This book gave me so much more than I was expecting it to. I love the fantasy weaved into the current events of illegal immigration. This book is fast paced and hard to put down!

Lobizona is amazing. Romina Garber has crafted a thrilling tale that seamlessly blends magic, mythology, and social commentary. Manu, a young Argentinian immigrant grappling with her identity as a lobizona, is a character for the ages. Garber's vivid world-building and intricate plot kept me captivated from start to finish. I also appreciated a book that makes menstruation a normal thing!!!!!!

This book is more than just a fantasy adventure; it's a powerful exploration of immigration, family, and self-discovery. Garber's writing is both poetic and raw, and her characters are complex and relatable. Lobizona is a must-read for fans of fantasy, young adult fiction, and anyone who appreciates a story that packs an emotional punch.

Loved this book! Manu is such a strong and relatable MC! Also loved how the author blended in Spanish phrases/more or less some Spanglish in there too. That plot twist of Gael being the notorious Fierro, who the Cazadores were so tirelessly looking for was just...kind of an epic reveal! The real world fears of living as an immigrant were well represented. As well as Manu's feelings of not fitting in regardless of the setting she was in. Ni de aquí, ni de allá as they say. And while I did feel that the last few pages of the ending felt a bit rushed, I don't think that taked away too much so I'm sticking with my 5 star rating. I'm excited to see if Manu can manifest magic or some kind of protection (?) from it, which is what I feel was hinted at during her fight with Yamila. Excited to get to the next book!

"Lobizona" by Romina Garber is a powerful and enchanting young adult fantasy that masterfully weaves together themes of identity, belonging, and cultural heritage. Set against the backdrop of Miami, Florida, the story follows Manuela Azul, an undocumented immigrant entangled in a life far too constricted for her expansive spirit. Her journey takes a dramatic turn as she discovers a hidden world tied to Argentine folklore, revealing her true heritage and challenging her understanding of her existence.

Lobizona has cool world building with characters I cared about. Until about 25% of the way thru. It totally lost me when Manu shows up at a certain place and just…gets a room and a cot. I stopped reading fully and skipped thru to the end. I loved Manu and her Mom, fighting and surviving in Miami, Manu trying to figure out her past and cause for her “condition”.

Admittedly I think I have reached the point in life where I am past reading young adult novels. This is on me and not the author. If you like interesting world building, Argentinian folklore, etc then read Lobizona by Romina Garber.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc I received in exchange for my honest review, sorry my review is late!

Published in 2020 yet. So. Many. HP. References. That was incredibly disappointing. And actually really annoying! Aside from that, this was an interesting book. It took a minute to get on its feet but once it did, once Manu went to [insert place name here, I do not remember], it got good. Love the descriptions of the eyes. Will definitely be reading the sequel!

This book is amazing and here is an emoji list of things I loved about the book:
❤️
✊🏼 SO FEMINIST
🔥 BURN THE PATRIARCHY WITH FEMINIST BOYS AS ALLIES
🏰 ESCUELA DE MAGIA
💪🏼CHINGA LA MIGRA
🧙🏼WITCHES
🐺 WEREWOLVES
🌖 LA LUNA
.👯‍♀️GIRLS WITH COMPLICATED BUT LOVING FRIENDSHIPS
✒️THIS BOOK IS FULL OF AMAZING EMPOWERING QUOTES

I loved how this book tackled tough topics like immigration, trying to belong to a group or being a loner, different cultures and how that can affect your perception of people of their perception of you all while being fun and not too heavy. It had the typical tropes in a YA (which I am not complaining about) and loved the twists.

Beautiful imagery and a refreshing take on the magical coming-of-age story. I'm very much looking forward to reading the second book in this series. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy, and to Romina Garber for sharing your talent with the world.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't entirely my thing. I can see this being a great book for many though, I just wasn't able to click with it. I think for me, while I found the discussion about deportation/oppression/etc. in Florida and the US interesting and gripping, I wasn't actually drawn in by the supernatural elements of the book. I just didn't find the werewolves/witches and secret school as captivating, even though I do often like these sorts of magical settings. I even tried the audiobook, and while I liked the narrator, I had a hard time picking the book back up again after putting it down. The Harry Potter references were also pretty frequent and I found them a bit off-putting. Just because a book also has a magic school doesn't mean we need to be reminded of HP, I'd much rather focus on this story's school and world.

Overall, while I wasn't into this book myself, I can see this book finding an audience nonetheless. I think both readers that can relate to Manu's experiences and those who can't, but want to learn more about all the issues this book discusses, can end up really enjoying this book, even if it didn't click for me!

This book is a such a gorgeous love letter to the immigrant experience, and also there's werewolves and honestly that's the highest praise for a book from me.

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

I had trouble getting into this. I kept trying, I just couldn’t get into it and the writing style just wasn’t for me. I’m ended up dnfing this at 28%.

I have mixed feelings about this one. On the one hand, I absolutely love the concept and the magic. On the other hand, it had a slow start, which made it very difficult for me to get into.

3 stars

This was pretty good! The writing and myself didn't connect but I enjoyed the story. The fantasy world felt a little underdeveloped to me but I definitely hope for more from this world and hope it expands.

I really liked Romina's first series about the zodiac, but I stopped and started this series probably 5 times before realizing it just wasn't for me. I'm not sure if werewolves just don't work for me anymore, or if I just couldn't vibe with the writing style. As much as I tried, I could not end up finishing. DNF

“Go forth and shatter every convention”

From the very first few sentences this book wraps you in its magic and doesn’t let go. Garber crafts a magical and vivid portrayal of Miami while having incredibly nuanced discussions about immigration. She provides a window into the reality of so many undocumented immigrants in the United States and the identity crisis that comes from not feeling like you belong anywhere. At the same time, Garber begins to lay out what becomes a spectacular reveal as Manu gets dropped into a magical world that has strong connections to her father and his side of the family that Manu knows close to nothing about. Soon we get wrapped up in a blur of activity as Manu attempts to con her way through a magical school. The friendships and love that unfolds from Manu’s empowering journey to finding her truth and cementing her place in the school/magical world is incredible. I absolutely loved the magical system that ties to nature and cycles and which reveals so much about what Manu only thought to be a dream earlier in the book. The trip to Lunaris and its thrilling, ever changing landscapes was so fulfilling after so much build-up. The ending is a fantastic almost cliffhanger and I am counting down the days until I can know what else happens to Manu and her crew.

This book manages to combine confronting the patriarchy and the mashismo of latinx culture, discussing immigration and the need to find somewhere to belong, and a magical school with drama, magical classes and its version of fútbol l, so incredibly well.

This is the type of book I wish my younger self had while growing up Latinx in the USA. It’s been months since I read it and the story and its characters has not left my mind. I highly recommend this book, especially to Latinxs in any part of the diaspora.

4.5/5 ⭐️

Lobizona should be approached with a fresh perspective and low expectations. If you expect a paranormal story, you will be disappointed. There aren't only wolves and brujas. It combines current events, social criticism, Argentine folklore, and fantasy. Lobizona's magic is deceptive.

Romina Garber captures the reader's attention with the horrifying reality of illegal immigrants living in fear of arrest and deportation. Manu's mother's ICE detention rocks her world and reveals previously unknown facts.

Walking with Manu was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Because she is undocumented and has her father's distinctive eyes, she feels compelled to be small and hidden. Manu's search for a home was both heartbreaking and inspiring.

Manu's quest for the truth reveals a mythical realm populated by lobizóns (werewolves) and brujas (witches). Lobizona's vibrant folklore distinguished it from the world and school of Hogwarts. Garber creates a lush, mystical world while confronting sexist, xenophobic, and heteronormative attitudes. Lobizona's worldbuilding is fantastic.

Characters were another source of strength. The characters' diversity, goals, and voices appealed to me. While obvious, Manu's discovered family was easy to love, and I can't wait to see how they deal with larger issues.

Lobizona captured my attention. Even though it was slow, I was captivated the entire time. I didn't mind the numerous YA stereotypes. It worked because of the beautifully designed environment and characters. Lobizona is a story I'll remember for a long time, and I hope others will as well. In a world where so many people are labeled as "other," all they want is to be accepted and to belong.

When I lived in Puerto Rico I used to frequent my local bookstore, The Bookmark (San Patricio Plaza). During my visits I would talk to other regulars including Jan, who was obsessed with Garber's (nee Russell?) Zodiac series. I always said I would read them, but never actually picked any of the books up.

Then came Lobizona. I was granted an ARC by the publisher and the book blew my mind time and time again. The author deftly weaves in issues that immigrants face, sexism, and gender roles in a tale about the titular werewolf. I was expected a lighter fantasy fare, the kind of book many gringos confuse with magical realism, but instead I found myself in awe of the layers and layers of social criticism packed among its pages.

Read this book if you like #ownvoices and are a fan of Anna-Marie McLemore.

Original and filled with high stakes, Lobizona introduced a rich world of witches and werewolves. Magic tied to elements and a world tied to the moon. Manu's journey resonated in different ways, and I can't wait to see what is next!