Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas, #1)

by Zoraida Córdova

Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives.

Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation...and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo boy she can't trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark as the strange marks on his skin.

The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in-between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland...

• ISBN10: 1492620963
• ISBN13: 9781492620969
• Publish Date: 6 September 2016
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Sourcebooks Fire
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

I was super excited for Labyrinth Lost, but I think I built it up too much in my head. I definitely still enjoyed it a lot though, but mostly for the lore and world building rather than the things that drew me to it in the first place. Alex is a bruja, but she wants to get rid of her magic. Her family thinks that her powers haven't manifested yet, but Alex has been trying to keep them suppressed. But then she makes a snake crawl out of a boy's throat and her secret is out. Alex isn't giving up on trying to expel her magic, but then she accidentally makes her entire family disappear instead.

Labyrinth Lost has a lot of interesting lore surrounding the brujas. I loved learning about them! The Deathday celebration was super interesting and a bit creepy. But it was Los Lagos that really drew me in. It's this kind of afterlife, Wonderland, Neverland, limbo, weirdness. Alex enlists the help of the mysterious Nova to help get her there to save her family, and their journey is nothing less than strange. It really did remind me a lot of Alice in Wonderland, but more dangerous.

Where Labyrinth Lost disappointed me a bit was in the plot. It's a pretty typical "chosen one" type of plot where Alex doesn't want this amazing power, but she needs it to do big things. She not only has to get her family back, but she winds up having to save the inhabitants of Los Lagos from a powerful evil. I just wasn't as into that as I had hoped. I felt like I had read this story many times. Everything is wrapped up as nicely as I expected. There is an epilogue which ends on a cliffhanger, but it's not one that I actually cared about.

There is a very minor romance in Labyrinth Lost, and it was one of the elements that initially had me most excited. Alex is bisexual, although that's never explicitly stated. She's attracted to and annoyed by Nova, but it's her best friend Rishi who really captures her attention. There's a few adorable stolen glances and hand holding and kissing, but nothing that screams Romance. I do hope to see more of their relationship development in future books.

In the end, I liked Labyrinth Lost. The plot was predictable and didn't fully engage me, but I was completely drawn in by the world created.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Beth C.]

Teenage years can be such a struggle - parents, school, expectations, siblings...throw in the expectations of your ancestors as well, and it gets just that much more complicated. Such is the case for Alex, whose family members for generations have been brujas - witches. While her sisters' powers have been evident for some time, Alex has been hiding hers and truly wants to reject what she sees as more a curse than gift. When she finally tried to do so, she ends up sending her entire family - past and present - into another world, where they are held captive. The only one left to free them is Alex herself.

I enjoyed this store very much - the magic system and rituals were fascinating, and the spirits often felt like characters themselves as they manifested. There is a touch of LGBT within the story, so if that bothers you...your loss, as it's minor and excellently done. I won't say more so as to avoid any spoilers.

Overall, I enjoyed the story more than I thought I would and would happily read more along this line from the author. It was entertaining and yet managed to be respectful of culture, ancestors, and beliefs that many authors may have struggled to pull off. Well done!

[layawaydragon]

First sentence:

The second time I saw my dead Aunt Rosaria, she was dancing.


I was immediately hooked with Alex’s POV. She starts with describing an interesting and traumatizing event she interrupted when she was 7. Waking from the dream-memory, we meet her two sisters as they get ready for school.

Her family is the bickering-teasing-musketeers type that bands together when shit goes down. There are problems, like Alex’s magic not manifesting, their mother having to work two jobs, and their father’s disappearance. Then Alex, the classic middle child, screws up.



via GIPHY
Jan: even her best gifs focus on Marsha.

And the plot gets moving.

It’s about 30% of the book before we get to the blurb’s point. It’s set up with their family, their magic, their history, their customs, Alex’s POV, getting to know her best friend Rishi, and meeting Nova.

I fucking loved it. It’s so interesting, well built and different. I can’t say much but Los Lagos was awesome. Not as gruesome as my fav Mcgee’s Alice but “dark as Limbo and strange as Wonderland” is the perfect way to describe it.

Every chapter begins with different quotes from related characters, books, and stories. I adore this addition. Like the map (oh my god, I want that as a poster) and the flower embellishments, it adds an extra special dash of magic. If I had the extra money, I’d buy a copy just to have the prettiness on my shelf.

Plus, Cordova includes background information at the end of the book about different elements like Deathday parties. It’s cool to learn more about the inspirations and how it came together.


Sure, there’s tropes but that doesn’t automatically = bad. There’s a love triangle, insta-love, and Alex being a special snowflake. But it’s better than other novels and the unique world building makes up for it plus some.

Looking back, it should’ve been obvious what would happen next, but I was having such a great time, I honestly didn’t notice. I wasn’t analyzing and dissecting, just enjoying it.

The romance is the only part I struggled with. I don’t typically like love triangles. I find them annoying and…not well done most of the time. However, Labyrinth Lost’s is one people have been wishing for: a bisexual protag with male and female love interests. YAY for representation! And lookie, the bi person isn’t made out to be a cheating slut or anything like that, double YAY!

Nova’s the typical bad boy with home issues, attitude problems, muscles, tats, and amazing eyes. I’m sure he smells great as well. He and Alex met, butt heads, and wind up working together.

For me, Nova is a MEHHHHH romance interest. It’s instant and based on physical attraction. I’m also not into this type and way over this in-every-book portrayal. But his problems are better done, understandable, and interlinked with the lore so it’s not so bad.

I do like their banter and how he brings some tough love and perspective to Alex. Them being friends would be great as long as he backs the fuck off. I was disappointed at how he dominated the time with Alex.

I was screaming “BRING BACK RISHI OR SO HELP ME!” Then she shows up, and Nova is still the focus because he’s acting as guide and won’t shut up.

I really wish there was more time with Rishi. She dresses like a manic pixie girl but isn't. She’s human and does stuff! Really risky, bold stuff. And she’s known Alex for over a year. They are best friends! THIS IS MY SHIP. FORGET THE REST.