This is one of my favorite reads of 2025. The publisher’s blurb gives a decent description of what this historical fantasy based on Caribbean culture is about but fails to capture what a moving experience it is. I found the main character, former slave Sofia, very relatable. She was clever, resourceful, and determined, as well as loyal to friends and family. I liked the other characters, too, and I genuinely cared about what happened to them.

The writing was very evocative—it was easy to imagine myself experiencing the mysteries and wonders of Carnaval and Isla Bestia with Sofia, and I imagine I felt many of the same emotions she did. There were several points in the story where I found myself crying, and I worried that the story was getting too dark, but the ending was satisfying, and I appreciated the journey Rodrigo took me on.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys historical fantasies or has an interest in Caribbean culture and indigenous mythology.

Thanks to MIRA and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with a free advanced review copy through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

Beasts of Carnaval is a beautifully written historical fantasy that makes compelling use of Taíno culture to depict a lush, fantastic mythical setting that explores themes of colonialism, justice, freedom, and retribution. The novel is centered on Sofia, a freedwoman, and her closest friend Adelina, the daughter of Sofia's enslaver, as they attempt to track down Sofia's missing twin brother and Adelina's father who had left to attend Carnaval 5 years ago and never returned. Rodrigo is very talented in world-building and paints illustrative scenes of Isla Bestia and the indulgences of Carnaval. That being said, the pacing off the story felt off, particularly in the first half as their search meanders and twists without much satisfaction, though arguably reflective of the circumstances the characters found themselves in. But by the second half the story picks up and the plot moves more quickly, both answering questions while introducing new ones, and tackles themes of family, friendship, and identity in an intriguing way.

If you're looking for page turning, plot-driven stories, this may not be the ideal read, but it's a solid story for folks who enjoy indigenous mythology, and historical commentary in their fantasy reads.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC!!

This book was gripping. The vibes were viking. And, I know other readers have pointed out this quote already, but it will stay with me for a long time: "This is how we show them that though they took our lands, they could not take our stories. With our dances, we reclaim our bodies, with our songs, we take back our voice... Our joy is a radical act of rebellion."

I enjoyed this but i did find it a tiny bit slow and dragging in places. This book had a fantastic and eell fleshed out setting with characters in enjoyed and set in history while still being fiction.

There are many words I could say about Beasts of Carnaval, I will spare just a few: gripping, ethereal and wholly atmospheric.

The story follows Sofía a freed young woman who travels to Isla Bestia to find answers about the whereabouts of her twin brother Sol, with her travels her friend -they have a difficult relationship, -you have to read to understand why- Adelina who refuses to let Sofía go to the island by herself. When they arrive at Isla Bestia, they arrive to Flor de Lis, greeted by vejigantes who’s colorful masks and dark hollowed eyes stared and guided them without talking. Engulfed in the magic of the Carnaval days turned into weeks that turned into months. All a blur that was causing Sofía to remember less and less why she was there in the first place.

It wasn’t until she found herself asking questions and truly cataloging her days that she discovered the darkness behind all the showmanship of the island. Her conflict is resolved when she reaches the land that Taike’ri have reclaimed as their own. Where the Cacika Kaona has a specific end in mind to fully reclaim what was rightfully theirs.

As a debut this story has a depth of a fully seasoned author, the storytelling is whimsical and atmospheric, the use of Taino mythology and way of life to inform the Taike’ri 🤯 

There are many details to uncover, and I genuinely believe that I will re-read Beasts of Carnaval in the future just to see what other nuggets I discover or understand. I truly enjoyed following Sofía's journey, getting in her mind as she thought through the possibilities, the impossibilities. Her biggest flaw was how she repressed her feelings and emotions until it was too late, and she couldn't control what came out of her mouth. I also appreciated that her character journey wasn't so much a spiritual awakening, but a full reclamation of her identity without sacrificing her humanity and kindness despite the life that she lived. I enjoyed the complexity of the friendship she had with Adelina and where she was conflicted regarding her. There is a specific moment between them that is pivotal to the story where a specific reality that is too close to home to ignore (specifically for POC folks who have experienced something similar, repeatedly).

Further in the book, there is one specific quote that really spoke to me and seems to capture the central theme of the book:

"This is how we show them that though they took our lands, they could not take our stories. With our dances, we reclaim our bodies, with our songs, we take back our voice... Our joy is a radical act of rebellion."

I loved this book and would recommend it for people who enjoy books with whimsical atmospheric prose, cultural identity, Mesoamerican-Caribbean mythology, anti-imperialist commentary, and the power of keeping ancestral traditions alive.

The beginning was fun, it had potential, but then it fell flat.

Plot: Sofia, a free woman and her former owner, Adelina travel to Carnaval in search of Sofia’s brother who has been missing for five years. Caught up in the magic and mysteries that come with the island, will Sofia get swept away in the magic of it all or escape?

My Thoughts: I wanted to love this book so much! The synopsis hooked me from the start, but I don’t think it was executed well. It was entirely too long, and could have been shrunken down a tad. Even the ending was a little eh. Probably because I read about Sofia walking around and writing letters for most of the book. One entire chapter was dedicated to walking….

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I only got about halfway through before my time ran out with the book on netgalley, was super interesting though even though this genre isn't really my forte, hopefully i can convince my library to get the audio book since i'm a bit of a slow reader

I was excited to give this a read after seeing it pop up on my Instagram so when I got accepted I was excited. It was a really good story and the history behind it was awesome. Just to go into that world and know that the story I fiction/fantasy but it's based of history was amazing. There were a few parts where I go off track but all in all I liked it.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Pub for the ARC.

In this book, we follow Sofía, a freedwoman that travels to Isla Bestia to look for her twin brother, Sol. Sol traveled to the island 5 years prior with their former enslaver and neither of them have returned. As Sofía navigates this legendary island where Carnaval reigns, she is surrounded by colonizers enthralled with the beauty of the culture that they tried to destroy and/or profit off of. As time passes by and she doesn’t get any answers, things start to take a mysterious turn. As our main character struggles with her new identity among the people that tried to erase her, what else will she find on this island?

This historical fantasy is rich with culture, history, and mythology inspired by the Taíno people. Magical realism, anti-colonialism, and lush detail that will have you immersed in the world of Carnaval.

I really enjoyed the beautiful scenes painted for us at the start of this book. The imagery was so rich and detailed, I felt like I could picture everything exactly the way the author wanted. I kept thinking, this feels like what a Cirque du Soleil hotel would be like. Everything was super flamboyant and inviting in the beginning.

But then things started to drag, and the story got a bit all over the place. There were moments when it seemed like the plot was heading in a new direction, only for us to suddenly be back at the party with no explanation of what just happened. And then it hit me—maybe that was on purpose! Maybe we were supposed to be just as confused as the main character. If that’s the case, the author definitely pulled it off. Still, there were a few things that didn’t sit right with me.

This book had so much potential. I was expecting more fantasy, like beasts and magic, but it leaned more toward magical realism. The world-building and mystery at the beginning were super strong, but the middle really dragged and didn’t live up to the setup. The ending felt rushed and kind of underwhelming. A lot of things that seemed important early on were never really resolved. Overall, the book left a lot to be desired and seemed to fall victim to pretty privilege by the second half.

Guests from around the world discover a utopia, on the shores of Isla Bestia, of ever-changing performances, sumptuous feasts and beautiful monsters. Many enter, but few ever leave. Sofía, from a nearby colonized island, travels to el Carnaval de Bestias in search of her twin brother, who disappeared five years ago.
I don’t usually read a lot of fantasy but between the great cover and Indigenous Taíno Mythology, I had to read it! It is beautifully written. The book lived up to its cover.
Thank you NetGalley & MIRA for an advanced reader copy. #BeastsofCarnaval #NetGalley

A debut wrapped in dangerous allure and the bone deep call of a lost home. A story that centers the desperate search for Sofia’s twin brother in a lush setting that slowly unsettles you. Hypnotizing displays of grandeur peel back the pain of colonization and the difficult longing for a home you were torn from.

A journey that is rich in culture and history that builds a tragic backstory that mirrors the real impact on colonized communities. Sofia juggles the injustice she faced as a descendant of the Taike’ri and the relationship that rose from that subjugation. Utilizing her wits and determined to find her twin, Sofia uncovers the truth behind an island that has drawn hundreds of people.

Encompassing the agony and call for vengeance echoed by descendants of colonized people, this book doesn’t hold itself back from the tangled emotions that brews beneath the expectation of peace.

This book is beautifully written. The language is poetic and lyrical. It flows very well.

The beginning of this book, about the first 1/3, was so fantastic and exciting. The slow and subtle fever dream of Carnaval, the mystery of what is happening, the disorientation of what’s happening, it’s fantastic! I LOVED Sofía and the elements of her story that talked about her past. She was an absolutely compelling and likable character. However, I was lost in the second half. Not confused, but just didn’t feel as compelled by the story. I think had this been a duology or trilogy it wouldn’t have felt so disjointed. Overall, it just felt long and like at least two separate stories.

First and foremost, thanks to NetGalley and MIRA for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. I was extremely excited to get my hands on Beast of Carnaval, being puertorican myself, reading from a puertorican author a fantasy story that draws inspiration from the culture, beliefs, and history of the Taíno was enough of a selling point for me. And while I encourage people to read it, I do it mostly because Rodrigo's writing is simply outstanding. I felt like I was in Isla Bestia with Sofia, trying to uncover what was going on, and trying to see where the story was heading. This though, only happened until the 60%, because in my opinion, the book became a little too unorganized for me. I found myself going back to certain parts of the book because it was hard to keep track of what was going on. While I adored the atmospheric writing, and find it incredibly important to have books that draw inspiration from our history, I do believe the story needed more structure.


Thanks again to Netgallery and MIRA for the ARC.

What a beautiful story, I keep saying that there is nothing out there like this. This has been the very first Fantasy book that is based off of Taino Mythology. All I ever see is Greek or other European mythologies used to tell fantasy stories so that in itself if so powerful.

This book is trippy in a good way. Since the setting a lot of the plot takes place in an ambiance that one looses sense of time. Sofia is a strong female lead to look up to as well.

I think the prose and writing style is so incredibly stunning as well, very atmospheric.

I would just suggest more sturdier times to ground the reader and remind the reader of the setting and they physics and who is who in this world building. Obviously there is a balance and work readers do to navigate a story, but there were a couple times I was like wait who is this how did we get here and is this important for later?


The book was absolutely stunning and I am a fan of this author forever more.

4.5/5 Stars

Looking for her lost brother, Sofià and her friend Adelina travel to the island of Isla Beastia and the legendary nightly Carnaval. But not all is as it seems and soon Sofià must answer the strange call of the island and grapple with her own ideas of belonging. This book was a fantastical look at colonialism and finding your place in the world. The relationships between the main characters were heartfelt and the descriptions of the island made it easy to imagine how people could be captivated by it! The beginning was a little slow for me, which is what I think stopped me from giving 5 stars, but once the mystery starts to unravel I was hooked!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book is beautifully written! It blends mystery, magic, and Caribbean mythology.

The world of the Carnaval has nightly performances, revealing small clues in a larger puzzle. The writing is super descriptive while having the story slowly unfold, keeping us questioning things!!

I also loved the evolving friendship between Sofía and Adelina!

This was Beautiful, haunting, and unforgettable.

Thank you The Hive and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for my honest review.]

Beasts of Carnaval left me disappointed. Its premise and themes are as compelling as the vibrant aesthetics of Rosália Rodrigo's fantasy-Taíno culture, but the story's meandering pace and underdeveloped plot flattened most opportunities to connect to the characters or the novel's broader world.

Beasts of Carnaval follows the journey of one Sofía, a freedwoman who sets off on a daring mission to locate and rescue her twin brother. Sol, for his part, disappeared to Isla Bestia five years ago alongside their enslaver, tobacco plantation owner Don Reynaldo de Esperanza into the feverish gluttony of Carnaval. Together with the Don's only daughter, Adelina, Sofía braves pseudo-Victorian high society, bustles, endless intoxicants, and colonialism's lethal legacy in her search for answers. What a setup!

But Sofía's utterly unprepared for Isla Bestia's glittering hellscape and this is where the book's framework starts to shudder. Having a scrappy, no-nonsense heroine in way over her head can make for a deeply satisfying narrative if the reader is allowed to see the story's broader contours as the characters do (or even before); we are not afforded that here. Sofía is smart but clueless and compulsively defiant. Which, this is decently consistent characterization; but it periodically leaves the reader adrift in a sea of empty threats and stalled momentum, waiting for the doldrums to pass. The slow, foggy plotting is diluted by pretty but saccharine language, and Sofía's needlessly dense inner monologue quickly becomes tiresome.

The overwriting is truly my main gripe. It feels like the narrative doesn't trust the audience with subtext or nuance and so spends an excess 60-80 pages reiterating basic themes in excruciating triplicate. Biting commentaries are defanged by paragraphs of over-explanation. Sofía's slogging inner monologue borders on alienating at points. No insightful implication is allowed to stand on its own. Character beats are almost exclusively told, rarely shown. So many genuinely excellent ideas drowning in needless words. I craved nothing from work so much as brevity.

While I appreciate Beasts of Carnaval for tackling decolonization, collective and individual cultural identity, paper genocide, the horrors of white supremacy, righteous retribution, and more with such clear passion and care, I was ultimately underwhelmed by the execution. I would still recommend this book to certain avid readers craving a colorful anticolonial fantasy, but with heavy caveats. As for me, I'm grateful for the opportunity to have witnessed the Taike'ri's celebration-as-resistance; but I won't be coming back.

I really enjoyed the journey this book took me and transported me to. Incredible storyline and plot with a magical mysterious island that holds so many questions and secrets.

Our main female character's twin brother disappeared five years ago after traveling to the Isla de Bestias and she is set on finding out what happened to him. This mysterious island has all that you can indulge on and seems like a non-stop party. Will she ever find out what happened to her brother or will she forget why she went to the island at all.

While the beginning was a bit slow, about 40% in - I was HOOKED. this includes indigenous culture and mythology of the Caribbean people. I loved imagining all of the bright colors, smells, and tastes as a fellow Latina - it is refreshing to have our stories told. Would recommend to YA fantasy readers who love mystery and found family.

Rich people flock to a pleasure island in this fantasy. Many bring servants. Some have disappeared. Our protagonist saves her wages and buys a ticket to try to go find her twin brother who never returned 5 years prior. Everything is very mysterious. It takes a while for everyone, including the reader, to figure out what is happening. I like that the author took elements from indigenous culture into the story. I thought this was very clever.

If you like fantasy and folk tale style stories, I would definitely recommend this.

《 ARC REVIEW 》

“'Carnaval is a dream, a beautiful, monstrous dream I cannot seem to wake from. Ironic, no? When it is only I who is not sleeping . . .'"

I just finished reading Beasts of Carnaval by Rosália Rodrigo, and this is a stunning, magical debut!

Sofía was a slave on a tobacco plantation, and now as a free woman, she goes to el Carnaval de Bestias on Isla Bestiain to look for her twin brother who disappeared years ago.

The island has an abundance of music, performances, food and drink, revelry, and monsters, and Sofía has to resist the pull of el Carnaval de Bestias or else she will lose herself—maybe she already has! She is enthralled by the island while looking for her brother, and starts struggling with what's real and what's not.

It is a lush story with entrancing descriptions and is deeply rooted in the Caribbean carnaval culture and the mythology of the Taíno. It's an eerie, atmospheric, and beautiful story!

Beasts of Carnaval just got released today, and is available to read now!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.