Wayward Witch

Brooklyn Brujas #3

by Zoraida Córdova

From the author of The Inheritance of Orquídea

The witches of New York are back! In the epic conclusion to the award-winning series, the final Mortiz sister's story is told. Infused with Latin American tradition—the Brooklyn Brujas series follows three sisters—and brujas—as they develop their powers and battle magic in their hometown and worlds beyond.

Rose Mortiz has always been a fixer, but lately she's been feeling lost. She has brand new powers that she doesn't understand, and her family is still trying to figure out how to function in the wake of her amnesiac father's return home. Then, on the night of her Deathday party, Rose discovers her father's memory loss has been a lie.

As she rushes to his side, the two are ambushed and pulled through a portal to the land of Adas, a fairy realm hidden in the Caribbean Sea. There Rose is forced to work with a group of others to save Adas. Soon, she begins to discover the scope of her powers, the troubling truth about her father's past, and the sacrifices he made to save her sisters. But if Rose wants to return home so that she can repair her broken family, she must figure out how to heal Adas first.

Brooklyn Brujas

Labyrinth Lost (Book 1): Alex's story—set in the mythical fantasy world of Los Lagos

Bruja Born (Book 2): Lula's story—urban fantasy set on the streets of Brooklyn

Wayward Witch (Book 3): Rose's story—set in the magical fairy realm of Adas

Perfect for those looking

A fantasy witch seriesLatinx booksDark fairy talesYoung adult fantasyBooks about sisters

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

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2020

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

[Zoraida]

The WAYWARD WITCH pre-order campaign is live!

Order from Astoria Bookshop by September 1st and you will automatically receive an art print (illustrated by Melie Scribbles) and a holographic sticker! Astoriabookshop.com



If you order from another store/format, submit your receipt to https://bit.ly/WaywardForm to receive a holographic sticker and signed bookplate.

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoraida Cordova consistently delivers solid adventures for teens with plenty of action, a clear arc of character development for the MC, and well-executed diversity. Wayward Witch is no different, and I probably would have loved this series as a teenager. This installment follows Rose, the youngest of the bruja Mortiz sisters, as she finally reachers her 15th year and embarks on her own magical coming of age. This series is steeped in Latinx culture and places a strong emphasis on family with realistic feeling sister dynamics.

I can't say too much without spoilers, but Wayward Witch feels more akin to Labyrinth Lost as it involves a portal fantasy element where Rose must find her power, decide who she will become, and maybe experience her first kiss along the way. It moves along at a fast pace with a lushly described world, danger, violence, but always hope. It's also body positive with good fat representation, and I love that for teenagers. We are also introduced to a new character who is non-binary, and this definitely leaves the door open for future installments, even if none are currently scheduled. I found this to be enjoyable and would recommend the entire series as a great option, particularly for teens. YA is sometimes written with an older audience in mind, but with Brooklyn Brujas that isn't so much the case. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Content Warnings include peril, betrayal, death, rituals, monster violence.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so excited I got to read the final book in this series!
I have loved these books, there are so many great elements; the Latinx culture, the bruja religion and abilities, family, and queer characters. The plot for this follows youngest sister Rosie as she gets her own adventure when she and her father are transported to a magical land and forced to help stop a rot that is consuming everything.

Rosie is sassy and smart and a fun character to read about. She's confident in her body and doesn't let things keep her down. She cares so much about her family and I loved her inner thoughts about what her sisters would think about her situation. I also enjoyed the history of the land and seeing Rosie trust herself and develop her powers.

There are a lot of characters and sometimes I got confused as to who was who, especially with them being different species and having unique names. I did like Rosie's crush on Arco and her friendship with Lin. Shout out for non-binary/gender fluid representation!

The ending was a little choppy and I wasn't sure what was going on with a certain character, but I'm sure it will be cleaned up by the final draft. I know this is the final book in the trilogy, but I have questions and Nova's storyline is still wide open so I'm really hoping for a spin off!

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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

Rose Moritz has been trying to fix her family for the past six months. Everyone says they're fine and to leave it be, but Rose and see the barely sealed fractures threatening to send her family into pieces. When adas abduct Rose and her father and drag them into the fairy realm, Rose finds out that her father has lied to them all this time. He didn't forget. And the secrets he hid were bigger than she ever could have imagined.

I think I built my expectations too high, and it did not live up to my internal hype. It was still enjoyable, but I skimmed a lot of the story.

Lots of elements were fantastic, but overall it felt stereotypical of a lot of YA fantasy in a way the previous two books didn't.

There was the warrior-fairy princess. There was the cobbled together Guardians who were supposed to be a team but never managed to click together (I think this was due to me skimming). There was the love interest who was kinda a love interest but I was really meh over. There were a whole bunch of other characters and I was struggling over the timeline of events, which kept changing and made me go, wait, when did this happen? A couple years ago or several centuries ago?

Anywho, I feel that most of my frustration lay with the YA-samesies of the story. I felt the same way with Shielded. I felt this one pulled from way too many other places and just didn't stand on its own.

But again, this is entirely to do with me, because I was in a slumpy mood while reading it and honestly skimmed quite a bit of the story.

I did love the mythology and the ending portions, and I loved Rose's magic. I loved the wrapping of the Latinx fairy land, and how the realm was set on an island in the Caribbean. I loved a lot of the characters in the story. I loved the winged horses, although I felt they needed more page time.

I am just tired of immortal fairies who act like teenagers and ferocious fairy kings with paper-thin personalities and motivations. And immortals falling for teenagers.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

[JulesGP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two and half years ago, I read book 1 in this series featuring three bruja sisters. The first one had Alex journeying through a hostile fairy land to free her vanquished family. Book 2 told the story of how the oldest sister, Lula, dealt with her unfortunate decision to bring back her boyfriend from the dead.

Book 3 is about the youngest sister, Rose, and is definitely the best written of the three. The author briefly touches on the past books but then dives headfirst into Wayward Witch. At first, it seems that we’re getting a rehash of Alex’s venture, a 15 year old bruja forced into a mystical land, but Rose and her band of fellow magical heroes aren’t just a collective of power. They’re sunlit and star infused beings who are barely grown, vulnerable youth trying to shine and fulfill their promise. They’ve been kidnapped by the corrupt Bastard King of Adas who enthralls a few of the populace with merriment and greed, distracting them from his vile treatment and enslavement of the majority. His evil heart has fouled the land and the putridness is literally eating away at the lush paradise. Rose and her found family together must use their magic to fight away the Rot and save Adas.

As always, Córdova’s world building and nonstop action is wondrous. Rose’s two royal companions, twins Arco and Iris, are passionate and swoon worthy champions to the cause against their father. I would recommend to fantasy fans, especially ones looking for beautiful language and diverse characters. Because Rose is a bit younger, there’s no romance other than crushes. Hopefully, the author revisits Rose and Adas in a few years.

Arc received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[emily- mossyreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC provided by NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for an honest review

Wayward Witch follows the third Mortiz sister, Rose, as she follows in her sister’s footsteps and dabbles in magic that she shouldn’t.

I’ll preface this with saying that I really don’t like the way these books lead off of each other. The end of the last book didn’t line up with the beginning of this one and it almost immediately ruined my reading experience for me. The last book ended with the family doing a canto to bring back their father’s memory and a voice saying something like “no one escapes my realm” or something like that.

There was zero mention of the voice and only a passing mention of the ritual that was done. I have a hard time when a book ends in a plot twist and then it doesn’t pick up with that in the next book. It makes it feel like the build up was for nothing.

Frankly, this book was kind of boring. I liked Rose’s voice in the first couple of chapters, but as the book went on, it seemed to change. I can’t even fully describe what it was that changed, but it wasn’t a good change. The rest of the story was just kind of dull. Like I never really got pulled in enough to care about who was living or dying. I think there were just too many characters that were meant to be important, but not enough characteristics about them that made them important. It just fell short for me.

One of the cool things was the inclusion of a non-binary characters. I thought that was cool and I liked Lin as a character a lot. They were very sweet and loyal. I don’t think Rose would have made it through the things she did without them. I think the plot line between Lin and Rose’s dad was a little unnecessary, but it is what it is.

There was a part at the end that was really confusing continuity wise. And this is a spoiler, but at the end when Prince Arco dies he keeps being mentioned as being with his sister and what not after they bury him. It’s never clear if he is actually dead or not. I mean even his death scene ends with him coming back to life and talking. It was never clear and honestly made me extremely frustrated.

All in all, I think this was not at all a satisfying end to the series. I think it was because there was no real linear plot to the books. Wayward Witch also still left off with the question of what happened to Nova and whether or not he was going to be able to fix his powers. I, as a reader, was not satisfied with this end.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vid review on July 28, 2021 here https://youtu.be/bNBJi5OH0po


The third book in the "Brooklyn Bruja" series seriously surprised me, because I wasn't expecting to travel to this new world populated by fae people, Adas, as Zoraida Cordova has dubbed the Spanish word for them, "Hadas". I loved to see this new realm, its inhabitants, and all that happens there. I felt a bit unfaithful as I ended caring more for this new bunch of people than - almost! - for the previous Brujas we knew and loved!!!

I liked this idea of learning to see beyond façades, learning about a person by their actins and not the myths and stories they may try to hide behind. Also this sense of unity, of family that the series has in every book, the concept of trust and forgiveness, of being open and explaining how you feel to other people. One concept that has caught my attention constantly is our MC saying "why people don't let themselves cry". As if we feel like we have to hide our feelings, when the natural thing is being honest with everybody but specially ourselves.

There is so much to talk about in this book! We have new levels of inclussivenes with a new non binary/gender fluid character, a MC who isn't ashamed of not fitting into society's concept of body weight (we have more than one character that defy such "normativity", and that's cool!), a powerful story about love between mother/daughters, rivalry and love between siblings and all with this new folklore and mythos that Zoraida has spell for us in this book.

For me it kinda feels more like a new book, a new series opening, that a final Brujas book, and I'm cool with it if that means we get to see more of this nunch of guys!!!

[Ed Reifel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!!!

[Nicholas Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

And thus one of my favorite YA trilogies comes to an end.

Wayward Witch is the third and final(?) book of the Brooklyn Brujas series. In the first book, Alejandra "Alex" Mortiz accidentally banishes her family on her Deathday, afraid of her ecantrix powers. She journeyed to Los Lagos with a brujo Nova and her friend (later girlfriend) Rishii to find them. In the second book, Alex's older sister Lula survives a bus crash that kills her boyfriend and the rest of her classmates. She tries a ritual to bring her boyfriend back only to summon countless undead (casimuertos). In this final book, the youngest sister Rose and her father are abducted to a dying fairy island called Adas as her new found Siphon powers are believed to defend the island from the rot.

I really didn't want this story to end, mostly because I didn't want the series end. It isn't 100% confirmed the series is over, I'm really really REALLY hoping Nova gets his own book (more on that later). Each of the books is a coming-of-age story, and Rose's story is no different. She is partially mad at her father because he reveals that he has retained memories from when he was gone during the first book but never told anybody. Their relationship parallels Iris and Arco's, the princess and prince of Adas, relationship with their own father the King of Adas. The King of Adas is a cruel man who killed and imprisoned his own father for the crown. He mistreats Iris and Arco and many of his subjects.

Rose, Arco, and Iris go on a journey across Adas to fend back the aforementioned rot. During that journey they learn about each other, encounter new threats and lose many friends and Rose tries to understand her Siphon powers which terrify her and the others. We also have a call back to the first book where we learn the Destroyer was a Siphon like Rose. Along the way, Rose befriends a half-fairy brujex named Lin who can create portals who is a delight.

Rose's journey, although fast-paced, is a long one. Her feelings over her father, about Iris, and toward Arco all make her feel conflicted against the looming threat of the rot. However, I am a little irked about two things: 1) Although we learn a lot about Rose's father, his relationship with her does not get much detail and I feel like we were robbed of it. He still has character development, but a lot of it is tied to the actions of the plot. 2) Rose and Arco's romance went by way too fast. It was still sweet though.

The ending is bittersweet. The King gets his comeuppance--albeit it somewhat too quickly--, we learn what the rot truly is, and Iris becomes queen. However, Arco is tragically killed--I was honestly surprised. We learn that Lin is actually Rose's half-sibling whom her father had when he was originally in Adas years ago. I was shocked too. Rose's story has a satisfying conclusion.

But still Nova. Nova leaves at the beginning of the book to go to the Dominican Republic, he still hasn't received a proper Deathday and the magic is slowing killing him. He gives Rose some bracelets for her and her sisters to remember him, at the end he sends them a postcard. Nova remained to me the most interesting character in all these stories and now we need his story. Zoraida Córdova has not ruled out completely a book for him, BUT WE NEED IT!!!! The story of the Mortiz sisters is complete, but not Brooklyn Brujas. You cannot just forget a character like this.

In the end the book is about a 3.5/5 stars for me but the overall series is 4/5 stars. I am happy, but yearning.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good series! The characters and the world are well thought out and nearly flaw less. The mystery and lore of the world continues to unfold with each book and each page. Her paceing and flow is flawless. More please!

[The Nerd Daily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Nathalie DeFelice

If you haven’t read the Brooklyn Brujas series, you seriously need to. I loved Alex and Lula…but I feel like Zoraida outdid herself with Rose’s character in Wayward Witch. Maybe it’s because I really felt connected to her as a character, despite being a young sibling. There’s something about characters that are the observers/fixers in their family. The ones who see what’s going on in their family and doing their best to keep everything together, or at least semi normal. Also I was/am Rose at most family gatherings, and I felt that to my core! The ending was bittersweet in a way that is perfect for this series, and left just a bit unfinished that I hope readers might get to revisit sometime soon! I sincerely urge you to pick up this book, because you’re going to love it!

Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: kidnapping, parental death

Rep: non-binary character, f/f relationship - side characters

Onto the final in the Brooklyn Bruja series and sadly this was the weakest book for me. Given that this is the third in the series I was really hoping that we'd get to see more of them as a family together and looking at the family dynamics. Whilst I love that we got so much of a focus on Rose, taking her out of the family home with her father - and then dumping said father in a tower prison - and just focusing on her and all these new characters kind of ruined it for me.

I do like Rose, and I enjoyed that we got to see more about her and the impact for her on her sisters' actions but also her new powers, but because it was so far removed from the rest of the family it almost didn't feel like it fit in with this series. I think the pacing was too off on this book also; it felt very slow and whilst there was action, I just didn't feel invested in it or any of the side characters. I didn't feel like I knew enough about them or that we really got to see them bond as a team. It also felt quite similar to LL at times with Rose traipsing through trying to save a world.

Also as a side-note, can we stop having relationships between teenage girls and god-knows-how-old immortal beings? Whilst the romance in this book didn't really go anywhere I honestly just rolled my eyes as soon as the first suggestion of a crush began. It's so typical of YA and frankly I find it a bit disturbing that these ancient men are always so interested in young teenage girls - Rose is only 15...

I think my main problem with this book is that it felt so unfinished. We get to see Rose and her father return home and then a quick run through of what happens after but there's no real impact; we don't really know at any point what Alex and Lula have been doing the whole time she's been away, we still don't really know all that much about what happened to their father, and we still know so little about Rose's powers. I just needed more answers for what appears to be the concluding book. Also - where is Nova?!

I don't know, I didn't hate this book by any means but it just wasn't as fulfilling for me as the other two books in the series - I can only assume we're going to get another installment at some point because there is so much left unanswered about Nova and I don't know how she can just leave it there.

[Mila · Rating 3 out of 5]

The digital arc of this book was kindly provided by the publisher via Edelweiss+ website in exchange for an honest review.

My relationship with this whole book series has been rocky at best but I still hoped that this installment would be better than the previous one. And it was an improvement, I liked Rose a lot more as a protagonist than Lula. I liked the writing, the cultural references, and the magical setting. But overall, the plot was drawn out and just wasn't that exciting. It also seemed a bit too similar to the first book and I wish there was more focus on the actual family relationships, especially between Rose and her father. So, while I didn't actually dislike any parts of the novel, it was mostly quite underwhelming.

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

How am I supposed to survive now that this series is over??

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having finally learned the truth about her powers, the youngest Mortiz sister was struggling not only with controlling her gift, but also with finding her place in the family. On her Deathday, Rose and her father were taken back to Adas. There, she was charged with fighting the rot that was destroying the land. As she fought for this world, she learned how to harness her power while also discovering a lot about herself.

I am always so sad to say goodbye to a series, and this is one I have loved since the very beginning. Córdova did an incredible job with all of these books, and I adored getting to know each and every one of the Mortiz sisters.

Like the previous books, this one was packed with action and magic that had my heart pumping. Rose had a difficult task to tackle, but thank goodness she had help. I was quite a fan of the band of Guardians put together to save Adas. They challenged Rose, and though they were not gentle with her, they helped her grow. As the little sister, it was easy for Rose to fade into the background and play the supporting character role, but here, she was forced into a high stakes do-or-die situation, and she rose to the occasion. She had these brilliant moments, which really touched me and also made me quite proud of her.

I really enjoyed this book. Though, because this was the finale, I was left a little wanting. The standout elements of this series for me was the familial bond. The second book was one of my favorites, because the entire family banded together for their battle. They spent a lot of time on-page together, and I loved every second of it. I missed that in this book. I was also left with some questions. A VERY big one as a matter of fact. I am still holding out for more Brooklyn Brujas books. I mean, there was a B I G and awesome reveal in this book, and I think that could definitely be explored more. I'm just saying.....

Even if I don't get any more books, this series will still rank high for me. Córdova created a fantastic world, and I am grateful I had the opportunity to explore it. I am also happy to have had the pleasure of spending three books with the magnificent Mortiz family. I relished this magical journey, and will fondly remember my time with the Brooklyn Brujas.


*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[Celia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for a chance to review this title ahead of its release date!

Wayward Witch is the third installment to the Brooklyn Bruja series that I have ardently followed since Labyrinth Lost was published. Where LL followed Alex and Bruja Born followed Lula, WAYWARD WITCH follows the youngest sister, Rose.

WAYWARD WITCH takes us back to another world and as we saw in LABYRINTH LOST, young Rose must find a way to work with what she's given and save those she loves. We are first back with the Mortiz family as they try to cope with the events of their father returning and not remembering anything that happened back in the fairy realm. Rose doesn't quite feel like she belongs, even on her own Deathday. But during an argument with her father, both he and Rose are suddenly spirited away to Adas, the fairy realm and find themselves in the center of a land in turmoil. Rose is suddenly forced to work with a group to find the root of evil that is slowly destroying the land. She agrees if only to save her father whom the king is keeping a prisoner in exchange. Along the way, she finds friendship in the ragtag group and even family.

What I loved about this book was that I was taken back to what I loved about the series. A girl unsure about herself that is suddenly thrust into something that seemed bigger than herself, only to conquer it and come out that much stronger. The conflict within the Mortiz sister as this series went on, is what makes it real. Also, the focus on family and the love they have is what drew me into this series, to begin with.

Forewarning, this book does contain a bit of romance, but it does not consume the book.

Zoraida, my heart hurt in this one. HOW DARE YOU.

Anyway, I am sad this series has come to an end (or has it????) but with the author's next book in my kindle, I am sure I will be sated with her writing for a long time to come.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adored this, this is the third book in Zoraida’s Brooklyn Brujas series and I was so eager to jump straight back in, this focuses on the third of the sisters Rose. As usual you can expect absolutely fantastic writing from Zoraida, amazing world building, realistic and well developed characters along with a ton of Fantasy interwoven with Latin mythology and cultural references. Immerse yourself in a fantastic world full of adventure, witches, strong female characters, humour, fantasy and mystery, you won’t regret it for a single second, treat yourself to a read from one of the best writers around. (But go the the first two books first ) I am hoping for a fourth book to come

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wayward Witch (Brooklyn Brujas #3) by Zoraida Córdova has been on my tbr for way too long. I just didn't want the series to come to an end. I don't know what I was worried about through because it was a brilliant finale! I loved getting to explore the Kingdom of Adas and meet its inhabitants. I was really glad to meet Lin - I wouldn't mind someday to get another book featuring in the leading role. I need to catch up on this author's other books very soon.

[Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never write reviews on here but this trilogy was just so good. Last night I had 25 pages left and realized I didn’t want it to end because I didn’t want to say bye to the characters or the world. I haven’t felt that way about a series in a long time! Rose is definitely my favorite of the three sisters and watching her grow up in this book was so wonderful. I’ll wait for Nova’s book as long as we have to!

[Carmen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rose’s life has been turned upside down. First, she was accidentally trapped in a tree by Alex. Then she had to deal with zombies and everything that came with it thanks to her other sister, Lula. On top of that, she found out that her magic is much different than what she thought it was. Now that her death day has creeped up, she’s convinced her family’s happiness is a band-aid that’s about to be ripped off. Her father’s return is not what her family imagined it would be, and she’s convinced everyone is just pretending to be happy instead of enjoying the lull before the next big crisis. Then she finds out her father has been lying about not remembering his time in the fairy realm, and it opens a whole new can of worms.

I absolutely loved the first two books in the series, so I was excited to read the third and final book in the trilogy. I wish I could say I loved this as much as the previous books. Sadly, I have mixed feelings about this one. Something seems to be missing and I can’t put my finger on what that is other than it felt unfinished when I got to the end. I got to the final chapter and said, “That’s it?” I watched Rose go through so much before finally getting back to her family only to find the closing very rushed and lacking in heart and substance. Unless I’m mistaken and this isn’t the end of the series, this was a pretty lackluster and rushed way to tie up the story in the final chapters.

That said, there is a lot of good here. Rose narrates the final book, and it was so much fun to see the world through her eyes. On top of this, we get a whole new cast of characters when she finds herself abducted and taken to a fairy realm called Adas. The descriptions are so beautiful, and the characters are so complex, that I had a lot of fun watching her journey progress. I loved the new characters so much. I wish that more of them were developed more than they were, but not enough to make me feel that any of them were lacking.

However, I do think that the fast pace and sheer number of new characters was confusing at times, especially early on. It took me a hot minute to get the characters down because it seemed like someone new was popping up everywhere I turned. It’s also fast paced, but it still somehow left me feeling like a lot and nothing happened at the same time. I came out of the book feeling like I got dropped out of a crazy whirlwind where too much and not enough happened. It’s entirely possible that we’re meant to feel this way, but it’s still a strange feeling.

All in all, while the characters and setting is great, I find that this is the weakest link in the series. I hope it turns out that this is not a trilogy because there are a lot of loose ends that have been left open, and I think that there is a lot more story that can be told especially since it feels so unfinished. I’ve got my fingers crossed that a novella or fourth book in the series is something that occurs somewhere down the line.

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

**I received an ARC of this book from the author, which does not influence my review**

Wayward Witch, the conclusion to Zoraida Córdova’s Brooklyn Brujas series, transports readers to a world that is equal parts beautiful and deadly as the youngest of the Mortiz sisters, Rose, must find a way to master her newly discovered power or find herself lost to her family forever. Rose’s Deathday party should be one of celebration, but she can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t quite right. Her family has done its best to move on from their experiences with Los Lagos and the casimuertos, but Rose can’t let go of all the unanswered questions she has about her father and his missing years and her own new power. When Rose and her father are kidnapped and brought to the Kingdom of Adas, a fairy-land full of creatures both enchanting and cunning, she is ordered to help stop the Rot which has been spreading over its realm. On her journey, Rose grapples with her newly discovered power and the darkness within herself that’s getting harder and harder to deny. Rose’s love for her family and particularly her sisters, Alex and Lula, is apparent, but there is always that voice in the back of her head that says she isn’t as strong or resilient as they are. I loved that Córdova’s fairyland isn’t just a mythical place, but one that has ties to Rose’s realm as it was once an island in the Caribbean. I really enjoyed Rose’s relationship with Iris, the princess of Adas. She is everything Rose doesn’t believe she can ever be. There is a respect that builds between the two that is important to each of their arcs. The author also introduces a non-binary character who calls themselves a brujex and I would love to get another book with Lin at the helm. Wayward Witch is an imaginative and dynamic novel that gives fans of the series a satisfying ending but also a thirst for more books in this world.

[Sofia (Bookish Wanderess) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is SO GOOD! I have liked all three books in the series and I really hope we get another one in the future because I want to read Nova’s story.

I really liked Rose at the beginning and I mostly liked her throughout the book, but I felt like her character was reduced to her fear of using her magic and to her comparing herself to her sisters for a big portion of the story and I wish there was a bit more to her character. Also, most side characters saw Rose as competent and brave and I’m not entirely sure why (I feel so mean saying that!), it’s not like she wasn’t those things but it wasn’t really evident to me that she was either.

Adas, the world this is set in, was captivating and intriguing. The gods and the different magical creatures were so cool and unique.

I found Arco and Iris very intriguing from the very beginning. And Lin was such a sweet and amazing character. My favorite part of the book was Rose's relationship with Iris and Lin.

Their kind of was a romance in the story, but it was barely there so I really didn’t care, and I honestly would have liked the romance to be between Rose and another side character because I think they had A LOT more chemistry.

The reveal about the Rot shocked me so much and I loved it, it was so satisfying.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It might be a case of It's me, not you/the book. I didn't very much like this book. BUT, I haven't read the previous two books.

What I liked: the cultural references, the magic system, getting to know Rose.

What I didn't like: The story felt drawn out. I wish there had been more about the relationship between Rose and her father.

[Adriana Martinez Figueroa]

*EARLY DRAFT*
You’re not ready for Rose’s Journey. I’m so proud of her and of Zoraida!

[Lulu (the library leopard) · Rating 4 out of 5]

zoraida córdova writing the nonwhite fae that ya fantasy so desperately needs, hell yeah

[Daniel Sepúlveda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puntaje: 4 Estrellas

Que gratificante se siente terminar una trilogía, ¿no creen?

Descubrí esta trilogía casi por accidente. Cuando aún vivía en Boston asistí a la presentación de un libro de Dhonielle Clayton (autora de “Bellas”). En esa época me gustaba asistir a eventos literarios de autores y autoras que harían parte del Boston Teen Author Festival. Una de esas autoras era Dhonielle.

Pero, ¿porque les cuento todo esto? Pues resulta que Dhonielle estaba en una mini gira por la costa este de los Estados Unidos y estaba acompañada de Zoraida Córdova, una autora de quien nunca había escuchado hablar en mi vida.

Fue en este evento que supe que Zoraida era ecuatoriana y que escribia novelas de fantasía juvenil. Me pareció muy interesante su historia y por eso decidí comprar “Bruja Born” esa noche. Justo después del evento, mientras iba camino a casa en el metro, comencé a leer Bruja Born y quedé fascinado con la narración, la magia y el spanglish.

Pero bueno, esta no es una reseña de Bruja Born, aquí voy a hablar de Wayward Witch, el tercer y último libro de esta trilogía. Si quieres saber mi opinión de Bruja Born puedes hacer click en este enlace: http://danielhsepulveda.com/bruja-bor.... Es valido mencionar que en esta, ni en ninguna de mis reseñas, encontrarás spoilers, así que estás completamente a salvo de ellos.

Luego de conocer a Alex y Lula Mortiz, es momento de seguir a Rose en una aventura tan fantástica como peligrosa. Luego de los sucesos ocurridos en la segunda entrega, Rose recibe sus poderes y está aprendiendo a utilizarlos. Sin embargo, hay revelaciones que cambian la forma en que ella veía a ciertas personas y, animada a descubrir la verdad, termina siendo transportada al Reino de las Adas, un lugar místico donde surgen los cuentos y leyendas que disfrutaba escuchar cuando era niña.

Mi experiencia con este libro fue positiva. Si bien no es una historia que me haya dejado impactado, siento que fue como un bálsamo para mi alma lectora. Durante este mes estuve haciendo muchas cosas y regresar a este audiolibro me daba un poco de paz y tranquilidad.

Rose es tal vez mi hermana Mortiz favorita, siento que es el personaje que más creció durante la trilogía. Si bien Lula y Alex tambien pasaron por momentos desafiantes que les ayudaron a madurar, Rose es quien termina descubriendo verdades ocultas y conociendo seres extravagantes que le harán reflexionar acerca de su pasado y el de su familia.

Siento que Wayward Witch es un final adecuado para la trilogía. Como dije previamente, no es un libro que te deje IMPACTADO, pero si es un libro chill que puedes disfrutar en un parque o en la playa.

Recomiendo la trilogía de Brooklyn Brujas a los lectores jóvenes que quieran comenzar a leer fantasía, pues el sistema de magia es facilmente entendible y la narración en enganchante. Ahora que he terminado esta trilogía, es momento de leer “Illusionary”, libro que hace parte de mi TBR 2022.

[Aracely · Rating 2 out of 5]

No me ha gustado, esperaba mucho esta historia porque de las hermanas Rose era la que más me gustaba y esperaba muchísimo de lo que su libro pudiera darnos. Para descontento mío no ha sido así.
La historia se me ha hecho muy lenta y pesada de leer en la gran mayoría del libro, después sentí que había muchísimos personajes que seguramente eran importantes para la trama pero que si soy sincera ya ni los recuerdo ni se que función tuvieron al final. Siento que quedan muchas cosas sin decir o explicar, ah, y Nova, que pasa con él? Para ser el cierre de una trilogía queda demasiado inconclusa.

[Bobbie Bomber · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Sandy Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series but hopefully not the last. It feels incomplete as it stands;so hopefully there will be a book four. This book was not as enjoyable but I enjoyed the series as a whole

[Ruthsic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rep: Latina and fat main character; non-binary secondary character

I don't know if I'm supposed to pick favorites between the Mortiz sisters, but I will admit Rose may be my favorite among them, thanks to this book. Wayward Witch is both expansive and conclusive in its scope - by taking Rose's story out into a faerie realm, but also speaking to the experiences of the three sisters and bringing together things from the whole series. It starts at about 6 months since the end of Bruja Born, and the Mortiz family is now settled in a new house, thanks to the Hunters, and Rose is having her Death Day party. Things are still not quite settled, though, emotionally, as the return of their father has them a bit out of balance, with so many things unsaid and hidden, and her father not opening up about his time in Adas, the faerie realm. Rose, wanting to use the collective magic of her party, tries a truth spell, but it has unintended consequences. Next thing she knows, she and her father are kidnapped and taken to Adas, where she is being recruited as a soldier for the king of Adas, who wants a deadly rot on his lands vanquished.

Rose, now knowing that her powers are to pull other powers, not just being a Seer, is reluctant to get involved in the problems of another land. But with her father as a hostage, and the threat of the problem of Adas spilling over into her world, she agrees to become a part of the team of exceptional brujexs who are going to investigate. A large part of the book is their journey to the heart of the land, and Adas being a faerie realm, there is much to explore as a reader. Between Rose's training and their struggles to get past the areas affected, the story also brings up how Rose's older sister's journeys have shaped her own worldview, how their mistakes leading to large consequences has made her a bit afraid to embrace her own potential, and how the similarities between her powers and a dreaded deos in this realm has her even more afraid of it. Their dynamic as a family is also explored to some extent, with the recent changes and how they are coping with it, as well Rose's relationship with her father.

I cannot go into much detail about the Adas storyline, because spoilers, but I can say this much - I loved how unpredictable it was and what decisions were made with respect to some character arcs. It did feel like the journey was stretched out so much, when the most interesting things happend at the end of it, but the magic of exploring Adas kept it from being too slow. Overall, it gives a nice conclusion, drawing together their stories in Rose's arc and giving a new beginning to the Mortiz family. Sad to say goodbye (but really hoping for a spin-off novella at least for [redacted] in the future pretty please) but can't deny it was a good and satisfactory conclusion!

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Sourcebooks Fire, via Edelweiss.