Having grown up in Miami, this book immediately spoke to me and I’m so grateful to have had a chance to read this arc. This is a story we hear about all too often, undocumented immigrants and their fears and struggles, which to me made this book more a contemporary novel vs the YA fantasy it’s listed as, despite the obvious elements of fantasy. I did enjoy the book and I am looking forward to the next novel.

Before you start Lobizona, do not go into this story thinking that this story is simply a high fantasy filled world building and magic because it’s not. This story exists at the intersection of both the real world and a magical one.

Manuela ‘Manu’ Azul has spent most of her life in hiding thanks to being an undocumented immigrant from Argentina living in Miami as well as having unique eyes (bright yellow with a grey star pupil). Manu’s world completely crumbles when her mother is arrested by ICE. Manu manages to escape to the magical world of Kerana, but she quickly learns that even in Kerana…she still is illegal.

One thing that I was really blown away by in this book was Garber’s dichotomous world building. The opening scene was downright frightening. When Manu and her mother are trying to hide from the ICE agents, Garber does not shy away from the brutal and terrifying reality that exists for many immigrants in the real world. In contrast, when Manu arrives in Kerana, we are transported to a beautifully crafted magical world filled with the lush Argentine folklore of the brujas and lobizones (werewolves). Since Manu is ignorant to this magical world, the reader gets the unique opportunity of learning and experiencing the world alongside her.

As far as character development goes, I think that each of the characters were well developed and enhanced the storyline; including the side characters. I also loved that each of the characters had a trait that made them someone you could both empathize with and root for. I also loved that there is queer representation in this story especially with the discussion of how illegal same-sex relationships are in Kerana.

Another aspect of this story that I loved is the fact that Garber unapologetically has the characters naturally switch between English and Spanish even mid thought. I think that this is something that is incredibly important for the Latinx community in terms of seeing this representation normalized. No, this doesn’t mean that if you’re not a Spanish speaker that you will be lost.

Overall, I think that Lobizona an eye-opening and haunting experience of the immigration experience laced with magic rooted in Argentine folklore. I can’t wait to see how the series progresses.

Thank you you Wednesday Books for the blog tour invite and providing a review copy through NetGalley. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

Lobizona: Squad Goals is Dead, Long Live Pack Goals

In an unprecedented move, this will probably be the shortest review I have ever written because I am unable to find the words to express just how much Lobizona took my breath away. It is not without it’s flaws, of course, but they’re easily overlooked in the rich world, culture and values it presents on its pages.

Plot and Pacing: Fast, Fun and Filled with Tropes

Lobizona is Harry Potter meets Twilight; filled with almost every YA trope you can imagine but told in an enchanting Own Voices narrative that resonates with its audience. Manuela Azul is an undocumented immigrant with a singular unique trait that would make her stand out from the crowd: amber eyes with stars for pupils. All her life, she has had to be invisible—no school, no friends and never leaving the house without shades on. However, when ICE arrests her mother and her grandmother is attacked, Manu is forced to go on the run. Through a series of fortunate events, she stumbles across a magical school, El Laberinto, tucked deep into the Everglades.

Here, Manu learns about an entirely new and fantastical world attempting to co-exist with humans and here, she feels like she is starting to belong. The Septimus are a society of brujas (witches) and lobizón (werewolves) whose home world/plane, Lunaris, can only be visited every full moon for three days and three nights. In this patriarchal and heteronormative society, men and women are clearly segregated according to their gender which in turn, defines their abilities to either be a bruja or a lobizón. Despite the fear of her life and the disastrous web of lies she is beginning to weave about her past and identity, Manu stays on at the school. If she grows into her powers, she can rescue her mother and leave Miami for safety.

Manu is immediately classified as a bruja but she has none of the abilities her classmates share and soon, the truth about her powers is revealed: one, she didn’t even know she possessed. Just as Manu is beginning to feel at home, reality rears its ugly head and she learn that her existence in El Laberinto is as “illegal” as it was in Miami.

While told with a fresh and compelling voice, filled with the experiences and emotions of an Own Voices author, Lobizona is in essence a Chosen One story. Manu is excels at magical tasks she is given despite not being a bruja and is a Septibol (a sport played in the book) star despite never having any magical training nor been exposed to the sport. She exhibits no struggle in controlling her lobizona abilities and the leading man falls head over heels in love with her at first sight. Yes, you read that right: instalove.

Frustrations with this trope are many and they are not lacking here. For one, it was the lack of chemistry. In a story so heavily woven with nuance of culture and belonging, the romance seemed unnecessary as it never really added any value to the plot besides the angst and having a love interest. And, the dreaded: love triangle. And don’t get me started on how incredibly desirable and hot and perfect Tiago is that the entire school is in love with him but he only has eyes for Manu. Just, why?

However, this is redeemed by how easy to read Lobizona is that you barely notice it. The plot grips you in its claws and takes you along on a rather fun ride. The pacing keeps you on the edge, always a new discovery, danger or heartbeat just around the corner. It is easy to get swept up in the new world we’re discovering alongside Manu and the mystery surrounding her powers.

Thematics and Characterisation: Done Right

Another thing Lobizona does incredibly well is how it weaves and presents its themes. Below are just some of the themes it explores:

The Alien Identity and Belonging: At its core, Lobizona is about being an “alien” and needing to belong. Manu lives in fear of arrest and deportation for being an undocumented immigrant and her eyes alienate her from human society. On the other hand, Manu does not fit into the neatly segregated Septimus society as she is a lobizona and they don’t exist. While in the former Manu’s identity is oppressed by an unflinching and cruel law, in the latter, despite all the odds stacked against her, Manu finds her own corner of support and love amongst the youth and her friends. Manu’s lived experience will resonate with anyone who has had to straddle two worlds and two identities, never enough for the other.

Challenging Authority and the Status Quo: The Septimus are a highly patriarchal and heteronormative society. Men and women are segregated by gender which determines the powers that they are born to, the sports they can play and down even to the ways that they enter Lunaris. Brujas are forced by law to bear at least one child in their lifetime in order to to carry on their bloodlines and way of life as it is difficult for brujas to bear children. Same-sex relationships are strictly forbidden and possibly other LGBT identities as well. Women are also viewed as lesser by some of the lobizona due to their traditionally feminine magics and daily practices. I absolutely love that the characters, especially Saysa who is the activist character of their group, openly oppose these strict laws and ways of life, demanding that they be treated more fairly and to do away with an archaic way of life

Friendship and Community: Despite Lobizona’s attempt at pitting one girl against the other because of a love interest, it also takes cares to highlight that friendship, especially female friendships, are important in building a tight-knit support system. Manu’s classmates are quick to form friendships despite Manu being closed-off and are always willing to land a hand in guiding her through her classes and adapting to school life. Saysa and Cata even go out of their way to protect Manu’s identity. Furthermore, the Septimus live in communities called packs spread throughout the world; and as Lobizona progresses, Manu and her friends form their own pack.


Worldbuilding: Building A New World of Fantasy

Heavily drawn from Garber’s own culture and heritage, the worldbuilding in Lobizona is solid. I absolutely loved that it builds upon Argentinian folklore which is such a breath of fresh air from the typical Eurocentric and Western fantasies. And while brujas and lobizon are not entirely new to YA, it is nice to seem them take on a new life in Lobizona. Also, you can always tell if a fantasy world is built well in their food and Lobizona doesn’t disappoint; Manu and her friends make us absolutely hungry as they drink enchanted mate and dine on food I could only dream of tasting.

While some of the fantasy elements and places are a little confusing in their descriptions and placements especially once they head to Lunaris, it is easy enough to overlook as they do become a lot more generic fantasy locations.

If you’re familiar with my reviews, I would normally talk about the characters and how I relate to them but Lobizona is much more than its characters. Manu, Saysa, Cata, Tiego and countless other characters are an ode to the real life people who have lived before them and who will live after them; those who dare to believe in a world without borders, a world free from oppression and a world where everyone can be who they want to be: a place where they can belong. While Lobizona is a fantasy on paper, it is also one girl’s journey to find a place where she belongs and through it all, unsettle the world. And if you take away the fantasy, it is that core that truly resonates.

“Sometimes we stray so far from what’s rational that we can only explain it through fantasy.”

Manu and her mother are undocumented immigrants in the US and when her mother is found by ICE the secret’s she was keeping from Manu are exposed. Manuela goes on a hunt to find the answers about her past. What she finds is a magical world where girls are brujas and boys are lobizónes- a world where she doesn’t exactly fit how she should.

Lobizona has a few of the YA tropes that I grew up on- “the chosen one” being the most prominent- but steeped in Argentine stories and lore and it was so much fun to read. What’s the one instance I forgive insta-connection between love interests? When it’s werewolves! I love werewolf stories and Manu’s was set in such a fascinating world.

I loved learning about the magic, how it worked, how Manu adapted to her unique situation, and the relationships she built after a lifetime of isolation from her peers. Lobizona takes on some hard-hitting themes- alienation, immigration, gender roles, and talks explicitly about menstruation in a way I don’t think I’ve seen in a YA novel. I had a wonderful time diving into this world and seeing Manu come into her own over the course of the story. This is definitely setting up for the rest of the series and I can’t wait to read it!

As a thank you to Netgalley and the publisher ( St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books) for an advanced readers copy of Lobizona by Romina Garber I shall give this review. In the tradition of Isabelle Allende and Gabriel Garcia Marquez Garber creates a textured reality much like our own with the exception that Witches (Bruja’s), Werewolves ( Lobizon) and magic are real. The use of magical realism in this novel brought an opportunity to explore issues that many undocumented immigrants face, as well as blending plausible and possible events together. The novel follows Manuela Azul, or “Manu” as she navigates the end of her adolescence while caught between life as an undocumented immigrant and a mysterious past introduced to her when ICE arrests her mother and finds a fantastical world much like our own. An aspect of this addressed early on is Manu’s experience transitioning to womanhood and messages in her dreams experienced within three days of her monthly cycle. These messages are filled with stories told to her when she was younger and gives an opportunity to discern between what is plausible and possible. Manu has always been protected by her mother and now that she is within ICE’s hold does an opportunity to learn about her heritage become a reality. The characters in this novel were flushed out and showed a lot of potential. The novel’s pace was excellent as it gave opportunity to take in the novel’s events before the next. Trust me when I say there were many you needed a moment for, ha! Garber utilizes many tropes in young adult literature such as a chosen one, and magical school setting. By acknowledging their predecessor made the presence of these tropes understandable as Garber individualized them to her world. The world building was something I appreciated as she explored the layers to the characters place in them. The novel’s ability to address identity gave this a timely assessment for many teenagers reading this novel and gave a voice to individuals usually without. I cannot recommend this novel enough and give it a full five out of five stars on goodreads.

I don't usually get along so well with contemporary fantasy, yet I loved this book.
This book will make you so mad, but in a really important way.

So with that said, and because I have no real complaints about it, let's dive into the great stuff!

What I Loved:

•Manu has to deal with not being allowed to exist in either our world or the magical realm. Here's the part that will (and should, and needs to) infuriate you. Manu is a human being, and should have to explain and justify her existence to no one. Yet in both worlds she finds herself hiding, trying to escape those who'd find her actual life to be illegal. I have so much rage that I want to spill out, but I suppose that would turn this into more of an essay than a book review, so I will just say this: Manu belongs. Everyone belongs, and no one is "illegal", because a person cannot be illegal. It's positively infuriating, but the author does such a phenomenal job in the juxtaposition of the two worlds being so different, yet in some truly terrible ways, very similar.

•Manu's family had my heart from the first page. Her mom would basically move heaven and earth to keep Manu safe. Manu isn't even totally sure from what or who at the start, but that there are threats from both ICE, and her father's Argentinian family they had initially run from. Perla is the surrogate grandmother who took Manu and her mom in when they arrived in the U.S., and has been keeping them safe ever since. Also, she is just a strong and loving women who I was so grateful Manu had to confide in and talk with.

•The people Manu meets in the alt-world are wonderful. I mean, obviously there are some bad eggs here too, but as a whole, I was so glad that Manu finally found some people who were willing to accept her for exactly who she was. I don't want to get into it too much because it's such a lovely part of the story, but trust that she will find her place.

•Manu grows so much! Obviously, she has to make some huge choices at the start of the book (and throughout) that will really test her as a person. She also has to decide how willing she is to push current norms and boundaries, which is no easy task, especially for a young woman who has spent most of her life hidden away. As such, Manu really begins to discover who she is when she confronts all the worst things she's feared.

•The Argentinian folklore is incredible! This story is unlike any I have read before, and I just adored it! I felt like I was so immersed in the world, that it was so well crafted, and the atmosphere was incredibly on point!

•The author had such a clever way for translating Spanish. Manu would sometimes translate phrases from Spanish to English in her narration, and she explained it for the reader:
"Whenever Ma is upset with me, I have a habit of translating her words into English without processing them. I asked Perla about it to see if it’s a common bilingual thing, and she said it’s probably my way of keeping Ma’s anger at a distance; if I can deconstruct her words into language—something detached that can be studied and dissected—I can strip them of their charge."


•In addition to the obvious discussion about immigration, there is discussion of sexism and LGBTQIA+ rights. Even in the magical realm, some of these harmful issues were still very, very present.

Bottom Line: Very thoughtful, with a wonderful main character who had to go through a lot, Lobizona left a big impression on me. I will be eagerly awaiting its sequel!

I wasn’t sure what I should expect when I went into this, but Lobizona pleasantly took me by surprise. The synopsis doesn’t give much away other than the basic plot of the first quarter of the book, but there is so much more to this story! The writing was incredible, the story was captivating, and I really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters.

The worldbuilding is what shines in this book. Romina Garber deftly combines magical realism with elements of paranormal fantasy; brujas, werewolves, a magical academy. And within that unique and enthralling setting she weaves Argentinian folklore. It was so excellently crafted and nothing short of perfect.

I really appreciated the themes in Lobizona and the issues that the author brought to life. The book heavily focuses on freedom, struggling to belong, prejudice, and misogyny. A lot of the internal conflict for Manu revolves around her attempts to figure out who she is and where she belongs. I’m completely invested in her story and I’m really looking forward to where the next book takes us!

As I’ve heard stories about what it’s like to come to the US as an immigrant, I’ve been moved, felt sympathy, wanted to change things. Nothing has ever made me feel like I’ve slipped into someone else’s shoes the way this book did, though.

Manu is smart. She’s vulnerable, yet fierce. She loves her family, but she’s always felt like an outsider who did not belong, even among them. More than anything else, this is the story of a girl who has never belonged not just finding her place, but carving it out of the landscape and building a true family around her.

I really, really like this book. The magic was fascinating, and again and again the story comes back to questions about what makes a person valuable. Is it where someone was born? What gender they are? Whom they love? What they can do for someone else?

LOBIZONA explores all that and on top of it delivers a sizzling romance set in a dazzling landscape. If you like found families, revolution, and unexpected alliances, this is one you’re going to want to grab, fast.

This book is a great fit for fans of WOVEN IN MOONLIGHT or GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

LOBIZONA is a thrilling page-turner that compellingly interweaves Argentine folklore, magic, and contemporary U.S. politics. Readers who love stories set a magical schools will love Garber's addition to the trope and will no doubt want to study at El Laberinto

Manu and her mother fled Argentina after the death of her father and now live in Miami as undocumented immigrants with Perla, a surrogate grandmother. Not only must Manu hide inside the four walls of their apartment from ICE, but she has unique eyes (pupils of silver stars and yellow sun irises) that always draw attention. Not able to go outside or attend school, Manu lives through books and dreams of getting her green card to no longer live in fear.

After Perla is attacked by a mysterious man and her mother gets taken by ICE, Manu learns that she is, in fact, not just human. She makes her way to El Laberinto, a school for witches and lobizon (a type of werewolf) and discovers her connections to an international magical community. In many ways, this newfound knowledge brings clarity to Manu (why her eyes look the way they do, why her periods have been so debilitating), but she still feels like an outsider. El Laberinto has strict gender segregation - as in only girls are witches and only boys are lobizon. There's little room for diversity of genders and sexualities and this becomes a key plot point. Manu's magic does not work the same way as other witches....because Manu isn't a witch. Not only is Manu considered "illegal" in the United States, she also finds out that her new community thinks the same thing of her, just for different reasons.

Manu's story is a great coming of age story: making new friends, figuring out one's identity, crushes, and standing up for oneself. My only critique is a bit of insta-love but based on clues in the book, I think it makes sense for where this relationship is going. Overall, Garber does an excellent job showing how Manu must overcome multiple systems of oppression (the United States' racist immigration policies and the patriarchy of her new culture) and readers will root for Manu every step of the way. As a massive soccer/football/futbol fan, I love that Garber added a magical sport for her world. I felt like I was reliving old World Cup matches in terms of the skill, intensity, and excitement in her writing. Furthermore, for Manu to break barriers in this sport was great and a useful commentary on how women athletes are often viewed as less competent or good as men.

There were many twists (some I never saw coming) and I can't wait for the second book in the series! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

LOBIZONA manages to accomplish a lot it one book. It is simultaneously setting up a series, a look at the life of an undocumented immigrant, an urban fantasy based on Argentinian mythology, a “magic school” book, a mystery, a portal fantasy, and a romance. At times, I think it struggles from trying to do a little too much, but overall, this is an absolutely great book that stands out as being one of a kind.

First, we need to talk about the cover. The cover is truly stunning and the team at Wednesday design continue their reign as my favorite cover designers. I feel like the tone of the book is perfectly encapsulated by magic and tension of the cover. Beautiful.

Another stand out for me is that this is a fantasy book that talks about menstruation! It so important to normalize these topics for young women and I’m absolutely thrilled whenever an author doesn’t try to pretend periods don’t exist for their supernatural heroines.

I found that Romina Garber’s portrayal of Manu’s tension and fear over being discovered as an undocumented immigrant was incredibly powerful. It really reminded you that undocumented immigrants are people that are rarely treated as such. It was a timely reminder.

For me, I felt like the action really picked up once Manu arrived at the “magic school” portion of the book. I won’t say too much to avoid spoiling anything, but I do want to explicitly mention it, since I didn’t realize going in that this would be a “magic school” type book. Honestly, I may have picked it up sooner if I had. I was disappointed by the number of Harry Potter references (can’t be helped since this ARC was printed a while ago – I hope these mentions are taken out before publication) but it was exciting to see this trope steeped in non-Western European folklore. I loved the Argentinian spin and the secondary characters we meet there. It also led to one of the more frustrating parts of the novel for me – Manu’s search for her identity. I wish she’d figured out more what she was sooner (it’s not a secret to the reader), so that she could spend more time becoming who she was. I felt the most interesting part of the novel was the final quarter, where she was starting to balance the question of belonging and finding her own path. I wish she started that journey to self-discovery just a little sooner.

I also found the gender discrimination within the novel to set-up some interesting further plots. There is a clear gender hierarchy that punishes any aberration – despite that fact that it is clear there are LGBTQ+ side characters who cannot be open with their identity. However, Garber makes it clear that the women are ready to challenge that status quo, which is one of the many reasons I’m excited to see where the rest of the series goes.

This was a fast, immersive read that deftly balances political commentary with traditional YA fantasy elements. The way Garber parallels contemporary ICE threats in the US and the appalling dehumanization of undocumented immigrants with the rigid fantastical society that central character Manu finds herself in was really effective, and it made what could have been a cliched homage to Harry Potter have high stakes--and teeth! Manu herself is a Harry Potter fan, so the book itself repeatedly compares the magic world she finds herself in to Hogwarts, etc., and this at times was a bit distractingly meta (and unluckily-timed, given JK Rowling's recently outed bigotry), but this was a minor blip in an otherwise very good book. The Harry Potter comparisons are even more ironic given that THIS book actively explores how harmful social binaries (mostly the gender binary) can be. The opening was fantastic, and while I did think the pace bogged down a bit once Manu discovered her own magical realm, it picked up again by the end.

I am really living for unique werewolf stories lately! Lobizona is a YA urban fantasy novel that blends Argentinian culture, US immigration, and magic in such a beautiful and exhilarating read. ⁣
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Manu is such a gripping character. She’s quick-witted and fierce, having spent her entire life hiding from ICE and devouring books behind closed doors. She’s proud of her Argentinian culture but is cut off from it. When her mother is taken into custody, Manu runs, and finds a secret school for people like her. She’s never had a chance to fit in the outside world, but as she starts to discover her true culture and nature, it seems she won’t quite fit in here as well...⁣
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I want to tell you more but I don’t want to give the twists away! The twists are amazing. And the world-building is exceptional: suffice to say the werewolves are more connected to the moon than you’d think. It’s so creative. And the juxtaposition of Manu’s illegal status with her illegal existence is both excruciating and powerful. It’s evidence of something I love in YA fiction: the ability of an author to use the fantastic to shine a light on current atrocities.⁣
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In case you can’t tell, I loved it.

4.5 Stars

CWs: ICE raids, anti-immigration sentiments, descriptions of intense menstruation pain, incurred homophobia (side characters), incurred sexism and gender essentialism, descriptions of blood and violence

Lobizona is an exciting, beautiful, original Latinx paranormal fantasy about Manu, an Argentine immigrant living undocumented in the United States while trying to figure out the meaning behind her strange star-shaped pupils.

What I love about this story is how it challenges society's binary perspectives and binary-based magic systems. The Argentinian mythology explored in this story states that the seventh consecutive son in a family with be a lobizon and the seventh consecutive daughter will be a bruja. Lobizones hunt and protect while brujas strengthen and nurture, and that's the way it's always been. Until we get to Manu, who is this world's first Lobizona—a female werewolf. Every aspect of her life, from being an undocumented immigrant to being considered a magical "aberration," presents a direct challenge to the system and disrupts these commonly held beliefs of what it means to be "normal" and worthy of existence. In the beginning, this is a source of paralyzing fear forManu, but as the story progresses, she learns that being different is powerful and something to embrace.

I also really love the parallels between this hidden magical world of Lunaris and Manu's experience living undocumented in Miami. Throughout the story, there's so many examinations of borders—where one thing ends and another begins—whether it's the border between Manu's fear and her agency, the literal borders between the U.S. and Argentina, the border between humanity and magic, the border between El Labertino and Lunaris. These are crossings that Manu has to make one way or another, and they all represent two parts of herself that are equally real and valid. She has a foot on either side of these "borders," and she struggles feeling like she's both too much and not enough for any given world or circumstance. It was also really interesting to see how the lobizones and brujas are almost like immigrants themselves, making passage to Lunaris only during the full moon before being exiled back to their hiding places in the human world.

So in many ways, Manu is twice hunted, twice targeted, twice feared, because of the challenge she presents within both of these worlds. She has to fight tooth and nail for her right to exist and to exist openly, especially because she comes to represent everyone who's ever wrongfully been limited or boxed into labels that don't fit simply because it's more convenient for everyone else. I feel the story is about how if we let ideas, traditions, and laws matter more than actual people, we are creating a world that confines us—we are drawing a border between what is and what could be. Language and societal norms don't exist in a vacuum. They're not stagnant; they're things we engage with, create, and shape for ourselves.

I also just really love Manu as a character, because she describes herself as being an Argentinian with a little bit of Elizabeth Bennet in her, which I really appreciate. She's aware of the rules that dictate her world and her safety within it, she's afraid because she's internalized so much self-hatred, but she is not quiet, she is not fragile, she is not submissive. She is determined, opinionated, and incredibly smart. To see her go on this emotional journey and get to be her true self for the first time in her life is extremely satisfying to witness on the page.

Overall, I really enjoyed getting lost in this world and its beautiful magic, in all the ways it's like our world and the ways its not. I think it very thoughtfully explores the realities of being undocumented in contemporary America while also presenting a lush and magical parallel world that has its own problems. I was deeply invested in the story, and I'm so excited to see what comes next for these characters. If you're looking for a unique Latinx fantasy with a ton of heart and a lot to say, this is definitely the story for you!

Lobizona is an intricately woven tale about the struggles of undocumented immigrants, the failings of a broken system, and the persistence of sexism even today. We follow Manu’s story as she navigates through losing her mother to ICE, finding out an entirely different world of magic exists and cementing her place in both.

There is a frantic pace to the book that has the reader flipping through the pages as fast as you can, fingers crossed as Manu struggles to stay hidden in two worlds that want to punish her for the simple crime of existing. ICE’s presence is a constant, looming threat, not always on-page but always present, just like it is in real life. It was a somber reminder of the reality many undocumented immigrants face today. Manu’s journey as a character, despite being one in a fantasy book, is reflective of the experiences actual people face today. There’s the constant struggle of finding and asserting her identity as well as the demonstration that there isn’t at all a one ‘right’ way to be something as every person is born differently. And I think that Lobizona takes the issues of immigration—which is very timely in the world we live in—as well as gender two steps further by being able to merge both the world we live in now and one of fantasy.

Lobizona strives to tackle a multitude of issues all in one go: sexism and homophobia, just to name a few more. At the heart, it is a story about a Latinx immigrant who wishes to belong and find her place. Much of Lobizona also tackles rebellion and standing up against things that are unfair and unjust. Just from reading, people can easily tell that Garber has poured a lot of her own pride as an Argentinian into her work, from the Spanish language that weaves effortlessly into dialogue, to the loving descriptions of the cuisine that made my mouth water. And while at times it comes off as muddled, for the most part, Garber does a fine job at balancing all the problems brought up through Manu’s journey. The only real issue this book faces other than that is are the unnecessary—mainly jarring—references that are used. While I can understand the reasoning behind the Harry Potter callbacks, Lobizona takes on far more issues than Harry Potter could’ve ever wished to and built a much more inclusive world.

All in all, Lobizona was a strong take on the fears that, unfortunately, many of us face today. Romina Garber sums it up well: man-made borders shouldn’t matter more than people.

I didn't get to finish this in time, but I WILL come back to do so as soon as I can. I really LOVE the seamless integration of the magic and realism. The context of having to hide from ICE and trying to become a citizen was so timely and compelling--not to mention enlightening. Fantastic concept, fantastic writing--highly recommended!

Some of my favorite quotes were:

“We use magical realism in our daily lives too. Consider our superstitions. We are always willing magic into reality—that’s our way.”

"“Any moment now, the shift will happen, and I’ll be transported to the only place where I don’t have to hide. The one world where it’s safe to be me."

“There are horrors in this world that defy explanation.. . . Sometimes reality strays so far from what’s rational that we can only explain it through fantasy.”

Included as a top pick in bimonthly August New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached).

Holy wow, this book.

I knew I would love this as soon as I read the description, and then the cover came out and I fell even more in love!

This is such a wonderful timely YA fantasy, it's just so damn good!

Let's start with our sweet Manu. She's been sheltered her entire life, because her father's family is looking for her, and they're "very dangerous people." You'd think it would be easy enough to disappear in Miami. Buuuuut Manu's eyes are a dead giveaway: they're golden suns with silver star pupils.

She's such a brave character, and I love that we learn about her new world as she learns about it too. She's in a constant state of tension, as she's an undocumented immigrant in the US, as well as undocumented in the world of brujas and lobizones. She can't risk anyone finding out anything about her. She's literally dreamed of this life since she was thirteen, and still learns something new every day.

I love how much she loves one of my favorite authors, Gabriel García Márquez, too.

Romina Garber has found such a beautiful, lyrical way to challenge, well, everything! Sexism, misogyny, homophobia, immigration status...this is a perfect read for 2020, and I cannot WAIT for the sequel.

A lovely immersive read, I give Lobizona 5 out of 5 yerba mates. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing a copy in exchange for review.

There are so many things to love about Lobizona. The magic worldbuilding, the friendship dynamics, the complicated family history - it’s so good. I was struck by the challenging and raw details about the main character’s immigration status and the fact that she never felt safe and home, in the real world or in the magical academy where she finds herself. I know so many readers will see themselves in this story and fall in love with the characters in this book. I can’t wait for the next book in this series so I can jump back into this fresh and original fantasy world that Romina Garber so skillfully created.

Manuela Azul must run. Her mother has been captured by ICE, her grandmother is recovering in the hospital, and her father is dead. With nowhere to turn in Miami, Manuela flees to the Everglades, hoping to stay out of sight and retain her freedom. What she finds there in the Everglades is a secret connection to her family's past, an explanation behind her monthly dreams, and the realization that her family wasn't only hiding from ICE. Manuela's heritage is steeped in Argentinian folklore, however for her the discovery of that heritage carries danger in its wake, for she, and only she, is the product of an illicit union. Others like her are killed at birth. Despite the wonders she's found in the Everglades, Manuela must decide whether it's worth risking everything to live an honest and open life, or whether it's better to remain in the shadows and on the run forevermore.⁣
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Lobizona is exactly what I needed from a book right now! Main character with an affinity for the moon? Check! Split between two worlds, unable to live safely in either? Check! Personal growth in order to find her most authentic self? Check! Manuela struggles to figure out what she wants to do with her unique life, and how best to approach the bind she finds herself in. A quote I loved is, "Why settle for being a son of the system, when you can mother a movement?" The other characters Manuela meets also deal with their own struggles, and are trying to find their place in a world that pigeonholes them into rigid roles. I really appreciated how Romina Garber wove the moon and menstrual cycles meaningfully into the story, and how she also normalized it. The writing about undocumented immigrants and their struggle to find security and peace was spot on. There were some tropey aspects, but I feel that was unavoidable while dealing with so much other complex subject matter. Manuela is a great character who has to fight against so much to find a place in the world, and I devoured her journey and was left wanting more. I can't wait for the sequel already!⁣
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⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 rounded to 5 stars!

Things and people will exist that some will invariably think should not belong in the world, but those naysayers are proved quite wrong in Lobizona by Romina Garber.

Manuela, Manu, Azul has led a sheltered life while on the run with her mother from her father's family, confined within a small apartment in Miami as an undocumented immigrant from Argentina and hiding behind sunglasses when among others to shield them from seeing her incredibly unique eyes. After Manu's latest lunaritis period, her senses have heightened, making her notice odd things taking place around her surrogate grandmother Perla's home; these odd things culminate in Perla being attacked and Manu's mom being detained by ICE. With few options left to her, Manu seizes control of her life and pursues a route she hopes will provide answers about father, leading her toward a world she only experienced in her lunaritis dreams and the stories Perla told her about brujas and lobizónes, but it might just be a place she could finally belong.

A richly imagined and presented tale that wrestles with the struggle of finding and asserting your identity while weaving in magical realism through mythical elements from Argentinian lore. The exploration of belonging and embracing your true identity is well conveyed, demonstrating that there's not one "right" way to be and that it's relative to each individual. The open discussion of menstruation was quite novel and it played a fairly significant role in the story's development, which otherwise followed quite closely with other very familiar and predictable YA tropes, particularly around romantic involvement. Fantasy stories have long been venues to discuss topical issues in a manner that's more palatable for the masses than a direct discussion, but this tale takes the issues of immigration and gender a step further by anchoring the same discussion in both the real and fantasy worlds and forcing their intersection, though a majority of the deeper realizations take place within the fantasy world.

Overall, I'd give it a 4 out of 5 stars.