This was a strong start to the Sugar Skull series, It had everything that I was looking for and thought the overall story worked. I loved the power element in this book and that the characters felt like they were supposed to in this universe. It left me excited to read more in this series and from Manuel Ruiz.

This was an interesting read.
What is it about?

7-year-old Ricky Luna is trapped in a home that feels more like a prison than a refuge. Life seems hopeless. Then at a fair, he purchases a sugar skull and his life changes... not necessarily for the better. Mysterious things start to happen - scary things. As his life turns upside down, he must find out the secret of the sugar skull and fight the powers within it.

I liked that it was something a little different. I liked that i learned more about the culture of Mexican families. I liked Ricky.

However, this book became a bit of a chore to read. It became a bit predictable. I found myself skimming a few times. I was just not sucked in.

This was a solid read. Will I get the next one in this series? Probably not.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.