Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas, #1)

by Zoraida Córdova

[leahrosereads]

Before I give my thoughts, let's talk diversity. Alex, the main character and her family and a lot of the people in this story are POCs with Latin American descent. There's also bi representation (or I read it as bi-rep. Please correct me if it's lesbian representation).

Also, not diversity or representation, but I feel it's important to note that the adults in this YA book are around and care. Sure shenanigans happen, but it's not due to an absentee family. Family bonds are very important to not only this book, but it's sequel. And, I feel that's important to note.

Onto my thoughts. Overall, I absolutely loved this book. It was a five starrer until I read Bruja Born and realized that I really, really loved that one, so I dropped this to 4 stars.

Alex is a bruja who'd rather go to school, go to college, and get away. She's seen some shit that makes her reject the magic in her life to some pretty extreme consequences. I thought she was a very realistic character full of faults and dreams and desires and obligations. It was refreshing to read something so very real in a story that was so fantastical.

The world within this book is exceptional. There's of course our New York (muggles, Grey London, ya know, the place for the mundane), and then there's this other world(s) where lost souls stay, birdlike creatures starve, and a terrible darkness sucks the life out of it in the hopes to escape into another world.

And Alex has to work to try and fix it and more. It's a heartbreaking tale at times and filled with fear and courage and everything that makes a person human.

I cannot wait for the rest of the series, and I definitely plan on looking into this author's backlist for more to read until the 3rd book arrives.