January 2021 Book Review: Labyrinth Lost

LABYRINTH LOST (Brooklyn Brujas)

By Zoraida Córdova 

~Book Review~ 

*WARNING! CONTAINS SPOILERS!*


THERE’S NOTHING IN A YOUNG WITCH’S LIFE like making your entire family disappear on your Deathday. Alex is a Bruja waiting to inherit her powers, but unlike her sisters (psychic Rose and healer Lula), she would rather not have anything to do with magic. After her attempt to rid herself of her powers during her Deathday goes wrong, banishing her family to the underworld of Los Lagos, Alex teams up with a mysterious Brujo named Nova and her best friend Rishi to save them from the power-hungry Devourer.

I’ve been on an underworld kick and can’t get enough! Los Lagos proves to be no exception, full of perils like a lost soul river, misunderstood harpies, and everlasting festivities with fairy folk in a seemingly cheerful meadow. It’s easy to get immersed in Córdova’s writing, which neatly balances plot with world-building and has an easy, straightforward style.

The most intriguing character by far is Nova. He’s the bad boy archetype who actually executes on it, and displays genuine remorse after. He felt the most fleshed-out and sympathetic to get invested in. Rishi was interesting as well, incredibly loyal and brave to pursue Alex into the underworld without magic powers. As is a common trend in YA novels, our main character Alex proves to be the weakest of the three. Suffering from insecurity, awkward dialogue, and a brooding, harsh personality, she’s difficult to warm up to, and indeed, the biggest mystery was why both Nova and Rishi would be so into her. It’s difficult to make the reluctant heroine character work when the audience is here for the magic and thrill of having supernatural powers, and Alex comes up short in this regard.

But it matters not! We have a great supporting group of characters including the spirited Lula, cynical harpies, and the mysterious world of Los Lagos itself. The Devourer is a bit one-dimensional but it’s nevertheless interesting to learn the backstory behind her desire to reshape the underworld in her image. Best of all, the other two books in Brooklyn Brujas (Bruja Born and Wayward Witch) focus on the more engaging characters of Lula and Rose, as well as include appearances by the enigmatic Nova.

Overall, this book is fun and all about Alex defining her place in her family, both blood born and made. Latinix influences (Alex is of Ecuadorian and Puerto Rican background) intermix with modern day Brooklyn to create an atmosphere brimming with magic and mystery, where Deos walk among skyscrapers and the spirit world is just a spell’s cast away.

Recommended for fans of: Daniel José Older, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and Sarah Fine

The Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II) Published!

Hi Everyone,

I'm pleased to announce The Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II) is published on Amazon Kindle, with further eBook platforms to follow! Check it out here.

Ishmael Abajian was never supposed to be in Hell. He nearly escaped, too, before being betrayed by just about everyone. Now Heaven is noticing. The Doom Bell foretelling the coming of the Apocalypse tolls. And Lucifer Morningstar, more dangerous than ever with the cynical Riley Cyprus by his side, plots to steal the Unholy Relics of his fellow Fallen and declare rulership over Hell.

However, dreams begin to turn in the minds of demons drawn to the ways of Ishmael. Dreams of what could be, even in a place dark and despairing. Xercist’s tempter studies lead him to make an unexpected connection on Earth. Soldier Kantazsia’s convictions are tested upon encountering an angel claiming to be Ishmael’s guardian. And Ishmael must choose whether to pick up his staff once more.

He didn’t ask to be here. He didn’t want to be a savior.

Now that he is, he must decide once and for all what that means.

AFTERLIFE CHRONICLES
The Tribe of Ishmael (Book I)
The Staff of Aaron (Book II)

December 2020 Book Review: The Star-Touched Queen

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone! Last Book Review of 2020!

THE STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN

By Roshani Chokshi

~Book Review~

*Warning! Contains Spoilers!*



IMMERSE YOURSELF in a retelling of classic love-lost romance that is lush, atmospheric, and driven by mystery. Drawing from Hindu mythology such as the tale of Savitri and Satyavan, and Shiva and Parvati, Chokshi weaves an underworld adventure that takes you to a throne room woven of stars, down passages filled with doors whispering about secrets of the past, and into the heart of self-discovery.

Chokshi writes with vivid purple prose that flares into the over-dramatic at times, but at others it strikes just the right chord to illuminate heroine Maya’s struggles with self-worth. She is a princess, but despite being the son of the raja, her life is bleak due to being born under a dark horoscope that partners her with Death. The courtiers and the raja’s wives blame her for every misfortune.

On her wedding day, Maya chooses a mysterious suitor Amar who promises her a kingdom with magic and power beyond her wildest dreams, who swears that if she becomes his queen, she will be an equal in all decisions. However, it is in a land beyond the strange Night Bazar where wishes can be granted for your voice or first child, in a place entirely otherworldly. In this kingdom called Akaran, Maya must learn the inner workings of a beautiful tapestry that contains all the life threads of every being to preserve balance between realms. But a mysterious woman haunts Maya, warning that her new husband is really her captor.

I enjoyed this book and found it difficult to put down. I found the mystery of Akaran and Maya and Amar’s past lives to be riveting, and I really wanted to know what the deal was between them and Nritti. This was quite a feat, since the characters of Maya and Amar are underdeveloped. Maya is self-loathing and makes many questionable decisions, including trusting Nritti (in both present and former lives when she has full knowledge of her motivations). The best scene is when Maya confronts her father in the underworld about their tragic relationship. Amar is a cardboard personality who I could never quite get a sense of, and the romance is vanilla. I thought it would have been an interesting twist if Nritti ended up being the “dark side” of Maya, or if Amar did have ill intentions, which would have spiced things up and given the main characters not only flaws but agency to act upon them.

However, the story works despite the lackluster leads since the world itself is a character in its own right, and I loved the little details like the elephant who knits clouds and the flesh-eating demon horse. I was hoping the makara (sea dragon) would show up—but maybe that is in the next book.

Speaking of which, Maya’s younger sister Gauri did have a great spark. While this book is a standalone, Chokshi’s second novel in this world, A Crown of Wishes, follows her and a boy Maya sees possible futures for.

Overall, Chokshi’s signature style is like an unfurling love letter, dreamy and full of little currents that delight, and you can expect to be fully submerged in worlds far beyond this one.

Recommended for fans of: Maggie Stiefvater, Renée Ahdieh, Laini Taylor, and Sarah J. Maas

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

I don't think there's ever been another year we've been more excited to see over, but 2020 is finally winding down. I am incredibly thankful for the miracle of good health among my family and the chance to continue to write for all of you. There have been so many hardships faced with the pandemic, unemployment, and suffering, that this year at times may feel like we're in a dystopian movie, but there have also been great acts of kindness, generosity, and tenacity. It is incredible to think of the minds at work on the vaccine for COVID-19 who have done so much in such a short time, and reminds us of our greatest strengths to adapt and persevere together. I wish all of you many blessings this holiday.

Thank you to all the writers out there helping everyone feel less alone.

Last sneak peek of The Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II) is up on Wattpad! Check out Chapter 4 here.

The Staff of Aaron will be available as an ebook on Amazon.com: January 10, 2021. Expansion to all major online ebook retailers to follow. 

Read Exclusive Excerpts from The Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II)!

This Halloween 2020 is scarier than we'd ever like it to be. Sending many well wishes to families around the world grappling with COVID-19. Everything has gone upside down and sideways, but I'm as grateful as always to the loving support of family and friends:

In staying with the world's Ultra Spooky theme, I'm excited to share a first look at the Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II), an apocalyptic dark fantasy about a boy named Ishmael Abajian who finds his hopes for a peaceful afterlife dashed by an untimely journey to Hell. Betrayed by everyone he considers a friend, Ishmael struggles to adapt to a world he does not understand, even as more sinister forces make a play to disrupt the Apocalypse Prophecy and all hopes of a Heavenly rescue...

Catch a sneak peek below on Wattpad. New excerpts to be released soon!

https://www.wattpad.com/story/244771170-the-staff-of-aaron

*Contains major spoilers for The Tribe of Ishmael (Afterlife Chronicles I)

July 2020 Book Review: Welcome to Night Vale

Mostly Void, Partially Stars: Welcome to Night Vale Episodes, Volume 1

By Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor

~Book Review~

WHAT IS NIGHT VALE, you ask? It is that quirky place at the intersection of the banal and the great unknown, waxing poetic about the lamentations of the living while mowing the lawn. A sci fi Monty Python, or Twilight Zone social commentary with humor. Dragons running for mayor. A domineering Glow Cloud heading up the PTA. And the interns, bless them; too many intern heads role. Such is life.

It’s great storytelling, and it’s great writing. We get to know the residents of this small town in the middle of a desert through the local radio broadcaster Cecil. We have Old Woman Josie, who is dealing with angels who’ve taken up in her home for mysterious reasons; the city council who forbids entrance to the Dog Park for mysterious reasons; outsider scientist Carlos, who is desperate to make sense of the mysterious reasons but in whom Cecil’s interests are not so mysterious—and even you, the reader, make an appearance.

Originally a podcast, each chapter is an episode with an introduction into the minds of the creators, and each episode ends with a humorously wise quote commenting on the absurdity and weirdness of life itself. One of my favorite episodes is about “the Dark Planet,” which filled me will all sorts of delicious chills and curiosity.

If I had any critique, I feel the segments on traffic could have been a bit more humorous and engaging. But, maybe that is me wanting to project my own frustrations about getting stuck in traffic so frequently.

For writers everywhere, this is a fantastic example of how to overcome writer’s block—introduce a bit of chaos. Turn things on their head. Make it wacky and fun. There is a Faceless Old Woman who Secretly lives in your home, a forest that does not want you to leave, and there may not be answers for any of these things, but we can take comfort in the very resilient human nature that insists on preserving through all of the strangeness by embracing it all.

Recommended for fans of: Monty Python, Twilight Zone, Twin Peaks

The Staff of Aaron is Finished!

Woohoo! The Staff of Aaron (Afterlife Chronicles II) is complete!

...except for revisions and editing...

Excited to share this next monster installment in the Afterlife Chronicles coming January 2021!

Wishing everyone to continue to stay safe during COVID-19. If you've ever wanted to write a book, now is the time to do so.