learned their limits. El Fuego extinguished into ash. La Ola crumbled into salt. El Terroz clove the earth in pieces. El Viento fell and kept on falling. But from their limits, Lady de la Muerte was born —The Creation of the Deos, Antonietta Mortiz de la Paz”

There's a system of checks & balances where Lady De La Muerte is concerned and defying death has never gone unpunished. As frightening as Lady De La Muerte sounds, seeing her come to life on the page was terrifying! envisioning her staff alone was enough to make me read with the lights on. The depiction was on point & whenever there was a scene with Lady De La Muerte I was left shooketh! There's so much to this book to love but perhaps the expansion & inclusion of other magical beings we all know and love, is what took this book to yet another level of enjoyment. I picked up on some Mortal Instruments vibes as well but make no mistake Bruja Born is its own thing & the Latinx representation is strong and beautiful! The family bonds in this sequel are strengthened and we get to see their ups & downs. This isn't just your straight forward Fantasy where demons are fought & the hero comes to the rescue. This is a story where there aren't any clear winners and the consequences of defying the laws of nature are as big as the deed itself. The characters you meet on the page are complex and flawed but they all have come to love the magic that runs deep in their blood.

Córdova has created a world centered around a Latinx family of Brujas & Brujos I've come to love spending time with between the pages. Maybe it's the snippets of Spanish sprinkled throughout the pages or the familiarity of this family that pull me in but seeing more diversity in YA Fantasy has genuinely made me fall in love with the genre once again!

*HUGE thanks to SourceBooks Fire and Zoraida Córdova for the early review copy in exchange for my honest opinion

[Heather (The Sassy Book Geek) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Originally Posted On The Sassy Book Geek

**** Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ****

Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars

****Trigger Warnings: Violence, Death, Gore, & Self Harm (for magical purposes)****

I enjoyed the first book “Labyrinth Lost” (review here) which was told from Alex Mortiz’s POV and full of Latinx magic and mythology, it’s a fantastic book overall. I was a bit skeptical when I found out the sequel would be told from Alex’s sister Lula’s POV instead of hers but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed her perspective. I can honestly say I loved “Bruja Born” even more than “Labyrinth Lost”!

Plot

First off I’d like to say that I think the synopsis for the book is a bit on the spoilery side, I went into this without reading it and I thought it was much better that way. So I won’t be discussing the happenings of the plot in too much detail due to said spoilers. Just know that Lula finds herself in a very heart-breaking situation and thus unleashing some magical chaos. There were some moments where my heart broke for her and things got pretty emotional as well as suspenseful.

There’s still plenty of magic and mythology present in “Bruja Born” which I loved, I think we see even more world building in this one with the Thorn Hill Alliance and Knights of Lavant being brought into the fold. We see several other supernatural beings too, which I don’t know why but I wasn’t expecting that with this book (I was more so focused on the brujas) but it was welcome nonetheless. I’m glad we got to see more brujeria (magic) in this book, it was really interesting to see how different each person’s magic was and to see it in action. However, I do wish we had more info on the Deos though, I’m dying to know more about them and the little paragraphs at the beginning of each chapter are such a tease!

As for the writing and pacing, both wonderful! I actually went through this book pretty quickly and it flowed so well, there were definitely no dull moments. There were also a few twists that I didn’t see coming as well, it kept my attention 100%.

I really enjoyed the overall themes present in the book as well, once again (as with Labyrinth Lost) we see strong familial bonds and positive family relationships being portrayed. It’s so refreshing to see families shown in YA that are whole and fully support each other, I especially loved how the sisters (Alex, Lula, and Rose) acted helping each other out while still bickering occasionally, as sisters do! Another sort of theme I thought was shown well was the overall acceptance of yourself as a person that we see in Lula throughout the story. Lula, for example, has scars on her face she finds hideous and uses glamour to hide them but she grows so much as a character throughout the story that she learns to accept herself for who she is physical appearance and all.

And that ending? Can I have the next book now please? You can’t leave me hanging like that! Prepare yourselves for a pretty brutal cliffhanger!

Characters

I loved the characters just as much as I did in “Labyrinth Lost” if not even more! As I already mentioned I loved that the Mortiz family is shown in such a positive light and how they all support each other no matter what. I was definitely excited to learn more about each family member as well since they’re absent for most of the first book.

Lula was a fantastic narrator and I thought she was an incredibly realistic and relatable character. She grows so much throughout the story too and I can say she’s easily a very well developed and complex character, flaws and all. I also understood the choices she made, even if they weren’t the best, and liked how she owned up to everything she did.

I really enjoyed the introduction of a few new characters such as McKay, Frederik, and Rhett. Definitely want to see more of them! I mean the side characters have so much personality and we hardly see them!

Romance

This is hard to place, there is romance in “Bruja Born” and yet it’s not in the way you’d expect. There is a focus on the relationship between Lula and her boyfriend Maks, which I always thought they were a sweet couple but that’s all I’ll say on that subject. There is a love interest that comes alone much later in the book, and I adore him even more…..

I would say the story focuses a lot more on the love between Lula and her family though, which I basically live for. I love the Mortiz family so freaking much!

In Conclusion

What I Loved:

Fast pacing & writing that flowed well
Engaging plot with some great twists
Strong family relationships
Great world building and mythology
It’s diverse YA fantasy!
All of the characters were lovable and well developed overall

What I Didn’t Love:

That mean cliffhanger ending!
I would love to see the world building and mythology fleshed out even more

Recommend?

I recommend checking out “Bruja Born” if you were a fan of “Labyrinth Lost”, this sequel will not disappoint you! If you’re looking for a magical, diverse YA fantasy to add to your TBR then this is the series for you!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never been a fan of zombies. But casimuertos, I like! This book was full of action, from the start. I loved it like the first one and probably like the third one that I can’t wait to read. 2019 is too far away!!! I also loved how the story is told from a different character: in the first book, you live through Alex, and now, through Lula. Can’t wait to see who it will be for book 3! Rose, Nova or Patricio?

I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[The Captain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here are me honest musings. While I try to post no spoilers, if ye haven’t read the first book and ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .

It was an absolute delight to be back in the world created by this author. If ye haven't read these novels, they mix Latin American religions and cultures, Mexican holidays, Afro-Caribbean religion, and other things. It is beautifully done.

The first book dealt with Alex. This one focuses on her sister, Lula. Lula has been struggling since the events in the previous book. She seems to have lost sight of herself and is clinging hard to the pieces of identity that she no longer seems to inhabit. So when events threaten to take the one thing that seems to be holding her together, she aims to fight back no matter what the cost.

This book continues to highlight the importance of family and community. One of the more interesting aspects is that ye get to see the results from Alex's adventure and how it has impacted the entire family. The whole family is struggling with grief, guilt, and post-traumatic stress. There are scars from the past, some literal, and everyone is coming to terms with this new reality. I think that this is an extremely positive outlook despite the inherent pain involved. Magic didn't solve everything and there is a price to be paid for mistakes. And yet, this family sticks together and are determined to love and support one another as they heal.

I found Lula's story to be heart-wrenching. She really doesn't make the best choices and doesn't know what she wants out of life anyone. She is clinging to a version of the past and the idea of a future that has disintegrated. Lula uses the familial bonds of love and guilt to chose a selfish path of action that brings no relief and only more pain to all involved. It is a harrowing journey.

While this was an extremely quick and compelling read, I did have a quibble with the story. Alex's actions in the first book seemed to only impact her direct family and friends. Lula's actions have a much broader scale and effected people outside of the community. It seemed out of line with the rules set up in book one. I am not sure how ye hide magical trouble with those kinds of fatal results. I am hoping the next book will explain this in more detail.

It seems very likely that the next book will focus on the third sister, Rose. I sure hope so! I will definitely be reading it.

So lastly . . .
Thank you Sourcebooks Fire!

Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

*endless sobbing*

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this nearly as much as I liked Labryinth Lost, and I think that 90% of the reason is because I really didn't like Lula.

Basically this book (no spoilers, I promise):

Maks: So uh, I'm breaking up with you.
Lula: OMG no! I'm hot. You love me.
*ten minutes later, Veronica Mars Season 2 happens*
Lula: Maks, I'm not going to let you die! We'll be together forever!
*literally hundreds more people die because of Lula's canto*
Lula: Oh Maks, my heart is breaking for you!

Lula: Um, yeah, so like, none of this is my fault. I just wanted to save Max!
Deos De La Muerte: *128-point presentation on how everything is, in fact, Lula's fault and a 15-step WikiHow for her to fix everything*
Lula: Again, like, I didn't do any of this!
Muerte: *breaks pointer on presentation*
Lula: Well, I'm like too powerless to do anything!
Muerte: *facepalm*

*Character X walks in, all smirkily and scoffingly*
Lula: Ugh, I hate you, but I feel some strange attraction to you
*X continues to smirk, running his hands through his hair*

Okay, it wasn't as simplistic as all that. Lula—vain, obnoxious, narcissistic Lula—does have some character growth towards the end as she realizes how horribly she has fucked up when she tries to save Maks' life/bring him back from the dead. Yet, her admission of fault seems more like a bratty whine instead of taking true responsibility for her actions, as she continues to resolve to do something and then proceeds to do very little until the last 5% of the book.

Plus, she's stuck on saving Maks, a boy who seems to have absolutely no personality other than the fact that Lula is in love with him. A solid 75% of the book is Lula obsessing over the boy and just kinda forgetting about all the other tragedy and chaos.

It gets old, very quickly.

Lula makes the book at least 2 stars. Part of it really isn't her fault, since I listened to the audiobook and the narrator's voice was...annoying? Very enunciated consonants, very harsh "s" sounds that weren't quite lispy but still hissed a bit.

The three stars is the world-building and the tension and drama.

Damn I love this world.

It's a magic that is just as dark and vicious at it is wonderful and fantastic, with every thing costing something. And more of it was revealed, showing how other cultures fit into this mythos and magical system.

And the zombies that weren't really zombies were terrifying as hell. They literally pulled hearts out of people and it was all described in gory viscousness and I loved it.

I also loved Rose, with her intensely awesome powers. And seeing Alex was nice, particularly watching her grow into her own abilities.

However, in addition to Lula being Lula and not noticing anything that didn't involve her personally, I was a little underwhelmed by the treatment of the bus crash. Snippets were shown of mourning, but I never really felt that Lula really cared for any of them besides Maks—and the dead were everyone on her team and the soccer team. This is tragedy on a huge scale.

Lula is the only survivor, and even that was handled weirdly. You'd think that she'd be hounded by reporters and more police officers than just Detective Hill, but it's like she exists in her own little family bubble. The family bubble carries on throughout much of the chaos in the book, and turns a tense and gripping plot into one that is disconnected and emotionless.

I dunno.

I wanted to enjoy this a lot more than I did, particularly since I loved Labyrinth Lost so much.

But, since book 3 is surely going to be about Rose, I'll stay tuned.

[Anna lost in stories *A* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one a little bit less than the first book in the series… mostly, because I expected some smarter decision making from Lula… I mean, come on… especially since the whole Alex situation happened just a few months ago… BUT I do (sort of) understand why she wasn't exactly rational… she is still very young and went through some very traumatic stuff in a very short time… I absolutely loved the additional informations we learned about the world, including some very interesting new characters :) the writing style is beautiful and since I listened to the audiobook version I can also say that the narrator is lovely :) I can’t wait to read the third story about the last Mortiz sister :)

disclaimer
until further notice, I will be adding this little disclaimer at the end of all my reviews… without boring you with unnecessary details I will say this… I’ve been in a writing slump for a while now… it’s happened before, but usually didn’t last very long… it’s connected to a lot of different things in my life, but all those details are personal so I won’t get into them right now… this time unfortunately it’s been already six weeks and it doesn't look like it’s gonna change anytime soon… in all this time I was unable to sit down and write reviews for the books I’ve been reading… and I don’t want to wait any longer, cause I already accumulated quite a few to do… so going forward I will be just writing a very short ones… with maybe an exception here and there if I feel like it ;) I don't want to put pressure on myself to write long and detailed reviews that I used to do for the longest time… instead I will try and add some links to other reviews here on Goodreads if I see ones that I feel share my thoughts and opinions on the stories I read… in the meantime I wish you all happy reading :)

XOXO

A

[TheBookSmugglers · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good, I liked it even more than the first one!

[➳ Anthony ➳ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5
Date Reviewed: 21 July 2018
This Review was first posted on It’s All Anthony. For more reviews, check out the blog here.

“This is a love story. At least, it was, before my sister sent me to hell.”

Bruja Born has been one of my most anticipated books of 2018. I am a big fan of Zoraida Cordóva ever since I began my YA obsession with Cordóva’s The Vicious Deep series. When I first learned that a new series was on its way involving magic, I was excited. The first book was amazing and I loved just about everything. Bruja Born is just the same way.

The first thing I noticed was the main difference between the two current books. In the first book, the setting was mostly in another land called Las Lagos instead of the real world. In Bruja Born , it is now set in the real world. There is a few mentions of Las Lagos throughout the book, but sometimes I wished for that vibe of a magical land throughout the story. However, with all the magic, spells, mythology, zombies, Gods & Goddesses, and old stories, it made up for that feeling. The magic was definitely still there.

Cordóva had an interesting take on zombies. The zombies featured in the book were called casimuertos and they are similar to zombies, but they are not actually zombies. They have the need of life, but are never satisfied, therefore they hunt for more “food.” As I said, the two are very similar, but to have a better understanding of casimuertos, the book offers a better explanation. I personally thought the details of these zombies were an excellent addition as they added so much to both characters and the overall story.

One of the things that I loved seeing in this book was the connection of The Vicious Deep . There is a character that was originally featured the series and is now featured in this book. I did not notice this at first, but once a few details were mentioned and the connections were made, I was happy to see the two series connected to the same world. As a fan of the The Vicious Deep, I should have made the instant connection right at the beginning, but it took me to at least the half way point to finally make the connection. I was still happy either way. There’s probably little chance of more characters making an appearance in the series, but I only hope for more connections in the next book. I loved seeing this connection and I want more of it.

Although this book is written in the perspective of Lula, I would have loved to see more of Rishi. I kept wondering why she was not in the book as much, but then I realized there was a specific reason as to why she was not there. All I can say is I am glad she didn’t make much of an appearance. Otherwise, it may have not gone exactly to well for her. Protect Rishi at all costs!

While on the topic of characters, I must say that I really loved the progress of Rose. I believed that Rose was one of my favorite characters in Labyrinth Lost, and she still is. Rose had such a big development and I was glad for it. There was even a moment where my heart couldn’t take it anymore because she was just being to sweet. I’m really excited to see where her development takes her in the next book, because it’s finally all about her (or at least her perspective).

I know this sounds like a lot of random talking, but this series gets me really excited. I can just go on and on about how amazing the series truly is. Please give the series a read. I know you’ll love it to. I still highly recommend the series to everyone, especially if they love magic and mythology as these are heavily featured. The ending once again got me excited and I cannot just wait for the next book. Although it is going to be the final book, I know its going to be another grand adventure and thrilling read. I can’t wait for more magic and the place it is going to be at. It sounds like it is going to be the best ending yet.

(P.S. The next book is based on the many trips the author has taken to Puerto Rico. I have been there only once and although it was just for a day, it was truly amazing. I can’t wait for it!)

[Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m pretty happy to report that I enjoyed this one more than I expected to! I liked the way that this opened up the world and lore of the brujas and their magic, and I enjoyed the visuals and action of this story too. Looking forward to Rose’s story! And maybe Nova’s? I’m down for more brujas and brujos.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3'5-4★

Vid review available here: https://youtu.be/46tdSVfV6rQ on March, 20th, 2019

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Young Adult / Fantasy\
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

Bruja Born is the second installment in author Zoraida Córdova's Brooklyn Brujas series. Labyrinth Lost introduced readers to the Mortiz family, especially sisters Alejandra (Alex), Lula (oldest), and Rose (youngest), who are witches gifted by the Deos (Gods) with a variety of different magics. It has been 7 months since the events of Labyrinth Lost in which Alex tried to rid herself of magic, and learned that she's a powerful encantrix who has the ability to control all of elemental magic. This time we ride along with Lula as she comes to grips with her emotions and her relationship with her family after Los Lagos.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...

[Ed Reifel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!! Just missing something

[Amy Risner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is my review for Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas, #1) ★★★★

Buddy read with Alexis, Lori, and Melanie!

I really enjoyed the first book in the Brooklyn Brujas series, Labyrinth Lost. However, Bruja Born is so much different than Labyrinth Lost — but in a good way! Labyrinth Lost took us on a journey through the magical realm of Los Lagos. Alex accidentally cast a spell that sent her entire family to ‘hell’, so she and a brujo named Nova enter that world to save her family.

Bruja Born doesn’t return to Los Lagos, but instead takes place in Brooklyn, NY. It’s definitely more of an urban fantasy, but in my opinion, packs a bigger punch. In Bruja Born we get so much more paranormal lore such as casimuertos (people who are similar to zombies; they’re stuck between being dead and undead), vampires, shapeshifters, and more heightened magic from our favorite bruja family.

Instead of Alex being our main character, this time it’s the eldest sister, Lula. Lula is still dealing with the aftermath of escaping hell, and she’s still coping with her father mysteriously returning. As she boards a bus with her boyfriend Maks to a soccer game, they get into a horrific crash. Lula barely escapes death, and she faces the tough decision of saving Maks with magic.

However, just like in the last book, the magic goes horribly wrong. Playing with Death comes at a heavy price with many strings attached. Lula and her sisters fight for their lives and race against the clock to contain the major disaster they created. Dead bodies disappear and reappear all over town, and there’s a mysterious person that keeps stalking the sisters.

The bonds of sisterhood, friendships, and family stood out to me the most in the midst of all the chaos. I am so excited to see where book 3 goes. I really hope we get a perspective from Rose, the youngest sister, because her powers fascinate me. She’s quiet but fierce. I love her.

I absolutely loved all the layers of plot and magic woven into this gorgeous book. I could not put it down. This entire read was exhilarating and kept me up until the wee hours of the morning. Zoraida Córdova once again proves she can weave such a magical, empowering story, while still making all the characters extremely relatable.

Bruja Born releases on June 5, 2018. Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara (A Gingerly Review) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I *love* the premise, world, characters, and just everything about this series. It is all deeply developed and masterfully executed.

AND THAT ENDING. I need the next book stat.

FRTC

**Huge thanks to the publisher for sending me an arc to review. All thoughts and comments are my own**

---------

Full review can be found here: https://agingerlyreview.wordpress.com...

I absolute loved Labyrinth Lost and was impatiently waiting for the second book in the Brooklyn Brujas series. I’m thrilled to tell you that I felt the second book was just as great – if not a *wee* bit better than the first.

Short recap: This book picks up almost right after the end of book one but Lula is the focus, not Alex. Lula and her boyfriend, Maks, get into a horrific accident at the start of the story. This happens just after Maks decides to break up with Lula. Even though he is not expected to survive the accident, she does everything within her Bruja power to save him, even if that means sacrificing her own self. Nobody could predict the chaos Lula has created or the imbalance between the living and the dead. It is up to Lula to fix this mess and discover who she really is at heart.

Seriously everyone, I. Loved. This. Story. I loved the world, the characters (as heavily flawed as they are), and the overall story. Cordova can write and I’ll fight anyone that says otherwise. It took no time for me to be pulled back into the Brooklyn Bruja series. It felt like snuggling into a cozy blanket – all welcoming and inviting. That doesn’t last for long because Cordova hit me out of the gate with a terrible bus accident and (sadly) students dying. 😦 That was just the beginning because Cordova did not stop messing with my feels.

I am going to really try not to give too much away as the book releases TOMORROW. I will tell you this much: Lula is one of the most complex and deeply flawed characters I’ve read in a while. I think that is why I wanted to dislike her and her decisions but couldn’t because I know I would have done the exact same thing at her age. She is a teenager so I had to keep remembering it. The thought of a boy I loved breaking up with me would have crushed me so much and I would have done almost anything to keep him with me if I had the same powers as Lula and her family. I cannot fault her for any choices she made. We all have been there at some point in our lives. Granted, I never raised the dead and brought about a horde of zombies, but who am I to judge? Just know you need to read to find out what I’m talking about.

I felt this story not only gave me/us a better insight into Lula, but the rest of her family. Especially after their Dad came back at the end of book one! *clutches pearls* That still blew me away. I loved being able to get to know more about all of the sisters, especially the youngest since she has not had her Deathday to bring out her true powers. There are hints sprinkled throughout as to what she could do but when it came out at the end of the story – I was in awe. And slightly jealous. I would love that power so much. PLUS DAT ENDING THO. *insert all of the audible gasps here*

This book was far more complex and deep than I realized it would be, but not in a bad way. There really are several story lines woven together to make a truly one of a kind read. There are some deep layers that you just have to read for yourself. This was a fast paced read that had me turning the pages non-stop. It was over before I realized it and then I became sad at the thought of having to wait so long to find out what happens next. Add this to your TBR if you haven’t already. This series really is not like anything I’ve read before and I really want everyone to get their hands on it. I want someone to fangirl with me about brujas and what our powers could possibly be.

[Carrie (brightbeautifulthings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC from Sourcebooks FIREreads. I enjoyed Labyrinth Lost a lot, and I wish this series was getting more attention from the YA crowd. It’s ownvoices with Latinx characters and a f/f relationship in the first book, plus a beautifully drawn magical world. I can’t really oversell it. There may be mild spoilers ahead for Labyrinth Lost. Trigger warnings: death, gore.

Months after Alex’s spell banished her family to Los Lagos, the Mortiz sisters haven’t quite recovered. Lula hides her scars behind magic, but she can’t hide the damage that her time in the spirit realm did to her. When a horrific bus accident leaves countless dead, Lula will break all the rules of magic in a desperate attempt to save her boyfriend, Maks. But if Alex’s mistakes taught the Mortiz sisters anything, it’s that magic has consequences, and the dead never come back quite the same.

Overall, this is a satisfying addition to the Brooklyn Brujas series. Bruja Born builds on the ideas in Labyrinth Lost while still managing to be entirely its own thing. It continues the themes of family and self-acceptance, but the major problem Lula faces is accepting that death is part of the natural balance of the world. Faced with the deaths of dozens of her classmates and her boyfriend, I think she reacts pretty rationally in trying to save them at any cost. Given the option, I think most people would make the same choice and damn the consequences. I found her a more relateable main character than Alex since I could understand her decisions, and she’s also slower to jump into a conflict.

I also like that Bruja Born is set in Brooklyn, which moves it more into the realm of urban fantasy than high fantasy. It’s a fascinating look at what life is like for the Mortiz family, having to balance magic with their everyday lives (at least until everything goes to hell and the dead start walking). There are a lot of dead things in this book, and that’s also something I appreciate. The casimuertos aren’t quite zombies, but the distinction is negligible, and Córdova paints a gruesome picture with them. The novel also expands on the world by including other supernatural groups in Brooklyn, and I’m hoping that aspect returns in future novels. I hadn’t realized Brooklyn Brujas takes place in the same universe as her other series, The Vicious Deep, which sounds like #murder mermaids. I’m so on board for that.

The plotting isn’t quite as tight as it could be. There’s a lot of running around and not knowing what to do and multiple encounters with the casimuertos where Lula is inevitably defeated and then saved at the last minute. She tends to run toward danger without a plan. Nova returns for the possibility of redemption, and I found him more tolerable this time since he doesn’t clash with Lula as often as he does with Alex. (I did miss Alex/Rishi, but I get that this is Lula’s story.) I love the way the book hones in on the relationships among the Mortiz sisters. Lula, Alex, and Rose are great characters with distinct personalities, but despite their differences, they always come through for each other. Fingers crossed that the third book features Rose as the main character!

I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

[The Library Ladies · Rating 4 out of 5]

(originally reviewed at thelibraryladies.com )

I first want to say a special thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to this book!

Awhile back I read the book “Labyrinth Lost” by Zoraida Córdova, a fantasy novel that took some influence from “Alice In Wonderland”. I remember liking the characters in it for the most part (well, mostly Alex, our teen witch protagonist), but having a harder time with the fantasy world setting that she found herself in. Look, I have lots of opinions about “Alice in Wonderland,” as you guys know, and that one didn’t really live up to my very high expectations. But I liked Alex and her family enough that I told myself I’d continue in the series, so when I saw that “Bruja Born” was on the way I requested a copy from NetGalley, thinking I had little to lose. But I have great news. If “Labyrinth Lost” has similarities to “Alice in Wonderland,” “Bruja Born” also has a book to which it has similar themes and concepts. And that book is “Pet Sematary”.

The whimsical and dreamy fantasy setting from the first book has gone out the window, and Córdova has taken us straight into dark fantasy/horror for the second book of her “Brooklyn Brujas” series. And this is where, for me, the series has spread it wings and flown high, because THIS is the kind of book I was waiting for. This time, our main character is Lula, Alex’s older sister who was one of those who was in need of rescue in book one. Her emotional and physical scars from her time in Los Lagos have really weighed her down, and she has changed from popular and bubbly extrovert to sullen and bitter killjoy. I was really happy to see that we got to focus on her this time, as while I liked Alex I liked having a new character to explore. And Lula was so flawed and complex, more so than Alex, and getting to know her (as well as Rose, their youngest sister) made this book all the more rich. In fact, this book gave us a better grasp on all of the family members, and world building exploded and really sucked me in. Lula’s relationships, be it with her sisters or her mother or Maks as he becomes the living dead due to a spell that was cast, felt deeper and more rewarding this time around. I also really have to give Córdova props because while I found Lula to be really hard to take at times, I TOTALLY understood the choices that she made and believed every single one of them. And her romance with Maks is so, so emotional and tragic, as you know that it is doomed once he becomes more and more in tune with the undead side of him. But his emotions and feelings and memories are still there, and we have to slowly watch him fall away, and watch Lula potentially lose him all over again. Man was it painful and an emotional rollercoaster, and I, of course, was living for all the agony it was causing me.

The stakes have grown exponentially in this one as well. While those in danger in “Labyrinth Lost” was limited to the Mortiz family alone (which are high stakes for them, of course), the threat of an undead horde threatens all of New York City after the Mortiz Sister’s healing/resurrection spell goes terribly wrong. We get to see how the magical systems within the book not only affect the characters, but how they could potentially affect the world that they live in. There was a lot of loss in this book, loss that actually caught me off guard. This book goes dark, far darker than “Labyrinth Lost”, but I think that it is richer for it. Córdova also brings in concepts from her other stories outside of the “Brooklyn Brujas”, and fits them into this world and the Bruja culture seamlessly. When we find out that this world is not limited to witches, Córdova opens up a world of possibilities that I cannot wait to see her explore as the series goes on. This series has officially gone from ‘yeah, I guess I will go on with it’ to ‘OKAY SERIOUSLY WHEN DOES THE NEXT ONE COME OUT?!’, and now looking at both “Labyrinth Lost” and “Bruja Born” as two parts to the same whole, I’ve gained more appreciation for the former. The stories are very complementary, and the next one, almost assuredly following the youngest sister Rose, can only strengthen it more.

If you like teen horror and an emotional chaser to your terror, “Bruja Born” is definitely a book that you need to pick up. You do need to read “Labyrinth Lost” before going into this story, but given that I have a feeling that the “Brooklyn Brujas” series is going to be VERY strong overall, you’ll be glad that you did. And now seriously, when does the next one come out?

[Alicia (A Kernel of Nonsense) · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, which does not influence my review.**

In Bruja Born, Zoraida Córdova reintroduces readers to the Mortiz sisters and her world of witches. When Alex Mortiz cast a spell to take away her power, she inadvertently sent her entire family to Los Lagos, a dangerous in-between realm. While Alex was able to save her family, she could never foresee just how much her world would change. In Bruja Born, Alex’s older sister Lula takes center stage. While Alex is learning to accept who she is as an encantrix, an all-powerful bruja, Lula is trying to find her way back to who she was before Los Lagos. When Maks, Lula’s boyfriend and the only person who makes her feel normal, is taken from her, Lula does everything she can to bring him back. Unfortunately for Lula, in her quest to save Maks, her actions will disrupt the very balance of life and death, and in the end, Lula will have to decide what she is willing to sacrifice to right her wrongs.

As much as I enjoyed Alex in Labyrinth Lost, I actually think I relate more to Lula. Before I had finished the first chapter, I was fully invested in Lula’s story. There is something incredibly fragile about her, but the strength and determination underneath is never sacrificed for this fragility. Lula was a character flawed from the very beginning. She makes rash decisions because she is a character driven by emotion...

Read my full review on my blog here.

[Tara (Spinatale Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruja Born was a deeply insightful and touching exploration of grief, guilt, and the lengths people go to for love. I loved that this book was focused on Lula instead of Alex. While I liked Alex as a main character, I thought that Lula had so much more depth. She faced so many difficult challenges and her character growth was just amazing. Plus I was able to connect with her more, which made this story even more engrossing. I also like how focused on family this series is, it’s a nice change of pace to have a positive and supportive family dynamic. 

Although Bruja Born has a different main character than Labrynth Lost, definitely read the first one before starting this one. Bruja Born builds significantly upon that storyline, showing the aftermath of the events in Labrynth Lost. It was interesting to see how the both the family and sister dynamics had changed and were changing. The plot of this book was a wonderful mix of high stakes action and delving deeper into the world-building. Plus the mythology and magic were amazing. I’d suggest going in as blind as possible, although I will note that some scenes are a bit gory.

Bruja Born had relatable and nuanced characters, an engaging storyline, and some excellent action. I’m so excited for the next book in this series, which will follow Rose, the youngest of the sisters.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Rea]

OH MY GODS
REVIEW TO COME

[Mila · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,75 stars

I wish I liked this book better but it was mostly a disappointment. I liked the beginning and I enjoyed the originality of the novel. But Lula as a protagonist annoyed me to no end. She was in no way an older sister to her siblings and was continuously selfish, rash and ungrateful. She also made Alex feel so much guilt while Lula herself messed up much harder and refused to actually resolve the problem and ask for help which obviously made the situation so much worse. I think the ending made it a little better but it was too rushed.

I'm still going to read the third book because I hope Rose will be a more likable main character and there will be more of Alex & Rishi.

[Taylor Ramirez]

So I wasn’t crazy about the first book but I wanted to give this book a chance…but oooo that premise sounds kind of shit. I dunno….

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

I became a fan of these brujas via Labyrinth Lost. The story was so rich and captivating, and I couldn't wait to get to know the other Mortiz sisters better. I must admit, I was even more impressed by Lula's story.

Lula was struggling with the new family dynamic following their return from Los Lagos. She had to adjust to her sister, Alex, being this powerful witch, her own disfigurement, and the return of her father. Let's just say, that Lula was NOT embracing all the changes in her home life. But she had Maks, or at least she thought she did. When the school bus was involved in a catastrophic accident, Lula found herself the lone survivor, but because she was not ready to move on, she made the mistake of misusing her magic to bring Maks back to life....sort of.

Córdova definitely upped her game in this book. There was so much magic and mayhem, I was in overload, and I loved it!

• Like I said - so much magic! We got to see a lot of different characters tap into their magic, and there were some really cool powers revealed, but what really excited me was what we found out about Rose's power, and it was VERY interesting.

• More of the bruja world was revealed and Lady de la Murerte and the casimuertos were utterly fascinating. If you like zombies, I think you will enjoy the casimuertos.

• The sisters spent most of the book working together to solve the problems they created, and I loved the way they played off each other. But, it was not only the sisters who came together, we got to see

• Mom and Dad join the action, and many other members of their magical community as well.
I really enjoyed getting to meet some of the members of the Thorne Hill Alliance and the Knights of Lavant. I can already tell, that I am going to love these guys, and I hope we get more of them in Rose's book.

• There were a LOT of action scenes in this book, and I know they had my heart pumping.
As she did in the previous book, Córdova deftly wove in Latin culture, which just elevated the story.

I want to thank Córdova for the wild ride. It was magical and action-packed, and filled with family and love. I am SO looking forward to Rose's book, and learning more about that little peek we got at the very end of this book.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I give my thoughts, let's talk diversity. Most of the people in this story are POCs with Latin American descent, and you see a lot of latin american culture weaved with some fantastical elements and excellent storytelling.

This is the second book in the Brooklyn Brujas series, but instead of following Alex from the first book, we are in the head of her older sister Lula. Lula's also a bruja with healing abilities who went through something very traumatic in the first book and isn't handling it well. Not that I blame her.

Once again, I have to hand it to Ms. Córdova - she created very real characters here. Their personalities are well thought out and pieced together creating cohesively flawed complete individuals.

After all that happened to Lula in the first book, she's hoping to get back to a new normal and has even more heartbreak happen. It's enough to drive any young person to do what she did here, and I can't say that I don't see her logic. I was young once and would do almost anything to keep the love of my life back then.

It's understandable.

Again, I thought this had a wonderful story to it, that I don't want to go too into because I don't want to give anything away. But brujas aren't the only magical creature in this one!

If you haven't read this series yet, you should definitely get on the bandwagon. It's worth it!!