Okay, I want to preface this by saying that I went into this book with the full intention of loving it and enjoying it. I haven't read any book by an Argentinian author or about the difficulties of being a Latinx immigrant in America before and I was really excited to finally delve in. But after a couple of chapters into the book, I knew I was going to be disappointed.
We kick off the book after Manu has resurfaced back from a period of oblivion that lasts for three day due to the full moon and we directly explore the effect it has on her. The beginning was slow, and the further I read, the more I realized how unattached to the characters I was - especially to Manu. The writing wasn't my favorite thing as well but I just kept on reading anyway.
The plot really kicks in around the 22% mark. After ICE invades the work place of Manu's mom, Manu is forced to be on the run. And that's when things literally change direction and I'm taken off guard. Why? Because we're suddenly following Manu as she tries to sneak in and become part of a magical school for witches and werewolves ( one she randomly stumbled upon). But that's fine and all, until I start getting frustrated with our main character.
Before I even started this book, I knew Manu was a werewolf. It's pretty much said to you. And even if you didn't know, the signs are all there in the beginning. Manu suffers from terrible pain every full moon ( which also happens to be every time she menstruates) and as a result takes 3 powerful pills that knock her out for those three days. But the thing is, her body also changes after every resurface. As in, one time her hair grew thicker, another her body grew longer, her vision and hearing skills got ten times better. So on and so forth.
And all of that to me screams super abilities aka werewolf abilities. Plus, one of the most striking feature in Manu are her eyes. She has yellow irises that she hides behind glasses so can live among the people of Miami.
So tell me why - please explain to me - how it takes Manu 21 chapters out of 34 to figure out that she is a werewolf??? How did she not, not even once, consider that she might be one? She knows that her father is a werewolf and that her mother is an ordinary human and does not question whether that pairing might have made a hybrid.
Instead, she spends about 12% of the book if not more trying to awaken her witchy powers. Because in this world, females are always witches and males are always werewolves. But still …
Anyway, in the school we get introduced to new characters but the main ones are Catarina, Saysa ( my favorite out of the bunch ) and Tiago. Oh Tiago...why you got to be such a mess.
-you probably guessed right. Tiago and Manu are immediately attracted to one another from the first second that they meet. And the attraction is so strong that it's okay to flirt with him despite the fact that Tiago is hinted to be with Catalina. But that's fine right? Because Catalina is first shown to be mean and cold anyway.
I just wish the romance wasn't so insta-lovey and that it wasn't so prevalent. But regardless of that, Saysa is amazing and so passionate and I like her a lot for that.
Even though I had my issues with this book, I'm so conflicted because at the same time it tackled a lot of important topics. Like being an immigrant and feeling boxed inside a world that puts you down and doesn't hear you. I liked all the parts where the characters talked about standing up and fighting the prejudices and racism. And that's why, despite my dislikes of the plot and pace, I still do recommend this book nevertheless.
I still hope that when it gets published you do seek it out and hopefully read it.

ARC was provided by NetGalley & Wednesday Books in exchanged for an honest review.

This review is being published before the release date (August 4th, 2020)

Content/Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, talk of claustrophobia, xenophobia, sexism, discussion of menstruation, bullying, drug trafficking, drugging, talk of postpartum depression, trauma, misogyny, scene of attempted sexual assault, forced marriage, minor homophobia

“I come alive on the full moon.”

Dearest readers, I’m so thankful that I received an arc of this book. Not to mention that I was able to buddy read this book with so many of my fellow friends and partners at the Social Distance Book Fest. This book was captivating, unique, and I literally took a couple of weeks just to put my thoughts in order, to write this review and tell you all about it.

Our story follows Manuela Azul, an undocumented immigrant, who had her whole life turned upside down. Secrets are now coming to light, with her grandmother in the hospital and her mother taken into custody, Manu has no other choice other than to run. Only fate will lead her to a place that allows her to be herself, trace her heritage, and uncover her own story.

I loved Manu as a main character. She’s very strong, independent, and even though it’s not shown enough (in my opinion), she’s very family oriented. She also has this free spirit about her that I absolutely adored. The way Garber shows Manu’s vulnerability with being so uncertain, not wanted people to get in too deep with her situation, and the scene where she tries to push everyone away… I couldn’t stop appreciating that side of her and those vulnerabilities really resonated with me. I’m very much a person who wants to protect the ones she loves and cares about. So seeing Manu’s internal conflict about what she should do and how she do it, it really hit my soft spots.

“Because you can’t be invisible when your irises are yellow suns and your pupils are silver stars.”

The side characters were fantastic. I loved the way there were so many different personalities and how they all meshed so well with one another. What I really loved about these characters was how a small handful of them had Manu’s back despite everything. I loved how Cata and Saysa were willing to help Manu stay in the bruja part of the school, but what I loved the most is how Cata and Saysa both represented the angel on one shoulder with the devil on the other. Not to mention, we’re made aware of it later on in the story, but they’re both in a secret relationship with one another. And I think the thought of their different personalities coming together in a relationship really made me love them even more. Then we have Tiago and this poor boy couldn’t catch a break. Manu kept cutting him off left and right. It about killed me having to watch this boy get crushed so many time especially after a special scene that shows us the feelings growing between Tiago and Manu. Plus, his personality mixes so well with the way Manu’s personality is throughout this story. It was great chemistry and I truly felt that they were a perfect match for one another.

I also loved the way the magic was shown throughout this book. For my reading experience, the magic and the world felt very ancient, something alive and breathing. That feeling became even more solid after Manu is told Lunaris is the home of all magic and how Lunaris ends up having a real conversation with Manu. Ten years were added to my life by all of this. And I truly believe it was a clever idea to give Lunaris the ability to have a persona and the ability to communicate. And can I talk about this world building for a second?! I loved the world building in this book. I’m very picky about fantasy and world building. If a book can’t rope me in within the first five chapters, I will probably struggle with reading the book. However, for my experience, Romina Garber really gave me a vivid experience. It felt like I was walking right beside Manu as she moved from different areas in the book. I adore and crave books that can give me the vivid experience. And I think the author did a marvelous job delivering that expectation for me.

“You seek to discover your true home, yet you no longer have one… You have two.”

This book also addresses many important issues, as well. There’s a huge discussion of immigration and about ICE which overlaps a lot with what’s happening in today’s time. I don’t want to speak too much on that because that’s not my story to tell. However, if this is an own voices read for you and you have a review for this book, talking about your own experiences, please send me a link so I can help boost your voice and story. This book also addresses the topic of gender and gender identity. This is another important topic that sparks many arguments and conversations today. Even though there has been so much progress, there’s many places where gender restrictions is still a thing or an issue. In the the same area, we have the relationship with Cata and Saysa where they have to hide their love and relationship because it’s illegal for them to be open about it. Once again, even though the lgbtqiap+ community has made great strides and helped the world progress so much, there are many places in the world where it’s illegal to be open about same sex relationships. So I really appreciated Romina Garber adding these topics in because they’re still important issues that exist today and it’s not talked about enough.

“Fierro valued every life, wanted the best for everyone no matter if they were lobizones, brujas, or humans.”

I also want to mention that any reader should practice self-care while reading this book. There are a lot of content warnings, but I want to point out that there is a scene of attempted rape and as a rape survivor myself, that scene left me very uneasy and how it went unchallenged. I would have liked to see it challenged more or see some form of punishment happen. While I realize this is to show how society handles sexual assault and rape situations, I feel like it could have been challenged more. As I mentioned, just practice self-care and step back when you need to while reading this book.

I think the biggest issue I had with this book and the reason why I couldn’t give this a full five stars was the translated Spanish. And what I mean by that is Romina Garber’s personality is very un-apologetically Latinx, but when you read this book, it’s anything but. Now, I’ve seen many authors who are un-apologetically whatever heritage they are in books. Julie Kagawa is one of the of the best examples I can think of because she uses a lot of Japanese words and saying in her books, but she doesn’t explain it every time she uses them in her Shadow of the Fox series. She has a glossary in the back of her book for readers to constantly reference. Then you also have the matter of Google which is there for a reason. Now, I could understand if the author was explaining the sentences to add to the world building, however, I thought the world building was beautifully done. So the fact that every time there’s a Spanish sentence spoken and then immediately translated right after it’s said was very surprising for me. I truly would have loved to have seen the author run wild with the Spanish, without translating it, and leaving a glossary or dictionary piece in the back of her book. I would have loved to have seen the editing process for this book because I truly believe the translations didn’t need to be added. In my opinion, the world building speaks for itself and I would rather have the author be un-apologetic about their heritage and culture then see them feel obligated to translate it.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time reading this Lobizona. I loved how there was such emphasis on family and how important it is, I fell madly in love with the world building and characters, and I think many readers are going to be putting this on their top books for 2020. I’m truly hoping more readers will pick this book up, preorder it, and get as excited as I am about this book. However, now that I’ve finished reading the first book, I need the second one immediately. Can I have it already?!


The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

Originally posted on my blog: https://www.homeofabooklover.com/

I've been eyeing this book since I saw it on Twitter and I am surprised to get an advanced copy. I am so thankful for this. I am so thankful for the extra free time due to quarantine. In all honesty, I am not much of a fan of werewolves stories because the previous books I've read didn't catch my attention that much - first impressions right? Anyway, this book is really different! It has this charisma where you just want to read it. I love the book cover as well, it is attracting and the illustration is really awesome.

Lobizona, it started with a very interesting chapter. It got me hooked easily and it was honestly hard to put down the book. All I wanted is to turn the pages until I get to know all the mysteries hiding from the story. How will the character discover her true self? What would be her reaction? What is her future? Things like those are in my head until I was able to discover the answers in the book. I liked how the story were made, the twists of the story was shocking especially that one near the end. I didn't expect that turn.

Manu is the main character in this story and she only wanted to live normally. She's been hiding all her life with her Ma and all she wanted is to become a citizen so she won't be discriminated and no more hiding from the authorities. But, her life changed in an instant when she discovered some of the things about her life, her true nature and soon her future. There are other interesting characters as you go along, Catalina, Saysa and Tiago are some of Manu's close friends who helped her discover herself. Every character are interesting and the power they poses is something else. They might not know their full capacity yet but it does sound like promising and amazing. Also, isn't it cool that they have a school for werewolves, witches and other creatures? I seriously can't wait for everyone to fully discover their true nature especially Manu she recently discovered hers and I'm curious what else can she do. How powerful can she be?

"Our trust in each other is the only thing they can't take from us."

Before I end this, I do suggest that this book is really worth reading. I'm excited for the next one and the book twist is really something I didn't expect. I have a feeling that Book 2 will be more exciting! Also, more Tiago and Manu story.

I received this e-book free from NetGalley and St. Martins Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed herein are my own impartial impressions.

Lobizona tells the story of Manu (Manuela Azul), a teenage Argentinian girl living in Miami with her mother and a grandmotherly figure, Perla. Because of Manu's undocumented status and the strange gold color of her eyes, Manu's mother has kept her hidden all her life. Manu lives mostly in books, never knowing why her mother fled Argentina, who her father is or why she must always wear sunglasses into the outside world.


When Manu's mother's workplace is raided by ICE, Manu is sucked into a world she never knew existed - a world of Lobizons and Brujas - wolves and witches. It is here she will learn the truth about herself and her past, the reason for her strange eye color and her mother's overprotectiveness.

The references to Argentinian culture, language and practices really gave this story texture. I loved reading about the family drinking maté  and eating traditional Argentinian food and the dialogue that alternated between Spanish and English. The beginning portion of the book is a really richly woven cultural tapestry. I think for so many Hispanic kids who don't see themselves portrayed in modern fantasy stories, this book will be a hit.

This book had all sorts of representation - from the modern undocumented immigrant experience in the United States to gender nonconformity to LGBT representation. I think Garber admirably tried to take on a lot of issues, but it was difficult to give them all their due in the limited space and still tell Manu's story.

I struggled a bit with how to rate this. Is it an important book that offers representation for under-represented groups? Yes. Did it add anything new to the over-saturated YA fantasy market? Not really.

As someone who loves character-driven stories, the characterization in Lobizona was a big hinge for me. Unfortunately, all the characters seemed flat and one-dimensional, to the point where I had to flip back and forth to recall which was which. Ultimately, this led to me not really caring what happened or didn't happen to them.

For similar reasons, the will-they/won't they romance between Manu and Tiago didn't resonate with me, as most of the tension could have been easily resolved (and was in the last 10% of the book) with a simple conversation. Even the LGBT couple that didn't get revealed until the last fifty pages of the novel felt too little, too late. As many fans of Harry Potter felt with Dumbledore's "big gay reveal", does representation really matter if it's not expressly shown?

The fantasy side of the story also felt a little hackneyed. We've seen this plot before. Schools for witches and werewolves have been done to death and the magic system wasn't overly interesting. There isn't really a strong villain either. It's more of a corrupt government entity, whose laws aren't always clear. Why must all hybrids be killed? Why are witches/wolves killed for fraternizing with humans? What was Fierro actually fighting for? Weak enemies made for weak character motivations and did not leave me with a pressing need to read the sequel...

That said, the book ending with a really touching note from the author about her own experience with cultural assimilation and identity. I think Romina Garber tried to do many great things in this book and should be praised for that. Hopefully in subsequent books, the fantasy world and political issues will be more seamlessly integrated and strike a better overall balance.

I absolutely loved this book. The characters, the story, the atmosphere; everything captured me and held me the whole way through. Would highly recommend for any YA fantasy fans!

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

First of all I have to admit that I'm not much of a werewolf fan, so this novel had it extra hard. But the summary of the plot ("A world straight out of Argentine folklore, where the seventh consecutive daughter is born a bruja and the seventh consecutive son is a lobizón, a werewolf.") spoke to me, I loved the take on Argentinian folklore and how ICE / illegal existence in the US is presesented and - to a certain extent - combined. Manu is a nice enough character and I absolutely adored how this pretty wild and a bit unbelievable setting from the beginning (not only living illegally in Miami but also hiding away a kid from the world entirely) got even more unbelievable as it transformed into a portal-fantasy / sci-fi that was just WILD. I really enjoyed the feminist take that the story had in the end and how queer representation and issues were tied into it. But all in all, it was also a bit trashy and had all the YA tropes that sorta annoy me: Character with a mysterious heritage, problematic family background, SPECIAL EYES (like really special this time, not only the colour, lol), falling in love with the first sexy dude she encounters, is special in her abilities, etc. etc. etc. The ending also came pretty abrupt and had a "Howl's Moving Castle" quality to it (= wtf is going on, oh this person is another person etc.)

But it was entertaining, so 3,5 stars and I might even read a sequel.

This book has a really long lead in without a lot of good twists. We spend so much time being introduced to the inner workings of this magical world, the types of magic and gender roles, pack dynamics and cultural history, that very little actual plot development happens.

Thank you the Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my review.

When I saw so many people raving about this book I knew that I had to read this book even if I hadn't given magical realism a try. I knew that I loved fantasy and magical realism was more so people reacting to the magical things as if they were ordinary day things. The idea of magical realism fascinated me and I love the idea that it mixes reality and magic.

Phase one: Right from the start of this book there is so much to love, from the writing style of this book all the way to the characters. I love how this opens with Manu being on her period and how that is connected to the changes that are happening to her body. I like that this ties in well to the superstition of the Lobizon and the stories that Perla has told Manu growing up.

I also really enjoyed how Manu isn't really putting everything together and even when she tries to put things together it is far fetched from what is happening. I like her curiosity towards things and how that curiosity fuels her to find answers which are similar to her mother.

This book starts with the complexity of Manu being different and the complexity of those differences due to not only her immigration status but her eyes. She struggles with what her differences mean for her but is more concerned about what those differences mean for the people that she loves. This book starts out being about trust being developed, lost, and ultimately maintained because her mother and Perla are all Manu has.

Phase two: This section introduces you to Manu amongst a new setting where she's surrounded by those like her. She's trying to figure out where her place is in this world and is finding that she doesn't quite fit here either.

I love the discussion of the gender binary and the explanation of what Manu's dad stood for. I want to know more about this man and what he was trying to do. This makes me wonder if Manu is a part of him trying to break what's been established.

The world-building is minimal which I actually enjoy as it leaves a lot to the imagination. The other reason I enjoy the minimal world-building is that this book straddles the line between reality and magic quite well. I enjoyed that this place Manu is now in is a part of our world but with magical elements that keep it out of sight for others.

Phase three: This is the portion of the book where Manu begins to discover the truth about what she is and who she is. This is where the majority of the story takes place as things are revealed. I'll be brief in the last phases as I don't want to reveal any spoilers to you all.

Phase four: There is not much to say about this section besides that it really wraps up the story nicely. I do really enjoy the way things play out between Manu and the others. A lot is revealed about Manu and the other characters in the story.

Overall: Something that I really enjoyed throughout this book was the way the Spanish language was included. There were moments that it was translated and other moments you just had to understand based on context. I really enjoy books that include another language in them and don't always explain themselves because there are some things that just don't translate directly.

I enjoyed how it was based on Argentinian culture as I got to learn about that culture and it made me want to know more about this particular superstition. I found it fascinating to research more about this and learn the background behind this and how that research helped me understand the book even more. Once I read the full story and background to this superstition it helped me understand what was happening to Manu and why certain actions were taken at the beginning of the book.

What I really enjoyed about this book was how it was about challenging the rules and what it means to deserve to live. I liked the way that it handled that topic both in our world and in the world built by the book. I think this book did a great job bringing the issue of what it means to belong somewhere to the surface.

I can not wait for the sequel of this book to come out and find out what is next for Manu and her friends.

This book just became one of my all-time favorites list. If you liked Labyrinth Lost, this will be right up your alley. We follow Manu, being hunted down by her father's family and by ICE. Her mother is an immigrant as well as Latinx, and so this does get very political at some points, and I love how Manu is right at the epicenter of it all trying to fight for her mom, her family, and for herself.

This book has the most luscious and vivid magical realism I've ever seen, with a lot of Argentinian folklore and cultural roots interspersed into every page. It's a lot about coming-of-age and finding yourself within a world who rejects you and also being stuck on the outside in between two worlds. I really appreciated the character development and the growth that Manu goes through from page 1 until the end, it was such a rollercoaster ride that made me laugh until my belly hurt and cry my eyes out. I don't even know how to put this into words, except to beg everyone to preorder it and read this when it comes out. If they doesn't incentive you enough, there are lesbians!!

At first, I thought this book would take the route of pure urban fantasy, wherein the "normal" world and the "magical" world existed parallel to one another but did not touch. Then, I expected a "magical school" story, especially with the frequent mentions of Harry Potter, wherein our heroine discovered her latent abilities alongside a cast of quirky side characters. Even later, I thought, "oh, I guess this is a portal fantasy after all." Reader: this book was none of those things - and that's what makes it so difficult to review.

On the one hand, we have Manu, a genuinely likable character, and her friends, Cata and Sasya (my personal favorites), Tiago (more on him later), and others. On the other hand, we have relatively bland villains, a hyper-patriarchal society that feels genuinely surreal and unsettling, and eldritch demon gods who are Sirs-Not-Appearing-In-This-Story. We have magical witches (yay!) and magical football (nay!) We have revolutionaries who we're told (but not shown) are Important, and parents we're shown and told are loving (Manu's relationship with her mother, in particular, is touching.) This is also a book that succumbs to some of my least favorite YA tropes - instalove being the first among many. Manu's "love story" with Tiago felt so out of place and confusing that I really wished it'd been left out altogether.

This is a book that wants to be SO many things that it refuses to choose. I suppose also, in a way, this is a book that very clearly wasn't for me - there are large portions of untranslated Spanish that I could generally parse from context clues, but enough confusion that I felt at a distance from the story (it's hard to understand two characters' relationship when the development of it comes in a language you don't speak.) There's also a large amount of time spent on developing a football-adjacent sport which, as someone who has zero interest in sports, bored me to tears. I don't know, y'all. Maybe some books just aren't for me. If you're intrigued by the premise, I'd still recommend picking it up.

Wow!! I love Romina Garber's writing. She combined magical realism with real life issues for undocumented immigrants so flawlessly. Manu was so relatable. I love the idea of a YA novel being used to open peoples eyes to seeing what an immigrants life is really like. The scares they go through. And then adding the magical worlds of brujas and lobizons gives you a little escape from the heavy. I loved being able to picture Lunaris and all the fantastic places they explore. I can't wait to read the next book!

Wow, this is one of my favorite books of 2020 so far! This story is an adventure in magic, identity, and Argentinian folklore. Lobizona is the story of Manuela Azul, a girl who has never quite fit in anywhere. Not only does she have otherworldly eyes, Manu and her mother are illegal immigrants. When ICE captures her mother in a raid, Manu is forced to flee. While looking for answers, Manu uncovers secrets that her mother has been hiding from her.

With strong roots in Argentinian folklore, Manu discovers a magical school: a school for witches and werewolves. But the school has never seen someone quite like her and soon Manu is once again trying her best to hide in plain sight. Lobizona is a gripping and timely read: with commentary on gender identity, binary language, sexism, societal roles, and immigration. There is a clear emphasis and exploration of the power of language, labels, and identity.

Lobizona’s stunning descriptions and intricate details captivated me. The memorable side characters, the twists and turns, and how original this story feels made this book hard to put down. This is the story of a fierce heroine who is determined to find her way back to her mom, learn more about her mysterious powers, and finds friendship (and maybe more?) along the way. Lobizona releases on August 4, 2020! Thank you to Romina Garber, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. P.S. The cover is SO gorgeous!

Not really my cup of tea so I wasn’t able to finish it. So I DNF around 25% sorry! I will day thought I was able to point some people I know would love this book that way. Even if I didn’t like it I know others will!!

Manuela, or Manu, is an illegal immigrant whose mother moved her from Argentina to escape her father's dangerous and influential family. Her undocumented status and the strange eyes she inherited from her father are enough for her mother to keep Manu at home at fear of discovery, either by ICE or her father's family, but as Manu becomes older, she dreams of a life for herself, outside of her cramped apartment. As events unfold, Manu discovers that her life and the story about her Argentinian origins aren't anything like what she has been told or could have ever imagined.

This young adult fantasy gave me a lot of Harry Potter vibes; there's a girl sequestered from the world who one day discovers she's magical and happens upon a school for other teens just like her. However, the magic in this story relies heavily on Argentinian myth about lobizonos (werewolves) and brujas (witches.) The novel starts off at a fast pace, which completely sucked me in, but lags a bit in the middle. The end ramps up the speed again as Manu's true identity and that of her father are revealed.

The writing in this novel is decent, I particularly enjoyed how the author injected plenty of Spanish into the dialogue, but in such a way that English readers understand without a direct translation. I also really connected to Manu; she is a very normal teenage girl just with capital "P" problems. Garber's exploration of how it must feel to be "illegal" in a country that would love to cage you through Manu's eyes is impactful, especially when her status among the people most like her is also in question.

Overall, an enjoyable YA Urban Fantasy with an interesting POV that I think Latinx teens would relate to and teens from other cultures would benefit from.

Wow! Just....wow. Manu is an illegal immigrant from Argentina. Her mother is keeping her hidden and she isn’t allowed to leave her apartment building for any reason. She is homeschooled, has no friends, and as a teenage girl she is itching to get outside. She has been told her father was killed and that they are on the run from the bad men who killed him. She also knows she inherited her unusual eyes from him...eyes she must hide behind sunglasses around the clock. When tragedy strikes and her mom is detained by ICE, she has to venture out in the world to find help but stumbles upon a group of people with eyes just like hers. Can they help her, or are they the reason her mom has been on the run? This book is so incredible and there is a twist at the end I didn’t see coming! I can’t wait to read the next one! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I will no doubt be buying copies for all my friends!

If Lobizona is not yet on your radar, it absolutely should be! One of the best YA fantasy novels I've read this year, it combines magical realism, portal fantasy, Latinx werewolf mythology, and a decidedly progressive vision of the world into a smart, engrossing tale that you won't want to put down. Vivid imagery, a cool magic system, fantastic world-building, important themes, interesting characters, and unexpected twists all contribute to making this something truly special.

I can't tell you too much about the plot without spoiling things, but the story follows Manuela (Manu) Azul, a sixteen-year old girl from Argentina living illegally in Miami with her mother. Manu's existence is a constricted one, not only because of her immigration status, but also because of her unusual eyes that she must hide behind mirrored glasses. She also has extremely difficult periods each month and her mother gives her pills that keep her unconscious for the first three days of her cycle, during which she dreams vividly of a dangerous and magical world. Things begin strange and quickly get even stranger as Manu tries to uncover the secrets of her identity and her estranged father's past, and gets sucked into a dangerous yet magical world she never knew existed.

Without getting into details, we also end up getting a great friend group, forbidden love, and queer representation (not the MC). But things don't go the way you might expect in this kind of story and the author has thoughtfully woven in big issues that are well worth your time and consideration. Obviously this addresses immigration, legal status, and the problems with ICE, but it also addresses misogyny, the problems with a binary system of gender and gendered expectations, privilege, and even, (in a truly brilliant scene) the problems with awarding a privileged status to only "special" or talented outsiders when every life has value. It's such a smart and important book, but also a fun and thrilling one. Not to mention, if a certain book announcement has you excited for vampires and werewolves, Lobizona just might scratch part of that itch. (to be clear, this does not have vampires, but it DOES have werewolves and witches!)

Clearly I was a fan of this and I'm very excited to see people talking about it once it's widely available. There is a lot that could be said, but spoilers! So I'll just say, please read this one. I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book is so beautifully crafted that it's hard to put it into words. It has a dozen alluring subtleties and yet so bold. It is such a poignant reflection of so much bigotry that plagues our society - xenophobia, racism, sexism, misogyny. At every point in the story where it can be conventional, it chooses to defy norm and continues to amaze readers. It has the most perfect pace even though the entire storyline happens in a short period of time, nothing feels rushed or slowed. With amazing worldbuilding and tantalising characters, this book is a winner through and through.


I give this book 4.75 stars, only because the romance that the main character finds herself in seems a little thin to me. But, in every other way, this book is a triumph and I eagerly await its sequel.

5 STARS


If you pick up one book this August, let it be Lobizona.


Originally meant to release yesterday, Lobizona has been moved to early August. And in a twist that worries me, it has the same publication date as the new Stephanie Meyer book, which means I have one request of you: do not let Lobizona flop.

I picked it up on a whim from NetGalley during the brief period where it was available as a "Read Now" title. It sounded incredible, and had a cover that drew me in with its beauty and intricacy.

Reader, what you get on the surface is nothing compared to the outstanding story inside. Lobizona follows Manu, an illegal immigrant from Argentina, as she begins to unlock the secrets of her family and search for belonging in a world that is against her every step of the way. From the streets of Miami to the enchanting bruja and lobizón stronghold hidden in the Everglades, she aims to find her place, or better yet, to carve it out exactly as she deserves, on her terms.


The tropes may feel familiar, especially to fantasy readers, but it's a comfort.


From the summary alone, you know that Manu is no ordinary girl, not by mundane standards, nor by the standards of the magical world she finds herself thrust into. It's hardly a spoiler to say that she is the title lobizona, a female werewolf, and an impossibility even in this freeing world of Argentine magic. Because of this, Lobizona can feel familiar for most fantasy readers. With a dash of chosen one tropes, questions of parentage, unusual and highly emphasized eye colors, and rebellion brewing on the horizon, it's building blocks are nothing unfamiliar.

But the power is in the execution, and Romina Garber has gone above and beyond.

While the building blocks of the story are familiar, the stunning setting and the sheer strength of character Manu exhibits are a solid hook. It's a case where a degree of predictability works, because you're not worried about where the story will go. Instead, you're worried about how it will get there. More than that, you're worried about where it will go once it leaves familiar territory behind.

I adored every minute of this book, I truly did. It was only a matter of time before Manu's world blew wide open, and I was desperate to know which match was set to light the fuse. And now, having finished the book, I can't wait to know where she and her friends go next. They have enemies now, powerful ones, but they also have the drive to change everything.

Maybe I'm just a sap, but how can I say no to a story about teens shaking off the traditions of older generations in order to build something better? Especially since in this case, we're talking about teens angling to dismantle huge systems. Rampant sexism? It's out. Homophobia? We're done with that. The notion that anyone's existence can be illegal? Our protagonists have had it up to here with that.

Even though Lobizona doesn't yet dismantle these structures, it's preparing to do so. Whatever comes next for the Wolves of No World series is bound to center on the hard work of radical change in the same way that Lobizona centers on Manu discovering herself.


And of course, Lobizona is unapologetically Latinx.


While I can't comment on the precise quality of the rep, since I'm not Latinx, let alone Argentine, I can say that this is not a book that sprinkles a dash of culture on top in an effort to appear diverse. It's an OwnVoices story by an Argentine immigrant, and it makes no apology for the untranslated Spanish, nor the cultural superstitions, nor the food and drink.

Moreover, it deals with incredibly real contemporary issues. Though most of the novel is fantasy through and through, the early chapters are more contemporary. They focus on Manu's life in Miami, always keeping an eye out for ICE, always keeping her head down. Going unnoticed is the best way to survive, and her existence as an illegal immigrant defines how she and her family move through Miami. Sure, her magical heritage affects that, too, but her immigration status is never far from mind.

No matter where she is in the world, Manu must contend with the powers that be claiming that she doesn't belong. It makes me love her even more, how she fights against it even as she wavers in the face of it.


"May you be blessed by the moonlight."


I could probably go on for another thousand words about this book if you let me. It's packed with gorgeous imagery, a lovely group cast, and hope for a different, better future. Not only that, but it's Latinx, it's queer, it talks frankly about menstruation, it condemns ICE for the brutal organization that it is, and it's the first in a series. I can't wait to explore more of this world. Better yet, I can't wait to see Manu make the rules. Her existence is not illegal. It's simply new, and she has the power to write her own story. That no longer belongs to anyone else.

If you're interested in Lobizona, be sure to place a pre-order before August 4th! Those of you who do will receive a set of five pins in the mail, plus the satisfaction of a brilliant new werewolf book. I can't recommend it enough that you take advantage of this. Really.

Lobizona is one of my favorite books this year. Hopefully, it's one of yours, too. ❤️


CW: loss of a loved one, sexual harassment and rape mentions, violence, ICE raids, graphic injury, gore

[This review will go live on Hail & Well Read at 12:30 PM EST on 5/6/20.]

Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for providing me with this ARC. Lobizona hit my radar thanks to Book Riot late last year (I've already pre-ordered, which I rarely do). When I saw that this was available for review, I jumped on the opportunity. Several of my students and I have discussed using this book as our "book club" selection. Garber has a pretty cool voice with a new narrative in this book. I really enjoyed brushing up on my high school Spanish and trying to figure out conversations between the MC and her mother. I wasn't always right, but gosh it was fun. The story in Lobizona is critical at this time in our society. Garber is not shy in tackling the fear and sensitivity that occur with ICE raids and how a community continues on. Lobizona is a multi-storied story, which makes the reader work for their dinner, which I appreciated. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and its different nuances of being Other in the US.

Just from the description, I felt this was going to be a good book. I can say with pride that I was correct! As a person with the Latinx community, this book is such a piece of connection and nostalgic in in writing for me. I love the use of the Spanish language in the writing. It takes a lot of precedence and it's used just right for certain scenes and certain characters. The Spanish is translated for the readers who don't understand it, but it just felt so right. I love the exploration of Argentine mythology and culture. It's so important to represent not just diversity, but also diversity within communities. It's great weaving of realities that people go through like immigration,safety anxiety and the transformation of a girl with the mix of the mythic, magic and folklore. I can't wait to read more of this world and explore it further.