I was really happy to get to try this book as an ARC from NetGallery

Picking up this book, the premise was really exciting. Witches, werewolves, magic and mobsters with a beautiful Argentinian twist!

Without spoiling too much, this was just not what I expected.

When you pick up books that are heavily based in non western culture, theres an expectation that you are going to be experiencing that culture though your characters and the world they inhabit- especially when the folklore of your fantasy is so rooted in culture. While yes, Lobizona made that attempt, it fell so woefully short it makes me want to cry! In the first 5 chapters is when this is most glaring. It feels like a list of South American tradition, food, and sports VS being a genuine cultural experience. The author will list something, like a food the character likes, or maybe a football jersey someone is wearing, and rather than dive into it, rapidfire this several times in a paragraph- then have a character speak in spanish to tie the bow on it.

This just doesn't do it for me. Maybe this would be more interesting to a different person, but I felt like the first half of the book, the author was trying their damnest to prove how Argentinian she was instead of telling a culturally inspired story. Over the course of the book, this does start to improve, but its a rough ride. The writing of it just wasn't good enough to justify the drag through the beginning.

I also struggled with some of the YA tropeyness of it. I wasn't sold on the tone of the book, so when it came to aspects of it like the romance (slightly forbidden with a taste of cheating) and the typical chosen one plot, I just didn't have patience for it.

In an ever expanding library of culturally significant YA with increasingly diverse characters, we don't need to settle for below average stories anymore. So why bother?

@wednesdaybooks sent me this eARC to read and review. Lobizona by @rominagarber took me on a wild adventure. The summary intrigued me, but I was unsure if I would really enjoy it, but let me tell you this book exceeded all expectations. This story captured my attention and stole a piece of my heart. This is a book that needs passed around to everybody. What a powerful message of love and hope and acceptance. My mind was opened and my heart was changed and I need book 2 right now! .

Oh wow! I loved this! If Harry Potter was Latina and a werewolf, then you would get the mc of Lobinoza! I loved of diverse this was, as I can definatley see this being a hot book.

DNFd about 40% in. I really did not enjoy this author’s writing style. I really wanted to love this book because I loved the concept and intent so much, but I just could not connect with the story.

As an undocumented immigrant forced to hide from her father's Argentine crime family Manuela Azul's entire life has been compacted to fit inside one small apartment in Miami. When the woman she regards as her grandmother is assaulted in their apartment, Manu's life begins to unravel, her mother is caught in an ICE raid and lifelong secrets are brought to light. Suddenly homeless, alone, able to make her own decisions and without the answers she seeks Manu takes a risk of following a man she's seen casing her apartment marked by the only clue to her past she's got - a strange "Z" emblem.

Following the man leads her down the rabbit hole into a world hidden from our own - one that is connected to her father and his criminal past. This world is connected to the Argentine folklore regarding the seventh consecutive son being born a lobizón and the seventh daughter a bruja. It just might be a world that would allow her and her extraordinary eyes to be a part of something larger than herself. Finally among others able to help they delve into her past a part of which dates back to a historical city that was cursed in Argentina but Manu doesn't anticipate that her life is illegal and not just according to U.S. immigration laws.

The fact that the President of Argentina can become the godfather of the seventh son in a family is weirdly fascinating. This practice isn't inherently tied to the myth that a seventh son will turn into a werewolf after their thirteenth birthday but was a way for the President to stem the murders of seventh sons by adopting them as his godchildren. In my quick search I couldn't find anything regarding seventh daughters being associated with the same myth but if it does I shudder at the thought - it took nearly 70 years for the same rule to apply to daughters. This book is based upon being illegal and for Manu that applied in the real world and the fantastical one she discovered she was a part of. The actions in this novel could be a sensitive topic for some but it is not a violent novel.

"...Sometimes reality strays so far from what's rational that we can only explain it through fantasy."

The Argentinean folklore surrounding this novel regarding the lobizón and brujas is interesting - I enjoy stories about gods and goddesses from other cultures. This is the second book that I've read in one day so far this year and yes I'll admit I do have a soft spot for YA fantasy novels. I especially love to read novels like these after reading something difficult, time consuming or disturbing. The cover for Lobizona is absolutely beautiful and it is definitely something that I would pick up if I had just seen it sitting on a shelf in my local bookstore. This book does have a little dash of Harry Potter (even references) and a little bit of Twilight.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy YA, fantasy, folklore and paranormal/supernatural books. A big thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this splendid book. Thank you to Romina Garber for persevering to get Lobizona published - I loved it!

I really enjoyed this YA fantasy. It explored Argentine folklore and paired it with a timely discussion of immigration issues. Manu is constrained by factors outside of her control: as an undocumented immigrant and one with highly distinctive eyes, she is forced to remain in an apartment to avoid drawing the attention of ICE, unable to work, attend school, or socialize, and she can't ever show her eyes to anyone other than her mother or Perla, the woman whose apartment they live in. On top of all of that, she has to take pills just to get through the pain during the first few days of her cycle, and each month, she notes a new physical change in her body.that she can't explain.

Although she isn't happy about her life the way it is, she doesn't see a way out. Until Perla is attacked and she goes to track down her mother, only to see her taken away by ICE agents. She discovers information that creates even more questions, and so she follows the only clue that she has. Which leads her straight to a hidden world that she likens to Harry Potter.

That's where the story really gets interesting. As she faces challenges, discovers new information, socializes with people her own age who accept her for who she is, and realizes that it isn't just her immigration status that is illegal, it's her entire existence. She's forced to make some important decisions about her life - for the very first time.

I loved seeing the interactions between the characters, who often weren't what I expected. Seeing Manu come into her own and realize not only what she was, but what she could do, was one of my favorite parts of the book. The writing is beautiful and incorporates Spanish and English, making this story more relatable. The fact that it addresses personhood over legal status creates a story that is highly relevant to present day issues.

In addition, the author creates an incredibly rich fantasy world, mixing in elements of actual Argentine folklore. It was a peek into the legends, culture, and social relationships within a culture different from my own. The way elements of nature were worked into the world-building was impressive, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series once it comes out!

So I realized that selecting "will not give feedback" counts against my percentage, even though I was invited to read this😭

I picked it back up and stumbled through another couple chapters but I just can't read it. Author lost me immediately when talking about a 3 day old pad, like why are we just being gross? Also if we are going to do bits of other languages, translations should be provided if even elsewhere like a footnote or glossary. DNF at 30% with my apologies to the publisher and my thanks for the invitation

I went into this expecting very little but hoping for a whole lot. That cover! That synopsis! I couldn't help but be intrigued by it all.

And while I think this was a very well written story that deeply delves into life of an undocumented immigrant and all that entails, this sorely lacked in the fantasy department as a whole.

It dragged a little for me and overall, I found myself wanting to skim pages to get to the action of the story. To find out all the mystery and intrigue and it just never quite got there for me to keep me wholly entertained. Again, it wasn't a bad story, just sadly, not at all what I was hoping it would be.

I really enjoyed this book! It took werewolf lore to another level. There were some familiar aspects to it, but it was really interesting to see a fresh perspective. Entwined with some of the Argentinean culture, it was really fascinating. I found it relatable and interesting, it kept me hooked from start to finish.

I absolutely loved this book amd how different this was!
It was such a good read and I recommend t this book to anyone looking for something different

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I had high hopes for Lobizona - the first chapter was very intriguing, and a set up for talking about undocumented status and the injustice of the immigration system... with werewolves involved. I thought maybe it would fill that tiny piece of MTV's Teen Wolf missing in my heart, with deeper messages and better characters. So, knowing that, I may have set my expectations too unfairly high for this book, which I DNF'd at 40%. I'm going to eventually try to go back and finish it, but honestly, the writing and the characters really did not pull me in or make me want to stay in the world that was created. The full set up told me very little about Manu and her desires, or give me a big bad that felt tangible enough. At the point at which I finished, they had just introduced a full new slate of characters and a new chapter for Manu that didn't have any additional depth for me. I love the Argentinian folklore woven throughout but unfortunately, the magic was missing.

"But why settle for being a son of the system, when you can mother a movement?" - Romina Garber

Lobizona is going to take the book community by storm. Not only does Garber artfully build a new world for readers to fall in love with, but she also addresses relevant issues like gender roles, immigration, and sexuality.

Manuela Azul, an undocumented immigrant on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, lives in fear of being deported with her mom and her surrogate grandmother. Manu is stuck in a small apartment where she can only leave the confines of her complex if her mother and grandmother are with her.

For three days every month, Manu is transported in her dreams to a fantastical new place. Each time she resurfaces from these dreams, things about her change.

When her surrogate grandmother is attacked and her mother is arrested by ICE, Manu is thrusted into a situation she has no idea what to do about. Without anywhere to go or anyone to help her, Manu takes the reins of her life, for the first time, and tries to figure out who she is.

She uses the only clue that is connected with her past - a "Z" emblem that leads her to a secret world hidden within our own. This world is straight from an Argentine folklore about brujas and lobizónes that Manu's mother used to tell her when she was a child. In this new world, Manu begins to uncover who she truly is and she finds out her entire existence is illegal (not only in the US but in the new world as well).

Follow Manu as she discovers her real identity, makes new friends and even falls in love.

This book is so important for the much needed diversifying of the YA Fantasy community. I can't wait to share this with my students.

Thank you to NetGalley, Romina Garber, and Wednesday Books for a free arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley St. Martin's Press for an arc!

But why settle for being a son of the system, when you can mother a movement?


I am going to level with you. I had a difficult time getting into this book. The last 20% really was what made it a fun read for me. It has a lot of important messages about community, alienation, and breaking free from the rigid barriers that society has put in place.

I don't know if I'll continue with the series but I do absolutely see how much value there is in Manu's story.

This just didn't pull me in as I was expecting. It just felt incredibly generic once we got through the introductory chapters and just could not pull me in enough to make me care about the stakes. Interesting world-building but the plot wasn't for me.

Such an amazing debut. With Harry Potter and Shadowhunter vibes, Garber is able to weave together a fantastic story by mixing together myth, reality, and the need to belong. By highlighting her Argentinian heritage, the author is able to create a wonderfully lush magical world.

Note: Review to be posted to Goodreads on February 23, 2020 and on retail sites (Barnes & Noble, Amazon) upon publication date, May 5, 2020.

This eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lobizona is the next “can’t miss” YA fantasy book, masterfully examining pressing political issues, such as immigration and gender equality, through the lens of both today’s reality and a fictional world of mythical creatures. Romina Garber takes readers on an unforgettable journey, in the same vein as Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, yet provides the diversity and representation needed in modern YA fantasy. Lobizona is truly exceptional, every page brimming with magic and wonder. Simply put, please read this book; you will most certainly not regret it.

Strongly influenced by South American folklore, Lobizona tells Manu’s story of self-discovery while beautifully interweaving the myth of the Argentinian lobizón (werewolf). Manu’s narrative details her search for acceptance, set against a backdrop of worlds, both real and fantastical, who tell her she does not belong. Garber delightfully transports readers from real-world Miami to a secret, magical school for lobizones and brujas (werewolves and witches). Without giving too much away, let’s just say that Lobizona takes readers on quite the adventure, with unpredictable twists and turns at every corner.

Romina Garber’s writing in Lobizona is a tour de force, imaginatively breathing life into every page. From the lush, awe-inspiring sights of El Laberinto to the aromatics of an Argentinian-style parrillada (barbeque), she imbues the five senses in her descriptions, only further heightening your reading experience and submerging you into Manu’s story. In addition, Garber’s worldbuilding is exquisite and feels completely fresh and unique for the YA fantasy genre. No matter how swept away you are by the magical elements of Lobizona, her fictional world certainly echoes the very real struggles happening today and incites readers to fight for a better tomorrow.

However, the characters were easily my favorite element of Lobizona, as they’re truly what makes this story come alive. Manu’s character is the female heroine needed in YA literature today, justifiably serving as a role model to young readers trying to understand their cultural identity and place in today’s world. Every character felt completely real and three-dimensional; even the most minor characters make a lasting impression. In addition, it was absolutely refreshing to see Garber fully embrace the Latinx roots of her character and celebrate their diversity. The minute I finished reading Lobizona, my heart was already aching to return back to these characters and dive back into this mystical world of lobizones.

Lobizona is easily one of the best YA fantasy books I’ve ever read. Seriously, do yourself a favor and check out this book as soon as it’s released on May 5, 2020!

Wow. This book was heartbreaking, raw, and powerful. I am so impressed with Romina Garber and her writing style. This YA Urban Fantasy was gripping right until the end. I am 100% here for the Argentinean folklore and the female empowered heroes journey.

Lobizona begins with Manu, an undocumented immigrant from Argentina who is in hiding due to her immigrant status and due to the unusual look to her eyes. She is a very thoughtful, caring, and intelligent young woman who is put in impossible situations due to her mother's choices. This book explores the very much real immigrant experience. My heart was pounding during the very first section of the book. I appreciated how heavily the Spanish was used, as it made Manu's life feel real to me. 

Finding a hidden school and the secrets about her father (whom she has been on the run from her entire life) also intrigued me, considering that those two things were tied together. I also appreciated the queer representation within this novel. I think that it's so important to represent all types of people and this book really took it to the next level without making it seem forced. Manu's life is a strange yet powerful one and I cannot wait to see what Romina does next.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read an advanced copy. I loved everything about it. This book goes on Sale 5/5/20 and is up for preorder now!

Visibility = Deportation
Deportation = Death

Manu is an illegal immigrant living with her mother and an older woman named Perla in Miami. But if they return to Argentina, her father's family will kill them. Manu has yellow eyes, so she is home-schooled and has no friends. But then her mother is taken by ICE and Perla is injured. By chance, Manu discovers people like her - and the illness that effects her every month during her period on the full moon, isn't what she thought... but her existence among them is dangerous, because just like in America, she's illegal.

Romina Garber does a fantastic job of magical world-building weaved with traditional Argentinian culture. Her characters fight against historical social norms for women roles and for queer couples. Light romances and a cliff hanger ensure more adventures to come.

A unique fantasy that is truly out of this world.

Lets start off with the good Lobizona has some great messages. It talks about the struggles with immigration, fitting in, trust and found family. Manu, our heroine has put up with a lot in her very sheltered years on this earth. She knows she’s different but its not until an immigration raid gone bad shows her just how different she is, how much of her past she doesn’t understand.
Through a series of strange events she finds herself in the fantasy side of the story that’s richly steeped in Argentinian folklore.

This is where I think we run into an “It’s me not you.” issue.

The first third was a bit of a struggle. There was a lot of Spanish spoken in the dialogue. While some of it was translated, some of it was not and I found myself referring to google translate for parts which made the story clunky and unreadable.

Roughly 35% of the way in she discovers a hidden school in the mangrove forests of Florida. Not just that, everyone has eyes like her. Its here she gets to explore what she really is and find out more about the father she has never known. This is where a lot of classic YA tropes come into play. Only one of her kind, has special abilities no one else has...etc.
This aspect was...interesting? Imagine if Harry Potter (which is mentioned a couple times) was set in the Avatar realm. Cameron version not the animated one. Interesting in execution, you can see different influences in it. The elemental magic was cool but it was something I’d seen done before.
The Spanish dialogue was much easier to follow from this point when it showed up. While again, not always translated I could piece together enough from other commentary to figure it out without referring to a translator as often.
Its odd to find that while I couldn’t connect too much with the characters they seemed to have a decent dynamic among themselves. Another issue I had was with the intimacy scenes. While it says the characters are 17-18 years old, it feels really middle grade. While the relationships were ok, the level they were portrayed to felt really out of place.

Over all thoughts: First 30% clunky but good set up. Next 55% Cool world building, felt like a lot of filler though. The ending was rather out of left field and too convenient.
I can see where a lot of people will like this but this was a book that felt middle of the line to me.

E-Arc kindly provided by St.Martin’s Press & Wednesday Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Book: Lobizona
Author: Romina Garber
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with an ARC.

I’m just going to start out by saying that do not go into this book without knowing a little bit of Spanish. The characters speak Spanish and the author does not hold your hand on the translations. I know a little bit of Spanish, so I was fine, but I just want to warn you.

Right away, I was very interested in this title. I have read a book based on Argentine folklore, so I knew this was going to be a must read. I love how Romina has that balance of real life and folklore. We have characters who are going through some tough stuff, while dealing with some very strange magical elements. It is this mixture of the real world and magical world that kept me going. I was also getting a few Harry Potter vibes. I mean, our character is being taken from a rough situation, discovers she has these powers, and is sent away to learn about them. Come on…

Anyway, I love the bonds the characters have with each other. I love seeing Manu interact with her family and seeing her struggle with how her mom will not let her out of the house. She has some very teenage reactions about this, but afterwards realizes that her mom was just trying to protect her. I love the bonds she creates with the other characters and getting to see her grow up throughout the book. I also like how we do get to see just how she deals with deportation and the impact that it has one her.

The writing was beautiful. I was pulled right into the world. However, there did seen to be something about it that I wish was different. Don’t get me wrong, I did have a good time reading it, but there were parts that seemed rushed and other parts that went on for too long. I know this is a first book in a series and all, but I don’t know, there were just parts that felt really uneven. I personally wish that the ending hadn’t been so abrupt, but that’s just me.

The plot was pretty solid, but, again, there were some scenes that wish we had more of and less of others. The romance was one of those things that seemed forced as well. I would have liked to see that fleshed out a little more. The big battle was so abrupt and rushed. The plot itself was pretty strong. However, one thing that kind of bothered me was all of the foreshadowing; this made the big reveal at the end not a big reveal. I mean, I figured it out within the first couple of pages and was kind of let down when it fit together so perfectly.

Is this a prefect book? No, but I really enjoyed reading it.

Anyway, this book comes out on May 5, 2020.

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