Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

#BOOKREVIEW: | requested
#CeceRiosandtheDesertofSouls from @netgalley and received an electronic #ARC from @harperkids and let me tell you I'm so excited to read it again once it's finalized!
Cece Rios lives in the Tierra del Sol with her parents and older sister. She gets lost in the desert and is guided back safely by a criatura del desierto, even though her people have always warned her against them. Her whole town thinks she's cursed because of it, and she can't seem to do anything right. Everyone constantly compares her to her tia, who shamed the family by running off to be a bruja and control criaturas for power instead of destroying them.
When Cece's older sister Juana gets kidnapped by a criatura, she decides to do everything to get her back.
Even if that means becoming a bruja. Cece has strong inner morals and refuses to lose herself along the way, and instead discovers her long-lost history. This felt like Pokémon mixed with Latinx folklore and myths! It also has great themes of exploring traditions and our place in them.
Cece always felt like an outcast only to discover that part of her tradition and ancestors had purposely been left out of history, and that she belonged to that lost history. As a Mexican immigrant, ufff that definitely hit home. This book will be released in April 2021, me comen las ancias! I can't wait!

This was a much more emotional book than I expected! I loved Cece, I thought she was an excellent main character full of bravery and kindness. Her dedication to finding her sister touched my heart.
The adventure of this novel was also tremendous. I loved the games-competition element and the tension between the magical world and the human one.
Friendship and overcoming biases are two themes in the novel that I think were explored wonderfully and heartily. The book also touches upon family abuse (which I was not expecting), but I do think it added an important perspective to the novel.
And of course the legends and folklore mixed into the narrative were well...legendary.

This is a great start to a series that I think will draw in many readers. While Cece shows love and compassion for her family and others, she also displays a huge amount of courage while she fights for her sister. The pace is fast and filled with action. I will definitely be adding this one to our library.

This book was so fun. I can see kids becoming very engaged with the story and playing at bruja fighting with their favorite criaturas. I'm very much looking forward to discussing this one with my middle grade book club this weekend!

AHHH I love this book so much! I will be buying this for all of my middle-grade readers. It has a really magnificent adventure/fantasy component, Cece is the most amazing protagonist, and the representation is so powerful. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

Holy sunset, this book surprised me! It was great! I guess I wasn't ready for this Fight Club for Criaturas, but since I love action and adventure I was pleasantly surprised. The fierce mythology of Mexican and Nahuatl culture comes alive with this story of Cece Rios and her altruistic quest to save her sister. And along the way, she learns more about herself than she thought possible. I loved all the Spanish immersion and phrases. I mean, I could practically taste the cinnamon sugar on the buñuelos.

After reading the back of the book, I know that some of this story is re-purposed mythology, but I think it deserves its own place in the canon, as a story grandmothers pass down to their grandchildren next to the raging fireplace.

I also liked the details such as how color is used to denote emotion in the criaturas to Cece.

One trigger warning to note (I'll avoid it being a spoiler): A drunk adult slaps a child hard enough to leave a bruise. I didn't like that part, but I know no one else will either and that's the point.

Being a writer, I appreciated this quote:
“Ideas become more powerful when you give them words.”

A high-stakes adventure story of dark versus light (or fire and water!) with Cece, Coyote, Lion, Kit, and even Ocelot as a team of fantastical avengers. Freaky scenes sure to make young readers squirm with delight (that scene with the shadowy El Sombrerón and Cece's sister, Juana!), but not overly scary such that it's not appropriate.

A surprise hit!

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls: Younger readers will enjoy the fresh setting
Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera

Kaela Rivera sets her novel Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls against a backdrop of Mexican/Meso- American/Southwestern folktales and legends, sending the titular protagonist on a quest to rescue her older sister. The story will probably mostly satisfy its target Middle Grade audience but is less likely to appeal to even slightly older readers.

Tierra del Sol is a remote town surrounded by desert that each year enacts a ritualist dance to frighten away the dark criaturas that have long threatened Cece’s people. Cece herself is too young for the dance and is as well more than a little distrusted by the townspeople due to an incident from her childhood. Her sister, on the other hand, is loved by all. Unfortunately, she’s also caught the eye of El Sombreron, one of the worst of the dark criaturas, and when he kidnaps her the night of the dance and takes her of to Devil’s Alley, Cece is driven to get her back, not only out of love but also out of a sense of guilt.

To rescue her sister, though, she’ll have to become a bruja — one who has stolen the soul of a criatura — and then win the multi-night bruja competition, the only way for a human to enter Devil’s Alley. Along the way, she unexpectedly finds herself allied (reluctantly on his part) with Coyote, the Great Namer.

The underlying mythos is perhaps the best part of the story. First, it’s likely to be unfamiliar to a large number of young readers, offering up a refreshingly new cast of characters, as opposed to the well-mined Wester European fantasy creatures. Rivera does a nice job of not simply retelling the stories but putting her own take on them, adding even more to that sense of originality. Second, the characters are depicted with a captivating complexity to them. Coyote in particular is a character of dual natures, one who both loves humans for what they could be and is also angered and saddened by what they do/have done. This complexity is enhanced by a clever twist Rivera adds in — the idea that the criaturas have multiple (but finite) lives, with each rebirth costing them more in terms of power and memory. So Coyote is, on the one hand, truly ancient, if one traces him back to his first life, but in this incarnation, he is relatively young and cannot remember all that he once knew or did. He is, for instance, responsible for creating Devil’s Alley, though he cannot recall why he did so.

Cece herself is in most ways your run-of-the-mill MG/YA hero: spunky, stubborn, often sassy, persevering in the face of long odds, and an outsider. She has long been overshadowed by her prettier, more engaging sister, and is also as noted, regarded with suspicion by her fellow townspeople thanks to that childhood incident. Darker elements of her story arc include some domestic violence and an aunt who became a bruja and disappeared. She’s an engaging enough character and will particularly win over readers with how she refuses to employ the typical bruja methods of cruelty and dominance and instead relies on her kindness and sense of fairness.

My major issue with the novel, and why I think it will have little appeal beyond its MG audience (or even for more mature MG readers) is that Cece fulfills her tasks and overcomes her obstacles too quickly and easily, with little tension, danger, or drama. She needs to get a criatura and so does so in an afternoon. She needs a second, and there it is, no matter how nearly unprecedented that is for a bruja. A third? No problem.

No sooner is an obstacle laid down than it’s overcome. As for how one gains a criatura’s soul, I’ll just say it struck me as both implausibly simple and more than a little anticlimactic. And while the mythos is, as noted, the strongest aspect of the story, it still feels a bit shallow/sketchy in its totality. Finally, the family problems with a father who drinks and who can get physical are glossed over too quickly for my liking, almost to the point of trivializing the violence, though I’m sure that wasn’t the intent.

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls is a fast-moving story with a likable main character who is easy to root for, all set against a refreshingly atypical background. While its speedy plotting will probably win over younger readers, I can’t help but feel there was a missed opportunity to slow down and offer up a richer story and character that would engage a wider audience.

Cece has to become a Bruja to get her big sister back who has been taken by El Sombreron. This story kept my attention from the first page. It is fasted paced and addicting. Cece Rios is a kind-hearted heroine that has you teary eyed and impressed at the same time. The world of the story is reminiscent of The Ghost Squad by Claribel Ortega. I love see this magical world that is different from Hogwarts or other fantastical world of the like. This was refreshingly. This story explores the importance of being true to yourself, finding coverage in oneself and letting that be the tool to victory.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for sharing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is amazing and is one of my top reads for this year-and it will remain on the top because it is that good. Full of fantastical creatures, myth and lore, forbidden friendships...it will keep you on the edge of your seat. Kaela has a way of writing that you will be fully immersed in her story immediately and won’t want to leave until you are done with the book-and then you’ll want more! Highly recommend to fantasy and adventure lovers.

Disclaimer: I received Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls free of charge from NetGalley, HarperCollins, and the author Kaela Rivera. It was my choice to read and review.

I've shared in the past that sometimes middle-grade books are hard for me to read, being an adult. I do like to read them from time to time and I'm happy to say I didn't have any difficulty getting into and enjoying Cece Rios. It's appropriate for a Middle-Grade audience but, as an adult, it didn't feel like a middle-grade book. It sucked me in, I was invested in the characters, the journey, and the magic system. The world-building, plot progression, action sequences, and dialogue/interactions with unique tones of voice for all characters were all on point.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading and could not put it down. I also loved that Cece didn't fall under the "chosen one or savior of the world trope", she couldn't do it all by herself, she needed trust and lots of help from friends on her journey. I would LOVE to read more books about Cece so, HarperCollins, please contract with Kaela again for more books set in this world to continue Cece's story.

I love reading diverse books with legends reimagined from other cultures and Kaela Rivera shared with me when I interviewed her that her inspiration was her "abuelo's stories from growing up in northern Mexico and an idea I've pondered for a long time--if we could see each other's souls on the outside, how would that change how we treat each other? Once I put those ideas together, everything just clicked." Check out the full author interview on my Instagram page @ram_reads

Cece and her parents were giving me a bit of Moana vibes, the criaturas reminded me a bit of the movie Coco with a harder edge, and brujas + the soul-controlling magic they used reminded me of Harry Potter mixed with Vodoo magic from the princess and the frog. Even though I was reminded of these stories I've enjoyed, CeCe Rios and the Desert of Souls is a story all its own.

Parents aren't supposed to have favorite. Unfortunately in Cece Rios' family, her parents didn't get the memo. Juana her older sister is clearly the favorite. And when her sister is captured by the evil and powerful criatura El Somberon, Cece is to blame.

No one believes that Juana can be recovered, but Cece will sacrifice herself if it means getting her sister back. But she can't do it alone. She'll need the help of the legendary Coyote and the help of all the criatura's she meets in the dens of the Bruja fights.

Cece is a strong, fierce heroine, who isn't afraid of her emotions. The author paints Cece in this vulnerable way which makes her incredibly relatable. After all, who says heroes don't ever get scared! There is a lot of action in this book. Perfect for fans of the Storm Runner series or readers who like magical realism in their books.

This is a Middle Grade fantasy. I picked this book up for the first time a couple of months ago, but I just was not in the mood for this type of book. I am so glad I did not give up on this book. I have to say I loved everything about this book, but I have to say it took me a little bit to get into this book. This book shows how strong loving someone is, and that love is more stronger then hate/angrier. I loved the characters in this book, and I loved how much Cece grow during this book. This book is well written and the main point in this book is so great. I have to say that I did not love the ending because I felt it just stopped. There was no real ending. This book would be 5 stars if there was an ending. I have to say that I think this book would be good for 5th graders or 6st graders and up. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (HarperCollins Children's Books) or author (Kaela Rivera) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Give me all the modern mythology. I’m like that meme: take my money for all these stories.
Adding in the animal friends? Perfect. I loved Coyote, Little Lion, and Kit Fox.
Cece doesn't want to be a bruja but she has the abilities needed and when her sister Juana is taken- she needs to do whatever it takes to save her.

I absolutely loved this debut novel! I was immediately drawn into the story and quickly fell in love with the main character, Cece and her honesty and raw bravery. I especially appreciated how she didn’t have to have a hardened heart or change who she was to succeed. She could stay soft and loving and follow her heart.
Spoilers aside, I am actually really sad there aren’t any more chapters to read about Cece and her friends.
I loved the fantasy aspect mixed with Mexican folklore! This really was done so well and so much more than I even imagined.

This was a really great book about finding who you are. Cece is such a brave character and I love how she tries not to be a true bruja, knowing what is right and what's not. Her relationships with Coyote, Little Lion, and Kit Fox are heartwarming and I love how she grows and changes throughout the story. This is a perfect book for readers ages 9-12.

So I'm not usually a fan of fantasy, but I am a great fan of myths and folktales. Rivera writes so well, I got sucked right into her world. She had me from the first few pages.

CeCe Rios is our 12 year old protagonist. She's your typical water child in a fire world, literally. Her family doesn't understand her, it's safe to say CeCe doesn't really understand herself. But she does know she doesn't like them constantly trying to change who she is. A heated argument leads to her sister's disappearance, and CeCe is determined to right her perceived wrong.

Rivera's cast of criaturas is tremendously developed. A creepu snake, a sarcastic Lion, and a trusting Kit Fox are just a few of the creatures we meet. However, like CeCe, my favorite is Coyote. The friendship between Coyote and CeCe is so pure and so true, The villains are all villain-y and the heroes are all hero-y. Rivera gives you all the feels. I look forward to reading more from her.

Cece is a girl who feels like she's not quite good enough-she doesn't fit in at school and at home her big sister is so much prettier and smarter and just better, Cece knows she'll never measure up. But when Juana is kidnapped by an evil criatura, Cece knows she's the only one who can save Juana. This is a very exciting adventure with lots of connections to Mexican American folklore. I thought it was terrific.

Wow! What fun and heartpounding adventure! Cece is different from her family and village, someone who is sympathetic to the creaturas. When her beloved sister is taken by them, she bravely ventures into danger to save her sister and her town. Throughout the book, Cece struggles to fight off danger while keeping her kindness and compassion in a cruel world. This amazing book draws on southwestern and Mexican mythology to create a magical world, and Cece's bravery and authenticity draw you in to the action. Such great writing and imagination, I am sure my students will love this book.

This was an interesting read and a twist on some legendary creatures that I had not seen before. I will admit that anything dealing with stealing and manipulating the souls of others makes me a little uncomfortable so I didn't love that aspect, but I did enjoy the friendship story and Cece's growth as a character as she learned to love herself and her unique gifts.

Obviously set up for a follow up, but definitely not a cliffhanger (which I appreciated!).