I got this for the ALA Rainbow committee and it turned out it didn't fit the criteria we were looking for at the time. Because of that, I DNF'd it, but it seemed interesting and I hope one day to get back to it. (Rating based on enjoyment level when I had to quit and move on–Rainbow is a lot!)

I was on the Labyrinth Lost blog tour, so when I tell you that I COULD NOT WAIT to read the second book, you know it's true. And thank goodness Bruja Born completely lived up to the hype! Zoraida's worldbuilding is just so freaking good - the whimsy and magic and atmosphere -- I just want to live in the pages of her books honestly. And Lula, oh my god, I love Lula so freaking much. She's not your standard cookie cutter protagonist, and even though she makes plenty of mistakes that just made me love her more because I felt so deeply for her. Zoraida knows how to extract all the feels from her readers (before you ask, yes, there were so many tears, but there were also so many moments of pure joy which made it my ideal reading experience), and I would literally read ANYTHING she puts into the world. This series is so magical and unique and REAL and I really, really hope she decides to write more in this universe because I don't ever want to stop visiting this world!

“Bruja Born” by Zoraida Córdova is a spellbinding and emotionally charged urban fantasy novel that delves deeper into the world of the magical Montoya sisters introduced in “Labyrinth Lost.”

The story follows Lula, the middle sister, as she navigates the aftermath of a tragic accident that leaves her family shattered. Córdova masterfully weaves together themes of love, loss, grief, and resilience, taking readers on a roller-coaster of emotions as Lula seeks to put the pieces of her life back together.

Set in Brooklyn, the book seamlessly blends Latinx culture and brujería (magic) with the contemporary world, adding richness and authenticity to the narrative. The magical system is intricately developed, and the spells and rituals are both fascinating and inventive.

Zoraida Córdova’s writing is captivating, drawing readers into Lula’s world and making them feel the weight of her emotions. The character development is exceptional, and Lula’s growth throughout the story is both relatable and empowering.

The novel is filled with action, suspense, and unexpected twists, keeping readers hooked from beginning to end. It also introduces new characters and expands on the existing ones, adding depth to the overall series.

“Bruja Born” showcases the strength of sisterhood and the power of embracing one’s identity, making it a compelling read for both fans of urban fantasy and those seeking diverse and culturally rich narratives.

Overall, “Bruja Born” is a fantastic follow-up to “Labyrinth Lost,” exploring the complexities of love and sacrifice in a world filled with magic and danger.

I will not be giving feedback on this book as I couldn’t really get into it but I think others may enjoy it.

This was a great follow up to Labyrinth Lost, and I'm looking forward to the 3rd book in the series. I particularly love the characters. So well drawn!

I thought this was a good edition to the Brooklyn Brujas series. It didn't feel like a sequel but more of a companion which I enjoy for different POV series. The incorporation of Bruja mythology and diversity was fluid and didn't feel forced or in your face. Overall, I liked this and am excited to continue the series.

I went into this book unsure if I'd actually like the main character enough to get through it as she was one of my least favorite characters in the first book of the series. I did go through the book based mainly on curiosity of where the story would go next. Unfortunately, it didn't hit all the notes I hoped for it to hit and there were some stark opportunities for the story to go into more poignant directions that I'd more likely appreciate. Mainly, I wanted to see more of the death dealer's story and why she connected with the main character as well as what drove the community to work as it did. Generally, the book is an ok read and though I like the youngest sister a good amount, I doubt I'll finish the series.

This book was a really excellent sequel to Labyrinth Lost. And I'm excited to read the next book in the series!

I generously received an ARC though it doesn't affect my thoughts on the book.
I loved being able to dive back into the Bruja world and the Mortiz family. This is Lula's story who has no idea what she's getting herself into by trying to save her boyfriend's life.
Being young, in love and desperate to save loved ones can bring some people to the brink and when magic is involved, it can really complicate things.
This book was so addictive and hard to put down. I loved the strong bonds of family, friends and the power of redemption when things seemed to be at their darkest for Lula whose canto that she made with her sisters turned her boyfriend and fellow classmates into a creature very similar to a zombie.

Full of adventure, magic, Latin Gods and the power of love, I was a book I'm so very glad to have read and I'm just in awe of this series! Plus I love being able to touch up a tad on my Spanish! I highly recommend reading this series!! I can't wait to read Rose's story!!!

i looooved this book so much and i cannot wait to continue on with the rest of the series! i love the characters and the queer representation and the magic. just an all around great time

Zoraida Córdova is a gem and I absolutely love her. I need to reread this book when I am more in the mood for it, as I think I was trying to force something that wasn't there. I think I would end up giving it a higher rating.

I tried reading this book but sadly I didn't make it very far while reading this book. I think that the different point of views made it a bit difficult to understand . I usually love this author's books and I hoped that this one would work out for me.

This series has always felt more Middle Grade than YA to me and I'm not one for MG. I DNF'd it about 30% of the way through. Entirely subjective.

I love the family dynamic and the fictional magical traditions in this series. This second installment was terrifically creepy, and I felt like the storyline was tighter than in Labyrinth Lost. I appreciated, too, that the author didn't force a romance into the story that would have been completely unconvincing, leaving us instead with possibilities for future stories. Solidly enjoyable.

I loved this one! I'm glad there's a good handful of Latinx authors coming out of the woodwork. They're all doing an incredible job of sharing their culture and their stories, and I'm glad publishers are giving them a chance! This was a well-written fantasy romp. The sisterhood was great- an aspect I don't often see in YA, and wish there was more of in terms of family dynamics. I'm really interested in getting to know the other sisters in later books, because they all had very clear personalities to differentiate themselves from one another. I enjoyed how the protagonist very close to her sisters and mother, even with tensions and secrets bubbling to the surface. The fantasy world was unique, and the magic system obviously steeped in lore. I'm not usually a fan of fairy lore, but I feel Cordova wrote it in very well in a dark, chilling, memorable way. All in all, it had some great twists, and turned a good handful of archetypes and expecations on their heads, making for a really thrilling read! I'm glad this series exists, because I know how important it is for Latinx readers out there..

The Mortiz sisters, if you haven't read the first book in this trilogy, please go do yourself a favor and go read the first book (Labyrinth Lost) now. And then come back and let's discuss this one. But back to the Mortiz's sisters, these girls are amazing, first of all, but they are also tight, they will do anything for each other and this book proves it again how much they love each other and how far they go to help each other when needed.

Lula is the oldest sister and after what happened on the last book she hasn't been the same, she is withdrawn from her sisters and from everyone pretty much. But what she didn't expect to happen was the tragedy that happens to her boyfriend and friends which leaves most of them dead. She becomes desperate and asks for her sisters help and together they invoke a spell to bring Maks back. But, when all the dead bodies of all her friends mysteriously disappears, she starts to realize that something is wrong and then she finds out that she has risen an army of casi muertos which are creatures between the living and the dead. But, that's isn't the worse, the casi muertos will not stop until Lula dies, that way they will be able to live free for ever.

Lula will have to realize that once again will need the help of not only her sisters but her whole family to make the casi muertos go away, but at what cost? Because there is always a cost, right?

Lula has always been the bad ass sister and she proves it in this book, there is action, family drama and romance and magic,ah...what else could I have asked for it? I just cannot wait for the next book, because the little sister's power is proving to be so much more than we all thought and I cannot wait to see what troubles she is going to cause lol.

5 out of 5 stars...

I got a free copy of this book from NetGgalley.

Bruja Born followed Lula Mortiz months after the events of Labyrinth Lost. I'll be honest and come clean and admit I messed up not immediately writing the review for this book. However, I can clearly remember the writing of this book. Cordova was able to keep the poetic atmosphere of her writing that I loved in Labyrinth Lost.

One of my new favorite books! This author has such a way with words the pages flew by in no time! I can’t wait to see the next work by this author! This was such a joy to read!

I got a quarter of the way through this book and could not understand what was going on. The descriptions of what the characters were doing or going through did not make sense to me

I liked this one even better than its predecessor. I like the overall feel of the magic and the world-building. I also enjoy the blend of fantasy and horror. I'm especially fond of how much this book (and the previous one) focus on family. I look forward to reading additional books by this author, especially if they include these characters. Will definitely recommend.