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Last Sunrise in Eterna
Three teenagers are invited to spend seven days on the secluded island floating off the coast of Puerto Rico to learn the magic of the elves.
All they have to do is give up their dreams.
Seventeen-year-old goth Sevim Burgos hates elves. Everyone else on earth loves the elves (especially their handsome princes) and would give anything to participate in Eterna’s annual Exchange, where three teens can trade their dreams for a week of elven magic.
But Sevim knows things most people don’t. She can see through the illusions the elves use to conceal their crimes. Ever since elves killed her father, Sevim has longed for revenge. So to help support her single mother, she has been selling abandoned elf corpses on the black market.
But it turns out that the elf prince Aro has noticed Sevim bodysnatching, so he kidnaps her mother in retaliation. To get her mother back, Sevim must participate in the Exchange.
In the home of the elves, Sevim will have to surrender her dreams and put her trust in the charming prince who took the last family member she has in order to master the art of elf magic. And in working with him, she will discover how the royal elves might be more tied to her own history than she ever suspected.
All they have to do is give up their dreams.
Seventeen-year-old goth Sevim Burgos hates elves. Everyone else on earth loves the elves (especially their handsome princes) and would give anything to participate in Eterna’s annual Exchange, where three teens can trade their dreams for a week of elven magic.
But Sevim knows things most people don’t. She can see through the illusions the elves use to conceal their crimes. Ever since elves killed her father, Sevim has longed for revenge. So to help support her single mother, she has been selling abandoned elf corpses on the black market.
But it turns out that the elf prince Aro has noticed Sevim bodysnatching, so he kidnaps her mother in retaliation. To get her mother back, Sevim must participate in the Exchange.
In the home of the elves, Sevim will have to surrender her dreams and put her trust in the charming prince who took the last family member she has in order to master the art of elf magic. And in working with him, she will discover how the royal elves might be more tied to her own history than she ever suspected.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 28, 2023
7 people are currently reading
7681 people want to read
About the author
Amparo Ortiz
19 books255 followersAmparo Ortiz was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and currently lives on the island’s northeastern coast. Her short story comic, “What Remains in The Dark,” appears in the Eisner Award-winning anthology Puerto Rico Strong (Lion Forge, 2018), and SAVING CHUPIE, her middle grade graphic novel, comes out with HarperCollins in Winter 2022. She holds an M.A. in English and a B.A. in Psychology from the UPR’s Río Piedras campus. When she’s not teaching ESL to her college students, she’s teaching herself Korean, devouring as much young adult fiction as she can, and writing about Latinx characters in worlds both contemporary and fantastical.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
September 24, 2025
While the first 2/3 of this book was gripping, the plot dwindled a bit in the last 1/3. Maybe I just wasn't paying attention, or maybe I just didn't care, but the twist completely surprised me. I'm not sure it was necessary, but it was new and refreshing.
YA fantasy is a difficult genre for me. Asian YA fantasy has been particularly bad. This surprised me. So did LUCHA OF THE NIGHT FOREST. Maybe I segue to this section of the BIPOC party.
First of all, I enjoy the name Sevim, and the reason she was given this name. As a human that hates elves, there is more than meets the eye to this seventeen year old. Chosen for a contest on the elves' island turns into a very risky business. So is the elf prince Aro. Do sparks fly?
I used to ignore author's notes. However, I now enjoy them for the most part. Amparo mentions she has always loved elves, but never saw one that looked like her on screen. I felt that in my soul. As someone that grew up on LOTR and other fantasies like it, I well know the genre is very white. High fantasy is still very white, and predominately written by men. I enjoyed a lot of it in my past, but I'm seeking more diverse voices in the genre. I hope to read more like this.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street YA
YA fantasy is a difficult genre for me. Asian YA fantasy has been particularly bad. This surprised me. So did LUCHA OF THE NIGHT FOREST. Maybe I segue to this section of the BIPOC party.
First of all, I enjoy the name Sevim, and the reason she was given this name. As a human that hates elves, there is more than meets the eye to this seventeen year old. Chosen for a contest on the elves' island turns into a very risky business. So is the elf prince Aro. Do sparks fly?
I used to ignore author's notes. However, I now enjoy them for the most part. Amparo mentions she has always loved elves, but never saw one that looked like her on screen. I felt that in my soul. As someone that grew up on LOTR and other fantasies like it, I well know the genre is very white. High fantasy is still very white, and predominately written by men. I enjoyed a lot of it in my past, but I'm seeking more diverse voices in the genre. I hope to read more like this.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street YA
March 28, 2023
I read this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to Page Street Kids for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! 2.75 stars rounded up.
TL;DR: I'm quite conflicted with my feelings about this book. It's not terrible and I did enjoy the author's writing but I found myself wanting more throughout the whole read. Ultimately, I realised that this probably wouldn't make it on my list of recommendations for readers that want a YA fantasy, no matter how wonderfully diverse it is! I was really hoping to enjoy this more than I did but it just wasn't the right fit for me as I found the plot and characters to be too surface-level to really engage with.
Amparo Ortiz is an author that I've been wanting to try for a while and I'm glad that I finally did. Although this book didn't end up being great for me, I still enjoyed the author's writing. It's easy to sink into and Ortiz managed to hook me in with just the first few lines. I was surprised to find that the plot really takes off from the first chapter as the action almost immediately kicks in and we're literally thrown head-first into the story. This was both good and bad—good because I enjoy fast-paced fantasy but bad because it never really slowed down and gave me the chance to become fully immersed in this world and to connect to the characters.
What I enjoyed the most about this story was how diverse it was. As far as I can recall, there wasn't one white character in this fantasy, which was refreshing! What also made it unique was that it was about Puerto Rican elves and I loved that we get to see a classic fantasy race have brown skin. The author is Puerto Rican and she infuses the story with the culture, language and history of her island home very well. Coming from the other side of the world, Puerto Rico's history is something that I didn't know much about, so it was interesting to see how she blends (what I assume to be) actual history into this fantasy world grounded in reality. Beyond the Puerto Rican representation, we also have diversity represented through a few of the main side characters such as Jason, a black trans boy, Raff, who is a deaf elf, and Ryujin who's Southeast Asian.
The premise of the Exchange was interesting and I liked the concept of human dreams fuelling the magic of the elves as it's something that I don't think I've read in fantasy before. It's clear from the beginning that there are going to be darker aspects to the story as our main character steals elven corpses to sell them for money; however, the tone does take a much darker turn the further we get and it was kind of unexpected. There are definitely some readers who won't feel comfortable with the content so I would advise checking out the content/trigger warnings in advance. I didn't particularly mind the grittier and more sinister vibes the story took, but I also feel as if it escalated very quickly, which is frankly also what I felt with much of the story, too. The rushed execution of the premise and the lack of clear world-building really left me wanting. The existence of the elves, the magic system and the use of ensueño or illusions, among the other more fantastical elements of the story were never properly explained—and again, I'm going back to how everything just felt rushed, skimmed over and underdeveloped. There was simultaneously a lot of repetition and inconsistency which, unfortunately, I also found applied to the characters too.
This brings me to my biggest issue with the book which is that I didn't care about any of the characters. There's a lot that happens to them in a short amount of time but through it all, I didn't connect to any of them and I particularly didn't care for Zevim. She's admittedly an unapologetically strong-willed and determined protagonist who will do anything to save her mother, but she was also incredibly mean and unsympathetic which made it hard to feel empathy for her. There was a lot of back and forth without any clear indication as to why our main character, Zevim, felt and thought the way she did because the intensity of her reactions/actions seemed to spawn out of nowhere. This made me feel a big disconnect with her, which was difficult considering hers is the only perspective we get.
There was also not much in the way of character development for anyone in this story and all the connections that the author introduces just felt clumsy and messy because it always felt like chunks of context were missing for each interaction; quite simply, the dots didn't connect for me! There is also a romance that seems to spring out of nowhere and was very instalove. I wished that Prince Aro at least had a better-developed arc but unfortunately, we see very little of him save for sporadic moments of squabbling with Zevim. I will say that there was one very interesting twist in the plot that I (obviously) didn't expect or see coming at all and I found it really fun and surprising in a good way! Sadly, it came just a little too late to change my feelings towards the book because everything continued to be poorly explained away.
Ultimately, while there were a few things to enjoy about this book, it didn't end up delivering on the great premise. I couldn't connect to the characters and the minimal/glossed-over world-building didn't help either. I'm glad that I finally read a book by Ortiz but I'm sad that I didn't love it as much as I hoped I would!
TL;DR: I'm quite conflicted with my feelings about this book. It's not terrible and I did enjoy the author's writing but I found myself wanting more throughout the whole read. Ultimately, I realised that this probably wouldn't make it on my list of recommendations for readers that want a YA fantasy, no matter how wonderfully diverse it is! I was really hoping to enjoy this more than I did but it just wasn't the right fit for me as I found the plot and characters to be too surface-level to really engage with.
Amparo Ortiz is an author that I've been wanting to try for a while and I'm glad that I finally did. Although this book didn't end up being great for me, I still enjoyed the author's writing. It's easy to sink into and Ortiz managed to hook me in with just the first few lines. I was surprised to find that the plot really takes off from the first chapter as the action almost immediately kicks in and we're literally thrown head-first into the story. This was both good and bad—good because I enjoy fast-paced fantasy but bad because it never really slowed down and gave me the chance to become fully immersed in this world and to connect to the characters.
What I enjoyed the most about this story was how diverse it was. As far as I can recall, there wasn't one white character in this fantasy, which was refreshing! What also made it unique was that it was about Puerto Rican elves and I loved that we get to see a classic fantasy race have brown skin. The author is Puerto Rican and she infuses the story with the culture, language and history of her island home very well. Coming from the other side of the world, Puerto Rico's history is something that I didn't know much about, so it was interesting to see how she blends (what I assume to be) actual history into this fantasy world grounded in reality. Beyond the Puerto Rican representation, we also have diversity represented through a few of the main side characters such as Jason, a black trans boy, Raff, who is a deaf elf, and Ryujin who's Southeast Asian.
The premise of the Exchange was interesting and I liked the concept of human dreams fuelling the magic of the elves as it's something that I don't think I've read in fantasy before. It's clear from the beginning that there are going to be darker aspects to the story as our main character steals elven corpses to sell them for money; however, the tone does take a much darker turn the further we get and it was kind of unexpected. There are definitely some readers who won't feel comfortable with the content so I would advise checking out the content/trigger warnings in advance. I didn't particularly mind the grittier and more sinister vibes the story took, but I also feel as if it escalated very quickly, which is frankly also what I felt with much of the story, too. The rushed execution of the premise and the lack of clear world-building really left me wanting. The existence of the elves, the magic system and the use of ensueño or illusions, among the other more fantastical elements of the story were never properly explained—and again, I'm going back to how everything just felt rushed, skimmed over and underdeveloped. There was simultaneously a lot of repetition and inconsistency which, unfortunately, I also found applied to the characters too.
This brings me to my biggest issue with the book which is that I didn't care about any of the characters. There's a lot that happens to them in a short amount of time but through it all, I didn't connect to any of them and I particularly didn't care for Zevim. She's admittedly an unapologetically strong-willed and determined protagonist who will do anything to save her mother, but she was also incredibly mean and unsympathetic which made it hard to feel empathy for her. There was a lot of back and forth without any clear indication as to why our main character, Zevim, felt and thought the way she did because the intensity of her reactions/actions seemed to spawn out of nowhere. This made me feel a big disconnect with her, which was difficult considering hers is the only perspective we get.
There was also not much in the way of character development for anyone in this story and all the connections that the author introduces just felt clumsy and messy because it always felt like chunks of context were missing for each interaction; quite simply, the dots didn't connect for me! There is also a romance that seems to spring out of nowhere and was very instalove. I wished that Prince Aro at least had a better-developed arc but unfortunately, we see very little of him save for sporadic moments of squabbling with Zevim. I will say that there was one very interesting twist in the plot that I (obviously) didn't expect or see coming at all and I found it really fun and surprising in a good way! Sadly, it came just a little too late to change my feelings towards the book because everything continued to be poorly explained away.
Ultimately, while there were a few things to enjoy about this book, it didn't end up delivering on the great premise. I couldn't connect to the characters and the minimal/glossed-over world-building didn't help either. I'm glad that I finally read a book by Ortiz but I'm sad that I didn't love it as much as I hoped I would!
August 6, 2022
This book is so beautiful.
This book is for boricuas from the archipelago. I love how we will get every detail about settings and life there, about the history, our language intricacies.
The plot of this book moves seamlessly—the actions scenes are masterfully done. Characters are all really beautifully crafted.
I can't wait to dive into deep conversations about mythology choices with those who study and understand archipelaic Puerto Rican history and global connections.
There are a few strong scenes and moments I would've loved to have seen developed more, but these are just some tiny details; they don't take away from the beauty of this book.
Boricua elves. Brown elves. Puerto Rico from a Bori from the archipelago.
Thank you, Amparo. I love this book. Your best book yet. It's beautiful seeing you grow in your craft and can't wait for even more stellar works. <3
¡Bienvenides al calentóóóóón!
This book is for boricuas from the archipelago. I love how we will get every detail about settings and life there, about the history, our language intricacies.
The plot of this book moves seamlessly—the actions scenes are masterfully done. Characters are all really beautifully crafted.
I can't wait to dive into deep conversations about mythology choices with those who study and understand archipelaic Puerto Rican history and global connections.
There are a few strong scenes and moments I would've loved to have seen developed more, but these are just some tiny details; they don't take away from the beauty of this book.
Boricua elves. Brown elves. Puerto Rico from a Bori from the archipelago.
Thank you, Amparo. I love this book. Your best book yet. It's beautiful seeing you grow in your craft and can't wait for even more stellar works. <3
¡Bienvenides al calentóóóóón!
September 19, 2023
I received an ARC from the Edelweiss
TW: cancer, suicide, panic attacks, electrocution, dismemberment, eye trauma (off page), mentioned cannibalism, child murder
3.3
This is an interesting concept thats execution just wasn’t what I wanted it to be.
I do like the competition show vibe of this book, and the world itself is just divergent enough from ours to be easy to get invested in.
However, too much of the world building and stakes are developed solely by info dumping for the entire beginning. It’s hard to get a solid handle on how you’re meant to view this world and the people in it when everything is done with such a fast explanation and a bombastic attitude. I’m sure some people will enjoy this book for the over the top energy, but I wasn’t one of them.
But the thing that held me back from the beginning was the romance. I didn’t care much for either of the main characters, and the romance felt so fast and so false to me. The insistence of hate while also making her immediately form a crush and have them joke around constantly felt so odd and made the whole thing confusing and unrealistic.
This book wasn’t for me, though I’m sure some will enjoy it for the fun, over the top energy.
TW: cancer, suicide, panic attacks, electrocution, dismemberment, eye trauma (off page), mentioned cannibalism, child murder
3.3
This is an interesting concept thats execution just wasn’t what I wanted it to be.
I do like the competition show vibe of this book, and the world itself is just divergent enough from ours to be easy to get invested in.
However, too much of the world building and stakes are developed solely by info dumping for the entire beginning. It’s hard to get a solid handle on how you’re meant to view this world and the people in it when everything is done with such a fast explanation and a bombastic attitude. I’m sure some people will enjoy this book for the over the top energy, but I wasn’t one of them.
But the thing that held me back from the beginning was the romance. I didn’t care much for either of the main characters, and the romance felt so fast and so false to me. The insistence of hate while also making her immediately form a crush and have them joke around constantly felt so odd and made the whole thing confusing and unrealistic.
This book wasn’t for me, though I’m sure some will enjoy it for the fun, over the top energy.
April 4, 2023
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Page Street for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review*
Last Sunrise in Eterna is the story of our main character Sevim, a goth girl who steals elf corpses for money to support her mom and how all that changes when she chooses the wrong elf to go after one day.
I enjoyed this book so much! Ive read Amparos debut novel Blazewrath Games and absolutely devoured it and this one was not different. When I found out this was going to be about Puerto Rican elves I just had to read it and I was so excited when I was approved for the arc. I loved how this was set on the island of Vieques and real history was used as a part of the story. It was heartbreaking to learn about what actually happened but it was fascinating to see how the effects of that had an inspiration and influence on the story and the setting. I loved the relationship with Sevim and her mom and how it’s not as cut and dry as it seems. I also loved the representation and diversity in here. All the elves are brown, we have a deaf character who uses American Sign Language, a Black Trans boy and a South East Asian character.
A few things I didn’t enjoy as much was that at times the plot was a bit confusing. I loved the Exchange and the challenges that came with it but at times I was a bit confused and couldn’t really envision what was going on in those scenes. Sometimes the dialogue between the characters was a bit unrealistic in my opinion as to how teens would speak but it was few and far between. I sometimes didn’t agree with the choices our MC made or didn’t understand but you don’t always need to relate to their personal motivations. I enjoyed how the romance wasn’t the central point of the story however it still felt a bit rushed and insta-lovey as this whole story takes place in about a week.
Overall, I highly enjoyed this novel and the writing style. I would definitely recommend this to readers who want a diverse fantasy in a latin inspired setting. I can’t wait to read more works from Ortiz in the future!
Last Sunrise in Eterna is the story of our main character Sevim, a goth girl who steals elf corpses for money to support her mom and how all that changes when she chooses the wrong elf to go after one day.
I enjoyed this book so much! Ive read Amparos debut novel Blazewrath Games and absolutely devoured it and this one was not different. When I found out this was going to be about Puerto Rican elves I just had to read it and I was so excited when I was approved for the arc. I loved how this was set on the island of Vieques and real history was used as a part of the story. It was heartbreaking to learn about what actually happened but it was fascinating to see how the effects of that had an inspiration and influence on the story and the setting. I loved the relationship with Sevim and her mom and how it’s not as cut and dry as it seems. I also loved the representation and diversity in here. All the elves are brown, we have a deaf character who uses American Sign Language, a Black Trans boy and a South East Asian character.
A few things I didn’t enjoy as much was that at times the plot was a bit confusing. I loved the Exchange and the challenges that came with it but at times I was a bit confused and couldn’t really envision what was going on in those scenes. Sometimes the dialogue between the characters was a bit unrealistic in my opinion as to how teens would speak but it was few and far between. I sometimes didn’t agree with the choices our MC made or didn’t understand but you don’t always need to relate to their personal motivations. I enjoyed how the romance wasn’t the central point of the story however it still felt a bit rushed and insta-lovey as this whole story takes place in about a week.
Overall, I highly enjoyed this novel and the writing style. I would definitely recommend this to readers who want a diverse fantasy in a latin inspired setting. I can’t wait to read more works from Ortiz in the future!
March 31, 2023
I for one will have to applaud all the freaking wonderful representation in this book!
Because WOW! Boricua elves!! With magic holy moly! I had way to much fun reading about that!
This book also had trans representation with one of the chosen for the exchange! jason is a black trans teenager.
We also read about Ryujin who is 16 and Korean.
We Even have a character Raff who uses American Sign Language
We have Spanish interwoven within its mix too!
The cultural rep was so cool to read about, the island history and food.
There was even more than one small romantic element.
We had Aro who was funny and super entertaining all on his own. Who has a crush on sevim our gothic witty main character.
Jason who throws cute flirtatious vibes towards Feyn are broody ruler.
There are even rebels and lots and lots of chaos.
These 3 have to face several missions and challenges to be able to stay and proceed on this island.
With each challenge we discover and abundance of secrets ALL of these characters have.
Some have dark secrets, that are so haunting others secrets they wish know one would find out because that would endanger their lives. Some secrets amount the royal family are just as intense and change so much of the challenges on these island.
When I tell you the LAST SECRET YOU DISCOVER had my damn jaw on the floor rereading just to make sure I read it right.
But holy hell the descriptions of certain characteristics are so haunting, chills!
Some were so beautiful too.
I overall just had fun reading about all these representations. All the secrets had me keep reading and ultimately I hope more enjoyed this story as much as I did.
Because WOW! Boricua elves!! With magic holy moly! I had way to much fun reading about that!
This book also had trans representation with one of the chosen for the exchange! jason is a black trans teenager.
We also read about Ryujin who is 16 and Korean.
We Even have a character Raff who uses American Sign Language
We have Spanish interwoven within its mix too!
The cultural rep was so cool to read about, the island history and food.
There was even more than one small romantic element.
We had Aro who was funny and super entertaining all on his own. Who has a crush on sevim our gothic witty main character.
Jason who throws cute flirtatious vibes towards Feyn are broody ruler.
There are even rebels and lots and lots of chaos.
These 3 have to face several missions and challenges to be able to stay and proceed on this island.
With each challenge we discover and abundance of secrets ALL of these characters have.
Some have dark secrets, that are so haunting others secrets they wish know one would find out because that would endanger their lives. Some secrets amount the royal family are just as intense and change so much of the challenges on these island.
When I tell you the LAST SECRET YOU DISCOVER had my damn jaw on the floor rereading just to make sure I read it right.
But holy hell the descriptions of certain characteristics are so haunting, chills!
Some were so beautiful too.
I overall just had fun reading about all these representations. All the secrets had me keep reading and ultimately I hope more enjoyed this story as much as I did.
April 6, 2023
I was really excited about this book because a goth girl stealing elf corpses and a magical tournament? Sign me up!
However, this book was not really for me. While I loved all the ideas and plot twists incorporated in this story, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Sevim seemed very grumpy to me and I was not really able to sympathize with her. Towards the end of the book, I found myself warming up to her more, but overall, I did not care about her as much as I should care about the MC. Moreover, I did not care about the love interest or any of the other characters. I did not feel a connection between the two MCs and I felt like the romance between them was kind of forced. The only characters I found myself kind of liking were the other two contestants in the Exchange, Jason and Ryujin (but I’m also not sure how to feel about the Kpop references in this book, even though I do love Kpop). They were the only characters in this book I found likeable and who showed somewhat of a personality. I kept mixing up the elves in this book because they just did not have an outstanding personality to me.
Moreover, while the writing style was nice and easy to read, it wasn’t really what I expected going into this book. I expected a magical writing style that would really transport me into the world of the elves, but instead it seemed very casual. This of course is a personal preference, but it was just not for me. Additionally, there was not a lot of world building, and if there was, it just confused me and didn’t really answer my questions. It seemed like the author writes about this world as if the reader already knows all about the history of the elves and the magic system, so therefore it wasn’t really explained that well in my opinion.
However, I do want to mention that I loved the diverse cast in this book, there were Latinx, Korean, deaf and trans characters, which was very nice to read in a YA fantasy. The book is also quite fast-paced and has a lot of action, which makes you read it very fast.
Overall, I would give it 3/5 Stars.
However, this book was not really for me. While I loved all the ideas and plot twists incorporated in this story, I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Sevim seemed very grumpy to me and I was not really able to sympathize with her. Towards the end of the book, I found myself warming up to her more, but overall, I did not care about her as much as I should care about the MC. Moreover, I did not care about the love interest or any of the other characters. I did not feel a connection between the two MCs and I felt like the romance between them was kind of forced. The only characters I found myself kind of liking were the other two contestants in the Exchange, Jason and Ryujin (but I’m also not sure how to feel about the Kpop references in this book, even though I do love Kpop). They were the only characters in this book I found likeable and who showed somewhat of a personality. I kept mixing up the elves in this book because they just did not have an outstanding personality to me.
Moreover, while the writing style was nice and easy to read, it wasn’t really what I expected going into this book. I expected a magical writing style that would really transport me into the world of the elves, but instead it seemed very casual. This of course is a personal preference, but it was just not for me. Additionally, there was not a lot of world building, and if there was, it just confused me and didn’t really answer my questions. It seemed like the author writes about this world as if the reader already knows all about the history of the elves and the magic system, so therefore it wasn’t really explained that well in my opinion.
However, I do want to mention that I loved the diverse cast in this book, there were Latinx, Korean, deaf and trans characters, which was very nice to read in a YA fantasy. The book is also quite fast-paced and has a lot of action, which makes you read it very fast.
Overall, I would give it 3/5 Stars.
March 9, 2023
Thank you so much to Page Street Kids for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Last Sunrise in Eterna is an action-packed and magical fantasy with a unique world and magic system. I enjoyed following Sevim on her journey to win a series of challenges to win her mother back from the elves that killed her father. Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting with most of the story in this novel. This novel is a contemporary fantasy set in our real world with magical elements, and the descriptions of the world building made it confusing for me to understand how the real world and how the world of the elves operate and coincide with each other. I also had a hard time understanding the characters' motivations in this book. The numerous "glamors" on certain characters and their memories made the plot quite convoluted and I struggled to understand which aspects of the plot were "real life" and which ones were not. Some of the dialogue also felt unnatural and not dialogue I would expect teen characters to say when thrust in a harrowing and deadly competition. All of these factors contributed to the overall disconnect I felt when reading the story.
My favorite aspect of this novel is most probably Sevim's relationship with her mother. It felt very accurate to the relationship most children of immigrants and first-gen students have with their parents. The plot twist about Sevim's actual relation to her mother was quite shocking as well.
Overall, while I think that some readers looking for a lush fantasy with Latinx characters will definitely enjoy Last Sunrise in Eterna, unfortunately I don't think I would recommend this for readers who are seeking a fantasy with an easy-to-understand magic system/world and believable characters.
Follow me on TikTok | Instagram | Twitter for more book reviews & recommendations!
Last Sunrise in Eterna is an action-packed and magical fantasy with a unique world and magic system. I enjoyed following Sevim on her journey to win a series of challenges to win her mother back from the elves that killed her father. Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting with most of the story in this novel. This novel is a contemporary fantasy set in our real world with magical elements, and the descriptions of the world building made it confusing for me to understand how the real world and how the world of the elves operate and coincide with each other. I also had a hard time understanding the characters' motivations in this book. The numerous "glamors" on certain characters and their memories made the plot quite convoluted and I struggled to understand which aspects of the plot were "real life" and which ones were not. Some of the dialogue also felt unnatural and not dialogue I would expect teen characters to say when thrust in a harrowing and deadly competition. All of these factors contributed to the overall disconnect I felt when reading the story.
My favorite aspect of this novel is most probably Sevim's relationship with her mother. It felt very accurate to the relationship most children of immigrants and first-gen students have with their parents. The plot twist about Sevim's actual relation to her mother was quite shocking as well.
Overall, while I think that some readers looking for a lush fantasy with Latinx characters will definitely enjoy Last Sunrise in Eterna, unfortunately I don't think I would recommend this for readers who are seeking a fantasy with an easy-to-understand magic system/world and believable characters.
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March 30, 2023
Last Sunrise in Eterna constantly surprises the reader with action, solar magic, riddles, and plot twists. This story not only features a unique magic system and contemporary fantasy style, but combines it with diverse characters and beautiful culture too. Amparo Ortiz infuses the story with rich Puerto Rican history and culture, creating a fantasy world with Latinx elves and characters alike. Furthermore, other characters are equally diverse, as we get to meet a deaf elf, and queer, trans, Black, and Southeast Asian people along the way. I absolutely loved these aspects of the story.
The novel is also dark and mysterious too. From the start we learn our main character, Sevim, has a vendetta against the elves, and she steals their corpses to make money. Her father was killed by the elves, but everyone seems to be blinded to how evil the creatures really are. Every year, humans all over the world pine to be chosen for the Exchange, where a select group are chosen to visit the elven island of Eterna, where they exchange their dreams to experience elven magic. In order to save someone she loves, Sevim is forced to participate in the Exchange, where she learns nothing is as she thought and she can trust no one, maybe not even herself.
At times, I did find the execution of the plot to be rushed and slightly chaotic. While it was action-packed, so much happens so fast, I became confused at points. The challenges during the Exchange seemed strange to me as I felt unsatisfied that most of the keys to solving them was unknown to the reader until the moment it was brought up, as in I could not solve alongside unless I knew a random specific literature reference and so forth. Also, I loved Aro and his snarky comedic lines, however I did not feel a real chemistry as far as the romantic side plot and it seemed to appear and disappear randomly. This wasn't a major issue for me though since it was mostly a background plot to the main story, but it did limit the ending somewhat for me.
The thing that really kept me hooked was the amazing plot twists that I could never guess. Especially the bigger ones, which I really loved but wished there was more explanation along the way. Overall, this was a fun, diverse, unique fantasy with lots of surprising twists. I didn't love it as much as I wanted to but I still enjoyed my time reading overall!
3/5 Stars
Thank you to TBRandBeyondTours for the review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!
The novel is also dark and mysterious too. From the start we learn our main character, Sevim, has a vendetta against the elves, and she steals their corpses to make money. Her father was killed by the elves, but everyone seems to be blinded to how evil the creatures really are. Every year, humans all over the world pine to be chosen for the Exchange, where a select group are chosen to visit the elven island of Eterna, where they exchange their dreams to experience elven magic. In order to save someone she loves, Sevim is forced to participate in the Exchange, where she learns nothing is as she thought and she can trust no one, maybe not even herself.
At times, I did find the execution of the plot to be rushed and slightly chaotic. While it was action-packed, so much happens so fast, I became confused at points. The challenges during the Exchange seemed strange to me as I felt unsatisfied that most of the keys to solving them was unknown to the reader until the moment it was brought up, as in I could not solve alongside unless I knew a random specific literature reference and so forth. Also, I loved Aro and his snarky comedic lines, however I did not feel a real chemistry as far as the romantic side plot and it seemed to appear and disappear randomly. This wasn't a major issue for me though since it was mostly a background plot to the main story, but it did limit the ending somewhat for me.
The thing that really kept me hooked was the amazing plot twists that I could never guess. Especially the bigger ones, which I really loved but wished there was more explanation along the way. Overall, this was a fun, diverse, unique fantasy with lots of surprising twists. I didn't love it as much as I wanted to but I still enjoyed my time reading overall!
3/5 Stars
Thank you to TBRandBeyondTours for the review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!
May 3, 2023
The real review is 2.5 stars but I rounded it to 3 stars.*
I wanted to like this book but couldn't get into it. I think a part of this problem is honestly me! I just finished reading a YA fantasy before starting this one and it may have been fantasy overkill for me. Although I enjoyed learning about this new magic system and the interesting trials that our characters have to go through, this book felt a bit rushed and all over the place.
One of the big issues for me was that we don't really know our main character Sevim. We get to know her on a very surface level, which may be intentional once a twist at the end is revealed, but it was tough to care for her and the situation she is put in. I felt myself roll my eyes at the majority of Sevim's actions instead of understanding her actions. I also felt like a few of our characters could have been flushed out more. One character is Deaf & uses sign language to communicate, the other is very bossy and you get hints of an attraction between them and another character but it's never explored. A lot of this story reads surface-level. Also, this book takes place in one of the islands of Puerto Rico, I wish we got to learn more about PR and the culture.
I did enjoy the detailed descriptions during the challenges! The "ensuenos" magic was so interesting to read about too. I did like reading about some of the character dynamics as well. If there is a sequel, I would love for Ortiz to share more about the magic system, characters, and culture of the land.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Page Street for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
I wanted to like this book but couldn't get into it. I think a part of this problem is honestly me! I just finished reading a YA fantasy before starting this one and it may have been fantasy overkill for me. Although I enjoyed learning about this new magic system and the interesting trials that our characters have to go through, this book felt a bit rushed and all over the place.
One of the big issues for me was that we don't really know our main character Sevim. We get to know her on a very surface level, which may be intentional once a twist at the end is revealed, but it was tough to care for her and the situation she is put in. I felt myself roll my eyes at the majority of Sevim's actions instead of understanding her actions. I also felt like a few of our characters could have been flushed out more. One character is Deaf & uses sign language to communicate, the other is very bossy and you get hints of an attraction between them and another character but it's never explored. A lot of this story reads surface-level. Also, this book takes place in one of the islands of Puerto Rico, I wish we got to learn more about PR and the culture.
I did enjoy the detailed descriptions during the challenges! The "ensuenos" magic was so interesting to read about too. I did like reading about some of the character dynamics as well. If there is a sequel, I would love for Ortiz to share more about the magic system, characters, and culture of the land.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Page Street for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
February 21, 2024
I’m Puerto Rican born and raised in the Island and I approve and appreciate this book ! When I saw it at Walmart I thought it was cool but was afraid it would be a little “cringe”. Sometimes people writing about the Island tend to go heavy on stereotypes or loosely referenced it but it wasn’t. I appreciate the way Amparo used the very real and still present Vieques issue. I was a little young but still remember watching the news, seeing all the people protesting and taken away in handcuffs and hearing all the devastation of the island. And now, many years later still waiting for a “clean up” that by the rate is going, I probably won’t be alive to see it finished. I appreciate the political side of this book for sure !
Now, to fantasy part of the book. I felt a little lost at some points throughout the story, like I couldn’t grasp or make sense of some things (and I mainly read fantasy) I knew who the bad guy was as soon as I read about them, but I was pleasantly surprised with how everything unfolded and it was pretty cool. I didn’t see the twist at all. One thing I wished to see more of was of course the elves. The beautiful cover was really what grabbed my attention and made me pick up this book from the shelf, but they didn’t have a lot of “screen time” I know is YA but I would’ve liked a liiiiitle more of the romance and beautiful Puerto Rican elves being just extraordinary and cute lol. And lastly I loved all the inclusive language and characters, it was beautifully done ! I would love to go back to Eterna for more magic, elves and battles !
Now, to fantasy part of the book. I felt a little lost at some points throughout the story, like I couldn’t grasp or make sense of some things (and I mainly read fantasy) I knew who the bad guy was as soon as I read about them, but I was pleasantly surprised with how everything unfolded and it was pretty cool. I didn’t see the twist at all. One thing I wished to see more of was of course the elves. The beautiful cover was really what grabbed my attention and made me pick up this book from the shelf, but they didn’t have a lot of “screen time” I know is YA but I would’ve liked a liiiiitle more of the romance and beautiful Puerto Rican elves being just extraordinary and cute lol. And lastly I loved all the inclusive language and characters, it was beautifully done ! I would love to go back to Eterna for more magic, elves and battles !
Read
March 8, 2023The way I GASPED at everything I did not see coming. Amparo is a goddess and I will continue to read every single thing she writes forever and ever.
This book is for you if you want:
🥀a book set on the PR mainland + its outlying islands (loved loved loved getting to read a fantasy book set in my country - like I still can't get over it)
🥀brown caribbean elves
🥀a goth teen MC
🥀dangerous magical challenges
🥀corpse stealing
🥀dream extractions
🥀high stakes
🥀real PR history mixed with magic (if you don't know about Vieques you're about to LEARN)
🥀multiple plot twists
🥀princely romance
If you've followed me for a while, you know I loved all my dragon babies in Blazewrath 1 & 2, and all the stories in Our Shadows, but I think this might actually be my favorite Amparo YA yet.
And yes 👀 what she wrote in the acknowledgements is true and I'm not ashamed of it lol. Our daily Love Island text & voice note episode discussions are the BEST. Someone hurry up and put us on a panel a la Singles Inferno!!! (which we also buddy watch 🤣).
This book is for you if you want:
🥀a book set on the PR mainland + its outlying islands (loved loved loved getting to read a fantasy book set in my country - like I still can't get over it)
🥀brown caribbean elves
🥀a goth teen MC
🥀dangerous magical challenges
🥀corpse stealing
🥀dream extractions
🥀high stakes
🥀real PR history mixed with magic (if you don't know about Vieques you're about to LEARN)
🥀multiple plot twists
🥀princely romance
If you've followed me for a while, you know I loved all my dragon babies in Blazewrath 1 & 2, and all the stories in Our Shadows, but I think this might actually be my favorite Amparo YA yet.
And yes 👀 what she wrote in the acknowledgements is true and I'm not ashamed of it lol. Our daily Love Island text & voice note episode discussions are the BEST. Someone hurry up and put us on a panel a la Singles Inferno!!! (which we also buddy watch 🤣).
Read
April 6, 2023Filled with magic, wonderfully diverse characters, and rich with Puerto Rican culture and mythology, LAST SUNRISE IN ETERNA is a fun and unique YA fantasy that centers around elves and elven magic.
I loved goth girl Sevim and how she’s just your average teen dealing with average teen stuff, but she’s also an elven-corpse stealer dealing with grief, trauma, and loss. Her elven counterpart, Aro, was such a delight and I loved how he’s dealing with his own personal problems, much like Sevim. Their relationship was not only a lot of fun, but I liked how they each came to the realization that despite their differences, they have more in common than they could have ever realized.
Bottom line — a delightful and diverse fantasy with plenty of unique elements. I don’t think I’ve read too many books where elves are the main supernatural creature and I loved that they were pretty much the star of the show. Many thanks to @tbrbeyondtours and the author for gifting an arc!
I loved goth girl Sevim and how she’s just your average teen dealing with average teen stuff, but she’s also an elven-corpse stealer dealing with grief, trauma, and loss. Her elven counterpart, Aro, was such a delight and I loved how he’s dealing with his own personal problems, much like Sevim. Their relationship was not only a lot of fun, but I liked how they each came to the realization that despite their differences, they have more in common than they could have ever realized.
Bottom line — a delightful and diverse fantasy with plenty of unique elements. I don’t think I’ve read too many books where elves are the main supernatural creature and I loved that they were pretty much the star of the show. Many thanks to @tbrbeyondtours and the author for gifting an arc!
Read
April 10, 2023Dnf at 30%
The premise of this book is fantastic, but I just couldn't connect to the characters; they didn't feel authentic or three-dimensional, and their inner thoughts and dialogue just didn't seem realistic to the circumstances. As one example (without giving away too much), there is a scene that involves lots of a fluid that appears to be blood, but there is no description about the smell of feel of the liquid and none of the characters seem horrified.
If a reader is just looking for a cool plot, they may enjoy this book. Personally, I just kept getting distracted by the elements I didn't like so will move to another book.
The premise of this book is fantastic, but I just couldn't connect to the characters; they didn't feel authentic or three-dimensional, and their inner thoughts and dialogue just didn't seem realistic to the circumstances. As one example (without giving away too much), there is a scene that involves lots of a fluid that appears to be blood, but there is no description about the smell of feel of the liquid and none of the characters seem horrified.
If a reader is just looking for a cool plot, they may enjoy this book. Personally, I just kept getting distracted by the elements I didn't like so will move to another book.
April 5, 2023
I absolutely loved this story. My attention was captured from the beginning and I wasn't able to stop thinking about it every time I had to walk away. The addition of Puerto Rico's history were beautifully done in this story. The fantasy in this book was so well done. This book had me guessing and kept me on my toes. I really loved this story and was taken on a rollercoaster of emotions. This is was fantastic!
Thank you NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for this eARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for this eARC. All opinions are my own.
November 26, 2022
thank you to the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review! This is a YA contemporary fantasy. It felt a bit like Lightlark meets lord of the rings! I liked the dream aspects, the puzzles they had to decode, and the plot twists at the end. I really liked the relationship between Jason & Feyn and would’ve liked that explored more as well as more on Aro’s character. This has potential for a series.
July 3, 2023
The first couple of chapters had me so excited for the book. Unfortunately, the pacing was just off for me throughout the story. Lots of things happened that I didn't quite follow, characters and friendships weren't fully fleshed out, and it wraps up in a climactic battle that still somehow felt a little rushed to me. That being said, Ortiz is a talented writer. I just wish this book had been a bit more developed.
July 28, 2024
Last Sunrise in Eterna :
I loved this Book soooo soooo much.
This book was written by a Puertorican and it definitely shows.
It's a fantasy book that's rooted in so much truth it makes it even better.
Reading about things that happened /are happening in Vieques from a fantasy point of view was AMAZING.
This book is in English but it portrays soooo clearly that Puertoricans speak Spanish everyday of their lives in every nook and cranny of the Island.
I definitely enjoyed the story.
I loved this Book soooo soooo much.
This book was written by a Puertorican and it definitely shows.
It's a fantasy book that's rooted in so much truth it makes it even better.
Reading about things that happened /are happening in Vieques from a fantasy point of view was AMAZING.
This book is in English but it portrays soooo clearly that Puertoricans speak Spanish everyday of their lives in every nook and cranny of the Island.
I definitely enjoyed the story.
September 26, 2024
Amparo Ortíz once again owning my ass after I say "I don't read YA"
March 28, 2023
Last Sunrise in Eterna by @amparo_ortiz 🧝🏽♀️
Summary: Three teenagers are invited to spend seven days on the secluded island floating off the coast of Puerto Rico to learn the magic of the elves. All they have to do is give up their dreams. Seventeen-year-old goth Sevim Burgos hates elves. She can see through the illusions the elves use to conceal their crimes. Ever since elves killed her father, she has longed for revenge. So to help support her single mother, she has been selling abandoned elf corpses. But it turns out that the elf prince Aro has noticed Sevim bodysnatching, so he kidnaps her mother in retaliation. To get her mother back, Sevim must participate in the Exchange while uncovering secrets.
Feels: THIS BOOK IS MY WHOLE PERSONALITY. Truly the best thing I’ve read all year. Thank @netgalley for blessing me 🥲. But I obviously pre-ordered my physical copy at @thebookmarkpr 😍
Reads like a love letter to Puerto Rico. There were SO many relatable and beautiful details. A+ in how you weaved PR’s history to your story. Amparo plays to her strengths, and writes in a way I can see so clearly in my head.
As always character development and inclusion is *chef’s kiss*. I’m talking deaf elves, queer elves, plus sized elves… And the actual plot 🤯 The challenges were dark and amazing. But this book also made me cry! And I did not see ✨stuff✨ coming. It was an absolutely joy to read.
Pretty please make a second book about the rebels 😍
#book #books #bookstagram #bookstagrampr #bookstagrammer #booklover #booklove #bookworm #bookblogger #booknerd #bookish
#LastSunriseinEterna #netgalley #puertorico #puertoricogram #dogsofinstagram
Summary: Three teenagers are invited to spend seven days on the secluded island floating off the coast of Puerto Rico to learn the magic of the elves. All they have to do is give up their dreams. Seventeen-year-old goth Sevim Burgos hates elves. She can see through the illusions the elves use to conceal their crimes. Ever since elves killed her father, she has longed for revenge. So to help support her single mother, she has been selling abandoned elf corpses. But it turns out that the elf prince Aro has noticed Sevim bodysnatching, so he kidnaps her mother in retaliation. To get her mother back, Sevim must participate in the Exchange while uncovering secrets.
Feels: THIS BOOK IS MY WHOLE PERSONALITY. Truly the best thing I’ve read all year. Thank @netgalley for blessing me 🥲. But I obviously pre-ordered my physical copy at @thebookmarkpr 😍
Reads like a love letter to Puerto Rico. There were SO many relatable and beautiful details. A+ in how you weaved PR’s history to your story. Amparo plays to her strengths, and writes in a way I can see so clearly in my head.
As always character development and inclusion is *chef’s kiss*. I’m talking deaf elves, queer elves, plus sized elves… And the actual plot 🤯 The challenges were dark and amazing. But this book also made me cry! And I did not see ✨stuff✨ coming. It was an absolutely joy to read.
Pretty please make a second book about the rebels 😍
#book #books #bookstagram #bookstagrampr #bookstagrammer #booklover #booklove #bookworm #bookblogger #booknerd #bookish
#LastSunriseinEterna #netgalley #puertorico #puertoricogram #dogsofinstagram
May 10, 2023
Pretty sure I only read one book in March, but I’m 100% ok with that because it was THE LAST SUNRISE IN ETERNA by Amparo Ortiz and it was amazing!
Seriously, get ready for a book that will make you go WHAT THE ACTUAL F more times than you can count. So many twists and turns and something so unexpected, you won’t have a choice but to keep reading until you find out what just happened because wtf!!!!
This takes place in Puerto Rico with landmarks familiar to me (I used to work at the Mall of San Juan!) and there’s so much about Puerto Rican history in an accesible way for those who may not know about our Island (and the surrounding areas).
I was drawn to this book 1. Because of BLAZAWRATH GAMES (see: PUERTO RICO AND DRAGONS!) and 2. PUERTO RICO AND ELVES? Sign me up!
This book is fun, fast, and will keep you on your toes. It might be a good fit for you if you enjoyed Holly Black’s CRUEL PRINCE (it IS less stabby tho…or is it 😉) seriously, READ THIS ONE.
Seriously, get ready for a book that will make you go WHAT THE ACTUAL F more times than you can count. So many twists and turns and something so unexpected, you won’t have a choice but to keep reading until you find out what just happened because wtf!!!!
This takes place in Puerto Rico with landmarks familiar to me (I used to work at the Mall of San Juan!) and there’s so much about Puerto Rican history in an accesible way for those who may not know about our Island (and the surrounding areas).
I was drawn to this book 1. Because of BLAZAWRATH GAMES (see: PUERTO RICO AND DRAGONS!) and 2. PUERTO RICO AND ELVES? Sign me up!
This book is fun, fast, and will keep you on your toes. It might be a good fit for you if you enjoyed Holly Black’s CRUEL PRINCE (it IS less stabby tho…or is it 😉) seriously, READ THIS ONE.
December 31, 2022
I wanted to like it, the premise was super interesting. But it was like the author expected us to know things, and never explained important details. I wasn’t sure what was happening or why for a fair bit of it, and not in a ‘the characters are solving a mystery’ way.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.
April 1, 2023
Just wasn't my cup of tea. I only made it to page 50 and then gave up. I'm sure it would be great, but there was just something about it I didn't like.
February 3, 2025
Last Sunrise in Eterna is a contemporary ya fantasy where elves live openly among humankind, casting ensueños to manipulate how others see them. Their illusions are fueled by dreams bargained from humans since they can't dream themselves. Our protagonist is a pretty standard misunderstood teenager-- she's emo, she's got a dark past, and she's got a Maleficent backpack to go with her fishnets and black lipstick. Sevim is in the business of stealing elf corpses. A doctor pays her for the cadavers so he can study elf biology. Beyond the payday, Sevim loves an opportunity to lash out at the people who killed her father. When tracking a group of elves likely to die on the battlefield so she can make her next sale, she falls into the trap set by elf prince Aro at a San Juan Krispy Kreme.
The situation somehow devolves into a classic ya competition sequence. Sevim's punishment for being a corpse stealer is being placed in the group of three human teenagers chosen to participate in the Exchange on Eterna. They obtain elf-like powers to use for the trials in exchange for giving up their dreams to the elves. If Sevim doesn't participate, Aro warns her that her mom is forfeit. And if you think, how does any of this reasoning make sense?... it shouldn't. All will be revealed, etc. What may first feel like sloppy plotting is in fact the smokescreen needed to cover up a pretty cool plot twist, waiting in the wings for its moment.
Once we get past Sevim's strange circumstances that force her onto the isle, I appreciate that the competition is more about the teens proving themselves as a team than any cutthroat nonsense. The contestants also make a diverse group. Eterna is right off the coast of Puerto Rico, where Sevim is from. Jason's a Black, trans boy from Atlanta, and Ryujin is a cis girl from South Korea. They all have secrets that come to bear over the course of the trials, and while some bring them closer, others drive them apart. I liked this part of the book so much that I wish it was given more space to breathe in the story as a whole.
Sevim can sometimes make an unlikeable protagonist, but there's no denying that she's up against tough odds, some pretty intense mind games, and a price she can't pay. Her bouts of seeming selfishness make sense in that light; it's more her dogged belief in her outsider status that made me want to roll my eyes.
I had some issues with pacing while I was reading this one. There's an info dump upfront regarding the elves and their history and how that's impacted Sevim's life. As I mentioned, the beginning is confusing, and I only mostly got over that when I learned what it was hiding. But for all the final act drama the plot twist's revelation generates, the ending has a sort of slapdash, "everything works out neatly and quickly" kind of approach. After the initial oomph, it's a pretty basic resolution that isn't bad but doesn't have the same level of inspiration.
There were so many aspects of this book where I was left with either a lukewarm or mixed reaction, whether it was the plot, the protagonist, or the romance. The only thing I think is strong throughout is the commentary on U.S. colonialism and its long-term effects on the environment and people of Puerto Rico. Real historical and contemporary realities are woven into the world-building with the elves to create something meaningful and relevant. I think readers who like classic ya fantasy fare will enjoy this iteration, and readers who want to see magic in communities that are underrepresented in contemporary fantasy will appreciate the thoughtful world-building. Thanks to Page Street for my copy to read and review!
The situation somehow devolves into a classic ya competition sequence. Sevim's punishment for being a corpse stealer is being placed in the group of three human teenagers chosen to participate in the Exchange on Eterna. They obtain elf-like powers to use for the trials in exchange for giving up their dreams to the elves. If Sevim doesn't participate, Aro warns her that her mom is forfeit. And if you think, how does any of this reasoning make sense?... it shouldn't. All will be revealed, etc. What may first feel like sloppy plotting is in fact the smokescreen needed to cover up a pretty cool plot twist, waiting in the wings for its moment.
Once we get past Sevim's strange circumstances that force her onto the isle, I appreciate that the competition is more about the teens proving themselves as a team than any cutthroat nonsense. The contestants also make a diverse group. Eterna is right off the coast of Puerto Rico, where Sevim is from. Jason's a Black, trans boy from Atlanta, and Ryujin is a cis girl from South Korea. They all have secrets that come to bear over the course of the trials, and while some bring them closer, others drive them apart. I liked this part of the book so much that I wish it was given more space to breathe in the story as a whole.
Sevim can sometimes make an unlikeable protagonist, but there's no denying that she's up against tough odds, some pretty intense mind games, and a price she can't pay. Her bouts of seeming selfishness make sense in that light; it's more her dogged belief in her outsider status that made me want to roll my eyes.
I had some issues with pacing while I was reading this one. There's an info dump upfront regarding the elves and their history and how that's impacted Sevim's life. As I mentioned, the beginning is confusing, and I only mostly got over that when I learned what it was hiding. But for all the final act drama the plot twist's revelation generates, the ending has a sort of slapdash, "everything works out neatly and quickly" kind of approach. After the initial oomph, it's a pretty basic resolution that isn't bad but doesn't have the same level of inspiration.
There were so many aspects of this book where I was left with either a lukewarm or mixed reaction, whether it was the plot, the protagonist, or the romance. The only thing I think is strong throughout is the commentary on U.S. colonialism and its long-term effects on the environment and people of Puerto Rico. Real historical and contemporary realities are woven into the world-building with the elves to create something meaningful and relevant. I think readers who like classic ya fantasy fare will enjoy this iteration, and readers who want to see magic in communities that are underrepresented in contemporary fantasy will appreciate the thoughtful world-building. Thanks to Page Street for my copy to read and review!
February 5, 2024
Amparo Ortiz’s Last Sunrise in Eterna is a contemporary fantasy with rich world-building, but falls short when it comes to plot. There is much to appreciate about the fantasy world Ortiz has built. Generations ago elves revealed themselves to humans and currently dwell on an island off the coast of Puerto Rico. In an effort to build ties between elves and humans, the Exchange is held every year. Three teens are chosen to visit the elves and undergo challenges on the island. In exchange, the teens must offer their dreams to the elves, the essence of which helps strengthen the ensueños, an illusionary magic the elves wield. There is an interesting political dynamic in Eterna where not all elves agreed that they should reveal themselves to humans. A rebellion emerged as a result and the conflict continues between these rebels and the current royal heirs. Eterna itself is quite beautiful and enchanting. Ortiz’s descriptions bring this vibrant world to life. There is also a really interesting wrinkle to this world involving the real-world U.S. military training on the island of Viejas and the negative impact. Unfortunately, I wasn’t moved by the plot for this one in the way I should have been, and felt that the characterization needed more development. The plot revolves around Sevim who, having been found out by the youngest elf prince to be selling elf bodies in exchange for money, is blackmailed into participating in the Exchange after her mother is kidnapped. On the surface this is great motivation for the lead but the story lacked urgency for most of the book when it came to Sevim trying to either find her mother or the real person responsible for her abduction. Although I enjoyed Sevim’s new found friendship with the other Exchange candidates, her relationship with the elf prince felt all over the place. First they were cold, then they were hot, so fast it gave me whiplash. I needed more meaningful interactions between these two before I could buy into what the book was selling. Last Night in Eterna makes for a quick fantasy fix, but might leave readers looking for more unsatisfied.
May 25, 2023
The blurb about Puerto Rican elves had me so interested in reading this book, but I ended up being so incredibly disappointed and I had to force myself to finish it.
The beginning of the book started strong, with a good set up and introduction to different characters, and from there it went pretty much all over the map pacing and plot wise.
The biggest issue I had with this was the lack of connection I had to the characters, primarily due to how surface level they all were. Sevim never has any real character development, growth, or really anything to her character. She was very flat and two dimensional, and even when she was in danger, I never found myself on the edge of my seat or truly caring.
What I did like: Elves that aren't white!!! It was so cool to see that in a book!
Another problem with the story I had was the relationship between Sevim and Aro felt so forced, had zero chemistry, and just kinda came out of nowhere. Sevim goes from hating elves to really liking Aro, to being mad at him for not kissing her? (That part gave me the ick for real) I would say the majority of characters on page acted differently each chapter which made it difficult to understand their motivations.
Instant relationships/friendships also came in the way of fellow competitors, who honestly could have been left out of the story for all they contributed to the plot.
The twist and reveal came at the end and I was just kind of like ...okay? And..?
I don't even think it's fair to say I didn't like the writing style, because there were parts that flowed well and kept me engaged, sadly that was just a small portion of the book.
I really had to push myself to finish reading, I almost DNF several times because I just couldn't stay focused or engaged with the story.
Do I recommend this book? Honestly? No I do not. I think there are tons of much better urban fantasy/diverse reads out there that I would say to try instead.
The beginning of the book started strong, with a good set up and introduction to different characters, and from there it went pretty much all over the map pacing and plot wise.
The biggest issue I had with this was the lack of connection I had to the characters, primarily due to how surface level they all were. Sevim never has any real character development, growth, or really anything to her character. She was very flat and two dimensional, and even when she was in danger, I never found myself on the edge of my seat or truly caring.
What I did like: Elves that aren't white!!! It was so cool to see that in a book!
Another problem with the story I had was the relationship between Sevim and Aro felt so forced, had zero chemistry, and just kinda came out of nowhere. Sevim goes from hating elves to really liking Aro, to being mad at him for not kissing her? (That part gave me the ick for real) I would say the majority of characters on page acted differently each chapter which made it difficult to understand their motivations.
Instant relationships/friendships also came in the way of fellow competitors, who honestly could have been left out of the story for all they contributed to the plot.
The twist and reveal came at the end and I was just kind of like ...okay? And..?
I don't even think it's fair to say I didn't like the writing style, because there were parts that flowed well and kept me engaged, sadly that was just a small portion of the book.
I really had to push myself to finish reading, I almost DNF several times because I just couldn't stay focused or engaged with the story.
Do I recommend this book? Honestly? No I do not. I think there are tons of much better urban fantasy/diverse reads out there that I would say to try instead.
January 6, 2023
Thank you to page street ya for this ARC I won in their giveaway!
I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow at the beginning getting my attention but near the end I was HOOKED. Like it’s past midnight on a weekday and I need to finish.
Sevim is a goth teenager who’s occupation is selling elf corpses. After an elf murdered her father, she has a personal vendetta against the entire race. Through all sorts of shenanigans, her mother is kidnapped by the elf prince and she is forced to participate in the yearly Exchange where humans are to compete for 7 days through tests and trials and have their dreams extracted for the Elves to charge their magic.
Sevim as a main character is snarky and badass and isn’t afraid to do anything she can for the people she loves. Aro is the elf prince who has a secret but you could tell he was gentle and romantic at heart. I really liked him and I was rooting for them.
The twists at the end had me SHOOK I didn’t see any of that coming at all. I was impressed with how wild it was. And the battle at the end? Amazing. I could picture everything happening. It was truly fantastical.
I really liked the side characters here, but I wanted more from them. I felt tension with Feyn and Jason and I was sad nothing was done with it. I liked Raff and Ciel but they just didn’t have a lot of development with them. I did like that Raff spoke with ASL, however.
This book explores a lot about trauma, grief, friendship, and keeping the ones you love close while also letting them go. This is my first book by Amparo Ortiz but I’ll have to check out some more of them later. This book comes out March 28th so be sure to order it!
I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow at the beginning getting my attention but near the end I was HOOKED. Like it’s past midnight on a weekday and I need to finish.
Sevim is a goth teenager who’s occupation is selling elf corpses. After an elf murdered her father, she has a personal vendetta against the entire race. Through all sorts of shenanigans, her mother is kidnapped by the elf prince and she is forced to participate in the yearly Exchange where humans are to compete for 7 days through tests and trials and have their dreams extracted for the Elves to charge their magic.
Sevim as a main character is snarky and badass and isn’t afraid to do anything she can for the people she loves. Aro is the elf prince who has a secret but you could tell he was gentle and romantic at heart. I really liked him and I was rooting for them.
The twists at the end had me SHOOK I didn’t see any of that coming at all. I was impressed with how wild it was. And the battle at the end? Amazing. I could picture everything happening. It was truly fantastical.
I really liked the side characters here, but I wanted more from them. I felt tension with Feyn and Jason and I was sad nothing was done with it. I liked Raff and Ciel but they just didn’t have a lot of development with them. I did like that Raff spoke with ASL, however.
This book explores a lot about trauma, grief, friendship, and keeping the ones you love close while also letting them go. This is my first book by Amparo Ortiz but I’ll have to check out some more of them later. This book comes out March 28th so be sure to order it!
March 13, 2023
I have never read from Amparo Oritz before, so it was a bit refreshing to read from a fantasy Latina author. I always love reading from diverse authors because they bring so much more to fantasy books, such as their culture's mythology or folktales.
Last Sunrise in Eterna is a refreshing Latina YA fantasy story about Sevim and Aro. Sevim may not look like the typical teenager since she loves being dressed in all black and being cynical. But Sevim faces what all teenagers feel when they lose their parents: anger and grief. And her way of dealing with it may not be appropriate since she is capturing dead elf bodies. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with her grieving process, especially Prince Aro.
Prince Arc may be addicted to his sugary donuts, but he is more devoted to finding out who is using his fellow dead elves. And so far, Sevim is the best guide to follow. Too bad that they are now both caught in a deadly game that they have no idea about. And it does not help that Arlo's older brother is no help either, since he is acting like a jerk to everyone.
The best they can do together is work together, no matter how much they become attracted to each other. But they can’t do anything about it. Good thing; the slow tension between them makes the read so much better. Expect a lot of slow tension between them and awkward moments as well.
As you read Last Sunrise in Eterna, expect surprises along the way as well as shocking secrets. And make sure you check out the content warning. Heavy topics are mentioned and discussed in this book.
Last Sunrise in Eterna is a refreshing Latina YA fantasy story about Sevim and Aro. Sevim may not look like the typical teenager since she loves being dressed in all black and being cynical. But Sevim faces what all teenagers feel when they lose their parents: anger and grief. And her way of dealing with it may not be appropriate since she is capturing dead elf bodies. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with her grieving process, especially Prince Aro.
Prince Arc may be addicted to his sugary donuts, but he is more devoted to finding out who is using his fellow dead elves. And so far, Sevim is the best guide to follow. Too bad that they are now both caught in a deadly game that they have no idea about. And it does not help that Arlo's older brother is no help either, since he is acting like a jerk to everyone.
The best they can do together is work together, no matter how much they become attracted to each other. But they can’t do anything about it. Good thing; the slow tension between them makes the read so much better. Expect a lot of slow tension between them and awkward moments as well.
As you read Last Sunrise in Eterna, expect surprises along the way as well as shocking secrets. And make sure you check out the content warning. Heavy topics are mentioned and discussed in this book.
May 19, 2023
Read it. Seriously. You will not regret it. Wow. The world building and characters feel so real. The story is something new and is incredible.
I did figure out one of the main plot twists, but there was WAY more to it. There were many twists and turns throughout the book I wasn’t expecting. They come out at the perfect time and make everything make more sense!
I thought the description of the book as I was reading was giving away the book, but nope. Twists and turns happen to make this book a super worthwhile read. I’m serious. Read it. I read it in one day. ONE DAY. I couldn’t put it down.
Sevim-the main character-is such a cool character and you feel her emotions. This author is incredible to create such real characters. I loved the story.
I love getting a culture of Spanish and Puerto Rico. It is so important to read books of other cultures than your own or ones that are left out a lot in books written by old white men. I thought this was done in a way that you don’t have to know Puerto Rico or Spanish to still enjoy the story, but if you do, you can truly appreciate it.
Now, go find the book and read it. It is amazing. Such a worthwhile book to read. You will not want to put it down. You are dropped into a story that is so believable to the last word. Every word has meaning and when you finish the book, it all comes to clarity so nicely. : )
Please read it.
I did figure out one of the main plot twists, but there was WAY more to it. There were many twists and turns throughout the book I wasn’t expecting. They come out at the perfect time and make everything make more sense!
I thought the description of the book as I was reading was giving away the book, but nope. Twists and turns happen to make this book a super worthwhile read. I’m serious. Read it. I read it in one day. ONE DAY. I couldn’t put it down.
Sevim-the main character-is such a cool character and you feel her emotions. This author is incredible to create such real characters. I loved the story.
I love getting a culture of Spanish and Puerto Rico. It is so important to read books of other cultures than your own or ones that are left out a lot in books written by old white men. I thought this was done in a way that you don’t have to know Puerto Rico or Spanish to still enjoy the story, but if you do, you can truly appreciate it.
Now, go find the book and read it. It is amazing. Such a worthwhile book to read. You will not want to put it down. You are dropped into a story that is so believable to the last word. Every word has meaning and when you finish the book, it all comes to clarity so nicely. : )
Please read it.
March 28, 2023
(4.5)
I absolutely loved this book.
There’s something beautiful about sitting down with a book and reading about characters that drive through the same streets and roads you take everyday, knowing exactly what the author means when they mention a place or a monument. It’s something I’d never gotten to enjoy because there’s such a small amount of books from Boricuas that actually take place in Puerto Rico.
Sevim sounds like someone who I could see around my high school back when I was a student and I love her for it. I don’t think Puerto Rican teens act like USians, so again it was delightful to read about teens I could picture running through the halls of la IUPI.
I also adore that the author doesn’t shy away from the damaging history of US colonialism here nor does she paint a romantized image of our struggle when she mixes real PR history with her fantasy world.
Other aspects of the book (plot, characters, prose) are great, but more than highlighting those, I want to highlight how this book feels like home because it’s an actual “picture” of Puerto Rico instead of a caricature created by someone who hasn’t lived here.
Idk, this book is just such a joy to me. I need to read more from Amparo’s work 🥺💖
I absolutely loved this book.
There’s something beautiful about sitting down with a book and reading about characters that drive through the same streets and roads you take everyday, knowing exactly what the author means when they mention a place or a monument. It’s something I’d never gotten to enjoy because there’s such a small amount of books from Boricuas that actually take place in Puerto Rico.
Sevim sounds like someone who I could see around my high school back when I was a student and I love her for it. I don’t think Puerto Rican teens act like USians, so again it was delightful to read about teens I could picture running through the halls of la IUPI.
I also adore that the author doesn’t shy away from the damaging history of US colonialism here nor does she paint a romantized image of our struggle when she mixes real PR history with her fantasy world.
Other aspects of the book (plot, characters, prose) are great, but more than highlighting those, I want to highlight how this book feels like home because it’s an actual “picture” of Puerto Rico instead of a caricature created by someone who hasn’t lived here.
Idk, this book is just such a joy to me. I need to read more from Amparo’s work 🥺💖
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