Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for the digital ARC of this book!

Lobizona was completely different from what I was expecting.

Sixteen year old Manu has stayed hidden her entire life, confined to her tiny apartment in Miami, FL. Whether she's hiding from ICE or her mysterious father's people who would love to get their hands on her and her mother, Manu has had to stay under the radar. Even her appearance, with her eyes like the sun and pupils like stars, make her a target. When she's introduced to a world, a world where she finds she belongs, she learns about the brujas and lobizones and her life takes a very different path from staying hidden.

Infused with magical realism and Argentine folklore, this book was a journey. We see in the beginning how undocumented people in the US live their lives in fear of ICE, and when Manu gets to the Academy where the brujas and lobizones are taught, she realizes she's still illegal. Her existence is still considered less than those around her. We even see how living in a society where people are placed into boxes based on their biological sex, where women are expected to produce children or face legal ramifications, weighs on those that can't quite find it in themselves to fit into those boxes. Couldn't, even if they wanted to.

The story is interesting and the mystery of Manu's father is weaved throughout to keep you wondering. I actually really appreciated the up front period talk in this book. Manu's power is directly related to the full moon, to when she has her period. I really love the thought of a woman's cycle being tied to her magic. The school she's at is not your average wizard academy, but it did have enough HP references to almost force you to draw comparisons. From an over zealous teacher to a made up magical sport, there are definite similarities, but enough differences that it still felt new.

The romance was a sure case of instalove, and I have to admit I wasn't totally feeling it throughout the book. Tiago was an okay character I guess, but I kept thinking there was something off about it. By the end it's hinted that there's a deeper reason for the instalove, and it's pretty obvious what it'll be, but we don't get the straight answer I wish we had just yet!

Manu's friends, Cata and Saysa, were good friends, and it was nice to see. Even Cata who was supposed to be a bit of a frenemy was still loyal and wanted to do the right thing. The girls working together and sharing a bond was an important part of the story and the support was empowering.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining magical realism without being overly complicated and although we do see some of the normal YA tropes, it's different enough to feel new.

I really loved how this book tackled harder topics like immigration and being illegal in american. I really enjoy that part of the book. I struggled a tad with the pacing and feeling connected to the characters. It was read that did capture my attention. I really did like the like the magic system, its reminded almost of the avatar system, but i struggled with the pacing of the year. I think if you like gritty reads or reads set in the modern world with a fun magic system, this might be the read for you

4.5 stars

I’ll be completely honest. I knocked this book’s rating down a half-star just because it took about 20% before the real magic and action started to happen. It was still an interesting opening. We get a peek into Manu’s illegal life, pretty much isolated, always feeling like she’s in hiding, terrified of being discovered and locked up. In many ways this does feel like a quite timely novel. I live in the US, and between the coronavirus and racial inequality and immigration status and riots and protests, this story sadly rings fairly true to me.

But Lobizona adds that little bit of magic to the story as well. The way that the Argentinian culture and lore was woven into the story was fantastic. I felt myself swept away by the descriptions and the shape-changing and the magic. It’s honestly a bit of a disservice that this book references Harry Potter several times, and even some of the sales pitches and blurbs for Lobizona compare it to HP, but frankly this stands on its own. It doesn’t need compared to that story at all.

Oh, and I guess I should also point out that this is a YA novel that actually talks about teen girls menstruating. It’s a thing, and I think it’s important to talk about it more because it is a normal part of life for so many people. While I’m mentioning that this book talks about periods, I should also mention that it also deals with immigration and deportation and illegal immigrants. So, if you need/want trigger warnings, there you go.

After I reached the 20% mark, I started to read this book faster and faster. By 50% I was hooked, and all I wanted to do was to get off work so I could go home and read more. I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the magic, I enjoyed the magical worldbuilding and the mythos used in this story. Basically I was enraptured by Lobizona.

I can’t wait to have a finished copy on my bookshelves, and I have definitely already added the sequel to my TBR.

Representation: #ownvoices Argentinian author, Argentinian main and side characters, lesbian side characters, sapphic relationship
Trigger warnings can be found at the end of this review.

This is a book in which I loved it so darn much, for SO MANY reasons that this will probably be a mediocre review because I am just too overwhelmed with love and feelings.

Lobizona is about Manu - an undocumented teen living with her single mother and hidden from the world. Her entire world is restricted, from who she can talk with to hiding her unique eyes from the outside world. And then things start to fall apart and secrets about her family start to come to light.

This is a fantasy book that feels wildly authentic. Not in the sense that it is set in the modern day, which it is. But because real world issues - from immigration, fear of deportation, broken families and xenophobia - play a core role in the both the characters and the plot line.


“[W]hy settle for being a son of the system, when you can mother a movement?”


The world-building in the story is incredible. The way Garber blends reality with fiction is spot on, both really engaging and fluid. This story involves multiple "worlds", but they are put together and jumped between in a way that feels seamless.

The characters have an incredible amount of depth, which truly kept me invested throughout. This stands true both for the main character, Manu, as well as smaller, side characters. Backstories, interactions and relationships were all thoroughly fleshed out, adding purpose, character and feeling to each person included in this creation.

Oh and I peeked a sample of the audiobook and the narrator has done an incredible job!


“Now go forth and shatter every convention.”


I highly recommend all fantasy lovers check out this brand new gem. I absolutely adored it and am super excited to pick up the sequel and see what else Romina Garber has in store.

Trigger warnings: traumatic menstrual cycles, self-injury, sedative-use, organised crime (off-the-page), undocumented immigrants, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), xenophobia, fear of arrest and deportation, misogyny, homophobia

*I WAS PROVIDED A DIGITAL GALLEY FOR THE PURPOSES OF A TOUR. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION*

This book was magical. I wasn't expecting what we readers were given, but Romina Garber has shocked me to my core.

I'll admit, I had a little trouble getting into this book at first. The first few chapters were slow-moving, and the sudden three-day time skip kind of threw me off.

But after that point, this book was addicting.

Manu's character was one I had no trouble loving. She is portrayed as being both strong and vulnerable. The circumstances she started out with really gave us some background later on in the book on why she acts or reacts the way she does. She was constantly trying to prove herself to be a different person than she was in the beginning of the book, and the character development showcased that perfectly.

I was also really impressed by the fact that Garber didn't allow for Manu's character to betray the friends she makes a good chunk of the way into the story. Manu is determined to keep her friends, and she'll do anything she can to prevent any falling-outs, and that includes not allowing her crush on Triago to become anything more. That's a detail you don't see too often in teen stories nowadays, and I was really happy it was included.

One thing I couldn't get over was how this story doesn't allow for any messing around when it comes to the female menstrual cycle. For the first fourth of the book, Manu is on her period, and the author continuously reminds us readers of this throughout it. I loved that addition, and I honestly found it both funny and endearing.

Something that really tugged on my heartstrings was the importance Manu felt at fitting in. In the beginning of the novel, she was constantly worried over being an undocumented immigrant. And when push came to shove regarding her mother's secrets, it soon became imperative for her to fit in with people like herself as well. Garber constantly reminded us that, no matter where Manu went, she never felt like she belonged. And as the reader, I really felt for her.

Lastly, Garber did a fantastic job centering the story around a Spanish-speaking main character. Unfortunately, in a lot of books nowadays, Spanish is almost always italicized. With this book, Garber said "I don't think so," and wrote us a beautifully plotted, written and developed fantasy with non-italicized Spanish. I also really liked that she didn't always include translations for some of the dialogue. As someone who can speak Spanish, I understood the majority of it. But for others who don't, they can understand now what it might be like for someone who doesn't speak English. It added in that element of "now, it's your time to learn," and I really did appreciate and love that.

All in all, Garber really stunned me with this novel. For that, I rate it 4.75 stars. I can't wait to read the sequel, and I'll definitely be picking up the author's previous novels as well. I highly suggest y'all pick this book up before/when it releases.

It's clear from the previous ratings and reviews that I am the odd one out, so please take my thoughts with a grain of salt.

To begin with, I was really looking forward to this book. There are so few Argentinian-inspired fantasies, I'd have been a fool to not pick it up. And even though these kinds of #ownvoices stories were not written for me, I enjoy reading them because it's an opportunity to learn about a different culture from someone who regularly experiences it. So imagine my disappointment when this just did not hit.

What I Liked
This handled the illegal immigrant life well. It was very thought-provoking in that someone in desperate need of safety and security would be considered illegal and unwanted because they don't check a few boxes right off the bat. It's sad the life Manu is forced to live because of it. Homeschooled, no friends, confined to a building filled with senior citizens and watching the world go by from the rooftop because that is where she's safest. And how that life parallels with Manu's life as a lobizona was interesting. Even though she finds a place where she might finally belong, she is still hiding because her hybrid status is illegal in this magical world too.

There was an interesting discussion throughout of sex, gender, LGBT and how restrictive it is in the Septimus world. Girls are only brujas and boys are only lobizones. Therefore this world is highly binary on who can do what. For instance, in the sport septibol, wolves are on the field, witches on the sideline. Marriages can only be hetero because the population must be grown. If you lean towards a certain team, well, you can have a side relationship if your husbands are okay with it.

This book does not shy away from discussing menstruation as it is a central theme for the story. Much of it revolves around the full moon, which is when Manu gets a debilitating period that one might compare with endometriosis.

What I Didn't Like
This was hard to get into. The beginning was kind of hard to be interested in. While I enjoyed the author using spanish, I skipped over quite a few exchanges because there was very little to hint what was being discussed. The book tended to forget things introduced. For instance, NASA is brought up a lot in the beginning because Manu is interested in space and dreams of working for them when she becomes a citizen, but then it's entirely thrown away when Manu meets the Septimus. Same with "the other Manu." A big deal is made over a girl who lives across the street from Manu who looks just like her and she's watched this girl's relationship grow, but nothing comes of it. Where things really started going downhill was Manu completely forgetting about her mother, who was taken away by ICE, because she discovers a random magical school in the middle of the Everglades. It made me really dislike Manu, because she literally throws her mother out of her head. Like, what the heck?

Also hard to follow was the world building. The fantasy elements are Argentinian-based, but they didn't come off well. I struggled to picture this magical setting or understand how certain things worked. There's a whole new world that everyone travels to at the full moon, and I'm still not sure if it was a new planet, a moon, a parallel universe.

This was also very tropey. I measure how tropey a story is by how often I roll my eyes ... and I think I strained a muscle in the last quarter. Manu being special is a lobizona, the first female werewolf, was the worst kept secret for me as the reader. Not only do we know this already from the title, but the hints throughout are pretty obvious. Still, we have to wait until over halfway through the book before we find out what Manu is. It's very hard not to draw Harry Potter parallels (especially when the author makes many herself to understandably help Manu cope with her new situation), but this witches and werewolf school is so underdeveloped. The system itself is clunky, and the classes are laughable. Wolves, today we go out into the woods and howl.

I'm really disappointed that this book fell so short of my expectations. The end of this book did not leave enough to keep me interested and I don't think I'll be looking for the second book.

A brilliant novel that is seamlessly fantastical and grounded in reality, Manu is brilliant and loveable character who I will remember for years to come. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series

Too many things were happening, especially in the one time a month magical world, for me to be able to slip happily into this world. I was absorbed in the beginning with Manu's life with her mom and Perla and the mystery of who or what she was. And then there was the transition to, basically, Hogwarts, where she learned she was one of the magical folk but had to keep her real identity on the down low especially from <s>Umbridge</s> Jazmin. All that was starting to ramp up the problems I had with the book - confusing insta-crush, sexist dystopia policies, mean but heart of gold roommate, father she never knew is mythic folk hero, some people are there because they never caught her dad...?, she's an illegal outsider in both worlds.... There were a lot of issues! And then the trip to Lunaris (I think that's the right name but might be wrong about that) on the full moon where everything became way too trippy which is something with which I always struggle. I need some basis in reality to fully appreciate the splendor of the trippy world. Instead, they have to swim an ocean to get there (and she's exhausted but then can go run around with the other wolves), the roads go places based on what you're thinking and they're not always the same length, there are demons and you have to come back at the right time or you're left outside the gates to die, you can see the past in a lake... Again - too much! If Lunaris had just one of those magical elements but otherwise was a beautiful paradise with a market full of fun things to buy and eat, I would've been much more on board. I feel like the folklore would've come across much stronger as well if I hadn't been struggling just to keep up.

When I read the premise for this book, I was immediately interested. The struggles of undocumented people living in America, is an important topic in these times. But When I saw there were witches, and werewolves in the story, I just had to read this book.

This may seem, at first, to be rip off of Harry Potter. However, where J.K. Rowling uses that book series to explore the dangers of authoritarian governments, author Romina Garber uses the premise to inspect themes of gender norms in Hispanic culture, immigration, and human value. These are important themes for our time wrapped in a highly entertaining YA fantasy novel.

What I Liked:

Settings:

The story begins in Miami in a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood. People band together and help each other out. Fear of ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) raids is a constant threat. Manu, the main character can only see part of the neighborhood because she is in hiding, both from ICE, and from her father's Argentinian family. She is stuck in an illegal status, and waits for a time where she can have legal status. She also has some physical traits that mark her as different...

Later, as Manu finds a hidden world of magic, she discovers a place where she might actually belong. It's a place filled with natural wonders, brujas (witches), Lobizones (werewolves), and rigid gender roles. Even with these constraints, it feels like she could make a life for herself in this new world. But as she is half-human, she realizes she is also considered illegal here as well! The girl can't win!

Characters:

I really liked Manu, the main character. All her life, her mom has told her to keep a low profile in order to avoid deportation. She's been held back, but dreams of the day she'll get legal status so she can finally start living. When she realizes she's been lied to her whole life, she has to decide what she, herself, really wants, and what she's willing to do to get it.

Manu is strong, but also practical. She carefully weighs her options and looks to the big picture in deciding what she will do. Does she draw attention to herself? Her special abilities would make her famous and start real change for girls in her new culture. But this could also motivate people to investigate who she really is. This could get her killed.

Cata and Saysa are girls Manu becomes friends with in her new, magical world. They represent this friction between keeping things the same (and safe), and trying for change (and risking one's life). I loved their spirited arguments over the best way to make a difference. These were wonderful characters who show how challenging it is to enact change.

Story:

As Manu discovers her true heritage, she learns all the positive, and negative aspects of this new, magical culture. On the plus side, there are strong supports among one's group, large loving families, and mouth-watering food. But there are very strict gender roles. Boys are werewolves who play sports and protect brujas (witches). Brujas are always girls, and have jobs as nurtures, and healers. Everything from clothing to who you can love is tightly regulated. What century are we in, people?

But, that is the point. While it probably is comforting to cling to traditions, this society isn't thriving. Every culture evolves over time, or dies out.

Steeped in South American mythology, a challenge of misogyny and the gender binary, exploring the struggles faced by undocumented immigrants... Lobizona is unlike ANY story I've ever read before.

Manuela Azul is an undocumented immigrant. All her life she's had to be invisible—she never attended school, never made friends. But when ICE arrests her mother and someone attacks her found-grandmother, Manu's forced to go on the run; what she never expected was stumbling into a magical academy built on ancient ruins, deep in the Everglades.

At El Laberinto, Manu's thrown into a wholly fantastical world. The Septimus are a society of brujas/witches and lobizón/werewolves who travel to another dimension—Lunaris—every full moon. Here there exists gorgeous magic (think edible fizzy flowers, a sentient mother-tree filled with books, and a sport combining soccer and elemental pro-bending from Legend of Korra), but also extreme danger. Just as Manu's found someplace she might belong, with people she's beginning to love, she realizes that her existence in Lunaris is just as "illegal" as it was in Miami.

◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️

There's just something so compulsively readable about Romina Garber's writing. The world-building in this novel is unique and utterly enthralling, and I adored the Argentine lore and history woven into the magical realism. (Not to mention I got SO HUNGRY reading this book—someone take me to Buenos Aires ASAP so I can get my hands on some enchanted mate and milanesas!!)

Lobizona tackles themes of alienation and belonging with nuance. It resonated a lot with me, and will with anyone who's ever found themselves straddling two worlds—be it culture, country, race, or anything else. Manu grapples with the freedom and life-or-death risk of living honestly: if she comes out as the world's only lobizona, she won't have to lie anymore. She'll show others that it's possible to defy convention. But—and this hit me really hard—Manu also realizes that she shouldn't have to martyr herself to achieve the life she's always dreamed of.

HOWEVER, there were a couple things about the book that I found really off-putting. I didn't care for the waxing poetic about their magical eyes (rose quartz and sapphire and Mars-red just sounded SO CHEESY. At one point Manu's are literally described as "orbiting golden galaxies" and I cringed so hard).

The insta-attraction between Manu and Tiago was bleh, and I was mostly unsympathetic to their love triangle with Cata because all the angst could've been so easily avoided if Manu just talked to her friends about her thoughts/feelings instead of being rude and running away. For a character who showed SO much complexity when coming to terms with her identity, Manu was frustratingly juvenile at times, too.

There was also the fact that this book is heavy heavy heavy on the Chosen One tropeyness. Manu's the only one of her kind, and she masters literally everything possible WITHOUT HAVING EVEN DONE IT BEFORE. She's a star Septibol player and finds an elusive rare flower and is Tiago's one true love and also has eNviABLE CuRVES bc ofc. She perfectly controls her emotional magic and ultra-enhanced senses without even trying.

That being said, the good about this book way overshadowed the bad. I loved that the women in Lobizona challenge the rigidly patriarchal and heterosexual structure of Septimus society (Saysa in particular is such an inspiring budding activist). The characters speak openly about menstruation and the laws that enforce rigid gender roles for brujas and lobizón. They struggle to figure out what's right in a world that quashes any sort of difference—to be free, or safe?

Ultimately, with lush magic and adventure, this book carves out a space for the marginal and the complex. People of two worlds, or none at all.

Lobizona by Romina Garber is YA fantasy’s answer to illegal immigration meets Argentinian werewolves, out on the 4th of August. Telling the story of Manuela Azul, a young girl hidden away in Miami with her mother due to their undocumented state and her strange eyes, Lobizona deals with what it is like to be different in a world not set up for people who don’t fit society’s narrow mold, be that our human world or a more supernatural one. In a world where women are witches and men are werewolves, Manu is a unique hybrid, discovering her powers after running away from ICE and joining a sort of ‘magic school’. It is an interesting concept, and I loved the way it was set up, but the execution was predictable at times and failed to keep me immersed in the story. Manu herself was a bit of a Mary Sue character, and I was more invested in the side characters, who were more complex. But definitely a summer read to recommend!

This arc was provided by Wednesday Books, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

TW: violence, racism, sexism, homophobia (challenged), attempted sexual assault, menstruation, deportation, ICE raids, and detention centers.

Lobizona was everything I didn't know I was missing from the paranormal genre.

Frankly, werewolf stories are not my thing and I work hard to stay away from them. I'm not sure what pulled me towards this novel, but there's no denying how unsettling and groundbreaking it was. You need this in your life.

This wasn't just another paranormal story. The author explores immigration and what it feels like to feel misplaced all your life. To feel there is no safe place in the world for you, especially when people easily turn you away. Manu was such a complex character, you can see the loneliness radiate from her as well as her hopes and dreams. You see her grow as the pages turn, and experience new emotions even if they battle themselves.

I really enjoyed how the worldbuilding and the vital information was given to us. We're essentially learning everything with Manu, and it only left us with more questions. She is perpetually lost, living between worlds where she is not invited, where she is illegal.

It also explores the binary society and how fixed it is in conservative and wrongful rules. Moreover, it laces Argentinian myths and legends in a paranormal setting that has you on the edge, eager to learn more.

Listen, I am completely smitten by this, and I wish I had a Tardis so I could jump two years ahead to get my hands in the sequel.

I don't read paranormal stories very often anymore, but this makes me want to change that. Lobizona has fantastical elements but is very much set in the real world. (For most of the book, ICE is the real villain and is still very much a major evil as the story progresses.)

I loved seeing Manu starting to learn about her culture and her history. She shouldn't be a person that exists in the world and yet, she is and she does. The way that Romina Garber builds on mythology for this book is absolutely breathtaking. I completely adore the world-building in this and trust me, you don't want to know anything more than you already do before you start reading this book. It's full of surprises in the best way, and this is guaranteed to be one of my top 5 favorites this year and is very likely to be my absolute favorite.

This is such a strong opening to the series and I cannot wait for the next book. It's going to be amazing. Highly recommended.

A great reading, with some very original bits, but a sort of predictable ending. I thought it was a standalone and would love to notice more clearly that this is part of a series.

Really like the main character and her love for Argentinian elements of her life. As a Latina writer and researcher, I would love to see it translated to Latin America. But I didn't really understand why the magic school in the book is in the US, since the whole plot is about Latino magic and superstition.

A pretty good reading overall, however!

Argentinian folklore - something I haven't yet encountered in books - + werewolves + witches? Of course I wanted to read it!

It took a bit for me to get into it but I enjoyed the writing style; I also enjoyed the story itself, even though certain parts were a cliche, something you could find in older YA books. It deals with deportation, immigrants as well, so that part was heartbreaking to read about.

The title reveals the big twist, so I'm not really spoiling anything by saying our heroine, Manu, is a werewolf - the first ever female werewolf. Yes, there's a bit of patriarchy going on, males are stronger, they're werewolves, while the females are physically weaker and are only capable of handling magic.

Anyway, what kind of ruined, so to say, the book was that it had a pseudo-love triangle going on. So, after about 50% I found myself skipping and skimming because the romance part kind of stole the show - and it wasn't a romance I was enjoying. If you know me, you know I love me some romance and 99% of the books I read have some love story in them, so for me to not enjoy it? Yeah. There were a few twists, including in the romance section but by that time, I really wasn't curious about it. Would I read the next book? Maybe. Did I like this one? All in all, yes. I might try to reread it, sometime in the future and maybe my opinion will change, knowing what the book is actually about.

I voluntarily agreed to read an early copy via Netgalley; I also want to thank Wednesday Books for it. My rating is 3.5 stars.

For much of her life, Manuela Azul has lived in a small Miami apartment with her mother and surrogate grandmother. Manu and her mother are undocumented immigrants hiding from both the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Manu’s father’s crimelord family, who are the reason they fled Argentina. But Manu’s undocumented status isn’t the only reason she must hide– her strangely hued eyes mark her as different, and so Manu dreams of the future when she’ll have her green card and the surgery to fix her eyes. Until then, she lives through her books. But even this circumscribed life has its dangers, as Manu discovers one horrible night when her mother is arrested by ICE, and her surrogate grandmother is attacked. Suddenly, Manu is on her own until she follows a lead to a hidden, magical school where everyone has eyes like hers, and everyone has a gift of magic. But the magical school doesn’t provide an idyllic world like the ones in Many’s books, for even here she must hide who she is, because even among the brujas and lobizóns of her true people, Manu’s very existence is forbidden. If her true self is discovered, she faces a fate far worse than deportation.

“Catalina didn’t say anything to Saysa and me when she regrouped with us, but she was definitely quieter than she’s been around me. Like she’s mulling over whether it would be worth exposing me to gain her mother’s approval. After all, their plan to use me to find Fierro is looking less probable by the day; I’m no closer to making a flower bend to my will than I am to becoming a US citizen.”

Though the myths and legends of Central and South America have been in the United States since before it was a country, they have been overlooked or outright ignored in favor of European tales dragged across the ocean by European immigrants, to the point where it would seem easier to find a leprechaun on the green hills of Oregon than to find Tata Duende in the forests of eastern Texas. With her new series, Wolves of No World, Argentine-born author Romina Garber seeks to bring some of these legends to a wider audience and to put a human face to the issue of immigration, which is too often reduced to mere numbers.

While Manu has lived the majority of her life in hiding, she’s like most teenagers: she longs for friends who understand her, a romance to be swept away by, and a future she fits into. But her differences and her undocumented status make these things improbable, and so she lives through her books, her favorites being Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Cien años de soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude) and the Harry Potter books. In them, she finds the escape she longs for until, when her world is turned upside down in a night, she ends up in a real-life magical school where the things she’s always wanted are finally within her reach.

In less steady hands, Lobizona might have become a story about Manu’s madcap adventures with her bruja friends and a lobizón boyfriend, a light and breezy romp that would have felt more like Miami-based Harry Potter fan fiction, and no one would have blamed Garber for doing so. Glossy, shallow stories about badass girls going out and kicking ass have been tickets to the top of bestseller lists for many YA fantasy authors, but Garber has a deeper story to tell. This magical school is not Hogwarts, where your future is determined by your greatest attributes. The shine of Manu’s new world tarnishes quickly, for it has its own strict rules and cultural norms, and anyone who dares to tread a new path will quickly find themselves in dire straights.

Stories of teenagers fighting a stratified society are nothing new– that’s what most young adult fantasy is about, after all– but Lobizona reachers deeper than your garden variety YA tale. There is no Dark Lord to fight, no McGuffin to retrieve, and no wise mentor to show the way forward. Manu and her new-found friends must find their own way into a brighter future where they can live their lives on their own terms, and not be bound by the strictures of an old world that values tradition over freedom.

While Lobizona might be based upon old legends from South America, its take on the well-used magical school trope makes it feel relevant for more reasons than Manu’s immigration status, while Manu herself, with her complexities and her ardent desire to be seen and accepted for who she is, and not who she is expected to be, make her a character that readers will root for until the final page has been turned.



Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way.

I knew I just HAD to read Lobizona as soon as I first read the blurb. As an immigrant who has been living in Latin America since 2010, and most of that time in Argentina, I just couldn't resist the promise of both the immigrant aspect and the Argentine folklore element. I had a feeling this book would be a perfect match for me, and my instincts turned out to be 200% correct. I absolutely loved my time with this first book of a new series, and it is without doubt a new favorite! Trust me, that absolutely gorgeous cover matches its content perfectly.

There are so many elements that I loved in Lobizona and I'm having a bit of a hard time figuring out where to start... But let's talk about the Argentine folklore and the influence of Argentine culture and customs in general first. As someone who has experienced Argentine life from up close during years (my hubby is actually Argentinian), I absolutely loved how important this element is in the story. The references to food, customs, culture and folklore were numerous and I LOVED just how many Spanish phrases were included. And not only that, but specific Argentine phrases as well as localisms from other countries were included; an absolute treat for the Spanish philologist in me. I do understand that someone without any knowledge of the Spanish language or Argentine culture might struggle, but I personally thought this element gave the story authenticity and made it stand out far above other books of the same genre. And with the main character Manu being bilingual, helpful translations of most if not all Spanish phrases are being included in the dialogue without slowing down the pace or flow of the story.

Another thing that stands out for me in Lobizona is that it is basically a mix of urban and high fantasy, where the real world of Miami and the fantasy world of Lunaris collide. Both worlds are thoroughly described and developed; these descriptions make it really easy to fully immerse yourself in the story. Especially the worldbuilding of Lunaris as well as el Laberinto really made the fantasy part of this story come alive... And I just loved getting the chance to learn more about the world as well as both the werewolves, witches and their powers. Some part of the story almost had that magical realism feel, and the mention of more than one famous Latin American author (including Gabriel García Márquez and Jorge Luis Borges) contributed to that same magic.

The Miami setting is used to help discuss the topic of immigrants and the struggles they face... Especially how hard it is for illegal immigrants to change their fate. As someone who has been an immigrant during the last ten years, this is a topic close to my heart and the way Romina Garber incorporated it into the plot is splendid. The main character Manu is a fascinating character in that way, as her struggle to fit in and exist legally applies in both worlds, albeit for different reasons. On top of the immigrant topic, Lobizona also discusses important topics such as gender discrimination, sexism and the hostility towards the lgbt community... Oh yes, Lobizona is so much more than just another YA fantasy read filled to the brim with romance; instead we have a multi-dimentional and diverse story full of dept that simply blew me away.

I also loved how the focus of the story was on Manu, her self discovery, her development and her struggle to fit in as well as her struggle to find safety. While there is some romance involved in the plot, it is mostly a slowburn romance and somehow it didn't bother me at all. The characters themselves are well developed and easy to like in general. I loved Manu's history as well as her development over time, and the rest of the characters were well rounded and intriguing too. It is definitely a cast I will be looking forward to meeting up with again!

The writing itself is in one world brilliant. And I'm not only talking about the writing style as a whole, but also about the many Spanish phrases as well as the flow and pace of the story... I literally devoured each page, impatient to absorb more and more of this wonderful story. I know Lobizona might not be everyone's taste and some might struggle with the many Spanish phrases, but for me personally it was a match made in heaven. The plot development was spot on and the plot twists were also well handled; the ending definitely left me craving for more!

In short, if you are looking for an unique YA fantasy read with Argentine folklore elements, that magical feel and a healthy dose of interesting topics that give the story dept, Lobizona is simply a must-read.

I received an advanced copy of Lobizona through Netgalley, so I could share my thoughts with you!

Manuela Azul has spent her whole life being hidden away. Before she was born, Manu’s mother fled Argentina to escape being killed by Manu’s father’s crime-lord family. Now they live in a too-small apartment, hiding from both the ICE and from her vengeful relatives. Manu’s carefully protected life starts to unravel when her surrogate grandmother is attacked, unearthing too many questions about who Manu is. With nowhere else to go, Manu leaves behind the apartment and sets out to find the truth of her own identity. Along the way, she discovers a magical world straight out of Argentinian folklore, one in which she hopes she may finally belong. But secrets and lies have a way of being revealed and Manu quickly realizes that even in a world of magic there is still darkness and discrimination.

You can get your copy of Lobizona on August 4th from Wednesday Books!

Romina Garber has crafted a beautiful and timely fantasy world in Lobizona that you will not want to miss! I was first drawn to this book because of its gorgeous cover and I was blown away by its contents! I’ve previously read Garber’s Zodiac series (which I really enjoyed), but I think she stepped up her game in Lobizona! I loved the way magic was structured and described throughout the story. My favorite part of this book was undoubtedly the friends Manu makes while studying magic; they brought true life to the story with their personalities and goals!

My Recommendation-
If you have ever thought to yourself, “I really wish there was a unique werewolf book out there,” Lobizona should definitely be your next read! This book would be perfect for anyone who loves reading about passionate characters fighting to find where they belong. If you loved Woven in Moonlight or other richly designed fantasy worlds, Lobizona would be a great choice for your next read!

Being normal isn't easy when you wear sunglasses day and night and get a period so painful, you drug yourself unconscious for three days a month. But that's life for Manu. An illegal immigrant in Miami who is desperate to become a normal, teenage American girl.

When ICE arrests her mother, Manu sets out on a journey to save her mom and uncovers the secrets her mother tried desperately to keep.

Don't sleep on Lobizona. It's got witches. It's got werewolves. It's got a secret school for young witches and werewolves.

I've struggled to write this review because I'm not sure how to best talk about a significant part of Manu's story -- her status as both an undocumented immigrant and an undocumented supernatural being. With this parallel Garber is begging us to look up for our page and take a hard look at the treatment of the very real women, men, children who are just like Manu. Whom have come to a country illegally to escape the very real danger they are coming from. People don't put their children on boats for no reason.

Lots of other people are going to talk about this in a more intelligent, scholarly way than I am, but do yourself a favor and read Lobizona when it comes out this August.

"The horrors Perla left behind when she came to this country darken her glassy gaze, and I realize she never got away. No matter how many borders we cross, we can't seem to outrun the fear of not feeling safe in our own house."

I think it's fair to note that, while this is definitely YA fantasy, it reads more like contemporary fiction sprinkled with magical realism. Those looking for high fantasy involving werewolf folklore might be disappointed in this slow burning tale, because it feels as if the purpose of this story is to serve the reader with a unique book about the immigrant's life in America. Garber has provided a call to action with Lobizona, and I love that she holds back nothing in her attempt to educate the average reader on many horrors of modern society.

The prologue immediately gripped me and set the tone for the remainder of the book, and as a privileged white woman, I found myself choking back tears and grieving for those who aren't treated equally in this country. The author also ties in menstrual cycles as an important part of Manu's transformation, and it was so refreshing to see a YA author normalize something that is, well, NORMAL. Even though this was not an own voices read for me, I wholly appreciated diving into someone else's culture and heritage and learning more about their folklore.

The pacing is steady in this book, and it felt like a solid set up for the next installment, which I am very much anticipating to read. If you are looking for a YA fantasy that stands apart from the regular humdrum, and you're interested in current events and educating yourself on some of the injustices that Latinx immigrants face on a daily basis, do yourself a favor and pick this title up on August 4th.