When I first saw this book and the premise of it being a magical realism novel where the main character needs to learn how to heal and grow, while exploring her own heritage and the role of women in the Catholic Church, and where levitation seems to be a metaphor for letting go of such pain and also connecting with the raw part of the self, I was 100% in, however despite me enjoying the premise, this was not for me, chat.
I want to start with the themes: the book lays ideas of aging, femininity, grief, misogyny, religion and heritage, and although those are all ideas I would love to see in any book, and they would seem to work together really well, the feel very disjointed in the book. It feels like the book wants to convey many things but fails at doing so in a meaningful manner. For example, with Teresa being second gen Puerto Rican, the synopsis and the “reading group guide” at the end of the book make it seem as if her identity would be more crucial to this book than what it actually is, when in the book it feels to me that her identity is only mentioned off hand every so often as if to remind us. Teresa could have been any sort of person with one Spanish descendant from the right place and the story wouldn’t change much, with her identity not coming into play beyond her accent being odd or her bringing up her upbringing once or twice in very specific situations. Tere was not written as a Latina woman to me, and it feels like it was more of an afterthought. I think that there are very lots of ways in which you can incorrectly incorporate culture and identity into a character and this book hit all my pet peeves.
Second: characters, they all feel painfully shallow, their dialogues and interactions very stiff and unnatural l, and I think this book ages itself a little by making reference to irl brands, products and objects (this is once again, a very subjective and personal pet peeve). Despite Teresa’s circumstances I find it hard to connect with her, or her fears, the book does not have any compelling character I was actually rooting for. Furthermore, the book takes place in Spain, and the dialogue is supposed to be taking place in Spanish, however the dialogue is so Americanized in a way that doesn’t match A) an older Nuyorican character (despite how on touch they stay, it just feels like millennial culture and millennial speech) and B) what someone in Spain, and more specifically a town with -checks google- 58k inhabitants, of which 92.5% are Spanish born and where the other 7.5% are immigrants from the middle east, Eastern Europe and Latin American countries (Colombia, Venezuela and Peru being 3rd-5th in amount of immigrants), would sound like, wouldn’t be a quirky millennial with untranslatable jokes to Spanish or very American topics of conversation (one because of the demographic group most of the characters are in, and two because if they were being shape by foreign cultures, Anglo ones wouldn’t be the ones the locals are absorbing).
The pacing of this book felt very dragged in some parts and really suffers from the narrator also feeling like it’s not leading anywhere? Like the plot is happening, I’m reading a plot, there is prose, but it feels so empty at the same time. It does not create the vivid imagery a lot of books would evoke for me. There is also SO MUCH FLUFF, that could be trimmed and wouldn’t change a thing about the story, such as small interactions in the beginning of the book.
Also regarding this being magical realism I think is very much subject of debate, but WITHIN THE NARRATIVE, Tere describes what magical realism is, and by its own definition the book wouldn’t be magical realism.

Overall, this was a disappointing read. I wanted to like it but I think that a mix of this not being the right book for me + me finding impossible not to be very nit-picky, made it a very mediocre book. I think that there is a lot of potential. For one thing I love reading about an older character who already has had so much experience and with such an unique voice, rather than her being a frail woman, loved the key concepts, but the narrative, dialogue and character building couldn’t do it for me.

WE NEED NO WINGS is an adorable, amusing, touching (and sometimes funny) story about a 60-year old woman in grief, mourning and trying to move on with her life after her husband's death - a year ago.
After some unexpected, unsettling and sort of magical events start to happen to her, she is eager to learn more and go deep into her family's roots. She travels to Spain in order to figure out what's happening to her and there her life changes (again) quite dramatically.

It's a comfy and cozy story of personal and spiritual freedom, in many aspects of the protoganist's life.
Personally, I really enjoyed the scenes in Spain (which actually takes up to 2/3 of the book) and our protagonist's journey to learning her roots that go back to the family of a famous saint - which is actually odd to me. Odd how much I enjoyed that. I'm not a religious person, I'm not a Catholic and this book is FULL of Catholicism discussions. I thought I'd be bored or overwhelmed, but I honestly wasn't.
I'm not saying I loved all that, but I didn't feel like the author was trying to preach me or something, so I was fine with it all.
I also enjoyed the magical realism in here. It wasn't over the top or pointless.

My only truly reservation regards the ending, the last 15%: I did not dislike it, but I thought it was a little too pretty, too easy, too 'Disney-ish'.
However, I'm really glad the author didn't use the easy and clichéd romance card here. I'm relieved the author didn't choose to go down that road ("a woman is only happy when she has a man").
Early this year I read this author's previous (adult) novel, The Storyteller's Death, and I loved it! That's why I picked this new book up without hesitation.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with a free eARC copy of his book.

This book follows Tere who, about a year after her husband passes begins to levitate. This leads her to doing some research, which leads her to begin a journey to find a distant relative who can help her.
I actually DNF'd this book around the 45% mark. Despite not finishing this book I do think it's a good story about healing from grief and learning to move forward. I also love the fact that the mc is an older woman (60 to be exact).

<blockquote><i>All that mattered was that they were free, that they needed no wings to fly.</i></blockquote>

Tere Sanchéz is floating in the air and she doesn't know how or why. So she flew to a small city in Spain, Ávila, to find out what's happening to her. It brings her to Santa Teresa—her 'Titi', Cousin Isabella, Juan, Yolanda, Rodrigo, her colleague Richard, her son Rowan, and above all else, herself.

It's interesting to read a tale with main character twice my age, yet I can relate to her in many ways. Following Tere's journey in Ávila is unlike finding the clues in detective stories or merely enjoyable for readers who share the same faith as Tere. The levitation is not only connected to Tere's emotional and spiritual growth, but also to her grief and relationship with her blood and found family. It started slow (which is expected from this genre and no problem for me, I could use some strolling to escape from real life), and then the pace quickens at 80% mark and makes everything more exciting. I'm also satisfied with how it ties beautifully in the end. Yes, the setting is lovely, but I am more enamored by people Tere meets and makes friends with.

Exploring the topic 'dealing with the loss of a beloved one'—and in "old age" at that, <i>We Need No Wings</i> offers a new POV with a dash of magical realism that transcends any culture or religion.

WE NEED NO WINGS is an adorable, amusing, touching (and sometimes funny) story about a 60-year old woman in grief, mourning and trying to move on with her life after her husband's death - a year ago.
After some unexpected, unsettling and sort of magical events start to happen to her, she is eager to learn more and go deep into her family's roots. She travels to Spain in order to figure out what's happening to her and there her life changes (again) quite dramatically.

It's a comfy and cozy story of personal and spiritual freedom, in many aspects of the protoganist's life.
Personally, I really enjoyed the scenes in Spain (which actually takes up to 2/3 of the book) and our protagonist's journey to learning her roots that go back to the family of a famous saint - which is actually odd to me. Odd how much I enjoyed that. I'm not a religious person, I'm not a Catholic and this book is FULL of Catholicism discussions. I thought I'd be bored or overwhelmed, but I honestly wasn't.
I'm not saying I loved all that, but I didn't feel like the author was trying to preach me or something, so I was fine with it all.
I also enjoyed the magical realism in here. It wasn't over the top or pointless.

My only truly reservation regards the ending, the last 15%: I did not dislike it, but I thought it was a little too pretty, too easy, too 'Disney-ish'.
However, I'm really glad the author didn't use the easy and clichéd romance card here. I'm relieved the author didn't choose to go down that road ("a woman is only happy when she has a man").
Early this year I read this author's previous (adult) novel, The Storyteller's Death, and I loved it! That's why I picked this new book up without hesitation.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with a free eARC copy of his book.

I really enjoyed reading this, it had that multicultural feel that I was looking for from the description. The characters felt like they were supposed to and enjoyed getting to know them in this. Ann Dávila Cardinal does a great job in bringing the reader into this story and getting to read more. It had a great concept and the characters were everything that I was looking for.

This was a very whimsical and atmospheric story that sucks you in with the characters, places, and mystery! I loved Tere as a main character and also the development of her character as she embarks on a journey to disocver her ancestry! It was also a beautifully written story about loss and grief and how to overcome it.

SPOILERS!!
I liked all the side characters she meets on the way and how everyone in the small town gathers at the hospital near the end to check on Tere to see if she was okay!

3.5 ⭐️
What an uplifting and unique read. Tere navigates the tumultuous waters of grief and self-discovery after the death of her beloved husband, Carl. Left to redefine her identity beyond being a wife, Tere’s life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers her ability to levitate. As Tere struggles with her levitation, she questions her sanity, leading her to stumble upon articles about her ancestor, Saint Teresa of Avila, known for her own mystical experiences. This discovery propels her to travel to Avila in a bid to connect with her heritage and to hopefully find a way to ground herself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC.

As someone who is not religious, I didn't mind reading about religion in this book at all. I'm glad the writer was critical of most of my issues with catholism. 
It's nice to read about an "older" woman, as a 24-year-old woman, I'm afraid of ageing. I don't want to get wrinkles or turn gray, because the dominant narrative is that after your thirties your life ends. It's nice to see a main character live her life and find her way, it almost felt like a coming-of-age story but then in a different phase of your life. 

All the connections described in this book were beautiful. I genuinely feel like that is what life is about. 

At times the main character annoyed me, she was so distant from everyone she cares about. I understand this is part of her grief, and it's also part of her character arc, but at times her son felt barely adult, with the way she was treating him.

I was pleasantly surprised about how much I ended up thoroughly enjoying this book. While I am primarily a fantasy and sci-fi genre reader, I asked to read this book from Net Galley thinking it was a fantasy. But what I got was a book about a character’s struggles with grief and ability to redefine herself in her later years after the loss of her husband. Davila does a phenomenal job with the characterization of this cast. I absolutely loved Sister Isabella and our main character Tere is very personable. I felt a very strong connection to Tere even though I am not in her age range. The way she responds to her grief and her attitude of not wanting to inconvenience anyone with her problems, I felt like she was so very easy to relate with. I felt an immense amount of joy at the end of the book and felt like this was a celebration of the fact that anyone can make a change or do something no matter where you are at in life. I also really liked Davila’s prose in this book. Great dialogue and great writing! The middle of the book had a small window of time where the drive to solve Tere’s problem was not as assertive, but it picked back up. This book went above and beyond my expectations and I would strongly consider reading another novel by Davila.

Grounded in magical realism, We Need No Wings intertwines the supernatural with profound explorations of grief, feminism, and colonialism. Set against the backdrop of a woman's unexpected levitation following her husband's death, the narrative unfolds as she embarks on a journey to Spain to delve into her saintly ancestor's legacy.

While the thematic depth captivated me, the character's oscillation between insightful commentary and occasional naivety, particularly for a seasoned university professor in her 60s, occasionally disrupted the narrative flow. Additionally, repetitive descriptors, like 'his eyes went soft,' detracted from the immersive experience. Furthermore, despite its aspirations to critique American centralism, the book at times falls into its own trap, depicting Spanish characters through a lens that feels more like an American's interpretation than genuine cultural representation. Nevertheless, the author skilfully weaves together historical intrigue and contemporary reflections, creating a thought-provoking tale that lingers in the mind after the final page.

The premise of the book was intriguing. I appreciate the diverse take on Catholicism and the vivid descriptions of Avila. However, I was not able to connect with Tere as much as I hoped to as I felt a bit disappointed and at times even frustrated with her response to some of the situations that occurred, although this can also be a manifestation of her going through the rough process of grief. I believe there was potential for Tere's character to be further developed beyond the frequent metaphors, which sometimes detracted from the immediacy of the narrative. There were also some details that I find repetitive or futile to still be said. Rating We Need No Wings by Ann Davila Cardinal with 3 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars. A quick and easy read sprinkled with magical realism. I enjoyed the themes of processing and growing through grief, and the connection to culture and spirituality.

Rating: 4.5

Wow! I loved this book so much.. and it was a huge surprise. I think not everyone will enjoy it, but being Latin American, I'm totally into magical realism as I grew up reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

I loved the whole Catholic angle and the beautiful descriptions of Avila, Spain. I also enjoyed the main character's wittiness and the grief exploration.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced copy

We Need No Wings tells the story of Tere, recent widow, and how she begins to find her way through grief.

It is well written charming . The inclusion of Tere levitating brings it in the realm of magical realism.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

WE NEED NO WINGS is an adorable, amusing, touching (and sometimes funny) story about a 60-year old woman in grief, mourning and trying to move on with her life after her husband's death - a year ago.
After some unexpected, unsettling and sort of magical events start to happen to her, she is eager to learn more and go deep into her family's roots. She travels to Spain in order to figure out what's happening to her and there her life changes (again) quite dramatically.

It's a comfy and cozy story of personal and spiritual freedom, in many aspects of the protoganist's life.
Personally, I really enjoyed the scenes in Spain (which actually takes up to 2/3 of the book) and our protagonist's journey to learning her roots that go back to the family of a famous saint - which is actually odd to me. Odd how much I enjoyed that. I'm not a religious person, I'm not a Catholic and this book is FULL of Catholicism discussions. I thought I'd be bored or overwhelmed, but I honestly wasn't.
I'm not saying I loved all that, but I didn't feel like the author was trying to preach me or something, so I was fine with it all.
I also enjoyed the magical realism in here. It wasn't over the top or pointless.

My only truly reservation regards the ending, the last 15%: I did not dislike it, but I thought it was a little too pretty, too easy, too 'Disney-ish'.
However, I'm really glad the author didn't use the easy and clichéd romance card here. I'm relieved the author didn't choose to go down that road ("a woman is only happy when she has a man").
Early this year I read this author's previous (adult) novel, The Storyteller's Death, and I loved it! That's why I picked this new book up without hesitation.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with a free eARC copy of his book.

We Need No Wings by Ann Dávila Cardinal is a unique and intriguing contemporary fiction.

This book was an interesting combination of realism vs ethereal and the balance made for a unique read.

The fantasy and other-worldly threads were wound with the real life experiences of grief, loss, healing, and the complexities of looking within one’s life and oneself. It definitely gave me a few things to think about.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Sourcebooks Landmark for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/10/24.

A refreshing breath of fantasy. I feel like the genre has become so stuck we forgot fantasy is a lot of things like being so stuck in your grief you begin to levitate. Happy to not read about elves for once but a sweet cross of contemporary and Fantasy.

DNF'ed at 39%
Only if I knew Tere mentioned in description was a real Spanish nun and catholism was going to be in book I wouldn't have read it, even as a Muslim I try not read books with so called Muslim representation (I've lots of issues with Muslim characters written by authors who had spend their whole life in west) so I try to stay away from books having any kind of religion as important element in book except fantasy books where of course Gods are just made up legends created by the author.

(read as ARC electronic copy) I won’t lie I struggled to get through this one. I loved the themes of processing grief, grappling with religious contradictions, and exploring magical realism but it felt very repetitive for a while. (And I was a little annoyed with how “Americanized” the conversations sounded when most of the dialogue was hypothetically taking place in Spanish…took away from the immersion somewhat)