The 52nd

[shannonmiz]

Can we please just stop for a moment and talk about the uniqueness and diversity in this book? It is a huge win. Not only are most of the characters (ancient) Mexican, but the whole story is based on cultural rituals from the Aztecs and Mayans. So yeah, very unique, very refreshing to see some fantastical and magical elements that are related to a whole distinct genre of character.

What I Liked: Obviously, the unique elements were very key. These elements were all so completely new, and so fascinating. I had never heard of this before, and found it both terrifying and intriguing. I even looked up more information about the ancient practice because I wanted even more information! I loved how the author made it work in the modern world, adding some magic elements to the Castillo family and the enemies they seek to take down.

Zara was, for the most part, a likable character. She was just a typical college student trying to figure out her place in the world when she is involved in this tradition, and ultimately, the attempt to eradicate it when she discovers that she is far more than just another sacrifice. I also enjoyed Lucas and his family. I thought they were fun, and even though some of their ways of thinking were incredibly outdated, it made perfect sense in context. In fact, had they not had some of the thought patterns, I'd have doubted the story. I also really appreciated that the author included Zara's family into the mix. So many times in modern setting fantasies, the families are just kind of in the background, but Zara's was involved, and it made things much more realistic.

There was a lot of action, and some amazing locales. I loved reading the scenes in Mexico, it really brought something special to the story, having a big chunk of the action-oriented plot taking place there.

What I Didn't: There was some parts of the book during which I felt really overwhelmed with information. Since it is already a bit of a lesser known subject matter, adding in the fictional elements was a lot to get accustomed to. Add in quite the plethora of characters, and at times I felt a bit bogged down. Especially in the beginning/middle when I was trying to get a grasp on things, I felt like I was mixing up characters left and right. Though by the time the action really got started, I had a pretty good idea of who was who. I also didn't really see the point of adding Zara's friends into the mix. On one hand, yes, it was obviously believable that she had family and friends, and that they were concerned for her welfare. But the whole gang of friends seemed unnecessary, and I barely remembered them.

I also didn't like how Zara was constantly allowing her actions to be dictated by Lucas. Again, I know why Lucas felt the need to control everything, but why exactly did Zara go along so easily? I mean, question things a bit more, girl.

Bottom Line: Though there was a chunk in the beginning-to-early-middle of the book that I felt was a little drawn out, I did really enjoy the story, especially when things started to get really intense. I enjoyed watching Zara and Lucas's relationship develop, and while I am not completely sure that this is a series (though it is definitely set up to be one and would work quite well as one) I would certainly read another installment.

**Copy provided from author for review**