This is a fascinating world full of myth and a vibrant culture. The descriptions are rich and beautiful and the scenery is really immersive. 

The friendship and character arcs are really solid. Every character who shows up is different on the last page than they are on the first, and that's SO satisfying. That's what I want in any book, but especially for middle-grade -- I can see why Cece is different from the other brujas and other villagers. It's so well-built-up why her connections with her criaturas are different than anyone else's with theirs. Cece is a "Chosen one," but her decisions matter to how the plot develops too, so everything feels "earned." 

Even the plot points that involve a lot of lies and hiding resolve themselves in satisfying ways -- it's hard to balance a kid character making impulsive decisions because sometimes that's hard to identify with, but it's so great the way that Cece learns to question herself and communicate and take ownership of her own decisions and abilities. Really really triumphant stuff here!

I have one nitpick that isn't a comment on the plot/writing/etc.: the artist who drew the book's cover is clearly talented. But that's not what Cece looks like! As part of her journey, Cece shaves her head, and not enough time goes by that it has the chance to grow back (as late as page 313, her hair is described as "shorn"). It would have been cool to show Cece on the cover, looking powerful and accepting of who she is, with her extremely-short hair. Why not have a girl character who doesn't have a traditionally-feminine hairstyle, OWNING it on the cover? It's a shame that (probably?) a marketing decision had to play down what Cece chooses to accomplish in this book to ....make her prettier, I guess? There's never a time in the story that her hair is this approaching-shoulder-length style shown on the book jacket, so it feels like it was just a "we have to have Cece look pretty on the cover" decision, and that's a shame, since that's not what this book is about.

But the cover doesn't matter -- what matters is that the actual story has well-built messages of self-reflection and good communication and tense action. Really cool stuff, can't wait to read the next books in this series!

I listened to this via audiobook and loved it. LOVED IT. Cece is such an amazing character: compassionate, courageous, curious, and kind. While her physical journey was tons of fun and I loved the criaturas she comes to befriend, it was her emotional journey and character growth that blew me away.

There’s so much at work in this story from themes of slavery and power dynamics to what it means to be a friend and standing up for what is right to questioning the history we’re taught. A lot of the lessons Cece learns are appropriately named for the target audience but nuance still resides in them, too.

I do wish there had been a bit more scaffolding of the folklore and the world-building and there’s a relatively big storyline that has zero resolution, but overall, this was a brilliant read. I cannot recommend it enough. I adored it.

Please ask if you'd like more info about the content warnings I added.

CWs: References to and instances of child abuse, kidnapping, allusions to death of a grandparent, descriptions of graphic injury, scenes containing graphic violence

This is an extraordinary Latinx fantasy-adventure that's perfect for fans of the Rick Riordan Presents line and other mythological inspired fantasy stories!

Cece Rios is a story about family, community, and power, and the inherent connection between all of those things. Cece is a character who was raised to fear criaturas, powerful supernatural entities who seem to prey on humans, and also to resent brujas, the magical humans who are the only ones who can control the criaturas. But ever since she was young, Cece has known that criaturas are not something to fear, in fact she was saved by one when she was young—the same criatura who proclaimed Cece to have a soul of water despite living in a village that worships the Sun god.

After her sister disappears, Cece embarks on a journey to become a bruja, which necessitates her capturing and controlling a criatura in hopes that she can prove her strength and fight her way into the criatura underworld where her sister was taken. As the story progresses, Cece continues to defy expectations and challenge those long-held beliefs about criaturas and magic. She has her own way of going about things, especially because she's a soft-hearted person who doesn't want to hurt anyone, whether they're human or criatura, and she will not compromise her principles no matter what's at stake.

That is precisely what I loved most about this story. It explores how maybe we fear the things we fear simply because they're different from us and we haven't taken the time to understand them. The story also challenges how we understand "weakness," and speaks directly against the machismo that's rampant in many Latinx communities. There is often this idea that in order to be "tough" or "strong," we have to hide our emotions, and we have to put aside emotions like fear, sadness, and even empathy in order to earn other people's respect when that is not at all true. It is human to love, to care, to hope, and to help others, and when we pretend otherwise, we are doing ourselves a disservice. Our emotions are what make us human, and caring about others is in fact what makes us stronger, and that message is on full display in this book.

As she gets closer and closer to figuring out how to save her sister, Cece is actually reforging the broken relationship between human and criatura, and making amends with her criatura friends for how they were mistreated in the past. She is able to see the dignity and wholeness they all inherently possess, and together they're learning how they can help each other and save each other. Their relationships become stronger because of that vulnerability, that willingness to reveal the parts of themselves that have been hurt, and that's what makes their relationship stronger.

Ultimately, this is an incredible and unforgettable story that has adventure, action, magic, supernatural creatures, Latinx-based mythology, friendship, and above all else emotion. It's about being unafraid to write your own story and to be different than the person you were taught to be. It's how strength comes from vulnerability and change is only possible when we are brave enough to be different. I do wish we could've seen a little bit more of Cece's family, especially with her mysterious tía, and there definitely feels like there's room for a sequel if not an entire series, but I absolutely loved this all the same and I'd highly recommend it! 

Kaela Rivera's novel Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls is full of adventure, heart, and mythology that any reader will love. I was floored by how easily it was to fall in love with the characters in this story, who all have distinct personalities and ambitions. My favorite part was how seamlessly Latinx folklore was incorporated to highlight not only Cece's culture, but the entire narrative. It is a love song to the stories that Rivera was taught by her grandparents, and the love that the author has for her heritage shines in this ambitious and action packed story. Even those unfamiliar with the stories of criaturas and bruja will soon find themselves enthralled with the magical world Rivera has created.

Cece Rios is a girl who has become an easy target in her village due to her soft and caring heart. When her sister is taken by a criatura known as the Bride Stealer, Cece swears she will do anything it takes to get her sister back--even if it means becoming braver and breaking the social expectations of her home. On her journey, she picks up a slew of reluctant allies (and later friends) using the very weakness she was ostracized for. 

 All major aspects of this story are nearly flawless. The pacing, plot, characterization, and imagery are all a joy to read and watch develop. The diversity of this story, combined by it being a middle grade Own Voices novel, make this story particularly valuable to any home or school library. The only aspect to the story I found myself wishing there was more development of was when

Cece's father was revealed to be abusive at home

as it appears very late in the novel without much foreshadowing. 

This story is full of adventure, requiring Cece to sneak out to dangerous places and fight against many dangerous people and criaturas in order to prove she has what it takes to bring her sister home. On her journey, she learns more about criatures, her family, and herself in the process. The biggest lesson that Cece learns of all is the strength and beauty of believing in yourself.