A thoroughly satisfying conclusion to the Brooklyn Brujas series! This gives Rose her own journey, literal and metaphorical, and ties up some of the mysteries of their family's history along the way. I particularly enjoyed the Caribbean-fairyland setting, which was so full of inventive creatures and magical manifestations.

Overall I enjoyed WAYWARD WITCH, though it didn't connect with me as much as BRUJA BORN did. I think that that was mostly because once again we were taken into a fantasy story, and I had been hoping that maybe we'd get another genre twist as we had seen between books 1 and 2. That said, even though fantasy isn't really my cup of tea, I really liked finally seeing Rose's story and her coming of age. I really loved seeing Rose explore her powers and come into her own, and while I may not have connected as much with the fantasy elements I did appreciate the detail and scope that Córdova put into the realm of Adas, just as I liked a lot of the characters there and got a sense for most of them and their motivations. I especially liked seeing Rose interact with the royal twins, fierce princess Iris and sensitive prince Arco, as these interactions kind of replaced the definite loss of not really having Alex and Lula in this story. And honestly, any witch story that shows off non-white witches and takes mythological influence from non-white cultures is going to be an important read, and one that all witch fans should pick up.

So even though I didn't connect with WAYWARD WITCH as much, I definitely think that it was a good end for this awesome and important series.

Wow, this was different. I've read a lot of books about magic, but have only come across this particular mythology once before and it was only mentioned in passing. I absolutely loved how it was a vital part of this story and blended with the more fantasy elements so seamlessly. I hadn't realized this was a part three, but that didn't hinder me in being able to sink into the story world at all. After looking into the series, I'm excited to go back and read the other parts, which will feature Rose's older sisters in their own separate adventures.

Rose! I loved her so much. She is strong as she faces being taken and thrust into needing to harness her powers, while learning not only about herself but her family as well. Family is a strong theme throughout and that also really made my love for Rose grow. As things ended, I had questions, some will be answered by going back and reading the first parts, and I have the feeling some will be answered in future parts, fingers crossed anyway.

This is a wonderful read, with a fascinating mythology, set in a fantasy world that is captivating.

When I requested this book, I didn’t realize it was part 3 in a series. To be able to write a proper review, I decided to read the other 2 books in the series as well. I ended up listening to the audiobook versions, and loved them. Having read those two definitely helped me enjoy this last part in the series. Each of the books focuses on one of 3 sisters. What I enjoyed most is that though each book is linked to the other ones, because the sisters all have their own distinct personalities, each of the books has it’s own specific feel to it. I really feel like I got to know the sisters, and would love to read more about them.

This is such a unique book, I love the new and traditional takes on witchcraft. So interesting and spooky!

Wayward Witch, the third book in the Brooklyn Brujas series, follows Rose, the youngest Mortiz sister, as she finally gets her own adventure. Tumbling accidentally into a magical realm, Rose is assigned to a crew of magical beings who must destroy a rotting plague that is consuming the Caribbean-inspired island of Adas. This book brings the answers that readers have been waiting for since the beginning. How will Rose use her power? What happened to her dad when she was little?

This book draws on Latinx mythology, but presents new and imaginative elements to make it unique to the world of the story. The flowery island of Adas is described beautifully, and the fairies who live there are connected to the land and its flora and fauna. This makes for a vivid magical setting that feels simultaneously rooted in the Caribbean and separate from the real world.

Another great thing about this book is that even though the elder Mortiz sisters aren’t featured as major characters, they are always present with Rose, as she considers their advice, compares herself to them, and worries about how she’ll return to them.

One thing that could have been more vivid is the characterization of Rose. In the two previous books, she seems sassy and naive, a somewhat dangerous combination, and these are certainly the traits that spark the beginning of her journey in this book. As the book progresses, though, her naivety never has particularly strong consequences, and her sassiness only shines in a few moments, also without serious consequence.

The supporting characters in the Kingdom of Adas are numerous, and some of them could also be characterized more strongly. It took me quite a while to remember who was who, and I ended up remembering them by their powers rather than their personalities.

Some secondary characters really stand out, though. Lin, for instance, is an important new nonbinary character whose powers prove crucial to the story, and who helps Rose piece together some family history.

Overall, this much-anticipated fantasy tale delivers an imaginative and satisfying end to the totally unique and un-derivative Brooklyn Brujas series. I hate to say goodbye to the Mortiz sisters, and would love to see them again, perhaps in a book centered on Nova or Lin.

Loved this books so much, the mixture of culture, magic, queer characters.
Rosie the MC is so loveable and body positive. She is all about family and her inner voice makes you laugh as it's so very on point.

Only down side is that there was two many characters and so got confused with who was who.
But over all I loved this book.

As a middle child, I thought I would relate most to Alex, but I think I am much more similar to Rose. In this third book of the series, I found myself intrigued by the Kingdom of Adas and enthralled by the twists and turns in Rose's adventure. The magic in every Brooklyn Brujas story amazes me and Wayward Witch is no exception.

Wayward Witch is Rosie's coming of age story filled with magic, romance, and growth. It also my favorite book so far in this series! Although I wouldn't say this book ends with a cliffhanger, there are definitely some strings left untied that I can't wait to see resolved in the next book!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wayward Witch is the third installment of the Brooklyn Bruja series. It follows the youngest of three sisters, Rose, as she has her Deathday to help control her newfound powers. When she finds out her father's amnesia has been a ruse and is sucked into the fairy realm of Adas with him, will she be able to put her anger and hurt aside to be the hero foretold in Adas' prophecies?

I freaking love these books! Of the three, I think this one takes the most time to really hook you, but to be fair, the author has yet another world to build as this is our first trip to Adas. Rose is such a complex character, and her youth adds to that complexity at times. As an adult, I sometimes forgot how young she really was as her sisters who the first two books follow are atleast 3-5 years older. The author did a great job writing appropriately for Rose's age, it just would have been helpful to have a few reminders of just how young she was thoughout.

So much of this story shines. The world, the new characters, the way it wraps up this trilogy. I really love how the sisters don't end up insta married to their current love interest in the epilogue, I really love how the author left it open as they are so young and have so much of the world to see. I can't get enough of how the story merges with the Latino culture and the Gods and Goddesses of their Pantheon.

Overall, 4 bright and shining stars from me, and this trilogy is not one to be missed. I would recommend it for ages 11 and up, some of it could be hard for younger readers to keep entertained but if they stick with it they won't be disappointed. What a great trilogy!

If this is Córdova’s finale to her Brooklyn Bruja series, I can say that I am perfectly satisfied. Every book focused on each of the three sisters’ journey of accepting their powers. There is sacrifice, and accepting that you can’t run away from yourself.

This is a really great series, and I love how culture weaves so effortlessly into everything.

Wayward Witch is the final book in the Brooklyn Brujas trilogy by Zoraida Córdova. Each of three stories focuses on a different Mortiz sister. Having not read the first two, but intrigued by the description of the third, I was a little nervous about picking it up. Wayward Witch, however, did a brilliant job of standing on its own. I never felt lost or confused about the world, and I was able to step right into it. If I had any complaint, in fact, it would actually be that the book felt a little heavy on the lore of mythos of Adas. If you've followed the first two books, I'm sure all these little details will fill in gaps and answer questions you might have had on your mind. For me, as a new reader, they more or less washed over me, but I certainly can't fault the book for me being the newbie here.

In Wayward Witch, Rose's powers are a bit unique and even troubling to her. But when she's pulled through a portal to the realm of the fairies ("Adas," a play on the Spanish word for fairy), she must master her powers to save this world from a consuming dark rot that's spreading over the land. She also has to sort out a rocky relationship with her father, who seemed to have lost his memories but she now suspects remembers more than she thought.

A few positives stood out right away for me. First off, I love the way the book takes the tired trope of a portal story in which the protagonist must save some magical settting and puts a little twist on it. The fairies aren't exactly thrilled that Rose is in their world, and many are downright infuriated by the fact that they need her help. They're certainly not above threatening and blackmailing her to get it, either. I also loved the fact that Rose sidestepped some of the Mary Sue tendencies that protagonists in this type of book often have--she has strengths to rely on but also flaws she needs to confront, not the least of which is a small streak of hypocrisy when judging her father's actions.

I will say, if you don't connect with Rose and her group early on, you're probably going to feel like the book drags its metaphorical feet a bit. The journey to discover the origin of the rot is a long one, and a good part of the story is dedicated to developing the relationships within the group as they travel. But the end reveal was a satisfying one and worth the wait getting to.

The thing I love most about these books is that you can miss a book and you're still given enough information to understand what's happening... I thought I had read the previous book but it looks like I've missed one so whilst I did enjoy this I definitely didn't get to appreciate the full impact of the story.

Saying that, in true Zoraida Cordova style, this book has strong and diverse characters with unique personalities that are easy to root for.

The worldbuilding is conistently flawless and meticulously crafted.

I did end up skimming this because as I said I had missed a book so my interest waned here and there but overall still a good read.

To talk about my feelings for this book in context, it's probably worth talking about my feelings towards the first two books in this series. I found both Labyrinth Lost and Bruja Born to both be very strong books, but I decided not to hang on to either of them in a book clear out at the end of last year. Essentially my criteria for that clear out was 'do I want to re-read this book?'. So, while I had enjoyed both books on a first read, I wasn't so in love with them that I wanted to dive in again. I think my biggest issues with these books was that I wasn't totally sold on the romance aspects, and I didn't really connect with the characters. That's all with hindsight of course.

So I went into Wayward Witch with fairly medium expectations - but this book really hit the spot for me. There is hope for me and YA! Huzzah! 

I think the main reason I got on with this book so much where the others had something missing for me was that I related far more to Rose as a character. I think that's probably the beauty of this series and the fact that Zoraida Cordova follows a different character in each book - there's a character for everyone and mine just happened to be Rose. 

Is anyone surprised that the Mortiz sister to whom I relate the most is the one having a crisis of confidence who would rather sit in a quiet room and read than attend a party being thrown for her? Anyone? 

Didn't think so. 

Initially, I thought it was odd to have set up this tight-knit family only to have Rose go off (however willingly) on what is essentially a solo mission right at the start of the book. There was a lovely family dynamic and sisterhood building - so why not have all three of them in the action? 

In the end, I definitely came around to the band of characters with whom Rose spends the majority of the book. It's very much enemies to unlikely friends which is always fun for me - alongside a magical quest from a morally dubious quest-giver - another set of points to this book from me.

Did I also mention that this book includes non-binary representation? Because it does!

I liked that Rose isn't defined by her family or her sisters - she genuinely finds her way on her own, and in a way that feels genuine and unforced. Do I still want a book where all three sisters (and additional family members) kick ass? Why yes of course I do. But this book was not that book and I think that was a good thing. 

The one criticism I had of this book is that the ending came all too soon and all too fast. It's been a constant struggle for me and YA of late, it seems every YA book I read has this speed-of-light ending where if you turn a page too fast you'll have missed the entire plot resolving. Either YA books aren't spending enough time on endings or I've grown too used to old fantasy series where it's perfectly acceptable to spend a whole 800 pages on setup and then have three more books in the pipeline. I would have liked a little more time spent on the ending - but it certainly isn't the worst offender I've read recently.

Overall I'd say this would be a good book to read especially if you loved the previous books in the series - but I also think this shows that sometimes it is well-worth sticking with a series even if you aren't entirely convinced by the earlier books. Writers are constantly growing and developing and I cannot wait to read whatever Zoraida Cordova has for us next!

My rating: 4/5 stars

I received a free digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own. 

Wayward Witch publishes September 1st

This was so much fun!!! I can't reccomend this series enough. Latinx witches, adventure, rich characters. It has it all.

I love this series! It’s a modern, witchy, magical family saga. Each book in this trilogy focuses on a different Mortiz sister, all of which have unique abilities and personalities. In this final installment we follow Rose, she is swept away to a different world, one of Adas, where she must overcome her insecurities and fight for what is important. Something I thoroughly enjoyed in this series was the strong focus on family. Even though their relationships were far from perfect, they would all do anything for one another. Also, Zoraida does such a great job cultivating these vivid and lush worlds, I really wish this wasn’t the last book, it broke my heart but made me so happy. She has become an auto buy author for me. I can’t wait to read her next novel, Incendiary.

Given this book by Netgalley to read and review for an honest review 😊

I am absolutely going to be buying this book when it gets published. I already have the first two and wouldn't miss any of my chances to get my grubby little hands on a hard copy of this bad boy.

Wayward Witch was predictable in the good ways, you see some of the twists coming if you aren't new to the world of literature and then some parts leave you wondering if Zoradia is going to give us anything new in this world because we have so much left to explore and things that need to be talked about and trauma to see lived through.

Rose is the baby sister, who, before now didn't have much time to shine through but you knew that when her time to shine came it was going to be something big and it was.

Wayward Witch was so good that it could have been it's own spin-off series. Rose could have made different choices, and the story could have picked up from there and it would be a different book and it would still be so good because of the opportunities that it presented. Of course, it couldn't due to the general theme of the series as a whole and that's another reason it's as good as it is.

The new characters we get are just as fascinating as ever. We get to see more of some of them than we do the others but even the little that we get of them are so complex and so put together you know that Zoraida has been planning this out for longer than any of us know.

Rose had such a fantastic and interesting book that I don't know how else to top this. I can hope for more books in this series but I may just end up rereading all three novels and crying over how much I loved them all over again.

I'm so excited I got to read the final book in this series!
I have loved these books, there are so many great elements; the Latinx culture, the bruja religion and abilities, family, and queer characters. The plot for this follows youngest sister Rosie as she gets her own adventure when she and her father are transported to a magical land and forced to help stop a rot that is consuming everything.

Rosie is sassy and smart and a fun character to read about. She's confident in her body and doesn't let things keep her down. She cares so much about her family and I loved her inner thoughts about what her sisters would think about her situation. I also enjoyed the history of the land and seeing Rosie trust herself and develop her powers.

There are a lot of characters and sometimes I got confused as to who was who, especially with them being different species and having unique names. I did like Rosie's crush on Arco and her friendship with Lin. Shout out for non-binary/gender fluid representation!

The ending was a little choppy and I wasn't sure what was going on with a certain character, but I'm sure it will be cleaned up by the final draft. I know this is the final book in the trilogy, but I have questions and Nova's storyline is still wide open so I'm really hoping for a spin off!

<i>I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was was SO excited when I was approved for this book on NetGalley because I have been waiting for Rose's story since Labyrinth Lost. I love my girl Alex, but I was always so curious about Rose and her powers - especially when they started to change. This book did not disappoint. It is a fantastic, lyrical, inclusive story that transported me to the world of Adas. It's a world that feels so new and exciting, but at the same time familiar because I can see myself and my family in these sisters and their culture. This story is a celebration of being Latinx and the places we come from and it made my heart sing.
I loved how this book connected to the others in the series; I feel like because I know about Lula and Alex I could understand Rose's struggle that much more. But I also liked how the story was all her own and about coming into her own and embracing her own power. I loved the new characters introduced especially Iris and Lin. I loved how this book, in a series where family and sisterhood are foundational, takes that concept and expands it and makes it mean so much more.
The only thing I will say is that the ending was a little confusing due to some editing issues. One character died and then reappeared making their fate unclear. I am eager to see the final version of the story when it's published.
This book is a wonderful conclusion to the story of the Mortiz sisters. However, I am asking once again for a Nova book!

Wayward Witch is the magical, emotional conclusion to the Brooklyn Brujas trilogy. The trilogy itself is a must-read for genre fans. Cordova has created a gorgeous, eerie world, brimming with love and light and darkness and magic. The series also goes above just "including" diversity - it's a beautiful, well-written world where the Latinx perspective and experience is front and center. Wayward Witch specifically focuses on Rose and her struggle to save her family. Rose is an incredible character and this is the strongest book in the series. Highly recommend!

I loved this book! It was such an incredible finish for one of my favorite trilogies. Zoraida created a magnificent world of magic and Latinx representation and fairies, what's not to love? Getting to see Rose's point of view after her sisters was truly enjoyable because each of them have their own distinct voice and flaws, but together they have their strong sisterly bond of love.