A 5-star middle grade book!

Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares was an absolutely fun and entertaining middle grade book. I had not read book #1 but still enjoyed it as a stand-alone fantasy adventure. The book has some very real and especially contemporary situations for 13-year-old protagonist Pao; her mother's obnoxious boyfriend is moving into their apartment, a not-so-thrilling life event for most kids but Pao's situation is compounded by the fact that her father is reappearing in her dreams.

Actually, the dreams are nightmares, set in a scary forest. Pao doesn't feel that there is anyone she can turn to for support. Surprisingly, Emma's group of friends are mostly wealthy kids who do not share her racial identity. Another crummy feeling which is intensified by the age of the protagonist is that very-MG experience of having a former best friend drift apart. The character development of this former BFF, Emma, includes Emma's membership in a school LGBTQ group called The Rainbow Rogues.

This was a really fun middle grade book! I thoroughly enjoyed Paola Santiago and the River of Tears and this story picks up six months after the events in Tears. Paola is alone, her mom has a new boyfriend, Emma has new friends and Dante is just being weird. Paola starts having dreams again, but this time she keeps seeing a strange man that looks like her dad. When Dante's grandmother falls sick, Pao and Dante set off to figure out what's happening, traveling back to the ñinos de la luz for answers. When they find an empty camp, with a lone camper, Naomi, they instead set out on an adventure to the wilds of Oregon to find Pao's dad and the other children. What Pao didn't expect to find was the secret to Dante's past and more monsters and horrors then they've ever faced. This is a great story for middle grade, but could probably be a little scary in some parts. Overall, a really great story and I can't wait to see what else Pao and her friends get up to.

I loved the first book, and I felt that this one was a great sequel! I liked how more emotional it was, and I loved seeing the friendship between Emma and Paola really blossom in this book. You really see Paola take a stand for herself, and start to look into her worth as a young girl and how she should be treated. I also liked that we got to see some loose ends tied up in concerns to her father, and how everything with him really turned out. But I liked that this book really showed Paola being super brave, and being a strong young girl. I also liked that she didn't know the lore of her culture all that well, because it helped us to really learn it along with her. I also liked that we were seeing different scary monsters from Mexican lore, although I wish we got more of the lore in this one, compared to just getting most of it at the end. At least with the first one that one had more of the La Llorona lore featured more during the whole of the book. This one I wish we had more of the Hitchhiker because he was kind of interesting and I wanted to know more about that lore. But overall this was a really fun novel and I really liked the storyline, the lore, and the writing was really interesting as well! I loved this book and I cannot wait for book 3! I highly recommend checking this series! It's so good! You won't be disappointed!

My 10 year old daughter and I were first introduced to Paola Santiago by our local public library as part of a community matters book club! We loved this brave, science loving female character! The second book further explores relationships between her and several other characters after book 1 occurred. Again, we loved this book and look forward to the next! We have yet to been disappointed by a Rick Riordan Presents book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide, Rick Riordan Presents for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you to Disney Books for sending me an ARC via netgalley for an honest review.
4/5 stars

This was a really good read! Paola is such a complex character, and I love how realistic she feels. She was easy to relate to, and I like how she learns about herself on her journey to find her father.
This sequel focuses on Paola trying to find her father along with help from Dante and Naomi. Pao has been feeling alone lately. Her relationships with Emma and Dante haven’t been great, and her mom has a new boyfriend and isn’t giving Pao the same attention she used to. When Pao starts having weird dreams again, she seeks out Señora Mata for answers. Unfortunately Dante’s abuela keeps calling Pao by her mom’s name, Maria, and talking about Pao’s dad. Then she collapses and Pao can’t wake her up. This sets off the chain of events that leads Pao and Dante to set off looking for her father.
I loved the way that the author wrote the broken relationship between Pao and Dante in this book. The awkwardness of their changing relationship in the first one is still kind of there, but there’s a lot of anger from both of them. My heart was breaking when they fought and I just wanted them to make up and realize that they’re stronger when they’re supporting each other as friends.
I found that this one wasn’t as atmospheric as the first one, but that the ghosts and creatures from the void were still vivid and creepy. The author does a great job of bringing these fantasmas to life, and also creating fear and tension during the scenes when they appear.
The one thing that was a bit annoying for me was that Pao was pretty dense about putting together clues about her father. I figured it out in book one, but I don’t know if younger readers would pick up on all of the clues as easily as I did.
Overall I thought it was highly enjoyable, and I think readers of all ages will enjoy Pao’s journey to find her father and get answers about herself.

This second book in the series explores the fallout from the gang’s misadventures in River of Tears. Things have been weird between Paola and her two best friends since they saved the world together. Paola supported Emma when she came out, but then she felt like they grew apart when Emma started hanging out with a new group of people. And Dante has been avoiding her completely, assumedly because of the moments when they were on their adventure and things started to veer into “not just friends” territory between them. But when Dante’s grandma falls into an unexplainable coma, Paola’s sure it has supernatural origins and that the dreams she’s been having can lead her to the answers. Dante comes with her (begrudgingly) to Oregon, where the dreams seem to be sending Paola, and a new adventure begins, but this time Paola feels like she might as well be all alone.

The book explores themes of changing friendships, budding romance, betrayals, and family mysteries. It also features quite a bit of diversity since there are multiple LGBT characters and most of the main characters are Latinx (the fact that brown kids are looked at with suspicion is brought up in multiple scenes in the book). There’s plenty of action since Paola once again finds herself fighting creatures from the void as she makes her way to her missing father. What she finds is a bit of a surprise, though, and the mystery of Paolo’s dreams and her estranged dad will keep kids turning the pages. I’m looking forward to finding out what happens in the next book in the series, especially since one major element of the book ends with a definite cliffhanger!

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley and Rockstar Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

This is an absolutely wonderful middle-grade mystery that I just couldn't put down. Paola is dealing with so many real issues, as she takes on the mysteries in her life. This book tactfully covers topics such as LGBT experiences, diversity (or lack thereof), parental relationships, and more. A great book for kids and adults alike.

5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide, Rick Riordan Presents for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in Tehlor Kay Mejia’s Paola Santiago Series. I did not get a chance to read the first book in the series before I read this one, the author did such a great a job of explaining the back story that I really didn’t have to read the first book. However, I am still going to read the first book to get a better picture of previous events.

This book is about a girl named Paola. She has the special ability of learning things through dreams. She and her best friend Dante are not getting along since their last adventure, and he blames her for everything that is happening in this story. She has another best friend named Emma, who is always there to cheer her up when she down.

In this story, she must go to Oregon to find her long lost father in to figure out what is going on around them, and how to to help Dante’s Grandma. She also teams us with some ghost hunter friends she met in the first book.

There were a lot of adventures and fighting happening throughout the story. She has a unique way of figuring things out to accomplish what needs to be done. It was an action packed book, and I enjoyed the story. I gave this book a 4 star rating.

Does she find her father? Do Dante and her become friends again or do they keep fighting? You will have to read the book to find out.

I adore this series and how Tehlor Kay Mejia weaves Mexican-American folktales and legends with a fun, entertaining story. The characters are fantastic, and the story was gripping.

While I don't know that it's quite on the level with the first, and although it doesn't have the constant humor/snark/silliness tone of Percy Jackson, this will certainly appeal to those looking for more fantasy adventure, Paola remains a great narrator, the continued inclusion of Latin American mythology is well done, and some of the character moments hit with particular strength. Things do get a bit chaotic in the middle, and there's something of a feeling of walking back or shifting certain elements from the first book in order to set up the third, but the action is propulsive and there are questions left unanswered which will leave readers coming back for more.

A fun second book in a series that is sure to capture many young readers. Snarky, obnoxious, and everything that age can be, Paola faces new foes, rekindles friendships, and does it on her own terms. Another great Rick Riordan Presents series.

Thank you NetGalley and Disney Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance reading copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

I haven't read Paola Santiago and the River of Tears but that doesn't matter. Tehlor Kay Mejia does an excellent job of giving just enough background information to ensure that the reader doesn't get confused.

"The Forest of Nightmares" is the continuing story of Paola Santiago. Picking up months after her first supernatural adventure, she finds herself wondering how she's ever supposed to go back to the life she lived before, when everyone including her friends and mother seem intent on moving on without her. When she starts having strange dreams about her missing father, Paola turns to her friend Dante's abuela for help... but that results in a supernatural event that renders the old woman unconscious and ghost-like creatures chasing her. Left with only one option, Paola undertakes a quest to Oregon with Dante. Along the way she meets up with old friends, and makes new ones, and though many challenges stand in her way, she discovers more about her previous adventures and why these things are happening to her.

Though the main problems of the book are resolved, there is one dangling plot thread left hanging that will be no doubt be resolved in 2022's "Paola Santiago and the Sanctuary of Shadows."

This book gets a solid 4 stars from me and I plan on going back and reading book one in the series.

Paola has another adventure and along the way tries to figure out who she is but it really felt forced. She is petulant and obnoxious which makes it hard to keep reading when the main character is so negative about everything. While the mythology/folklore is interesting the characters for me just kept me from enjoying this book. There is also a distinct political narrative that felt forced upon the reader.

I really enjoyed the first novel in Paola’s story, and this next instalment was fun and adventurous. I love Paola’s character. She’s complex, emotional, sometimes moody - she’s a young teenager. While her story is fantastical in nature, her personal life is relatable. She has problems with family and friends, feels lonely, and can’t decide what she really wants.

The adventure they go on is full of interesting lore, repairing and damaging relationships, and self-discovery. I’m excited to read more of Paola’s story. I also very much appreciate that there’s enough of a suspenseful end to want to continue the story immediately, but also that there is an obvious end to this instalment so that I’m not waiting anxiously and wishing I hadn’t read the series until it was completed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for providing a copy of this eARC for review.

Maybe someday one of the Rick Riordan Presents titles will disappoint me, but it hasn't happened yet. Mejia does an excellent job of making Pao - and all of the characters - feel so genuine and real. The growth from book one to this is both interesting to follow and realistic; sometimes shifts like these feel shoehorned in, and these feel very natural.

Exceptional.

Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The setting of the second book has us six months after the harrowing adventure that took place in the first book. However, things are pretty different than they were.

Paola and her best friends have drifted apart, and her mother has a new boyfriend; she is baffled by reoccurring nightmares that she believes are eluding to her estranged father. Paola feels alone, lost and confused.

However, everything changes when Dante’s beloved Abuela falls into a coma, and the trio finds themselves back together as they embark on a new adventure.

I thoroughly enjoyed that Mejia continues to explore and expand her characters. That she has Paola embracing this growth even when she is unsure, which is anyone can resonate with.

While reference does occur to the first book, I feel that you could read this book if you haven’t read the first.

This book has met and exceeded everything that I have come to love of authors who write under the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

Book two was the perfect continuation of Paola’s story, and I cannot wait to see where Mejia takes us on the next adventure!

Half a year has passed since Paola Santiago took on the legendary spirit, La Llorona. Since that time, a lot has changed in Pao's life and she wouldn't say for the better. She has grown distant from her two best friends, Emma and Dante. Truth be told, she barely speaks to them anymore. Add to this the fact that her Mom has an annoying new boyfriend practically living at their house. Yeah, not great.

Additionally, Pao's still having nightmares. This time set in a dark, creepy forest where her Dad plays a role as a recurring character. The Dad she really knows nothing about and barely remembers.

When Dante's abuela collapses right in front of Pao, some things she was saying just prior, prompts Pao to believe the two occurrences, her dreams and Dante's abuela's mysterious illness, are connected. Pao also believes that her father may be the key to saving Dante's abeula.

It's a race against time as Pao, begrudingly joined by Dante, hits the road to Oregon to try to track down her Dad. Luckily, the two are able to pair up with their old friend, Ninos leader, Naomi, who contributes quite a bit on their journey. Again the kids must face down incredibly dangerous and frightening supernatural entities on more than one occasion. This book got scary, y'all. I mean it!

Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares is an incredible sequel. I felt like with this novel, even though it is packed full of action, I got to know the characters more. Pao in particular. In the first installment, I felt a bit disconnected from her. There was so much action, it was chaotic and I never felt like I really understood her.

I was so focused on what was going on in the periphery. But with this novel, I feel like learning more about her family, her feelings of loneliness and self doubt, I truly came to care for her. She is such a soft, sweet, yet strong character, who grew by leaps and bounds over the course of this story.

Mejia does a great job of tying creatures of folklore into a modern, compelling tale. It's evident from this book that there is a lot more of Pao's story to tell. I feel like we are just scratching the surface of complications for this spunky girl.

In short, this is a super fun Middle Grade adventure story, perfect for Readers who enjoy a bit of darker, don't turn out the lights, content in their stories! I am greatly looking forward to meeting up with Pao again and going on another adventure.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Disney Books and Rick Riordan Presents, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. As always with books found within the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, this dazzled me with its high-stakes, page-turning content. Well done by Mejia!!

Another adventure with Paola trying to figure out who she is within the magical realm and who are those alongside her. There are many elements of this second tale that I felt had the potential to be enjoyable, but I keep finding myself disappointed. The folklore is fascinating, yet I feel the way the characters are written into it is a bit clunky and forced. Plus, while pop culture plays a unique role in the Rick Riordan series, I felt the references in this book are taken from a BuzzFeed headline, which means it will be easily dated and out of context in mere months. I really want to be into the Paola story, for I truly enjoy the Rick Riordan series, but there just seems to be a disconnect between the folklore and the heroine who is to be working within it.

Book two in the series, this book is best read after reading Book 1. Paola is a tenacious, smart, and compassionate ghost fighter who loves science and cares deeply for her friends. Pao has strange nightmares and has witnessed some scary magical stuff! When her friend's grandmother falls ill, weird things start happening and Pao is thrust into a journey she would rather not make. She faces mysterious beings, racism, myths, legends, spirits, and demons. She learns and adapts along the way and works to beat back the evil that has taken over her life and hurt her friend's grandmother. With another book sure to come in the series, this is a colorful, suspenseful, and magical read that keeps the reader guessing.
Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the digital ARC of this book.

Six months ago, Paola Santiago went on a death-defying adventure full of ghosts and creatures from the void. After returning to her normal (read: boring) life, Pao hoped things with her friends and family would change for the better. Except now her best friends, Emma and Dante, are barely talking to her and her mom has a new, irritating boyfriend. Pao feels like she has no one to turn to, especially when her nightmares begin again, this time taking place in a mysterious forest and centering around the father she hasn’t seen since was three. Everything in Pao’s life seems like it’s falling apart, and when Dante’s abuela falls into a weird—probably magical—coma, Pao knows it’s up to her to fix it. She embarks on a quest to get some answers, but with nothing as it seems, Pao must dig deep within herself if she wants to save everyone she loves in time.

If you thought you knew everything about Paola Santiago and her world, think again. With this sequel, Tehlor Kay Mejia has proven that there is so much more to discover about Pao, her family and friends, and the void than we readers had ever thought possible. Pao is an exciting and complex character, and I loved following her journey to discover who she truly is. I also enjoyed reading about the other characters, both those we’d met before and those new to this story. It was especially fun to truly get to know Emma, since she was absent for most of the first book. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Rick Riordan Presents novel without something magical, and I absolutely loved learning more about the magical elements and creatures of Mexican-American mythology. With chill-inducing thrills and all the heart and hope we’ve come to expect from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, this book is the perfect continuation of Paola’s story.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)