Cece Rios and the Queen of Brujas

Cece Rios #3

by Kaela Rivera

This stunning conclusion to the Cece Rios trilogy is perfect for fans of J.C. Cervantes and Kwame Mbalia!

Cece Rios and her friends have escaped Devil’s Alley, but the fight to save their world is just beginning.

Despite her growing comfort with her curandera abilities, Cece is worried that she won’t be strong enough to stop her most dangerous enemy her tía, Catrina. Desperate for power and revenge, Catrina has seized the throne of Devil’s Alley and set her sights on the living world.

Catrina’s first move is a brutal attack on the Sun Sanctuary that leaves Tierra del Sol reeling. And no matter how hard they try, Cece and her friends are always one step behind the bruja queen as she seeks to attain the powers of the gods and take control of the four elements.

Cece Rios saved her sister. She rebuilt her familia. But can she take down her vicious tía before Catrina destroys everything Cece has fought so hard to protect? 

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Mythology, Adventure, Fiction, Young Adult, Audiobook

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 12, 2024

Reviews

[Cassandra Hamm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good finish to one of my favorite MG series! It was so intense and emotional and, as always, wrestled with difficult themes, like how anger at injustice can turn to hatred. The renamings were so beautiful. I loved seeing people like Alejo come into their real selves again. And Coyote and Cece are the absolute cutest. That epilogue was everything. I wanted to live in that space, in the new town of criaturas and humans. It felt like home. And I KNEW Juana and Lion would end up together someday!!!

If you like Mexican/Mesoamerican folklore, found family, Pokémon, and stories that wrestle with deep themes, you’ll love this series!

[Loo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get to read an early copy of this book, and I cannot wait for others to experience it! The Queen of Brujas has all the sweeping adventure and heartfelt characters we've come to love in the previous books, but it doesn't stop there. It gathers up all the themes and character arcs that have been building through the series and completes them in a satisfying, ringing finale. To all the Cece fans out there, this is the ending you've been looking for!

[Jo Parsons-Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received and read the long awaited third book in the trilogy of the Cece Rios adventure, Cece Rios and The Queen of Brujas by author Kaela Rivera. 💕 Even as an adult, this book is meaningful, gripping, and thought provoking. It has many layers to consider depending on your age. I know many kids who love, love, love this series too! They've even dressed up as characters from the books at school.

I loved this continuing adventure with the Cece gang of characters! (The epilogue is such a nice touch too.) This novel highlights lasting connections, family, friendships, and even social/community issues. The author uses unusual and yet understandable Aztec/Mezo-American mytholgy characters in interesting new ways. The book delves into emotions, power struggles, fighting against prejudice and anger, the price of standing for freedom and fixing mistakes, and it also has an epic final showdown of good versus evil. It's full of brave acts that take a stand against power-seeking evil, mixed communities working together for a common good, the power of light vs darkness, and the hope of a dawning new world rising from ashes. Heart wrenching, gut wrenching, tear jerking! Amazing! I loved this series and the third book is all I hoped it would be! Each book has a small glossary in the back to help with the few Spanish/Aztec words/names/terms, and a bit more about the folklore characters, etc. in the story.

You gotta read this middle-grade series by author Kaela Rivera, and published by Harper Children's. It’s magnificent! I'd recommend it to any age above 7 years. Great for reading together as a family and discussing it. And it makes for a fantastic listening experience on audio too (great for road trips!)
1. Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls.
2. Cece Rios and the King of Fears.
3. Cece Rios and the Queen of Brujas
Also all are available in audio book (on Audible etc. and are fantastically narrated!), and e-book form.

[Jen Nishi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh, this book! This series!! I can’t even with it, it is so good! I read this book in two days reading late into the early morning hours until my eyes were bleary. This book at me crying and my heart swelling and breaking all at once. So many feels and so much heart I’ve come to expect from this author. An excellent end to a an excellent series. This author is one to watch and goes on my auto-buy list.

Cece Rios is one of my most favourite MG fantasy series and I just finished the final book last night. It has Mexican legend and myths in it, so much character development it’s crazy, a plot that keeps you reading late into the night. Cece is my favourite MG hero hands down as she faces every trial (and there are so many) with heart, kindness, and love. The writing is beautiful while remaining accessible. There is no sophomore slump here, each book gets better and better until that epic conclusion in the third book. These books touched my heart and had me feeling all the emotions. I cried during each one that is how much it touched me (not as hard or as absolutely bawling like Traci Chee but close). And the series is fourth grader and intermediate book club approved, my students loved this series and will be very excited for the third book to hit our library shelves soon.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first two books. So much. And you know what? This one is even better. Cece and Juana and all of their friends are SO WONDERFUL!! There is so much heart here, so much love for each other and the fierce desire to make the world a better place. It's also filled with twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat! Truly a brilliant end to the trilogy!!

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had a soul stone, I'd give mine to Cece Rios in a heartbeat <3

[Melissa]

Did not finish. I really liked the first in the series but it has bogged down. Far too many characters, lots of explication and constant emotion at defcon ten. I found it both exhausting and boring.

[Caitlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy fabuloso! This book is a perfect end to a perfect trilogy and I am so so proud to be able to call the author a friend. I miss you so much!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only final thoughts, all spoilers:

I kinda struggled with this one. There's a lot of Cece acting as Catrina's therapist and delving into her past and why she hurts people, and I found that actually really unsettling—like, here's a victim of Catrina's abuses (including Catrina murdering her friends), and somehow it's on Cece to understand, to be sympathetic, to untangle why Catrina is horrific.

I liked the plot line in Book 2 with the dad a lot more; Cece doesn't have to understand why her father has made bad choices, she just comes to grip with the fact that it isn't her fault, she can't fix it, and she's able to keep going with the people who love her. It's not her duty to understand someone who abused her or to fix them.

And that contrast was also...weird to me? Cece's dad is not a nice person (emotionally and then physically abusive to his daughter). Catrina's is SUPER not a nice person (enslaves and murders people). But in the book, Catrina is repeatedly portrayed as a small, hurting child lashing out—someone we ought to understand, to feel sorry for.

Still, I'm glad I finished the series. There are a lot of great characters in here, and the epilogue was fun.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cece Rios and the Queen of Brujas is a very action packed finale to the series. There is very little down time for the characters, who are in battle pretty much from page 1. The author does wrap up the series neatly, no unfinished business here and even includes a very nice epilogue at the end.

My only real critique is not about the story but is that the glossary does not have all the Spanish words listed. I get not including the basic ones or the ones translated in the text, but there were quite a few missing that I wish were included. Along with that, I'd have loved having a pronunciation guide as well.

[Sharon the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Stories are truth bundled up for safe keeping.”

Wow! This story is the amazing conclusion to a stunning trilogy. I’m at a loss for how to express the original style, intense adventure, and strong dedication and friendship these stories tell. If you like fantasy, mythology, adventure, and love of familia- you will love this series. I would not consider myself a huge fan of fantasy or mythology, but Kaela’s writing just blows me away. She pulls you in, makes you love the characters- (even the criaturas!), and cheer as they face obstacles and grow in their quests. Together, they can save their town, each other, and more.

“We must be one or we will be none!”

[Miguel Vargas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic ending to a great series. It is a darker, more brooding book than the first two, there's very little joy throughout and every victory turns into a loss until the very end, as Cece struggles with heavy emotions of loss, revenge and love. As I read it with my 10 year old daughter it was the first time I've seen her cry from a book. But she was captivated throughout and did not want to leave this universe as the book ended.

The mixing of Aztec mythology and the spanglish language is unique and so beautifully done throughout that this is an important series for the millions of Mexican American children of that culture.

[Shawn Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an unbelievably exciting, intricate, and beautiful finale to one of my favorite MG series of all time. Kaela Rivera has created a hero who is hurt, and hurting, but still finds a way to lead with love and sacrifice. And is there a tease of more books in the "Cece-verse?" If so, I'm first in line.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Appropriate for: age 11+

An amazing conclusion to the series. I love Cece and her big heart. I also love her human family/friends and the criatura. This book has a great message of love and compassion and overcoming hate.

[Loralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful book, and I enjoyed reading it. The Nahuatl/Aztec words were a bit hard to pronounce, but I enjoyed working through the words. The story was enjoyable, and I liked Cecilia and the other characters. The antagonist was interesting and believable as well.

[Briley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great finish to the series

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!!!

[Jennifer Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, didn't enjoy as much as the first two, but likely because it has been so long since I read them that I'd forgotten a lot of the details and backstories of the different characters.

[Alicia (aliciasalwaysreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Breeana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible debut series. I loved every minute of it! Highly recommend. Also loved the ending.

[CeeCee · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best kid's series I've read in awhile

[Debra Devin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read for all ages! Each book got better than the last. Sad to see Cece's story end. I hope to see more in this world again someday!

[Susan]

Rating/review withheld until after Whitney Awards judging is complete.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is just so beautiful and wholesome and hopeful and so full of love! It reminded me of my favorite things about reading books and what I really love in a good story

[Kylee Windus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the conclusion to such an amazing series!

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaela Rivera does not dumb down content for middle grade or young adult readers. The end of this trilogy is masterful. Cece grows up and has to wrestle with the tension between justice and revenge. Where does justice end, and in what ways can that pursuit of justice warp into revenge? This last book offers wonderful thematic topics for middle grade readers who age with Cece as she goes on her adventures.
Repairing the harm done by brujas, criaturas, and humans leads to a city of Hope.