After her mother is arrested by ICE, Manu is left to fend for herself for the first time out in the real world where she stumbles upon a group of kids with the same otherworldly eyes as she has. While her presence in the United States is a crime punishable by deportation, her very existence among the Septimus is a crime punishable by death.

The layers to this story are endless... it deals with immigration first and foremost, being made to assume the identity of an other or outsider within a society, traditional gender roles, and sexual orientation. Each of these is handled with the utmost care, all while being woven into a uniquely transportive magical realism tale.

While it started off a bit slow, once the first layer of magic was hinted at, I flew through it till the very end. I loved Manu as a protagonist, simultaneously brave and bold and cautious and insecure, she felt so real and relatable. The Argentinian folklore aspect was beautifully crafted, weaving a rich backstory of brujas (witches) and lobizones (werewolves). I also loved the way the author integrated Spanish, switching back and forth, sometimes translating, sometimes leaving it to interpretation from context.

I can’t wait to see where this story goes! 4.5⭐️

If there is a book that needs to be on everyone's tbr this year, it's Lobizona by Romina Garber.

Our main character is Manu, an undocumented Argentinian teenager  living in Miami with a secret even she does not understand. Her family has fled from Argentia for reasons unbeknownst to her, and her mother forces her to be invisible. She does not go to school, she does not have friends, and every time she goes outside she must wear sunglasses with mirrored lenses to hide the golden glow of her eyes. However, once her mother's workplace is raided by ICE she is forced to go on the run where she discovers a magical school hidden in the everglades called El Laberinto--a school for Brujas and Lobizons, a world where she thinks she finally might belong.Despite her hope of finding a home that will accept her, Manu is once again labeled as illegal for being a hybrid.

Garber did a truly fantastic with the writing of the novel. The pacing is exquisite, and the stake are set from the very first page. The world she weaves is lush and vivid and full of adventure. I don't know if I would truly define this book as YA Fantasy because to me it truly felt like a contemporary filled with magical realism at times. Garber does her best to stuff her story with as much representation as possible from the undocumented experience in America, to LGBTQ+ representation in general, and although I love where her heart is at I feel like she did not give each topic all the love it deserved.

There is just so much I want to say about this book, but I also wish for people to go out and read it themselves so they can experiences Garber's fantastical world as well. The one thing that truly irked me about this novel, as it does in most novels, was the romance. Manu and Tiago's relationship just rubbed me the wrong way as most of their 'tension' could have be handled with a simple conversation. That being said, this one minor issue is overruled by the abundance of good that is done in this book.

Overall, I give Lobizona by Romina Garber four and a half out of five star for being a book that I see becoming very important to a lot of people. The world is magical, the characters are relatable, and the story is one that needs to be told. I truly recommend Lobizona to anyone and everyone looking for a book that stands apart from a majority of the YA out there on the market.

I wanted to love this one. The premise was excellent, and I love the mix of Argentinian lore, immigration commentary, and magical academy features. The points raised about the problem with binaries and gender norms were handled well and peonise some interesting possibilities for the sequel. Unfortunately, for a lot of the book, I was just bored. The plot didn't seem to be going anywhere and characters seemed mired by indecision. Add in a main character who becomes way too good and way too powerful way too fast with ZERO effort, some gray-area cheating (even if it was a complicated situation, we didn't learn that until much later), and a large number of secondary characters who have no real discernable personality traits, not to mention a predictable plot, and...well, you can probably understand why my overall feeling was just "meh."

A modified version of this review will be posted on my blog, Goodreads, and Instagram next week.

**3.5 Stars**

Steeped in culture and timely issues, Lobizona was a character-driven tale that explored the relevancy of acceptance and the concept of Other while keeping the characters in focus. Garber utilized folklore and Argentinian heritage to introduce a heroine, Manu—an immediately likable one—whose immigration status and mere existence created a powerful and all-too-common conflict that tugged at your heartstrings from the first page. And while the story took shape around her, so too did the anxieties and complexities of her identity, making it both an enjoyable and interesting read to fall into.

I very much enjoyed the unique aspect of having a character of mixed race and the singular challenges she faced not being able to fit into either box. For all that she had to carry as a main character, I thought she was wonderfully penned to exude equal amounts of loneliness and independence to make her believable in the most contradictory way. She inhabited the childlike way of a teen unused to socialization while still having the intelligence of someone who has had to learn and be without drawing attention. I admired what a huge task this was and how, for the most part, it was nicely done. The two things holding it back were the underdeveloped love story that hit out of nowhere with too few crumbs to lead a reader to it and the pacing issues—rushing, really—that affected the last quarter of the book.

All in all it was a fun read about important issues spiced with magical realism that was never in your face about its lessons, but instead focused on simply making you care about its heroine. Those are the best kinds of stories and I'm looking forward to the next novel in the series.

Thanks to Wednesday Books for reaching out to me and providing me with an eARC of Lobizona

Disclaimer: I fought with my wording the entire time writing this review. If, in any case, I come off as disrespectful, please do not hesitate to reach out to me and let me know. It is never my intention to be disrespectful.


LOBIZONA immediately gave me a heavy feeling in my gut. Deportation, knowing simply existing in the "wrong" space is illegal - I do not know these feelings. I cannot possibly understand the exact fear other humans must go through on a day to day basis. Not being a U.S. citizen, I only hear about ICE from friends in the States. Or from the news.

Romina Garber managed to portrait all the fear and anger immigrants face and feel because of the injustice at the whole system incredibly well in my opinion, to points where I had to stop reading because I was shaken and in tears. It made me angry, too. The thing is - I probably read about similar scenarios in multiple fantasy plots, yet it never affected me this hard because, you know, in the end it is a fantasy world.

Manu is a character who wanted to fit in. She had her tiny corner in the world, but it is understandable that she craves more. A hidden life can hardly be called a life, especially if you can't be yourself.

And then, suddenly, there's magic and it is real and just like the stories. Almost too good to be true, but also incredibly dangerous.

Reading about Manu's journey into the magical world, finding out who she is - I was entranced. I could not stop reading.

The dynamics between bruja and lobizones were fantastic. They all had a family dynamic at some sorts, and the mention of them being a pack included the bruja and wasn't exclusive to lobizones. One cannot exist without the other. I just wish the magic of the bruja had been explored a little more, but I assume that might still happen in the sequel (it is based on elemental magic and heavily connected to nature).

"Now go forth and shatter every convention."

Manu broke several conventions, though involuntarily - the first of her kind. Not just a human / Septimus hybrid, but also a lobizona, a female werewolf. The world is pushing hard against it, as many of the Septimus (the bruja and lobizones) are still thinking of the world as binary, as black-and-white. Beings like her should not exist in their eyes - yet Manu continues to defy them, with friends at her side.

As I said, I was entirely entranced. Romina Garber balanced the anger and fear with hope. She let Manu defy the odds that seemed to be utterly against her in the beginning. I cannot wait to see where she goes next with her story!
If you haven't put it on your list to read, I highly encourage you to do so. You do not want to miss out on it, trust me!

90 / 100

🌑

*Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with a copy of this book fire review,all opinions are my own*

“Plant your new garden with the seeds of equality, water it with tolerance and empathy, and warm it with the temperate heat of truth.”

I'm in love with this book, I don't really know what I expected from it when I started reading but it definitely wasn't what I received.
This book is brilliant, it is a quick read, the author's writing is very easy to read too, the characters are all incredible, the story itself is enchanting and I am in love with everything related to this book.
One of the things I loved most was how the author managed to bring current and relevant debates into the fantastic world she created.
The mythology and the world she created was so visually beautiful that I was able to see everything she described in detail.
The way friendship, love, family, trust and belonging is discussed in this book was wonderful.
The way the author also managed to bring up themes such as sex, sexuality, equality of genders, immigration, different cultures, and different realities was also incredible.
In the end, this book was perfect and I highly recommend you give this wonderful story a chance!
And I can't wait to read the next book.

This book was very different from what I was expecting. Based on what I had seen from author talks, I thought this would be more of a contemporary with magical elements threaded in. Actually, I think it was trying more to be a fantasy. However, for me, I just think it fell short in that regard.

This is a good book, but for my tastes it was a little slow and confusing. It could be the symptom of first-book-in-a-series setup, but I had a hard time connecting to the characters or the story. I’m not sure if that was a lack of world building, or just my comprehension as a reader.

That being said, while this wasn’t really my taste, I know readers in my life who I think would really enjoy this and I will definitely recommend it.

I know I’ve been quiet and my reading has fallen behind but when I was invited to join the Lobizona blog tour it was an easy, loud YES! Sure school has been busy and Melbourne now has pandemic curfews mushing my brain, but the story of an undocumented Latina in Miami needed to be shared.

Lobizona by Romina Garber exceeded my expectations. Blew them out of existence level exceeded my expectations. The story started as I expected. Manu grew up sequestered in a Miami apartment, along with her mother and an elderly friend. She thought she was homeschooled and barely allowed outside because her and her mother are undocumented. Her mother smuggled Manu to Miami as a child, hiding her from her father’s criminal family in Argentina. Oh, that and Manu’s eyes with irises as yellow as the sun and silver star pupils.

I’m not sure how to classify Lobizona. It’s definitely fantasy but that’s not what pulled me in. The summary I gave you is in the first few chapters and later so much is proven wrong (and some right), and fairytales are true. Especially the legend of the werewolf. This novel is full of twists and turns, emotion, friendship and action. I suppose what grabbed me most was that it feels original. There are so many stories of persecution of who a person is that, unfortunately, are played out in real life. I don’t know if it was Manu being “wrong” in both her worlds that made it new, or the Argentine culture and mythology that made it original for me. Whatever it was, it makes Lobizona an excellent and highly recommended read.

Things to note:
-Lobizona doesn’t follow society’s menstruation stigma. It’s not gross, but more detailed than books usually are. Luna cycles are important in the book, and it will all make sense.
- Manu is Argentine and speaks Spanish. It’s not translated, but you can understand it from the context. I don’t speak Spanish, but I recognised a few words and understood the rest. It adds more to the story without the translation.

Thank you to Meghan at Wednesday Books for inviting me on the tour.

Title: Lobizona
Author: Romina Garber
Genre: YA, fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5

Manuela Azul has been crammed into an existence that feels too small for her. As an undocumented immigrant who's on the run from her father's Argentine crime-family, Manu is confined to a small apartment and a small life in Miami, Florida.

Until Manu's protective bubble is shattered.

Her surrogate grandmother is attacked, lifelong lies are exposed, and her mother is arrested by ICE. Without a home, without answers, and finally without shackles, Manu investigates the only clue she has about her past--a mysterious "Z" emblem—which leads her to a secret world buried within our own. A world connected to her dead father and his criminal past. A world straight out of Argentine folklore, where the seventh consecutive daughter is born a bruja and the seventh consecutive son is a lobizón, a werewolf. A world where her unusual eyes allow her to belong.

As Manu uncovers her own story and traces her real heritage all the way back to a cursed city in Argentina, she learns it's not just her U.S. residency that's illegal. . . .it's her entire existence.

This was quite an interesting read. Parts of it felt like I’d fallen into a dreamscape, parts of it felt a tiny bit clichéd, but it was original enough to capture my attention at the start and keep me reading.

It was probably the characters themselves I found clichéd—the mean girl, the brainiac, the hot athlete—but several of the other characters were unique enough to make this a pleasure to read. I did not figure out the big reveal ahead of time and I definitely want to read more.

Romina Garber was born in Buenos Aires and raised in Miami. Logizona is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

The story is well paced novel and has some amazing world building! The world building was on of my absolute favorite aspects, it’s magical and lush. Most of the novel is set with the magical school and I loved how unique the setting was. El Laberinto is full of greenery and fully encompassed the magic that the Garber wanted to create. There is also a magical world besides the school, but I won’t get into that much. Only thing for you to know is that I loved all the nature aspects of the setting.

Lobizona deals with some amazing themes such as immigration, equality, and family. Garber discusses immigration not only in the real world, but incorporates them seamlessly within the fantasy world too. Family is a huge one and found family as well. I adore stories where main characters have deep connections to their parents and grandparents. Manu has so much love for her mother and the exploration of their relationship is one I enjoyed. It isn’t perfect, but both of them try to understand each other.

Equality and gender roles within the magical society was another theme that was greatly incorporated from reality to fantasy. What does it meant to be the only of your kind and how will it uplift others? The exploration of this question was masterfully done.

Then there’s the characters. I loved the whole group of friends and their dynamic. They are all very different, but there’s so much love between them and for Manu to get to experience that it was great.

There’s romance in Lobizona which I was too thrilled about how it developed at first but liked it later on. I was more invested in Manu’s friendships and family to be honest.

The take on the werewolf myth is so different from others I’ve read or seen. I thought it was fresh and it really captivated me. It had been a long time since I read paranormal fantasy and this one is just what I needed to get back into it. I really like this new wave of paranormal books but with diverse characters.

Lobizona exposed me to a culture that I hadn’t been to before and also explored themes of equality and family. It grabbed me from that very first page and didn’t let me go. Lobizona was one of those books that I didn’t want to end. I could’ve stayed in that world for more than just the allotted pages. And those twists were amazing!

I enjoyed reading this book very much! It was a great first installment in what I think will be a duology! The world was magical, the characters–especially Manu–were brilliant. It’s magical and whimsical and suspenseful! It’s an adventure in identity and realizing that you don’t need to change to fit the world, but that the world has to change to fit you!

I really enjoyed Manu’s character. She was a girl unknown to the world around her being confined to the tiny apartment she shares with her mom and adoptive grandmother. I liked how honest she was about her situation, and that even though it looked dour she had hope it would change.

The Septimus world is pretty freaking magical! First of all we have a magic school where witches and werewolves study their powers and rise in the ranks of the pack-society. I loved that the school was centered around a magical tree that was an active member of the community and actually connected different worlds together! This book is chock full of Argentinian myth and folklore!

This book had a lot of suspense. We were on constant edge because the risk of discovery is real and the consequences are HUGE!

This book was full of great discussions around misogyny, gender identity, menstruation, immigration and the desire to belong. The world of Septimus is so attached to the binary of male and female and I like how Garber tackled the limits of this rigid structure. I liked that we got to see different identities pop up and defy the norms forced upon the population. I loved that we had major girl power fighting against a system that constantly kept them back from reaching for the stars! I also loved how Manu’s ties to the world of Lunaris are also tied to her menstrual cycle and the role it plays! (You just never see that in fantasy!) And of course immigration is a huge theme in this novel and what it means to label people as “illegal” and be undocumented. It was honest, heartfelt and very much a reflection of how people are treated like less than human for wanting safety and refuge.

However, the romance between the main characters was so obvious, there wasn’t any real yearning. A lot of it had to do with the fact that I thought Tiago had no personality. It was also very insta-lovely that I just wasn’t really into.

I also didn’t really care for any of the Harry Potter references, but they are there for a reason understandably. But if I’m being honest, the book could have done perfectly fine with just the other literary influences.

I have never felt so conflicted about a book. On the one hand, I understand what the author was trying to do here, and I think it was such a good concept. On the other hand, I really don't think it was well executed.

I want to state very clearly: I enjoyed this book. I occasionally wanted to throw it across the room during the romance scenes, but other than that I enjoyed this book. I just didn't, from a craft perspective, think it was an amazing book. And lots of people seem to feel otherwise, so if you think this is something you might like I urge you to give it a try. Hopefully you'll like it more than I did.

THE GOOD

- The characters! I genuinely really liked a lot of the characters, especially Manu and Cata!! Saysa was great too!

- The themes!! This book had so many great discussions around privilege, immigration, feminism, and what it is to be different in a world that wants everybody to fit a mold. There were so many points during the book when these themes were most there that I went 'yes! this is the quality I was hoping for!'

- The world building! World building has always been far from the most important aspect of a book to me, but it was, in my eyes, what this book did best. The world building was rich, luscious, and Romina Garber made it come alive on the page. It was at times a bit too whimsical for my tastes (Lunaris gave me Alice in Wonderland vibes, almost), but I absolutely cannot deny that it was fantastically done.

- It was just enjoyable! For all my issues with this book, despite being exasperated sometimes, I enjoyed myself reading this book. If you want a fun book about werewolves and witches with some good themes and great world building? this is your book

THE NOT-SO GOOD

- Have I mentioned the pacing of this book? it was Not Good. I spent the first 30% completely uninterested, because it was . . . so mundane. I honestly think the first 30% could have been about a third of that length and worked just fine. I did appreciate that a lot of seemingly irrelevant details from the beginning ended up being pivotal to the plot, but the fact remains that if this wasn't an arc I wouldn't have made it far enough to understand their relevance. And it still didn't need to be that long. There were also a lot of scenes that I felt could have been combined with other scenes, elaborated on, or just plain removed. The pacing just wasn't working for me.

- I felt that some of the discussions around feminism,,,, lacked nuance?? Honestly it felt to me like Manu was empowered only because she was like the guys, which . . . is sort of uncomfortable to me? I will note that some of the other women were really badass (and like 3000% more competent than Manu) without being like the guys, but I sort of felt like Manu was held on a pedestal sometimes, and I wish it would have addressed that that isn't the only way for a girl to be strong? idk ajghfghjghf

- Also good character development? we don't know her. I honestly feel like all the main characters had really choppy development, like . . . it didn't flow very well. And the side characters were all defined by one (1) single personality trait, and weren't really very developed

- A note on the queer rep: I did appreciate it, and generally find it pretty good, but I wasn't too thrilled about (1) the way it was treated as a plot twist, and (2) the way one of the characters was low-key treated as cowardly for not wanting to be open about her relationship (especially seeing as she was in a Not Safe position like (view spoiler))

- The romance was. . . so bad? like am I just way too gay for it? maybe. but omfg it was the cheesiest romance I have ever read and they had zero chemistry (also,,,, I get that your love interest is a werewolf but that doesn't excuse how many times it referred to him as growling, it gave me sjm vibes 😭)

Overall? this book has a lot of good, and I do urge you to check it out still! It wasn't too my tastes, but it wasn't like it was super problematic (lacking nuance? yes. actually harmful? nah), and I hope you'll all enjoy this one a lot more than I did.

4.5/5 stars

"Go forth and shatter every convention."

For fans of WE SET THE DARK ON FIRE by Tehlor Kay Mejia and WHEN THE MOON WAS OURS by Anna-Marie McLemore, LOBIZONA is one of the most anticipated YA books of 2020!

I first picked up Romina Garber's LOBIZONA because of the description. A YA book inspired by Argentine folklore written by a Latinx author? A story that discusses very timely themes such as immigration/ICE, human connection, identity, gender equality, and more? Feminist and environmental vibes? Sign. Me. Up!

Having only read the description and heard some vague praise on Twitter, I went into the first few chapters thinking this was more of a contemporary with fantasy elements or even a magical realism story. Folks, this is a YA fantasy with some contemporary vibes, even if the description doesn't accurately portray this. It was a pleasant surprise nonetheless. While the first 25% of the book has a contemporary feel, readers are, not unlike Manu, quickly thrown into a new fantasy world.

To start, Romina Garber's writing is beautiful. The author knows how to weave wonder and emotion into the settings and characters. I could picture every detail, but the writing is not so descriptive that it detracted from the storytelling. (Disclaimer: I'm saying this next comment as a white person who speaks some Spanish.) Some of the dialogue, writing, and world-building may be repetitive for Spanish speakers or Latinx readers, since the author worked hard to accurately represent Argentine/Argentine-American culture in a super accessible way. Due to this, and also due to Manu exploring this new world of Lunaris and Septimus, there are times when the story's pacing slowed down, mostly because the author had to make time for world-building.

The only other thing that bothered me is how the story's focus shifted so easily; it almost feels like there are two stories to be told, and only the second gets fully explored. This is because Manu really can't do anything to save her mother when she is arrested by ICE. And when she discovers her people, she ends up with new challenges to confront and new ideas to process. The main "plot twist" is quite obvious—I mean, the title gives it away. However, the other plot twists are nicely handled, with enough foreshadowing that I was content with the reveal even though I didn't quite figure it out myself. Either way, the book sets up compelling plot conflicts and character motivations that propelled me through the story in about 2–3 days. 

On that note, I think the characters are the shining feature of this book. They all felt real, even the minor characters. Aside from Manu, I particularly enjoyed reading about Cata and Saysa. There is some lesbian representation, but I think there was more room for LGBTQIA+ characters in this book. Yet, overall, I wasn't too disappointed with the romance; it was slow and steady. With Manu and her love interest, despite some of the apparent insta-love and male/female pairing cliches, I enjoyed how their emotional and physical attraction progressed over the story.
There are so many possibilities for the sequel, and I hope some of these themes and relationships can be explored with more depth.

I can't wait to reread LOBIZONA when it releases Aug. 4, 2020. And I can't wait to see the fanart that emerges in the coming months! 

**I will post my review on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and will update my Netgalley feedback with these links, after the title releases in August.**

I’m so happy that there will be a book two, I cant wait to see the cover, release date, and synopsis. Lobizona was magical, I loved every minute of it and I even finished it in two days. I loved the world Romina created and her vivid descriptions, she made it easy to imagine the smells described since I grew up eating most of the food as Manu. Romina tackles the reality of undocumented immigrants, xenophobia, Sexism, and standing up against strict gender roles, but she does so in a way that is sociable. The characters are all from Latin and Hispanic backgrounds, which is refreshing for me considering I rarely find books like this, Prepare for some Spanish dialect that Manu also translates to English. Also, I want to add that Romina discusses parts of the female anatomy which you rarely find in YA books ie menstruation.

Manu Azul knows that being a teen is hard, and being an undocumented immigrant in the United States is even harder. But finding out she's a magical being with incredible powers? That might be the worst. In "Lobizona," the first in Ramina Garber's "Wolves of No World" series, Manu's life is turned upside down when she is forced (by an ICE raid) out of her small existence cooped up at home in Miami with her mother and surrogate grandmother. Manu is promptly thrust into El Laberinto, a world full of magic and myth, where she begins to uncover the secrets of her lineage and family. Even in this land of witches and werewolves, though, Manu is obligated to keep her true heritage a secret, just like she did in the human world to avoid deportation. "Lobizona" is an empowering story of finding belonging, the power of love and friendship, and embracing one's own identity even when it's dangerous. Manu's journey to claim her place in both worlds is a powerful story, asking hard questions about cultural heritage, identity, and family, and I can't wait to see where she goes next!

Every so often I come across a book that makes me wish it had been there for me earlier. Thirteen year old Amber would have loved this book! Don’t get me wrong, I love it now- I ended up getting through the book in just a few sittings. I couldn’t put it down! Then there’s the cover- it’s the first thing I noticed, and it completely enthralled me!

Garber obviously put a lot of work into Manu- her charm and kindness, her snark, her loneliness, her absolute need to find where she belongs and who she is…. these feelings are going to be very familiar to the young adults she’s targeted for her fan base. Then there’s the cultural references- the look into her life as an illegal immigrant, her feelings of being caged in the apartment. These come across beautifully, achingly so. I think it’s important to have books available that shine a light on these issues- even if they are only side issues.

I also loved the world she built for the brujas and lobinoz. Their gorgeous world, their own culture, their ideals and rebellions. It was easy to fall into that world. Her descriptions made everything very… alive. I didn’t want to leave, and I can’t wait to go back.

There’s a quote in the book I rather liked: ‘It’s hard to define your identity when you lack the language.’ I felt that deeply- and I feel like a lot of young adults will to. This is the time of life where you are figuring out who you are, where you belong, and what you stand for.

Now, there were issues. In interactions between Manu and her family they often moved between English and Spanish. While you could probably infer the meaning of everything by the context of the conversation she didn’t always actually translate it for us. I found myself getting out of the app to go to Google translate a lot because I am one of those nutty people that absolutely must know what’s being said. It was a minor inconvenience, but it was there. Then there was the ever popular trope with YA books- instalove. I noticed a lot of people talking about the instant attraction between Manu and Tiago. For myself, I rather liked their relationship (except for all the misunderstandings because people can’t just talk to one another…). I am interested in how that relationship will progress through the series.

Overall, I found this to be a wonderful fantasy, and a great example of magical realism. It was a fun, fast read with interesting characters and fabulous world building. I do wish it was around when I was younger, but I really enjoyed it now. For me, it’s a five star book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
On the Adult Content Scale, I would give it a three. There was some violence, language, sexual content- consensual and otherwise (though the later was not too bad) and bullying. None of it was all that shocking, and I would still say that this is appropriate for preteens and above.


I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!

The book is out now- I already bought the eBook and am looking into buying a copy for my library. Go get yours!

For the longest time ever since then, I’d been waiting to read more fantasy books with latin american influences. Even if it wasn’t set here in a latin american country, I just wanted to see more of myself there. Little by little, I’ve seen this happen, and it makes me so happy.

I grew up watching novelas from Argentine, like Floricienta, and even though I didn’t know much about their folklore, I definitely finished this book with a better insight about that.

There are so many things to love about Lobizona. There's the depiction of latin american family dynamics, how they communicate in spanish and the language isn't 'othered' by being italized; the world building and mysticism of Lunaris, the prominent commentary on current social issues; and the very emotional journey of the MC, Manu.

It's just like any YA book we've ever loved, but at the same time, it's different, because of a lot of us feel a little more seen.

Having grown up in Miami, this book immediately spoke to me and I’m so grateful to have had a chance to read this arc. This is a story we hear about all too often, undocumented immigrants and their fears and struggles, which to me made this book more a contemporary novel vs the YA fantasy it’s listed as, despite the obvious elements of fantasy. I did enjoy the book and I am looking forward to the next novel.

Before you start Lobizona, do not go into this story thinking that this story is simply a high fantasy filled world building and magic because it’s not. This story exists at the intersection of both the real world and a magical one.

Manuela ‘Manu’ Azul has spent most of her life in hiding thanks to being an undocumented immigrant from Argentina living in Miami as well as having unique eyes (bright yellow with a grey star pupil). Manu’s world completely crumbles when her mother is arrested by ICE. Manu manages to escape to the magical world of Kerana, but she quickly learns that even in Kerana…she still is illegal.

One thing that I was really blown away by in this book was Garber’s dichotomous world building. The opening scene was downright frightening. When Manu and her mother are trying to hide from the ICE agents, Garber does not shy away from the brutal and terrifying reality that exists for many immigrants in the real world. In contrast, when Manu arrives in Kerana, we are transported to a beautifully crafted magical world filled with the lush Argentine folklore of the brujas and lobizones (werewolves). Since Manu is ignorant to this magical world, the reader gets the unique opportunity of learning and experiencing the world alongside her.

As far as character development goes, I think that each of the characters were well developed and enhanced the storyline; including the side characters. I also loved that each of the characters had a trait that made them someone you could both empathize with and root for. I also loved that there is queer representation in this story especially with the discussion of how illegal same-sex relationships are in Kerana.

Another aspect of this story that I loved is the fact that Garber unapologetically has the characters naturally switch between English and Spanish even mid thought. I think that this is something that is incredibly important for the Latinx community in terms of seeing this representation normalized. No, this doesn’t mean that if you’re not a Spanish speaker that you will be lost.

Overall, I think that Lobizona an eye-opening and haunting experience of the immigration experience laced with magic rooted in Argentine folklore. I can’t wait to see how the series progresses.

Thank you you Wednesday Books for the blog tour invite and providing a review copy through NetGalley. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

Lobizona: Squad Goals is Dead, Long Live Pack Goals

In an unprecedented move, this will probably be the shortest review I have ever written because I am unable to find the words to express just how much Lobizona took my breath away. It is not without it’s flaws, of course, but they’re easily overlooked in the rich world, culture and values it presents on its pages.

Plot and Pacing: Fast, Fun and Filled with Tropes

Lobizona is Harry Potter meets Twilight; filled with almost every YA trope you can imagine but told in an enchanting Own Voices narrative that resonates with its audience. Manuela Azul is an undocumented immigrant with a singular unique trait that would make her stand out from the crowd: amber eyes with stars for pupils. All her life, she has had to be invisible—no school, no friends and never leaving the house without shades on. However, when ICE arrests her mother and her grandmother is attacked, Manu is forced to go on the run. Through a series of fortunate events, she stumbles across a magical school, El Laberinto, tucked deep into the Everglades.

Here, Manu learns about an entirely new and fantastical world attempting to co-exist with humans and here, she feels like she is starting to belong. The Septimus are a society of brujas (witches) and lobizón (werewolves) whose home world/plane, Lunaris, can only be visited every full moon for three days and three nights. In this patriarchal and heteronormative society, men and women are clearly segregated according to their gender which in turn, defines their abilities to either be a bruja or a lobizón. Despite the fear of her life and the disastrous web of lies she is beginning to weave about her past and identity, Manu stays on at the school. If she grows into her powers, she can rescue her mother and leave Miami for safety.

Manu is immediately classified as a bruja but she has none of the abilities her classmates share and soon, the truth about her powers is revealed: one, she didn’t even know she possessed. Just as Manu is beginning to feel at home, reality rears its ugly head and she learn that her existence in El Laberinto is as “illegal” as it was in Miami.

While told with a fresh and compelling voice, filled with the experiences and emotions of an Own Voices author, Lobizona is in essence a Chosen One story. Manu is excels at magical tasks she is given despite not being a bruja and is a Septibol (a sport played in the book) star despite never having any magical training nor been exposed to the sport. She exhibits no struggle in controlling her lobizona abilities and the leading man falls head over heels in love with her at first sight. Yes, you read that right: instalove.

Frustrations with this trope are many and they are not lacking here. For one, it was the lack of chemistry. In a story so heavily woven with nuance of culture and belonging, the romance seemed unnecessary as it never really added any value to the plot besides the angst and having a love interest. And, the dreaded: love triangle. And don’t get me started on how incredibly desirable and hot and perfect Tiago is that the entire school is in love with him but he only has eyes for Manu. Just, why?

However, this is redeemed by how easy to read Lobizona is that you barely notice it. The plot grips you in its claws and takes you along on a rather fun ride. The pacing keeps you on the edge, always a new discovery, danger or heartbeat just around the corner. It is easy to get swept up in the new world we’re discovering alongside Manu and the mystery surrounding her powers.

Thematics and Characterisation: Done Right

Another thing Lobizona does incredibly well is how it weaves and presents its themes. Below are just some of the themes it explores:

The Alien Identity and Belonging: At its core, Lobizona is about being an “alien” and needing to belong. Manu lives in fear of arrest and deportation for being an undocumented immigrant and her eyes alienate her from human society. On the other hand, Manu does not fit into the neatly segregated Septimus society as she is a lobizona and they don’t exist. While in the former Manu’s identity is oppressed by an unflinching and cruel law, in the latter, despite all the odds stacked against her, Manu finds her own corner of support and love amongst the youth and her friends. Manu’s lived experience will resonate with anyone who has had to straddle two worlds and two identities, never enough for the other.

Challenging Authority and the Status Quo: The Septimus are a highly patriarchal and heteronormative society. Men and women are segregated by gender which determines the powers that they are born to, the sports they can play and down even to the ways that they enter Lunaris. Brujas are forced by law to bear at least one child in their lifetime in order to to carry on their bloodlines and way of life as it is difficult for brujas to bear children. Same-sex relationships are strictly forbidden and possibly other LGBT identities as well. Women are also viewed as lesser by some of the lobizona due to their traditionally feminine magics and daily practices. I absolutely love that the characters, especially Saysa who is the activist character of their group, openly oppose these strict laws and ways of life, demanding that they be treated more fairly and to do away with an archaic way of life

Friendship and Community: Despite Lobizona’s attempt at pitting one girl against the other because of a love interest, it also takes cares to highlight that friendship, especially female friendships, are important in building a tight-knit support system. Manu’s classmates are quick to form friendships despite Manu being closed-off and are always willing to land a hand in guiding her through her classes and adapting to school life. Saysa and Cata even go out of their way to protect Manu’s identity. Furthermore, the Septimus live in communities called packs spread throughout the world; and as Lobizona progresses, Manu and her friends form their own pack.


Worldbuilding: Building A New World of Fantasy

Heavily drawn from Garber’s own culture and heritage, the worldbuilding in Lobizona is solid. I absolutely loved that it builds upon Argentinian folklore which is such a breath of fresh air from the typical Eurocentric and Western fantasies. And while brujas and lobizon are not entirely new to YA, it is nice to seem them take on a new life in Lobizona. Also, you can always tell if a fantasy world is built well in their food and Lobizona doesn’t disappoint; Manu and her friends make us absolutely hungry as they drink enchanted mate and dine on food I could only dream of tasting.

While some of the fantasy elements and places are a little confusing in their descriptions and placements especially once they head to Lunaris, it is easy enough to overlook as they do become a lot more generic fantasy locations.

If you’re familiar with my reviews, I would normally talk about the characters and how I relate to them but Lobizona is much more than its characters. Manu, Saysa, Cata, Tiego and countless other characters are an ode to the real life people who have lived before them and who will live after them; those who dare to believe in a world without borders, a world free from oppression and a world where everyone can be who they want to be: a place where they can belong. While Lobizona is a fantasy on paper, it is also one girl’s journey to find a place where she belongs and through it all, unsettle the world. And if you take away the fantasy, it is that core that truly resonates.