Unfortunately, I DNF'ed this read. I could not continue and maybe it was timing or simply not the book for me. I hope in the future I can give it another try but for now, it is a DNF. That being said, I won't be posting my reviews or thoughts to socials or Goodreads/Fable as to not negatively impact the book. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read the book.

The beginning of the book really takes after Caraval to the point it makes the book seem like it's going in a totally different direction. The writing is very descriptive to the point it's more of the focus than the plot I would say. I found the MC to be a little ridiculous at times but overall was ok. This book is very different in the first half than the 2nd half I too. We go from a hazy dream to a more historical vibe to an adventure vibe which created a bit of a disconnect for me. I think they could've been woven together a little better.

I really found this book very interesting. I just maybe have some issues with the inspiration being Puerto Rico, and it was just weird. It was very weird for me.

Beasts of Carnaval is a beautifully written story that depicts history, culture, and a longing to find one’s place in the world.

Isla Bestia is an island filled with wonder, enchantment, and decadence far beyond one’s imagination. Its promises draw many and its magic binds them to the island, to all that Carnaval has to offer. For Sofia, the island holds the answer she longs for: what happened to her brother who arrived on the island years ago as a servant to a wealthy businessman?

Sofia, a free woman who still works for the family who took her in as a child, is independent, strong-willed, and an avid writer. It is these characteristics that will enable her to unmask the wonders of Carnaval and seek the answers she longs to find. Along the way, she will learn more about herself, her culture, and the importance of love and forgiveness.

Rosalia Rodrigo has created a wonderfully descriptive story that allows readers to fully imagine the captivating scenery of the island and the true spirit of Carnaval. Beasts of Carnaval would be an excellent book for those who love history, fantasy, and magical realism.

Thank you so much to The Hive, Rosalia Rodrigo, and MIRA Books for the opportunity to read Beasts of Carnaval.

Absolutely immersive and gorgeously written. I would happily read more from this author again in the future.

Gorgeous cover that represents the absolutely lush setting of this Latin American fantasy. Giving this a 3.75 out of 5 stars. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

What this story has going for it is the absolutely detailed and lush world building on Isla Bestia. The language used to describe the environments, both man-made and natural, is insane in the best way possible. It really allows you to feel the wonder of the island and the allure.

Our protagonist, Sofia, and our protagonist have really well fleshed out characters, but many of the side characters who end up being the drivers of the plot fall a bit flat for me. This is particularly true for Sofia's twin Sol and her owner/friend/lover(?) Adelina who seem to be there more for plot than for their actual characters.

The narrative for the first third of the novel reflects the confused state our protagonist finds herself in the more time she spends in Carnaval, which is both genius and a bit disorienting at times. Personally, I feel that the first half of the novel, where the focus is on the world building and the mystery surrounding the island, is a bit too long and dragged out. There are several chapters that just feel like the same thing over and over again (though in some ways this is also kinda the point?) but the fever dream quality of the writing can be had to get used to.

In this fantasy we follow Sofia a recently freed mestiza and her friend/former mistress Adelina as they go to the Isla Bestia. They're looking for answers about what happened to Sofia's brother and Adelina's father, they visited the island years ago and never returned. As strange things start to occur, Sofia suspects that something nefarious is going on. She starts to investigate the place and the servants quarters and finds no one there. There are elaborate feasts every night, but something seems off. For Sofia the eerieness is too much to ignore, meanwhile Adelina has become obsessed with gambling and doesn't understand that she's losing more than the game she plays.

The novel covered topics such as colonialism, slavery, grief, and reclamation of culture. The author also drew inspiration from the culture, history, and beliefs of the Taíno. This book kept me wondering and guessing what exactly was going to happen to the MC. If you like fantasy or historical fiction, I'd highly recommend this one.



Thank you to NetGalley and Mira for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Let's start with this beautiful cover art. It's indicative of the very rich and vivid storytelling in Beasts of Carnaval.
The characters are equally detailed. Sofia (the MC a freedwoman) is fully fleshed out and interesting. She makes for a good MC and her friend/former owner Adelina is a good supporting character along for the ride.
I haven't read a ton of books about Taino mythology and this was a great addition.
As Sofia travels to el Carnaval de Bestias in search of her twin brother who disappeared 5 years prior the story unfolds.
As she peels back what lies underneath the dancing, drinking and general bacchanal, she sees the dark side.
Is someone watching her? Will she be able to leave the island?
Very well written, this is a brilliant mix of genres. Horror, fantasy, mystery with colonization as a major (and important) theme...
You can see the details with the descriptive writing. Lush is the only word that comes to mind.
My only qualm is that it started lagging for me a little at the end. But the ending was perfect.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Beasts of Carnaval is an all-consuming fantasy novel teeming with themes of anti-colonialist revenge and the power of nature.

The first quarter of the book is exciting, as we explore the wonders of Isla Bestia alongside Sofía. That is, until the excursions start to bleed into one another. Just like our MC, I felt confused at times because I couldn't tell which experiences were dreams and which ones took place in the real world. All of which help me feel immersed in the story, as if I was Sofía. I love her tenacity and inquisitive nature! She also seems to be ace and possibly neurodivergent.

Although this novel is a bit long, I didn't really mind because the story kept me coming back. I listened to it on audiobook, which was fantastic! I highly recommend this novel to all fantasy and historical fiction lovers, but especially those connected to Caribbean islands like Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and the rest of those with Taino history.

“The only language they have ever understood is violence.”

I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it was very slow paced and I had trouble connecting with the main characters. Every time I put this book down, it was a struggle to get myself to pick it back up again and finish it. The plot was intriguing but not executed as well as it could have been, in my opinion. Additionally, the fever-dream quality of this novel made the plot confusing and difficult to follow.

However, I would still encourage other readers to give this one a try if it sounds interesting. It’s definitely possible that the writing style just did not work for me and my personal reading tastes – this is such a unique and important story that I hope finds its readership! I loved that this novel was inspired by Indigenous Taino mythology and that it had thematic discussions of colonialism and colorism. I just ended up not being a fan of the way the story itself played out.

Thank you to Netgalley and MIRA for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review posted to Goodreads 8/8/25.

I was excited to read this books. The cover and title made it seem whimsical and magical. While there is plenty of magic and some mystery, I wasn’t as captivated by the story as I was hoping to be. The characters lack emotion making them feel a bit flat; they didn’t draw me in and I couldn’t really relate to them.

The story reminded me a bit of Caraval or Hotel Magnifique, but felt like it was missing something. I had a hard time imagining the world this story was taking place in. The story sometimes also jumped from scene to scene without an explanation; I’m not sure if this was done intentionally to make the reader as confused about Isla Bestia as Sofia seems to be, but it wasn’t the funnest way to read a story.

The ending was better, it answered pretty much all the questions I was left with. But boy was it confusing to get there. I would describe the story as atmospheric and fantastical but disjointed and chaotic. There were too many elements that didn’t always follow each other or click into place. I did appreciate the LGBTQ+ characters though. I’m also glad they all got what seemed to be a happy ending even though I didn’t really feel like I connected to most of the characters. I think Anani was the only one I kind of connected to; probably because she was the only one who showed any emotion and humanness, even though she pretty much always talked in riddles.

Some of you may know that I was born and raised in Puerto Rico (so is the author) and this book is pretty much everything I love to read about but ADD decolonization, Taíno mythology and folklore. I loved the mystery and the world building and the magical aspects of the whole story so much.
This was such an immersive reading experience but I might be biased since these are my people…
Mind you, this story is is not set in Puerto Rico but the author has managed to create such a vivid imagery and weave in all these issues that truly left me in awe. If you reader ever pick this book don’t skip the author notes please.

Last week Rosália Rodrigo released her exciting historical fantasy, Beasts of Carnaval. Rooted in Caribbean (especially Puerto Rican) history and culture, this novel follows Sofía as she searches for her missing twin brother Sol in el Carnaval de Bestias. But there’s something very disorienting about her travels, and soon she’s not entirely sure what she’s doing here or how long she’s even been here. But as Sofía pushes through the hazy barriers, she finds that there’s a lot more to Sol’s disappearance than she could have imagined.

What I Liked:
- Searching for her brother in the opulent Carnaval de Bestias. Sol went away years ago and Sofía has heard nothing from him since. So she travels to find him, but she gets caught up in all the luxury and frivolity along the way. She’s so determined to find Sol…. but something about this places messes with her head.
- Hallucinatory, dreamlike sequences. Sofía forgets what she’s doing as it’s happening. Her grip on time is slipping. What even is time? Is this happiness? What was she supposed to be doing….? Sofía may be the one losing her grasp on reality, but the effect is strong for the readers, too! I was almost as disoriented as Sofía as the book progressed, and I mean that in the best way possible. This was so well executed.
- Discussions of colonialism, slavery, and how to right past wrongs. Though this book is set in a fantasy world, it’s heavily rooted in the Caribbean and the real effects of colonialism there. Sofía was enslaved until recently, and yet despite having her freedom now, others still see her skin color and assume she’s the help. She’s close with the woman whose family enslaved her, but there are complicated feelings to untangle there. Then there’s everything happening within el Carnaval. No spoilers here, but there are major themes of fighting back against the evils of colonialism. How can people move forward in harmony? Is it possible to forgive and right the wrongs?

Final Thoughts
Although I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading Beasts of Carnaval, I really loved it from start to finish. It’s hypnotizing and offers excellent commentary on the lingering effects of colonialism and racism. I look forward to reading more from Rosália Rodrigo.

This book completely unsettled me—in the best way possible! The world-building is rich and immersive, pulling you deep into a surreal nightmare that’s as vivid as it is haunting. I could practically see the vibrant colors and intricate costumes of Carnaval, feel the texture of the masks, and hear the buzz of the crowds. It’s easily one of the best horror/thrillers I’ve read this year.

The infusion of Latin folklore brings the story to life. Every detail—the language, the food, the cultural nuances—makes it feel as though you’re right there, walking the cobbled streets and attending the electrifying festival events. The setting of Isla Bestia is hypnotic, mysterious, and dangerously beautiful, evoking that eerie, tempting carnival from Peter Pan—where nothing is quite what it seems.

Sofía, a free woman of color, instantly captivated me. Determined to find her twin brother on the island, she follows her plan with laser focus. She moves through this world almost invisibly, using people’s assumptions to her advantage, but she doesn’t tolerate disrespect—especially when mistaken for a slave or servant. Sofía is intelligent, measured, and scientific in her approach to danger, never rushing into anything without thinking it through. She’s the kind of heroine you root for from the first page.

In contrast, her friend Adelina is fiery and bold—a wealthy heiress who takes over her father’s business in his absence and now sets out to find him. I appreciated how she navigates a male-dominated world with confidence, wielding her knowledge like a weapon. She’s a risk-taker, but never careless.

But something dark is under the sparkle and shine of Carnaval, and Sofía and Adelina begin to lose themselves to the thrall of the island. As the mysteries of Isla Bestia unfold, the line between fantasy and nightmare begins to blur, and the actual cost of their search becomes frighteningly clear.

The twists and turns throughout the novel kept me guessing the entire time. I honestly couldn’t predict where the story would go next. From the very first chapter, I was hooked—and by the end, I didn’t want to leave this dark, dazzling world.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA, and Rosália Rodrigo for the ARC of this thrilling novel.

This honest review is given voluntarily—and wholeheartedly.

Woah! The beginning of this book was horror thriller perfection and the twists! What a commentary on colonialism, greed, revenge and also the nature of relationships that exist when there is an imbalance of power. This was masterful, it was not my normal read, but nonetheless I really enjoyed it, and the rich scenes were captivating! If you love a horror thrilled and want some politics thrown in, this is for you!

A gorgeous dark fever dream of a book! This one lives up to everything the cover and description promises.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

This novel begins with Caraval vibes. Getting to know the characters and learning about the setting is fun and comprises the first third of this book. Unfortunately, the rest tries for Get Out but doesn’t quite make it. The remainder of the story slogs on and, save for a few highlights here and there, could’ve done with about 100 pages less. The world building is interesting and the ideas, while not original, are well presented.

I really enjoyed this book. The author did a really nice job of weaving together a colorful world that also touched on a lot of important topics like slavery and the after effects on the enslaved. I found myself getting lost in Carnaval as well. Overall, really well done and a book that provided closure at the end since it's a standalone. Definitely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

"When night descends, el Carnaval de Bestias rises."

Sofia was born a twin and as a young girl she and her brother Sol were sold into slavery. They were able to stay together and ended up in the hands of a family who grew and sold sugar cane. Sol was an artist and the prize of their master. Sofia was both a friend and and maid to the daughter Adelina.

5 years ago Sol and their master set sail to the Island of Beasts and never returned. She has worried about Sol ever since. 2 years ago slaves were freed and were free to continue working but were to be paid. Sofia saved for 2 years and now she has bought a stay on the island and is determined to find her brother.

But the island of beasts is designed to entrance the guest with spectacles, indulgences, and mystery. very few who come to the island are able to find their way out. Sofia catches on to what is going on and will go through great lengths to escape the hypnotizing clutches of the carnaval.

This was the easiest 5 stars I have given a book in a long time. I was obsesses from page one and did not want to put it down. The writing, stunning, the atmosphere, beautiful, the plot, amazing. I was completely blown away by this debut, the themes of colonialism, slavery, and vengeance were so well woven into the story. The plot was so compelling but there was so much history, and lore interspersed but the reading experience never felt tedious. This felt like such a labour of love, research, and time and the product was perfection in my eyes. The world building felt so seamless, everything was described to the finest detail but it never felt like too much. It was honestly the biggest pleasure to read.

A bit slow paced for me with too many descriptions, but I do think some people will enjoy this story. It didn’t get as weird as I expected (and hoped) from reading the description.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.