For much of her life, Manuela Azul has lived in a small Miami apartment with her mother and surrogate grandmother. Manu and her mother are undocumented immigrants hiding from both the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Manu’s father’s crimelord family, who are the reason they fled Argentina. But Manu’s undocumented status isn’t the only reason she must hide– her strangely hued eyes mark her as different, and so Manu dreams of the future when she’ll have her green card and the surgery to fix her eyes. Until then, she lives through her books. But even this circumscribed life has its dangers, as Manu discovers one horrible night when her mother is arrested by ICE, and her surrogate grandmother is attacked. Suddenly, Manu is on her own until she follows a lead to a hidden, magical school where everyone has eyes like hers, and everyone has a gift of magic. But the magical school doesn’t provide an idyllic world like the ones in Many’s books, for even here she must hide who she is, because even among the brujas and lobizóns of her true people, Manu’s very existence is forbidden. If her true self is discovered, she faces a fate far worse than deportation.

“Catalina didn’t say anything to Saysa and me when she regrouped with us, but she was definitely quieter than she’s been around me. Like she’s mulling over whether it would be worth exposing me to gain her mother’s approval. After all, their plan to use me to find Fierro is looking less probable by the day; I’m no closer to making a flower bend to my will than I am to becoming a US citizen.”

Though the myths and legends of Central and South America have been in the United States since before it was a country, they have been overlooked or outright ignored in favor of European tales dragged across the ocean by European immigrants, to the point where it would seem easier to find a leprechaun on the green hills of Oregon than to find Tata Duende in the forests of eastern Texas. With her new series, Wolves of No World, Argentine-born author Romina Garber seeks to bring some of these legends to a wider audience and to put a human face to the issue of immigration, which is too often reduced to mere numbers.

While Manu has lived the majority of her life in hiding, she’s like most teenagers: she longs for friends who understand her, a romance to be swept away by, and a future she fits into. But her differences and her undocumented status make these things improbable, and so she lives through her books, her favorites being Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Cien años de soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude) and the Harry Potter books. In them, she finds the escape she longs for until, when her world is turned upside down in a night, she ends up in a real-life magical school where the things she’s always wanted are finally within her reach.

In less steady hands, Lobizona might have become a story about Manu’s madcap adventures with her bruja friends and a lobizón boyfriend, a light and breezy romp that would have felt more like Miami-based Harry Potter fan fiction, and no one would have blamed Garber for doing so. Glossy, shallow stories about badass girls going out and kicking ass have been tickets to the top of bestseller lists for many YA fantasy authors, but Garber has a deeper story to tell. This magical school is not Hogwarts, where your future is determined by your greatest attributes. The shine of Manu’s new world tarnishes quickly, for it has its own strict rules and cultural norms, and anyone who dares to tread a new path will quickly find themselves in dire straights.

Stories of teenagers fighting a stratified society are nothing new– that’s what most young adult fantasy is about, after all– but Lobizona reachers deeper than your garden variety YA tale. There is no Dark Lord to fight, no McGuffin to retrieve, and no wise mentor to show the way forward. Manu and her new-found friends must find their own way into a brighter future where they can live their lives on their own terms, and not be bound by the strictures of an old world that values tradition over freedom.

While Lobizona might be based upon old legends from South America, its take on the well-used magical school trope makes it feel relevant for more reasons than Manu’s immigration status, while Manu herself, with her complexities and her ardent desire to be seen and accepted for who she is, and not who she is expected to be, make her a character that readers will root for until the final page has been turned.



Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.

I knew I just HAD to read Lobizona as soon as I first read the blurb. As an immigrant who has been living in Latin America since 2010, and most of that time in Argentina, I just couldn't resist the promise of both the immigrant aspect and the Argentine folklore element. I had a feeling this book would be a perfect match for me, and my instincts turned out to be 200% correct. I absolutely loved my time with this first book of a new series, and it is without doubt a new favorite! Trust me, that absolutely gorgeous cover matches its content perfectly.

There are so many elements that I loved in Lobizona and I'm having a bit of a hard time figuring out where to start... But let's talk about the Argentine folklore and the influence of Argentine culture and customs in general first. As someone who has experienced Argentine life from up close during years (my hubby is actually Argentinian), I absolutely loved how important this element is in the story. The references to food, customs, culture and folklore were numerous and I LOVED just how many Spanish phrases were included. And not only that, but specific Argentine phrases as well as localisms from other countries were included; an absolute treat for the Spanish philologist in me. I do understand that someone without any knowledge of the Spanish language or Argentine culture might struggle, but I personally thought this element gave the story authenticity and made it stand out far above other books of the same genre. And with the main character Manu being bilingual, helpful translations of most if not all Spanish phrases are being included in the dialogue without slowing down the pace or flow of the story.

Another thing that stands out for me in Lobizona is that it is basically a mix of urban and high fantasy, where the real world of Miami and the fantasy world of Lunaris collide. Both worlds are thoroughly described and developed; these descriptions make it really easy to fully immerse yourself in the story. Especially the worldbuilding of Lunaris as well as el Laberinto really made the fantasy part of this story come alive... And I just loved getting the chance to learn more about the world as well as both the werewolves, witches and their powers. Some part of the story almost had that magical realism feel, and the mention of more than one famous Latin American author (including Gabriel García Márquez and Jorge Luis Borges) contributed to that same magic.

The Miami setting is used to help discuss the topic of immigrants and the struggles they face... Especially how hard it is for illegal immigrants to change their fate. As someone who has been an immigrant during the last ten years, this is a topic close to my heart and the way Romina Garber incorporated it into the plot is splendid. The main character Manu is a fascinating character in that way, as her struggle to fit in and exist legally applies in both worlds, albeit for different reasons. On top of the immigrant topic, Lobizona also discusses important topics such as gender discrimination, sexism and the hostility towards the lgbt community... Oh yes, Lobizona is so much more than just another YA fantasy read filled to the brim with romance; instead we have a multi-dimentional and diverse story full of dept that simply blew me away.

I also loved how the focus of the story was on Manu, her self discovery, her development and her struggle to fit in as well as her struggle to find safety. While there is some romance involved in the plot, it is mostly a slowburn romance and somehow it didn't bother me at all. The characters themselves are well developed and easy to like in general. I loved Manu's history as well as her development over time, and the rest of the characters were well rounded and intriguing too. It is definitely a cast I will be looking forward to meeting up with again!

The writing itself is in one world brilliant. And I'm not only talking about the writing style as a whole, but also about the many Spanish phrases as well as the flow and pace of the story... I literally devoured each page, impatient to absorb more and more of this wonderful story. I know Lobizona might not be everyone's taste and some might struggle with the many Spanish phrases, but for me personally it was a match made in heaven. The plot development was spot on and the plot twists were also well handled; the ending definitely left me craving for more!

In short, if you are looking for an unique YA fantasy read with Argentine folklore elements, that magical feel and a healthy dose of interesting topics that give the story dept, Lobizona is simply a must-read.

I received an advanced copy of Lobizona through Netgalley, so I could share my thoughts with you!

Manuela Azul has spent her whole life being hidden away. Before she was born, Manu’s mother fled Argentina to escape being killed by Manu’s father’s crime-lord family. Now they live in a too-small apartment, hiding from both the ICE and from her vengeful relatives. Manu’s carefully protected life starts to unravel when her surrogate grandmother is attacked, unearthing too many questions about who Manu is. With nowhere else to go, Manu leaves behind the apartment and sets out to find the truth of her own identity. Along the way, she discovers a magical world straight out of Argentinian folklore, one in which she hopes she may finally belong. But secrets and lies have a way of being revealed and Manu quickly realizes that even in a world of magic there is still darkness and discrimination.

You can get your copy of Lobizona on August 4th from Wednesday Books!

Romina Garber has crafted a beautiful and timely fantasy world in Lobizona that you will not want to miss! I was first drawn to this book because of its gorgeous cover and I was blown away by its contents! I’ve previously read Garber’s Zodiac series (which I really enjoyed), but I think she stepped up her game in Lobizona! I loved the way magic was structured and described throughout the story. My favorite part of this book was undoubtedly the friends Manu makes while studying magic; they brought true life to the story with their personalities and goals!

My Recommendation-
If you have ever thought to yourself, “I really wish there was a unique werewolf book out there,” Lobizona should definitely be your next read! This book would be perfect for anyone who loves reading about passionate characters fighting to find where they belong. If you loved Woven in Moonlight or other richly designed fantasy worlds, Lobizona would be a great choice for your next read!

Being normal isn't easy when you wear sunglasses day and night and get a period so painful, you drug yourself unconscious for three days a month. But that's life for Manu. An illegal immigrant in Miami who is desperate to become a normal, teenage American girl.

When ICE arrests her mother, Manu sets out on a journey to save her mom and uncovers the secrets her mother tried desperately to keep.

Don't sleep on Lobizona. It's got witches. It's got werewolves. It's got a secret school for young witches and werewolves.

I've struggled to write this review because I'm not sure how to best talk about a significant part of Manu's story -- her status as both an undocumented immigrant and an undocumented supernatural being. With this parallel Garber is begging us to look up for our page and take a hard look at the treatment of the very real women, men, children who are just like Manu. Whom have come to a country illegally to escape the very real danger they are coming from. People don't put their children on boats for no reason.

Lots of other people are going to talk about this in a more intelligent, scholarly way than I am, but do yourself a favor and read Lobizona when it comes out this August.

"The horrors Perla left behind when she came to this country darken her glassy gaze, and I realize she never got away. No matter how many borders we cross, we can't seem to outrun the fear of not feeling safe in our own house."

I think it's fair to note that, while this is definitely YA fantasy, it reads more like contemporary fiction sprinkled with magical realism. Those looking for high fantasy involving werewolf folklore might be disappointed in this slow burning tale, because it feels as if the purpose of this story is to serve the reader with a unique book about the immigrant's life in America. Garber has provided a call to action with Lobizona, and I love that she holds back nothing in her attempt to educate the average reader on many horrors of modern society.

The prologue immediately gripped me and set the tone for the remainder of the book, and as a privileged white woman, I found myself choking back tears and grieving for those who aren't treated equally in this country. The author also ties in menstrual cycles as an important part of Manu's transformation, and it was so refreshing to see a YA author normalize something that is, well, NORMAL. Even though this was not an own voices read for me, I wholly appreciated diving into someone else's culture and heritage and learning more about their folklore.

The pacing is steady in this book, and it felt like a solid set up for the next installment, which I am very much anticipating to read. If you are looking for a YA fantasy that stands apart from the regular humdrum, and you're interested in current events and educating yourself on some of the injustices that Latinx immigrants face on a daily basis, do yourself a favor and pick this title up on August 4th.

Romina Garber creates a fantastical world of witches and werewolves with familiar elements of the genre but makes them her own. The protagonist, Manu, wins your heart over with ease. She struggles to find her identity in a world she's always known as an undocumented immigrant in Miami. When she discovers she is a new entity in a world she just uncovered, the world of the Septimus, she finally finds where she belongs. But she doesn't belong there either, because her status as a lobizona is unheard of. Moreover, she's the daughter of an outlaw that rebelled against the Septimus' ways.

Garber's story covers a lot of territories. She beautifully parallels Manu's undocumented immigrant status with her "illegal" lobizona status. She asks hard questions about what makes a person illegal and what makes someone acceptable to society. Manu and friends play specific roles that question gender expectations, giving the story an empowering feminist aura. Delving into gender roles also brings up issues of sexual orientation and bigotry.

Through the friendships and relationships she builds, Manu disrupts the status quo. She gains a few allies as she sets off on a journey to dismantle an unfair system. It's exciting to see where the rest of the series will go next. There's so much left to uncover.

Well. I’m a sucker for a good fairytale, magical realism, and bucking societal standards. This book hits all those marks! Romina Garber takes immigrants, ICE, and deportation and juxtaposes it with a fantastical world of brujas and werewolves. The imagery is spectacular, and holy plot twist! I won’t spoil it but I did NOT see it coming. I cannot wait to share this book with my students!!

I've been in a huge reading slump later (took me over a month to finish a book, one I rated 5 stars!), and this book pulled me write out! I read it in less than one day. I was captivated on page 1 and each page after!

What initially drew me to this book is how it discusses immigration, ICE, and deportation. I am very passionate about the topic, and I am so happy that this book can be a way for people to begin to understand the topic and see it for what it really is, to see the flaws in our current immigration system in America.

Heaviness aside, this was just a damn good book. The characters are relatable, the plot is unique, a rich culture is present, and we get some amazing twists and turns. Some I saw coming, and others completely floored me.

This book wasn't for me, but I'm a mood reader and think I wasn't in the best mind frame for it. I did really enjoy the lore and storytelling. The story deals with issues of identity, immigration, and family. The story is told as magical realism so readers are taken from a world they recognize into one with magic and mystery. The writing was beautiful. I'm glad the author included Spanish dialogue and the translations by the text or context were fairly seamless.

Scheduled to post 7/28/20.

I kind of adored LOBIZONA. I love how it's a more authentic-feeling Harry Potter. I can't really articulate that feeling better than that. I felt more deeply connected to LOBIZONA. It felt more real. There are parallels between Manu and Harry, for sure, but Manu is such a better character. Better fleshed out, more likable, actually does things on her own instead of relying on her smarter friends to do them for her. You know. Better. And for those of you wondering why the hell Harry Potter is even coming up, it's a thread throughout the book.

Manu is such a genuinely sympathetic character and my heart couldn't help but break for her and her family. And just when she thinks she catches a break, it gets stomped on and I got crushed a little more. Her situation in Miami was heartbreaking and all too real for a lot of families. But once she gets to the camp I got to watch Manu bloom and it was such a glorious thing to see.

I love the world Garber created. A little disorienting at first, but once I got my bearings it was lush and lovely and at times terrifying. You get to watch how everyone already familiar with the world basically took it for granted while Manu soaks it all in, cherishes it, and revels in the layers she uncovers about herself and her family. It was like watching a field of flowers bloom.

I didn't see the end coming, and even in hindsight I still didn't see it. So I think it'll be a shock to a lot of people. And I liked how realistic it was, all things considered. I speak more about the decisions people made when it came to decision-making time. I'll save the spoilers, but it felt authentic and people's reactions to what was going on more reasonable and rational.

Normally I'm not a big fan of werewolf stories. That was just a creature that never piqued my interest, aside from Ginger Snaps (great movie, BTW). But I loved what Garber did with it, and didn't do with it (no alpha romance love stories here, thank GOD). LOBIZONA isn't just about Manu understanding who she is and where she fits in this world. It's a feminist manifesto, a LGBTQ+ battle cry, and the sound of chains breaking on a society that needs to step into the 21st century. A great read and I look forward to book two!

5

Discover a magical new world in Lobizona by Romina Garber


You need to read Lobizona by Romina Garber.

I’m indeed a sucker for a good YA story, but I don’t feel the same about fantasy novels. I tried reading Harry Potter and only made it halfway through the first book. (I recognize I’m probably missing out.) Only watched Twilight (starting with the second movie) because 2012 was sold out that night at the movie theater. (I found it very problematic.)

I devoured The Hunger Games and Divergent series, but it was because I love to feed my dark side with the real scary stuff — collapsed social systems, chaos, and despair. Dystopian fiction is more my jam than anything that includes vampires, werewolves, or magical beings. (Are these even part of the same genre? I digress.)

It’s not that I think I won’t like it. I’m just not curious enough to want to invest time in reading it.

So, imagine my surprise when Lobizona by Romina Garber fell into my lap (actually, into my Kindle), and I couldn’t put it down.

Werewolves and witches that speak Spanish have captured my heart
Lobizona is the story of Manu, an undocumented immigrant from Argentina living in Miami, FL. Manu rarely leaves the small apartment she shares with her mom and their friend Perla for fear of being discovered by authorities. She doesn’t go to school or have friends. Books and trips to her building’s roof where she can look out to the world are her only escape.

When ICE takes her mother, Manu is forced to start making decisions on her own. Her instincts draw her to the back of a pickup van of a man she had seen wandering around her building. And, as she gets further and further away from the few blocks she’s existed in for most of her life, Manu feels like she might be getting closer to some of the answers that she has been seeking her whole life. Why is she different? Why has her mom been lying to her? Who is her father?

Manu already carried the heavy burden of her illegal immigration status in the United States. Similarly, in her search for answers, she finds her existence breaks other laws. Her quest for belonging might mostly take place in an imaginary realm, but her genuine struggle to define her identity and find her place in the world is one immigrants everywhere will recognize.

But, you don’t have to be an immigrant to love this book. Lobizona explores some very real struggles for teens coming of age in our sometimes intolerant and traditionalist world. You don’t have to be a teen either. Even my thirtysomething butt struggles with how rigid and unforgiving society can sometimes be.

How have you not preordered it already?
This book was beautifully narrated and is rich in Argentian folklore and culture. Garber is imaginative and detailed in her descriptions of scenery and feelings. My mind traveled to new and colorful places I would’ve never been able to visualize on my own.

As I read Lobizona, I appreciated how other popular YA novels, as well as Garber’s love for literature, are weaved into the story. She includes nods to the works Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Jorge Luis Borges, J.K. Rowling and Jane Austen throughout her book.

I hope you will decide to explore Manu’s world. I can guarantee you an exciting journey through the courage of self-discovery, heartwarming first loves, unbreakable friendships, and unforgettable magic.

Lobizona, out August 4, 2020, will be the first book in the series by Romina Garber Wolves of No World.
4.5!!

This book is a perfect example of a fantasy book that allows us to explore our own society's flaws in a safe space. I really enjoyed reading about Manu's story. It is cool how the author blended the real world with the fantasy one. I am deeply impressed by the authors writing and how much she was able to convey about the immigrant experience. Looking forward to the next book!

“You’re saying if no one’s told my story before… I get to tell it the way I want?”

Behold! Marvel at this cover art! Read the synopsis! Isn’t this promising? Doesn’t this make you wish you had a copy? Because, yes—after seeing the cover art and the synopsis, I desperately wanted to read this book. I needed this book.

In Lobizona, we follow Manuela (Manu) as she navigates life without detection. Hiding from both the US government and from the people of her father’s past, Manu is undocumented and unprotected. Isolated due to hiding, secrecy is Manu’s constant companion besides Perla and Ma. But hiding Manu isn’t the only secret that gets discovered. When Manu’s mother is taken by ICE, Manu discovers a magical world that is eerily familiar… Now in a magical world, Manu wages forward to uncover the secrets that gnawed on her since childhood. And just like the secrets that fought so hard to remain hidden, Manu must fight harder to uncover the truth.

Plot
The book weaves Argentinean folklore surrounding lobizon and bruja into Manu’s world which presents an interesting aspect into the novel. I liked how Argentinean culture was incorporated into the storytelling. Garber naturally incorporates Spanish into the dialogue. I appreciate how flawless and natural it was. However, the Spanish can make the reading experience disjointed if you’re not familiar with the language. There were times where the narrator (Manu) will translate, and other times where you must gauge the meaning from context and times where you won’t get it. I’ll be honest, I’ve never formally learnt Spanish nor learnt how to read it but can only understand and pick it up from sound (because that’s how I learnt—when a family member spoke). Often, I’d have to pause and read passages aloud for my two brain cells to figure out the translation (Yes, I’m a child of immigrant parents and as a result lost my mother’s tongue to assimilating to the culture I lived in… I’m like the meme: ‘Me? Bilingual? More like, bye-lingual’). Therefore, pausing and rereading some phrases often impacted my reading experience. I’m already a slow reader haha...

Lobizona is broken down into four phases. I won’t say much to spoil the story; however, the story really picks up in phase two for me. In phase two, we discover more about this magical world. The world-building felt a little thin and due to that, the story felt more of magical realism rather than fantasy.

This book takes a while to get into the promised action. After the 40%, that’s where all the action began and it was great. The pacing felt disjointed at times. For example, the first 40-50% of the book we are dragging our feet to this magical world. And then, at the last 15-20% action happens! All! At! Once! I’d appreciate if there were moments for the audience to process all that is going on.

Despite the pacing, I did appreciate Garber's writing style. Garber weaves emotions well into her characters without weighing down the narrative with too many descriptions.

Characters
I love an underdog character. With everything going on, you can’t help but root for Manu! I was invested in her and her dreams. Manu is determined despite all odds. She dreams and yearns for more and when an opportunity shows itself, she’ll take it. However, the chosen one trope is strong in this one. If you’re not a fan, you may not enjoy the incessant specialness of Manu. (I’m a fan of the chosen trope so I’m never really bothered by such things).

Other than Manu, there is a large cast in this book (I can’t remember all their names but I remember Cata and Sasya—the two other girls). I enjoyed Manu’s and Sasya’s interactions. Sasya is a kind and gentle soul, the welcoming friend to Manu. Whereas, Cata is perceived to be the 'mean girl' who is ruthless to Manu. I wasn’t a fan of how that part was portrayed like the typical 'popular girl mean to the new girl' trope.

Another aspect I didn’t enjoy was the romance. long sigh yes, the romance. I didn’t like how the romance gave a forbidden vibe to it (spoiler-y: more like almost cheating vibes). And when the truth came out it felt convenient and cheap. Also, I couldn’t understand why the love interest and Manu had feelings for each other? It felt superficial. I would rather focus on other pressing matters, such as Manu's mother and Manu's discoveries.

Enjoyment
Aside from that, there were some aspects I liked. I liked how alienation and challenging the norm was a major factor in this book. I liked how the themes of alienation and immigration were woven in the story. Manu’s fear of discovery rings true to too many people. Garber writes well, enveloping the reader into Manu’s world that you feel the constant fear and even the threat in living. But despite the fear, there’s the unyielding hope. It was hope in the characters that I liked in this book. Lobizon grapples with various themes such as misogyny, privilege, undocumented immigrants, amongst many more.

I, myself am a child of immigrants and I have experienced cultural assimilation so on one side, parts of this book resonated with me. I liked how powerful Garber wrote various aspects. However, on the other hand… I just wished there were more. In actuality, I think I had higher expectations due to wanting to really love this book. Despite that, I'm very curious to see where this will go.


Recommended for: fans of fantasy schools with magical creatures, fans of YA fantasy, and readers

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Content warning: xenophobia, sexism, bullying, trauma, misogyny, minor homophobia,

I enjoyed reading several aspects of this book! The pacing was wonderful, characters were well drawn, and the reading experience on the whole was delightful.

Thanks to Goodreads and NetGalley for the ARC copies of this book.

Werewolves, witches, fantastic world building? What more could I want from a book. As an avid reader of fantasy and fiction, I've seen many books that feature special, female werewolves who are trying to stay away from marrying the "alpha male" of the pack, all the while falling for a sweet, soft boy who usually has a name similar to "Shay" or something and giving all of it up to run away with him.

This book has none of it and I'm wholly here for it. Manuela has spent her entire 17 years of existence hiding who she is based on her mother's fear for her. It's not easy to be an undocumented immigrant, as well as having eyes that more than make her stand out in a crowd. She suffers from pretty horrible menses which are only tempered by a medication that her Mom prescribes to her on the nights that coincide with the full moon.

However, when the clinic that Manuela's mother works at is raided by ICE and a dramatic fall forces their elderly roommate into the hospital, Manuela finds herself on her own with the prospect of not getting caught by ICE and deported, but also understanding what weird changes happen to her during the full moom. But that's when the adventure really starts.

I won't spoil what happens after her encounters at the clinic and how she manages to escape and come into her own, but Lobizona is a perfect OWN VOICES book that I think every teenager and young adult needs to read. The world building and characters are vibrant and it's good to read about the appearance of Afro-Latinos as well.

I loved this book and it was an honor to receive these copies. I hope that Romina Garber comes out with that sequel soon!!

I ended up really, really enjoying this one. Manu is such a strong, but flawed character. I loved her so much. I also really loved her friendship with Saysa and her frenemies situation with Catalina (who honestly is tied for a favorite character). The one character I didn't care for was Tiago, and I have no idea why. He is a perfectly fine character, but I just wasn't feeling him. I also really liked Diego, but we barely have any scenes with him. I just liked him. I didn't love the romance that was brewing. I just wasn't feeling the chemistry between the two love interests.
Something that was so great and so intricate was the worldbuilding. We get this beautiful interweaving of what life is like for Manu and the "myth" of the lobizones and the brujas, the harsh realities of what some people go through just to try to build a better life, the parallels between both her lives. It was wonderfully done. I am very interested to see where this goes in the next book.

Wow. What a magical book! I don't know exactly what I expected when I first started this book, but the story I read was certainly not it. LOBIZONA by Romina Garber was rich with beautiful worldbuilding, magical storytelling, and offered a unique perspective on the world that normally I wouldn't have actively sought out. (But I'm glad I did.)

Manu is a girl who belongs nowhere. She doesn't belong in the US where she's at risk of being discovered by ICE for living in the country undocumented, but also has these fiery eyes that mark her as someone different. What she discovers in the course of her journey is that her father is a werewolf, her mother human, and after discovering a secret world of witches and werewolves, Manu thinks she's finally found out where she belongs. But her very existence in the supernatural world is a crime. So, Manu, the girl who belongs nowhere, seeks out to prove that she does belong and discovers friends and family in the process.

While the story blew me away, Garber creatively wove socialist ideologies into the fabric of her novel. It offered a unique perspective and insight into the author's own worldview and how that influenced the mythology and the story she told. As someone who disagrees with those ideologies, it didn't sit well with me. I was fascinated by how it affected storyline and how it could potentially affect the arc of the plot, but I worry it will take the story in a direction that I, personally, may not like. That's my opinion, so take that for what you will, but the powerful story of searching for belonging really was what held me captive throughout the book.

There were moments in the worldbuilding where some parts felt a little rushed and underdeveloped, especially when the characters visit Lunaris. It was hard at times to follow or fully understand what was happening and could have been developed a little bit more, but didn't deter me much. One thing I did love about this book was its use of Spanish in the text. The smaller Spanish phrases were rarely translated into English and the longer ones most often were. This added a sense of authenticity to the book for me that I really enjoyed.

Overall, some parts of this book left me a little unsettled, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story. LOBIZONA is truly, a creative story, and one that will definitely be loved by Gen Z.

3.5/5 stars

Lobizona is a fresh take on werewolves rooted in Argentinian folklore. It's fact paced, timely and a brilliant premise. I loved the parallels of Manu being an "illegal" immigrant as well as an "illegal" type of supernatural creature. There were so many cool aspects about this story from the unique look of Manu's eyes that mark her, to the portal like realm of Lunaris that can only be reached when they transition. I also liked the depictions of lunaritis and painful period rep.

The only downside of this book is the ending felt a bit rushed and didn't quite wrap up all the threads. I don't know if there will be a second book, but I'm eager to read more of Garber's work!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the arc in an exchange for an honesty review.

First of all I want to mention that the cover is gorgeous!

The story follows our main character Manu who is always trying to lay low because her family is illegal. She must wear dark sunglasses at all time especially in public. The father is not in the picture and her family have been hiding from him for many years from what she knows of. She thinks that her family is embarrassed of her eyes but soon she will know that she’s different and they just wanted to protect her identity. There are so many secrets that are later revealed throughout the book. I love that it has that family relationship and are doing the best to protect one another.

I am an American but my parents are Hispanic and so I know Spanish. I really appreciated the Spanish inside the book and the references to Borges and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. When I took Spanish courses in high school, I was introduced to the authors and it brought back memories. It’s been awhile since I read something by Borges and Gabriel Garcia Marquez but this book got me in the mood to relieve high school memories.

I love the fantasy side of the book that it provided. It almost felt like Harry Potter and Twilight and I love both those books.

I truly feel this book is for everyone because many times I have felt lost and I’m sure I’m not the only one. People feel lost and different because of race, language, sexuality, disability, and so on. Manu didn’t know where she belonged but towards the end she finds home and I can’t wait to read the second book.

Lobizona is a richly layered narrative that is at once a mythological retelling, a coming of age story and social commentary. It's interesting that the opening scene in the novel shows an ICE raid, the thing that Manu's family and community fear the most. Manu and her family have well-practiced strategies for hiding from the government authorities bent on hunting down undocumented people and apprehending them for forced repatriation. The fear for ICE is on par with the danger represented by the supernatural elements Manu encounters throughout the novel and that, in itself, was a powerful statement about the fear too many in this country are forced to confront.

Manu is a wonderful, rich representation of the gifts that immigrants carry with them, gifts that make them so indispensable to the new countries they call home. She is bilingual, reads voraciously, and dreams of one day working for NASA as an astronaut. Originally brought to the US by her mother from Argentina, Manu has never met her father and this theme of identity occupies the first part of the novel, together with the harsh realities and fears of living as a undocumented person.

Lobizona is very successful at conveying the immigrant experience and all its terrors and triumphs. There is relentless hope even as Manu's family fears discovery, and they rely on their dream that somehow, things will work out for them, the way it has worked out for so many others.

But Lobizona is also a young adult fantasy novel - and it is true to its genre. It relies heavily on Argentinian folklore which, after the millionth retelling of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, is a refreshing change of pace. The magical realism spliced with portal fantasy, the world-building and the use of Argentinian Spanish did my multi-culti heart so much good. I want more books featuring other Latin-American cultures and in this, the book delivers.

Manu is unique, as we discover. She blacks-out for three days during her monthly cycle, during which she occupies a dream world. She is the seventh daughter, so she should be a witch, but instead she is a Lobizona or a female werewolf, in possession of powers usually reserved for the seventh son. She has silver, star-shaped eyes she must cover with sunglasses because they are so odd. She comes into possession of super hero - like powers like supernatural strength, speed and overdeveloped senses.

Without spoiling the remaining plot points, there is a forbidden love, a very cool friend group, and excellent queer representation. This story grapples with the big issues: the ethics of assigning legal status to humans for any reason, immigration, and the fascist nature of ICE. It also confronts issues of misogyny, the flaws of a binary gendered system, and the way privilege is awarded and the harm it brings to everyone, whether that privilege is in the world we live in or the world where magical beings vie for meaning and power.

I look forward to reading the next installment of this series.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.