This book was actually very disappointing. It took me almost a month to get through. I love YA and I love the authors, other cozy mystery series, but this did not hit for me. The main character was extremely immature, which was bothersome, and the whodunit did it make any sense towards the end, and I was just very bored. I liked all of the side characters, it more than I like the main characters, and the last chapter was honestly pointless. Kind of disappointed, but I have the other series from this author to look forward to.

Death in the Cards is a cute, fast-paced YA mystery that blends tarot intrigue with amateur sleuthing. There’s a lot to love in this setup: the infusion of Filipino culture was a standout element, adding a fresh and authentic layer to the story, and the cast is delightfully diverse, which made the high school world feel inclusive and current. I also really appreciated the incorporation of tarot—any plot with a touch of the mystical is always a win for me.

That said, some elements didn’t land quite as well. The food descriptions, while rich and clearly a signature of Manansala’s writing style, felt a little overdone in this particular context. Instead of enhancing the plot, they occasionally pulled me out of the mystery and disrupted the pacing. The ending also felt rushed, with major plot threads tied up quickly in a way that lacked the emotional payoff the buildup deserved.

While I understand the goal of making this story resonate with a Gen Z audience, there were moments where the tone and references felt slightly forced—almost like the author was trying a bit too hard to sound “teen.” As a millennial reader, I’ve read plenty of YA where the generational voice felt natural and well-balanced, but in this case, it occasionally came off as inauthentic or overly curated.

Overall, Death in the Cards is a solid read with great representation and a fun premise, especially for younger readers just dipping their toes into the mystery genre. It has heart and potential, even if it didn’t quite hit all the marks for me.

I loved the mix of private investigators with tarot cards and how Danika relied on both to help the students at her school. She hopes to work at her mom's private investigator business once she graduates high school, but her mom is reluctant. Eventually, a break comes for Danika when one of her fellow students (Eli) disappears and her mom allows her to assist with the investigation. Gaby (the younger sister of Eli) and Danika team up and begin discovering the secret life that Eli kept hidden. I enjoyed the mystery, Philippian culture, humor, and the tarot cards. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

A strong YA cozy mystery debut that has a Filipino American teen tarot reader slash amateur detective looking into the death of one of her classmates. This gave me lots of Veronica Mars vibes, had a fun bisexual storyline and of course all the tarot reading/meanings made it extra fun for me. Good on audio and perfect for fans of books like Margot Mertz takes it down. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this story and it was definitely worth the read!

I finally got around to reading the first book in this author’s adult mystery series, Arsenic and Adobo, which first drew me in because of the dachshund on the cover, and then I loved it because of all the food in the story as well as just a fun mystery. So not only do I want to read on in that series, but when I saw she had a YA mystery coming out, with tarot cards as a part of the story, I was intrigued and requested the e-galley.

The mystery was definitely one that I was kept guessing exactly what was happening all the way through. Especially as the family of the missing girl wasn’t honest with Danika or her mom, as well as they wanted it kept quiet, so asking questions to investigate was really tricky. I enjoyed all the different foods that were talked about in the story, as well as the tarot card readings. I remember in high school I decided I wanted a deck of tarot cards and got some. I did one reading for a friend who said it was on the nose. But I never really did much more than that.

There were a few parts that went a little slow for me. The romance wasn’t a big part of the story, although there were some possible love interests. But as Danika hadn’t really ever dated anyone, the way she handled those two was interesting and unique. I liked the way the author handled that. In the end there was a bit of a maybe cliffhanger/lead to a second story, and I’d definitely be interested in another case. Since Danika is hoping to follow in her mother’s footsteps as a PI, it could be fun!

This is the first time I’ve read something about tarot reading mixed with detective works and I find it truly interesting. This book also contains a lot of Filipino references (and food!!! I’m craving sapin-sapin while reading this!) I also love how diverse and inclusive this book is!

There are, however, some characters that I don’t find appealing. Like Gaby’s family— especially their mom! I find them super annoying an unpleasant. The ending also could’ve been a bit better and expand more on the detective works rather than family drama. But this is still a good read especially for young adults!

Death in the Cards is about Danika Dizon, a tarot reader who wants to be a detective like her mom. When a client goes missing after a reading, the client’s little sister asks Danika to help. Danika takes the case, hoping to prove she can be a real investigator. As she digs deeper, she and the sister uncover some dark secrets that change everything.

This mystery was fun and different. I really liked the tarot reading parts and seeing Danika in action. The beginning and end were exciting, but the middle dragged a bit. Still, the twist at the end was great, and the last part moved quickly.

Danika was a lovable main character! Strong, sweet, and clueless about Gaby and Alex’s crushes on her, which was funny and cute. Her family was super supportive, and I loved their bond.

This was such a fun read! I have been a fan of Mia P. Manansala’s Tita Rosie’s Mystery Series for years, so I was extremely excited to read her YA debut. Manansala packs in all of the cozy mystery vibes, investigative plot, and delicious food descriptions that I know and love from her previous work.
I appreciated watching Gaby, Danika, and the rest of the cast grow and learn throughout the book, and the big reveal at the end genuinely surprised me!
Highly recommend this book and all of Mia P. Manansala’s work to everyone, honestly.
Thank you Mia P. Manansala, Random House Children’s, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This YA cozy mystery was my first ARC ever 🥹 And it did not disappoint!

In this book, we’re introduced to Danika and her community as she’s tapped to investigate the disappearance of a tarot card reading client of hers. She takes the case, hoping to prove herself to join the family detective agency, but it gets darker and more complex the more she unravels.

From the get go, I loved reading the story through Danika’s voice. I wish I had this book when I was a teenager, I resonated with her character so strongly - a super overworked high schooler, determined to prove herself on all fronts. I enjoyed reading her interactions with her family and friends as well as seeing her thought process throughout the investigation. Also, super hilarious to see her so badass in her mystery solving but completely oblivious on the dating scene. New fave trope - oblivious to lovers LOL

It was also cool to see tarot reading from Danika’s point of view, how it helped center her and guide her in her case. I’ve always had dreadful, negative vibes from tarot readings but was still curious so this book really opened up the gates for me to explore more about it. And, of course, 1000% felt the vibes as a Filipino-American. The food descriptions were offensive (as in, how could you make me so hungry? I could practically smell the food off the page) and the family expectations were triggering (as in all too relatable).

The mystery itself was intriguing to read too. Ngl, I don’t think too hard about trying to solve the mystery so it was fun to read through the cast of suspects and question everyone’s intentions. Loved how everything came together in the end, and set the stage for the next book which hello sign me up!! Mia P. Manansala continues to cement herself as one of my auto-read and auto-buy authors.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for sharing this arc! So excited to pick up my copy soon

Thanks to Random House Children’s Books for the ARC and Netgalley for the ARC

With the skills she learned growing up thanks to her mom being a private investigator and her father a mystery author along with her talent for tarot reading, Danika Dizon offers her services between classes to any anxious teen looking for a reading, for a price, of course.

When a former client disappears right after getting a reading from her, Danika convinces the client’s sister to ask her mother for help. As expected, her mom employs her to assist with the case. This might be Danika’s chance to prove that she has what it takes to be a detective and help out with their agency. As they set off to uncover the dark secrets behind her sister’s disappearance, Gaby and Danika discover that something bigger may be at play. Will they be able to handle it?

Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala is a refreshing young adult mystery that blends a coming-of-age story with an engaging mystery. I appreciated the youthful tone of the book; it allows Danika’s personality and her character development to shine as the story progresses. It reads more like a cozy mystery, which I enjoyed the suspense never feels too heavy, and the clues are revealed gradually, weaving a well-thought-out tale.

Other parts that added charm to the book were Danika’s tarot readings, which I found fascinating. I also loved the relationships Danika has with her family, friends, and cousin their support throughout the story, not just with the case but also in her personal life. And with plenty of delicious Filipino food woven in, it’s truly a plus.

I loved how this book blended ttarot with Filipino culture and high school elements. I enjoyed the mystery weaved throughout,

Danika has a lot on her plate between doing tarot readings, working for her mother’s detective agency, babysitting, martial arts training, and saving up enough money to fix her car. She finally gets the opportunity to use her detective skills when a classmate disappears, and Danika gets to lead her first case.

This was such fun! This story had such a strong narrative voice for Danika. It really felt like a teenager was telling me this story about her life. The pacing was mostly good throughout (although things slowed down a bit in the middle). And I loved all the characters. The different relationships Danika had with her parents, her cousins, the classmate who hires her, her friends, were all unique and given time on page, and I adored all of them.

The final reveal didn’t feel quite as set up as I wanted. I had predicted one thing, and I got the rug pulled out from under me. I usually appreciate being surprised with a mystery’s ending, but I didn’t feel like I could go back and gather the breadcrumbs.

However, everything else was a delight, and I would definitely read a whole series of Danika!

Thank you to both NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this arc!

Thank you Penguin Random House and the author for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have read her previous book, Arsenic and Adobo, and what I like about her writing is she will always incorporate Filipino culture in her stories, especially the food! Her books have to be read on a full stomach because you are going to get hungry for sure!  The tarot reading aspect is a major plus for me because i feel like I've never really read a book that is centered around it and it's very interesting!  I want to have a tarot reading right now, or learn it at least! I even went online so I can find out where I could buy my own deck 🤭  I also liked how gender fluid the characters are. How relationships were established in this book, it's like they don't even look at genders, just people, and I loved that. And while there are mentions of racism, there was an overall vibe of acceptance which I'm all here for.  And it was set in Chicago, a city close to my heart and the places described in the book brought me so much nostalgia, I can picture them clearly in my head. Danika's family shows the typical dynamics of a second generation Fil-Am family, seen in the various ways they interact with each other 🙂

The characters, however, leave much to be desired.  Gaby for example, is a piece of work.  I didn't like her character at all. So ungrateful, so rude, so obnoxious that I can't believe Danika is friends with her.  So opposite Alex, the "golden retriever" guy who has less personality than a dog really.   I didn't really like how it ended and I wished there was more to it then that, but since I wasn't really the target audience, then maybe that's why I wasn't feeling it 😅

Last year, I had a resolution to finish one book. It started with Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery series and I fell in love with it. It was such a comfort reading the characters in Manansala's young adult debut Death in the Cards, especially all the Filipino food references. I may have been inspired to cook up a few dishes in between reading.

Danika Dizon is great at reading people and makes use of her talents by tarot card readings. She also helps her mother, who runs a private investigator agency, and her father, who writes mystery novels. From all the experience she has gained from her parents, it is no wonder she gets an opportunity to work on a case involving a missing person.

From beginning to end, the list of suspects kept growing and the amount of things we learned about each person involved in Danika's case had me on the edge of my seat. Danika evolves throughout the book and starts to trust her instincts, as one should always do.

The saying 'keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer' definitely struck a chord with me with some of the characters. Just when you think you've got it all figured out, there is a new twist. The new relationships that formed have you wondering what their motives are.

How does a high school student get involved in a missing person's case? Do her tarot cards help her figure things out? If you enjoy a cozy mystery, then Mia P. Manansala won't disappoint! Order her books today!

i liked this one! i was hoping it would be more of a mystery, but it definitely is also a coming of age story focusing on danika. she has a rich life full of family and friends that took me a bit to feel connected to, but it was all pretty understandable.

i felt like the story really picked up after the second half, and i read all of that in one sitting.

the writing style felt somewhat juvenile at times, but this is a YA book, and I haven't read any of the author's adult work, so maybe I'm just not quite the target audience anymore?? (i'm 19... i feel old.)

a fun read for api heritage month and shout out to filipino food

This was a fantastic concept for a fantasy mystery novel, it had that element that I wanted and enjoyed from this type of book. The overall feel worked with the genre and thought it had that writing style from Mia P. Manansala that I enjoyed from the genre. The characters were wonderfully written and worked with the world that was created. I was invested in what was happening in this suspenseful atmosphere and thought it was a unique concept with the Tarot cards.

With sharp wit, cozy vibes, and a dash of the supernatural, Death in the Cards is a delightful addition to Mia P. Manansala’s mystery universe. Tarot, twists, and tasty Filipino dishes fill the pages, blending charm and suspense in equal measure. A fun, fast-paced whodunnit perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with a cultural (and magical) twist.

This was a fun book to read with crisp writing and a comfortable tone. The author did a great job in setting the stage in the multi-plot drama where good family dynamics come into play. The mystery was nicely executed with a crime, a murder, suspects and clues yet to be discovered. When all were put together, you have a well-processed tale that I could not put down until all was said and done. The case started out to be small, but the more Danika looked for evidence, the case got bigger than she imagined. There were a few twists and turns and when I thought I knew who was behind it all, the author changed directions all to enhance my reading pleasure. This was a delightfully entertaining story, and I hope there are more tarot reading and exciting exploits with Danika and her friends in the future.

This isn’t really my usual thing. It’s actually a cozy mystery. I thought it was a thriller since it was her YA debut, but it’s not. After finding all the ones that I loved this year, I was ok with trying it anyway. And lo and behold, I enjoyed it anyway.

This is a bit weird to say, but it was a cute little mystery. I liked the way she made sure that everyone was involved in this mystery too. Usually in the story the author has it where the MC hides everything from their parents and the police, but this one was cool. Her mom is a Private investigator and her dad is a mystery author. They all had this super cool way to give their own input into what was going on. And even tho I didn’t care about the person whodunit and how it was revealed, it still turned out to be a good story.

The characters were terrible tho. Or at least the one lol She annoyed me for A LOT of this book. I still have no idea how it ended up with her trying to figure out anything about romance. That person is definitely toxic lol And the other person is almost perfect, but they’re too perfect and that annoyed me lol But I know that might just be a me thing. The main character tho was really amazing. She was smart af and the way the tarot was incorporated was so good. I loved it.

The ending was really eh tho. Maybe because I didn’t like the character lol But whatever the case may be, I wasn’t a fan. But I did like that there was an opening for another in the series. I hope this one still has some tarot in it too. I hope this series is just as loved and as long as her adult one.