TRULY AMAZING!! This remix of Mexican-American legends/folktales did not disappoint, I believe everyone needs to be fiercely loved the way Cece loves her sister, Juana. Going into the desert to become the very thing she has be taught to fear/hate, a bruja, to save her sister from the criatura, El Sombrerón showed just how much family means to her. Using the examples in the story about how Coyote, The Great Namer's, story had changed over time, this is a great way to teach how legends/folktales get changed as they are passed from generation to generation. I loved the friendships Cece developed with the criaturas, and the journey to discover who she truly was, even if it was not what her family wanted her to be or become. Definitely a must add to any middle grade classroom library!
Thanks NetGalley!

I, a 32 year-old mom, was literally on the edge of my seat reading this Middle Grade chapter book. "Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls" takes place in a fictional world where a few months every year the criaturas (creatures) of the desert can wander from their home in Devil's Alley to stir up trouble in the human community. In the story, criaturas are beings that are part animal, part human, who wear their souls on a string around their neck. If you take their soul, you can control them, or destroy them. Many of the criaturas are based on folklore, such as el Sombrerón, el Coyote the Great Namer, la Llorona, Chupacabras 🤯 One night Cece's older sister is stolen by el Sombrerón and the only way she can get into Devil's Alley to rescue her is by capturing a criatura and winning the underground bruja fights (think Pokemon battles). Unlike real brujas who are cruel to their criaturas and treat them like slaves, Cece treats hers with kindness, as a friend, and they work as a team to rescue her sister.
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This book seriously blew me away. It is primarily in English but there are tons of Spanish words and phrases throughout, with a glossary at the back for those who don't speak Spanish. The glossary also provides more background about the elements of folklore that are included, and I learned so much just from reading that section!

Welcome back!

I hope everyone is having a great start to their week! I am still working on the February books post and I absolutely promise it is coming (despite being very late)! In the meantime, I have been busy reading, playing lots of animal crossing and Stardew Valley, and just adulting! One of the last books I finished at the very very end of February was my E-ARC of Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls. I had been reading this book as much as I could in between tasks and mostly on my phone or laptop instead of on my Kindle and I have to say I really enjoyed reading it and having it as my day-to-day book for a while!


SPOILERS AHEAD
Cece lives in Tierra del Sol with her father, mother, and sister however, just outside the town is the desert and there, the criaturas. The people of Tierra del Sol avoid going out there at all costs and if they are able, they collect the souls of the criaturas and return them to Devil’s Alley. However, when Cece was a small child, she got lost out there and a friendly criatura brought her home, everyone in the town tried to kill the criatura who was nice to her but she helped it escape and ever since then she has had a soul made of water instead of fire. Flash forward to the present, Cece’s sister gets taken by one the criaturas and Cece is determined to get her back at all costs. Cece knows people can not just walk into Devil’s Alley and take people back so in order to do so she will have to enter the become a bruja, enter the bruja fights, win, and then enter Devil’s Alley and take her sister back! However, this is no small task, and Cece has no idea where to even begin, that is until she finds her aunt’s journal!


I absolutely loved this book! It was a fun, wild, imaginative read from start to finish and I honestly hope this becomes a series because there are so so many things I want to see (like Cece meeting her aunt, or Cece and her family again, or Cece and her criaturas). The characters from Cece to the criaturas, to her family, are all memorable characters you want to know more about by the time you are done reading! The adventures we go on with Cece are some of my favorites that I got to read last month and I highly recommend picking up this book when it releases in April!


Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars
**Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls tells the story of Cece and her quest to save her sister. Cece and her family live in Tierra del Sol where there are powerful spirits that visit from Devil's Alley and threaten them. During one night, Cece's sister is taken. While the rest of the town believes she is lost forever, Cece doesn't give up hope. In order to save her sister, she will need to get into Devil's Alley which is not an easy task. While she does face many obstacles, she does get the help of a few criaturas. I thought this was a beautifully told story that weaves in Mexican folklore and mythology. I loved going on this journey with Cece. She is such a brave girl, and she learned so much during her journey.

Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Cece lives in the small town of Tierra del Sol with her parents and older sister Juana. When she is young, she wanders off into the desert when she is watching a sunset with other children, and is approached by a criatura. Luckily, it is Tzitzimitl, who is a protector of human children, but she curses Cece, who is considered a bit suspicious by her family, who worry that she will become a bruja like her aunt. When her sister Juana dances in the Amenazante celebration, she is stolen away by el Sombreron, the Bride Stealer. Cece is unable to save her sister, but tries to figure out a way that she can get her back. She is aided by a criatura she saved from starving, Coyote, who agrees to work with her so that she can join the battle of the brujas and be able to go through the Devil's Alley and win her sister back. Cece doesn't want to be a bruja-- they are considered evil because they capture the souls of criaturas and keep them in their power. Cece has the ancestry, as well as the ability, to do well against the other brujas, but she doesn't want to join them. Luckily, her kindness wins her help from other criaturas, including Little Lion and Ocelot, and she manages to keep up the quest for her sister without her family knowing that she is running with creatures they consider evil. Will she be able to build her powers, get her sister back, and keep the peace with the family she loves?
Strengths: This was a great action adventure novel with deep underlying philosophical themes of love, family, and personal identity. Cece's secret mission to save her sister with skills that were present in other family members in the past is a great way to show agency in a tween without killing the parents. (Although there is a grandmother who has passed away.) The southwest setting is one that hasn't been used quite as much in fantasy novels, and is much more interesting than yet another Anglo-Germanic medieval fantasy! This appears to be Ms. Rivera's debut novel, and is a great start.
Weaknesses: While the glossary is really helpful, I could have used a few more notes on the cultural and folklore details so that I could understand more about brujas, cueranderos, and the criaturas. I looked up a lot of information, which was fine. A lot of authors don't want to marginalize their own cultures by italicizing words in languages other than English, and I understand the philosophy behind that. Still, if I am a bit confused, my students may be as well. Scaffolding some of the background information would be very helpful.
What I really think: This is a good addition to fantasy books with a cultural basis in MesoAmerican culture, like Mejia's Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, Salazar's Land of the Cranes and The Moon Within, Cuevas' The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez, Meriano's and Love, Sugar Magic series.

Thank you to #Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for allowing me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera. This middle grade novel will be released in April 2021. All opinions are my own.

Cece lives in the remote town of Tierra de Sol. Living here can be dangerous especially in the months when the criaturas leave Devil's Alley and roam the desert. Since the night she got lost in the desert and was saved by a criatura, Cece has always believed that there is something more to them and that they might not all be bad. This is, and the fact that she is believed to have been cursed by the criatura that saved her, leads Cece's family to see her as a disappointment. Just before she turns 13, Cece's sister is kidnapped by El Sombreron, and it is all her fault. Cece is determined to get Juana back by winning the bruja fights and entering Devil's Alley. To do this, Cece will have to go against everything she has been taught to believe.

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls is a fast-paced, fun, adventure novel that incorporates the mythology of Mesoamerica. I loved getting introduced to a new culture and mythology. Cece's struggle to please her family but still be true to herself is something I think readers will be able to connect with. I really enjoyed her strength and the wit of the other characters. Rivera has expertly created a complex fantasy world that incorporates the mythology and stories that she grew up listening to. The story is vibrant and captivating, and I can't wait to add it to my classroom library. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy Rick Riordan and/or the Rick Riordan Presents books.

Cece Rios is a richly imagined world that I was drawn into right from the first scene. Cece's tender compassion immediately makes you root for her in her quest to get back her sister from the frightening El Sombreron, who has taken her as a bride. It was fascinating to read about all of the legendary Mexican and Central American folklore creatures, and the book is filled with truly intense and scary scenes, yet it is still funny, with touching moments that will make your heart sing. The history and bond between the folklore creatures forces us to reexamine the concept of good and evil, and the story addresses powerful themes like love and acceptance, all with beautiful, lyrical writing.It's still January but I'm pretty sure this book will be one of my top 2021 reads. I highly recommend it! Thank you so much to the publisher for providing the e-ARC.

Kaela Rivera creates a wonderful world, suffused with Mexican landscapes and Aztec mythology. Cece's journey to rescue her sister leads her to from self-doubt to becoming a courageous, kind (and quite humorous) heroine. Liked the plot device that enabled the ancient criaturas to be reincarnated as tweens to help Cece. This inspiring book will leave readers hoping for more adventures with Cece.

This book has one of the most unique fantasy settings I've ever read. Cece's family lives in a magical town where the inhabitants must fend off strange and dangerous criaturas from the desert with their fire magic. But Cece has a water soul and is somewhat of an outcast as a result. When her sister is kidnapped, Cece must work together with the criaturas to rescue her, and along the way she is constantly tested, given the choice to do a brutal thing or somehow figure out how to do a kind thing instead. Every time, it seems impossible to make the right choice, but she eventually manages to do so, never losing her deep empathy and strong heart. This is such an important message for kids, and it's done in such a way that it's not prescriptive or patronizing.

I especially loved all of the creaturas, each with its own unique characteristics and folklore. The bride-stealing El Sombreron was downright chilling, while others like Coyote were a fascinating mix of sweetness and sharp claws. It was all incredibly well developed and crafted, and I'm highly recommending this for anybody who loves MG fantasy!

Kaela Rivera's novel Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls is full of adventure, heart, and mythology that any reader will love. I was floored by how easily it was to fall in love with the characters in this story, who all have distinct personalities and ambitions. My favorite part was how seamlessly Latinx folklore was incorporated to highlight not only Cece's culture, but the entire narrative. It is a love song to the stories that Rivera was taught by her grandparents, and the love that the author has for her heritage shines in this ambitious and action packed story. Even those unfamiliar with the stories of criaturas and bruja will soon find themselves enthralled with the magical world Rivera has created.

Cece Rios is a girl who has become an easy target in her village due to her soft and caring heart. When her sister is taken by a criatura known as the Bride Stealer, Cece swears she will do anything it takes to get her sister back--even if it means becoming braver and breaking the social expectations of her home. On her journey, she picks up a slew of reluctant allies (and later friends) using the very weakness she was ostracized for.

All major aspects of this story are nearly flawless. The pacing, plot, characterization, and imagery are all a joy to read and watch develop. The diversity of this story, combined by it being a middle grade Own Voices novel, make this story particularly valuable to any home or school library. The only aspect to the story I found myself wishing there was more development of was when
Spoiler
Cece's father was revealed to be abusive at home
as it appears very late in the novel without much foreshadowing.

This story is full of adventure, requiring Cece to sneak out to dangerous places and fight against many dangerous people and criaturas in order to prove she has what it takes to bring her sister home. On her journey, she learns more about criatures, her family, and herself in the process. The biggest lesson that Cece learns of all is the strength and beauty of believing in yourself.

This book was so much fun! I love the friendships that Cece formed with Coyote and the other criaturas she encountered. Beyond being a compelling story that kept me flipping pages, I admired that Cece continually chose the path of kindness when confronted with hard choices. Kaela Rivera's writing was entrancing and I look forward to more books by this author.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this novel.

This is so so so good! I'll definitely be recommending it to students and putting it on my shortlist for go-to gifts. I love when Latinx writers can use mythology without having to be super tied to it and instead can play with it and mix it and make up new stuff (y'know, like white writers are allowed to without having their work be assumed to be very hyperspecific to one culture). This was fantastic. Thank you for the review copy!

This fast-paced adventure is led by a younger sister (Cece) who believes herself to be weak but proves her strength by befriending the criatura, spirits she's been raised to think are enemies, in order to rescue the sister supposedly being held captive in Devil's Alley. This underdog story is made all the more poignant by the careful depiction of the criatura, who readers grow to care for over the course of the story. The realistic depiction of parental alcoholism also added an important element to this already gripping tale.

This title is perfect for fans of Charlie Hernandez and the League of Shadows as well as the Rick Riordan Presents imprint books. Filled with folklore and mythical creatures, this fast-paced story grabs you from the beginning. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

Cece and her family live in the small desert community of Tierra de Sol. She hasn't fit in since her encounter with the criatura, Tzitzimitl, who many believe cursed her when she was seven. Now that her older sister, Juana, has been invited to do the Amenazante dance on Noche de Muerte to scare away the powerful spirits who threaten her community during the criatura months, Cece doesn't think she'll ever be able to prove herself and live up to the example of her sister. But when Juana is kidnapped by El Sombreron, Cece is determined to find a way to get her back. To gain entry into Devil's Alley, she will have prove that she is a bruja, a witch, and find a criatura to control who will make it to the final round of the Bruja Fights. Cece doesn't want to become a bruja, but she doesn't know another way to save her sister. She manages to enlist the help of Coyote, and although he wins the first round, there is a major setback. Cece must discover how she can stay true to herself while developing trust with others to help her, especially once there is suspicion about her true motives and the stakes are raised.

I really enjoyed this book based on the stories of Mexican folklore that the author's abuelo told her when she was young. I love learning about cultures different from my own, and the stories that are told as part of it. I loved that Cece was committed to rescuing her sister on her own terms, and used her kindness to succeed rather than succumbing to darker emotions. I also liked watching her discover what she was capable of, and connecting to her soul. We watched her grow into her power with the support of her criaturas, and demonstrate her bravery by being scared by persevering against the odds. The setting of the desert was unique, and I love how the preparations for Noche de Muerte helped us understand Cece's culture and some of their beliefs.

I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy fantasy stories based on mythology, with courageous female protagonists determined to prove good can triumph over evil.

Recommended: Gr. 5-7

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls is an engaging #ownvoices story that will appeal to children who like fantasy/magic stories.

Cece Rios lives with her family's and community's disapproval for helping a criatura. When her sister is kidnapped by El Sombrerón, a different criatura, Cece leaves her home to bring her back.

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD!

Cece Rios and the Desert of Lost Souls is about Cece Rios, a girl cursed with a soul of water, and how her sister is stolen away by the criatura El Sombrerón, the bride stealer. Cece has grown up knowing that criaturas were bad, and that brujas, the enslavers of criaturas, were even worse, but Cece might have to become a bruja to save her sister. Will her cursed soul hold her back when it matters most?

The Mythology

I really liked the mythology in Cece Rios and the Desert of Lost Souls. I have enjoyed reading books that contain gods and goddesses that I have known a little about (like Percy Jackson and Aru Shah), and I learned a lot more about those mythologies, but it was refreshing to read about mythical beasts and gods that I had never heard of before (I don’t know if this is a similar experience to other people reading this book, but I had really never heard of this mythology before).

The Characters

I thought that this book had a very nice cast of characters, from legendary criaturas to a difficult family. But a lot of the criaturas that were mainly in the story were around the same age as the main character (as in, recently reincarnated), which seemed a little convenient. Also, while there was a nice bonding story for the first two major criaturas in the story, the next two criaturas that appeared bonded with the main character almost instantly, which made it seem like the author just didn’t want to take more time writing about about the relationships between bruja and criatura, which makes sense since the story had to move along, but I think that there could have been a more subtle version of when the last two criaturas came to trust the main character.

The Writing

I thought that the writing style was nice, and that the book had some good themes, but sometimes, those themes felt a little forced. But I did like how the emotions were conveyed.

This was a very good book that I would recommend to other people, with good themes, some good mythology, and nice characters. And while there were a few minor setbacks for me, I think that this was a solid book. I would recommend Cece Rios and the Desert of Lost Souls for grades three through six.

You will love Cece and be rooting for as she works to find her sister who was stolen by mythical creature. Cece is challenged to become a bruja, witch, to win her back. This book is action packed and emotion filled the entire way through. I loved the desert setting and it's cultural details. Fans of scary books will appreciate it to. Refreshing and new!

Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis: When the powerful desert spirit El Sombreron kidnaps her sister, Cece Rios must learn forbidden magic to get her back.

Cece Rios and the Desert of Lost Souls is a middle grade fantasy book that is like a cross between Percy Jackson/Rick Riordan presents and Digimon. In the desert near Cece's town, powerful creatures from Latinx mythology roam around. There is a taboo group of people called Bruja's that are able to take the soul stones from the creatures and use them to battle each other. Even though her family is adamantly against bruja magic and capturing creatures, Cece decides that she must become a bruja in order to save her sister from El Sombreron.

There is a lot going on in this book that I really liked. I like that it has a full Latinx cast filled with mythology from Latin America. I even found myself looking up some of the legends that I hadn't heard of before. I also liked the dynamic between the main group of characters (especially Coyote). Overall, this is definitely a book I would pick up at the store and recommend to people who are looking for books similar to Percy Jackson or Latinx representation!

CW: Child abuse
I will have to give a content warning here, especially since this book is a middle grade book. Cece's family (and actually the whole town) absolutely hate Cece to the point that she has absolutely no self confidence in her self. Her father physically and metaphorically beats her down and her mother is constantly disappointed with her and cold to her. Even though Cece slowly gains confidence in herself as she battles with coyote, her parents and the town still do not like her by the end of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with a free eBook in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great middle-grade fantasy-adventure novel loosely based on several Latinx/indigenous mythologies from Central and South American cultures, similar to the novels in the "Rick Riordan presents" series that are loosely based on mythologies from various cultures and written by own voices.

Cecelia Rios has always been a little different from the rest of her community. She does not have their same fear and hatred of the Criaturas of the desert, and has no desire to see them hunted and killed simply for existing. She does not have the burning fierceness from the sun god like the rest of her people, having been blessed by the goddess of the waters instead, which her people see as a curse rather than a blessing. Her father is ashamed of her, her mother worries over her, but she is very close to her big sister Juana, who loves and protects her. When Juana is kidnapped by a Dark Criatura to be his bride, Cece vows to do whatever it takes to rescue her.

I love that this presents a female protagonist, who must learn that her strength is the very thing that people have shunned her for and treated as a flaw, that she should not feel weak because of her love for her family, empathy for others, and great capacity for kindness and compassion, but rather embrace those things that make her different. In the end she becomes a strong warrior by staying true to her kind and compassionate nature, and makes four new friends along the way.

I love the inclusion of many different Central and South American mythologies and folklore, and the inclusion of many Spanish and indigenous words/names. Though creative liberties are taken with these stories, such is the nature of folklore and mythology; the stories get changed a little as they are retold over and over. The author includes information about the folklore behind the various characters and the regions they are from, and pronunciation guides and definitions for the Spanish and indigenous words in the endpapers. This book feel like it could be the beginning of a series, but that is not clear.

The one thing I didn't like was the ambiguity of the setting. Based on the cover art, I was expecting it to have a modern setting in a real place, and was very confused after I started reading it, as the setting seemed very unclear. It seems that it is rather a fictitious time and place, with a confusing mix of modern and past. There is no mention of modern technology or transportation, but there is mention of oil fields and refineries.

I do wish the setting had been made more clear, but other than that, a great read with a positive message that I would recommend to readers aged 8-13 who like mythology, adventure, and fantasy.