Book Review: Labyrinth Lost

Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas #1)

By: Zoraida Cordova

Published By: Sourcebooks Fire

Publication Date: September 6, 2016

Page Count: 336

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: ARC Kindly Provided by Publisher via NetGalley

Audience: Young Adult - Paranormal

Alejandra Mortiz (aka Alex) comes from a long line of brujos and brujas. The powerful beings have various forms of magic, but Alex wants no part of her family heritage. She fears the power that runs through her veins. As the ceremony to celebrate her Deathday looms, Alex knows she must find a way to rid herself of the power that threatens to hurt those she loves. Her spell goes horribly wrong and sends her entire family into the dark land of Los Lagos.

Alex is joined on her journey by two companions who provide various insights and skills along the way. Alex must find a way to save her family before the Devourer, a dark force in Los Lagos feeds off their souls and energy, leaving nothing behind.

Labyrinth Lost is a gorgeously haunting novel that will force you to consider how far you'd go for the ones you love. We all have those moments when we wish for the course of our lives to change, but this novel makes me stop to consider what could be at stake if my path was altered. I think I'd rather face crappy days and stress than lose the ones I love.  

I also loved seeing such a diverse cast of characters in this one. It was great to see a Latina heroine.

I was fascinated by the brujas lore and the darkly beautiful land of Los Lagos. Alex's journey was reminiscent of Greek Mythology mixed with Alice in Wonderland. This is the perfect read as the nights get darker and the Halloween season begins. I am eager to read the rest of this series.

One Last Gripe: There were moments that seemed to jump too quickly. I had to reread to ground myself in the narrative.

Favorite Thing About This Book: The vivid descriptions

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

Favorite Character: Alex

Least Favorite Character: The Devourer

Summary:

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...