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...
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!
