Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on
When his cousin goes missing, Yadriel longs to help but hasn’t been accepted by the god of the dead. He takes it upon himself to enter the cemetery and perform the ritual. He accidently summons Julien Diaz. Julien wants to find out what happened to him, and Yadriel reluctantly agrees. He enlists the help of his friend and cousin Maritza.
The tale is rich in culture with an underlying theme of acceptance. The romance is a slow burn and felt both honest and tender. I loved the family dynamics and the growth we witness from characters as events unfolded.
Día de Muertos (The Day of the Dead), the gods, the brujo/bruja was a blending of the Latin cultures. I enjoyed the stories, beliefs and traditions. The dishes and foodie talk will leave your mouth watering. I also may never look at marigolds the same.
The mysteries of Julien’s death and the missing cousin drove us to a climactic scene before the story brought closure and hope. At times, I felt the pacing dragged, and that we were given information dumps, but the characters particularly Julien were rich.
Avi Roque was delighted as the narrator and captured the characters. I love that the publishers and author chose a latinx trans gay to narrate. It gave the story an authentic vibe. Avi captured these young characters.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 25 October, 2020: Finished reading
- 25 October, 2020: Reviewed