In Cazadora, Romina Garber weaves together Argentine folklore and what it means to be illegal in a timely, intimate, and emotionally powerful narrative.

Werewolves. Witches. Romance. Resistance.

Enter a world straight out of Argentine folklore...
Final Thoughts: well, after that conclusion, I am SURE there are more books to come in this series! There is just too much story to tell!
Review:
While Lobizona is primarily set in our realm, the majority of Cazadora takes place in the magical realm in Argentina. I love the crossing from one realm to another and it reminds me so much of Zoraida Cordova's Brooklyn Bruja series!
The issues of immigration and documentation continue and the dialogue regarding these social elements develops into a nuanced and layered discourse.


Summary: Following the events of Lobizona, Manu and her friends cross the mystical border into Kerana--a cursed realm in Argentina--searching for allies and a hiding place. As they chase down leads about the Coven--a mythical resistance manada that might not even exist--the Cazadores chase down leads about Manu, setting up traps to capture and arrest her.

Just as it seems the Cazadores have Manu and her friends cornered, the Coven answers their call for help. As Manu catches her breath among these non-conforming Septimus, she discovers they need a revolution as much as she does.

But is she the right one to lead them? After all, hybrids aren't just outlawed. They're feared and reviled. What happens when the Coven learns of Manu's dual heritage? Will they still protect her? Or will they betray her?

And after running this far, for this long--how much farther can Manu go before her feet get tired, and she stops to take a stand?

Cazadora starts off not long after Lobizona ends, which I liked. I prefer books that start right after the events of previous books. I don’t like when books jump a bunch of time and things supposedly happen in that time that the reader is just told about. I also really liked how the author refreshed the readers memory about events from the previous book. I was going to try to read Lobizona again, but I ended up deciding to just jump into Cazadora and see what happened. Garber reminded me of things from the previous book without dumping a bunch of information into the story.
We still follow Manu and friends, but they’re on the run and trying to figure out a plan for what comes next. It felt like there was a bit of aimlessness for the characters where they sort of just ran because they didn’t know what else to do. But when they find the Coven things picked up and I really liked that. Once the friends have a goal and a plan, the story was excellent again. I think once a plan was made the pace really picked up and stayed steady for the rest of the book.
I still liked all of the characters like I did from the first book. Manu, while still uncertain of who she really is, was brave and admirable. She’s had so many titles, but is still trying to figure out who the real Manu is. I liked this part of the story. I also liked that her friends had their own parts of the plot too. Some of them are struggling with their magic and others are working through relationship issues. I liked that they all had their own part to play in the story instead of just being there to support Manu.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I want more from this world and these characters. I’m sad to see that this is only a duology. But I’m hoping that this series does well enough that Garber will write more books set in this same world.

I could not have ripped through this book faster! Romina Garber is a genius, and the wait for the end of this trilogy is going to be excruciating. But I know Romina will make it absolutely beyond worth it!

Amazing follow-up!! While fantasy is not a genre I usually read, Romina Garber's writing is fantastic and has a way of pulling you in to her stories.

After having the privilege to review Romina Garber's debut Lobizona in 2020, I eagerly anticipated the release of this novel and was not let down. What made the original novel a five-star for me was the elements of Argentine folklore, a gripping coming of age story for Manu a young girl of dual heritage (Werewolf and Witch) that leaves the modern world and enters a world of unknown magic and wonder. The novel's events surrounding Manu's identity as a hybrid is highlighted and adds to the tension in the second novel exploring intersectional aspects of Manu's identity and how this world responds to her coming out. Bring in Lunaris's law enforcement or Cazadores who are on the lookout for Manu and those assisting her for anyone is suspect and it is up to Manu to decide who to trust . Narrated by Sol Madariaga they bring the novel to life for their ability to enhance the struggle the characters went through and added a fine pace to the story. Their reading kept me engaged as I read the novel for nearly two days. Their narration lent well to the characters and is one I look forward to hearing again either through a re-read or in the last novel in the trilogy. I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced reader and audiobook copy. I give this novel a strong 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads and cannot recommend it enough.

Still a fascinating world but a bit of a letdown after the first book. I wasn't super into the romance, which felt very pushed, and some of the characterization fell flat for me. The worldbuilding is fascinating and I want more of that, tbh. Also seem strange to me that there aren't even any brief references to trans people in a book that is pretty explicitly themed around gender roles and expectations, and has other LGBTQ characters. Was kind of a glaring omission that I am hoping there is a decent explanation of some kind for.

I really liked this, but ugh. I'm conflicted about the ending and the fact that this is a duology. It really feels like there should be another book.

Loved the first book and love this sequel! I love the uniqueness of this world and its magic! Fantastic story!

4 STARS

If Lobizona was about Manu's journey as a werewolf, Cazadora is about her journey as a revolutionary.

On the run after the events in Lunaris, Manu and her friends are desperate to find shelter from the Cazadores. They can't very well begin to change their world when they can't find shelter from their enemies, and more than that, they need allies. Four teens alone aren't enough to overturn a system with roots that might be deeper than memory.

But there are still secrets to address. The Septimus world may know that Manu is a werewolf, but they don't yet know she is a hybrid. Her dual heritage as both human and Septimus threatens to undo all the hard work she and her allies have accomplished in rallying against Septimus tradition, and keeping it a secret weighs heavy on her. It's just another thing she has to hide, another lie she has to live.

And maybe she's tired of being anyone but herself.


"I want both a family and a revolution."

One of the very best things about Cazadora is how it's not only about Manu, but about anyone like her, anyone existing outside of the rigid Septimus binaries. She is the centerpiece of a revolution, and if she succeeds, it will change the lives of so many Septimus. Breaking from the binary that women are always brujas and men always werewolves will open the doors for a wider conception of gender and magic, and begin to pave the way for other change.

And at the same time, grand as this mission is, important as the goals of this revolution are, it's still about Manu. She is a teenager held up as the face of change, change that scares the people and systems already in power. There is a target on her back everywhere she goes, for everything she does, and there is no hope of peace until change is achieved. As much as she values what she and her friends are fighting for, she's also tired, and it lends her character incredible impact. I adore how much she wants this better future for herself, for anyone like her, for generations to come, and at the same time, I love that she's sick of it, in some ways. Staring down the barrel of a life on the run, or life half in shadow just to keep the peace is exhausting, and she knows it. She's living it every single day.


Of course, being on the run means things can move a little quick.

Unlike Lobizona, which was more of a personal exploration, Cazadora explores the new world and traditions Manu has found herself wound up in. Fleeing around the realm of Kerana brings an amazing amount of color and history to the world. There are mushrooms that function as the Septimus version of the internet, islands that exist as a conjunction of the four elements, and a resistance located in a sea somewhere between here and nowhere at all. The way magic winds through every inch of the realm is truly enchanting.

However, we sometimes only see it in glimpses. Manu and friends don't have the luxury of playing tourists, after all. And while this works to emphasis their status as fugitive revolutionaries, it sometimes comes off as rushed. While I love the way Manu and Tiago interact, their tentative tenderness and solid dedication, all this rushing sometimes strains their interactions.

Mostly, I struggle with the scenes where Manu and Tiago squeeze in some intense making out right before or right after high tension moments. I mean, I get they're teenagers and they're making the best of what they do have. I can't really begrudge them that. And at the same time, it sometimes has a bit of...let's call it tonal whiplash, for lack of a better term.

Of course, maybe this is just me generally disliking it when scenes get heavy on the romance, especially physical romance. I suspect this is a pretty subjective point in the long run.


The Wolves of No World series has shown its promise again and again, and it's time it gets the recognition it deserves.

Cazadora is anything but the end of this series. Ending on a note that had me in disbelief (but the good kind, the punch in the heart kind!), it's setting up for a third book that will no doubt tear my heart out. Manu's journey is only spiraling deeper into the Septimus systems, and the change she aims to bring about is only beginning to see the surface.

Ever since Lobizona debuted the same day as Twilight's latest book, I worried that it would be overshadowed. Please, don't let that be the case. Give this series your attention, your love. It's werewolves and witches like you've never seen before. More than that, it's both magical and timely in so many ways. I can't recommend it enough, and if you haven't already started the series, let this be a sign.

The wolves are waiting for you, but not for much longer. There's a revolution to start. 🐺


CW: deportation mention, ICE raid mention, violence, body horror, teen pregnancy, loss of a loved one, child death

[This review will go live on Hail & Well Read at 10am EST on 9/8/21.]

As much as I enjoyed 'Lobizona,' I didn't find that same love in 'Cazadora.' I often have a hard time getting into fantasy and I really loved that Lobizona blended contemporary with fantasy elements. It was magical and atmospheric but also felt like a very real story about a real girl. Cazadora feels much more solidly in the fantasy genre and just didn't capture that same magic for me.

While it wasn't the right mix for me, I know many readers will absolutely adore this whole series. I'm not too sure if I'll be continuing with the series, but I will absolutely still recommend it to teens at my library.

When I read Lobizona earlier this year and was completely blown away by how Romina tackled so many real world issues such as ICE and immigration within a fantasy book, I just KNEW I had to get my hands on Cazadora. It picks up right where we left off and I was instantly sucked in. I truly didn't think Romina could top her first book but she did. It gives our characters so much more dimension and I loved going along on the journey with them. Similar to the first, the fantasy world descriptions were beautiful and I really felt transported. I will now read anything she writes, I am a full on stan!

Cazadora is the stunning sequel to Lobizona. I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and am quite behind in getting my review out, but here we finally are!

I honestly don’t have a ton to say about this title other than “I freaking loved it.” It’s definitely one of my top recommendations and favorite reads from 2021 (so far) and I have to say, I loved it even more than I loved Lobizona.

It’s just as fierce, sharp, intellectual, and important as Lobizona was, and just as full of magic, folklore, and love, but it delves even deeper into some of the central issues the story discusses like identity, the functions of laws, immigration, gender, and belonging.

This novel is as sweet and empowering as it is heartbreaking. One of my favorite things about both Lobizona and Cazadora was the way the story naturally prompted me to ask myself questions about how I view the world or what I’d do if I was faced with some of the same situations the characters face. I think it’s a great example of how books can be fun and a great escape but still grow individuals by teaching things like empathy and critical thinking. As comforting as books can be, they can also be an important nudge out of your comfort zone.

Really, I’d like to point you back over to my previous review of Lobizona (over on IG at @beerads.PNW) because I felt largely the same about this book, it was just *more.* You get to venture deeper into the characters, and their relationships, and their personal development, and the plot, and all the same things that are great about Lobizona and how it is written are just as great in Cazadora. There isn’t a combination of words that perfectly expresses how I feel about this series so I’m going to stop here and just say go read this series! (And of course, come chat with me when you’re done!!)

“They want to know if I can keep up with the wolves? Let them wonder if the wolves can keep up with me.”- Romina Garber, Cazadora
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I loved all the things that were brought up in the first book and all those important topics carried into this one. While this book is about Witches and werewolves it all pertains to real life. The author talks about slashing up the norms or what is looked upon to be the right way. From the moment your born your life is already set in the path that you’ll live your life. If you’re a girl then you’ll be a bruja (witch) and you’ll eventually have to have a child to keep the population up. If you’re a guy then you’re a Lobizon.
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Manu along with her friends continue on their journey to try and protect her. In the human world she’s an illegal and in the Septimus world she’s a hybrid therefore an abomination. She’s a girl but she’s not a bruja but rather a Lobizona. First of her kind. The best way to talk about this book might be through quotes so let me share some with you..
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“But dismantling something doesn’t require a consolidated vision. We just need to prove a current system is flawed.”
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“His support comes from a place of empathy, not personal experience. He’s an ally. But his point of view remains privileged.” 👏👏
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“ All I know is they’ve been making up stories about independent girls in every tradition since forever.’ She says, her gaze steadfast. ‘And I think it’s time we take back our narratives.”
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“It’s the strongest of binding agents, and the only magic that can tell us where we belong - friendship.”
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I’m anxiously awaiting the next book! One of my favorite reads from this month and this year.
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Thanks to @netgalley & @wednesdaybooks for my early copy!

I loved Lobizona and Cazadora was well worth the wait! I absolutely love the folklore elements blended with modern society. This is the kind of book my students and I can discuss at length. Highly recommended!

CAZADORA picks up pretty much where LOBIZONA leaves off. Manu and her crew are on the run being pursued by Cazadores, a law enforcement group for the Septimus, which includes the Lobizones (werewolves) and Brujas (witches). I know that’s a lot to digest. This is one of those books you shouldn’t read unless you’ve read the first book already.

The story keeps up that fast pace with Manu fleeing, finding allies, enemies closing in, stakes mounting, all the way to the last page. There are some pauses for romance and for Manu to explore her connections with her parents. CAZADORA has a big cast, so it doesn’t go deeply into many of the relationships between characters, though.

One of the things that does get explored a lot is the issue of gender identity in what is a very binary culture. In the Septimus world, boys are Lobizones. Girls are Brujas. A person’s whole identity within the community is based on those facts. So what does that mean for someone who doesn’t fit those binary definitions?

Manu being a girl with werewolf powers, a Lobizona, at first feels to her like a personal fight for recognition of her identity. But as she pursues a place in her community, she meets others who are in hiding or on the run because of who they are. One Lobizone lost his ability to transform after an attack by a monster. Another is transgender.

So Manu begins to see the restrictive rules of the community as not only impacting herself, but also harming others. In some ways it’s an echo of the fight she’s had her whole life as an undocumented immigrant. So she has to decide whether she’s going to keep running, whether she’s just fighting for herself or for everyone who’s different.

I liked the way those conversations and themes were woven into the story. It felt like those ideas emerged naturally and organically, so it didn’t feel forced to me. I also loved the way the Manu grew as a character through the story. At first, she was just running and surviving. Watching her reach a place where she took control of her story and made her own hard decisions was really moving.

And, of course, like any good second book in a series, this one ends with a new adventure already in its sights. I’m already excited about a third book, and I will definitely be reading it!

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, I have to give this book a low rating, because I really struggled with it. It's weird too, because I really liked the first one, but I just wasn't vibing with the second one. I don't know what about it I struggled with the most, but I can say that I wasn't able to get past 50% of the book. I found myself trying to push forward to keep reading, but struggling to motivate myself to do it.

One of the biggest things I can say I struggled with was the world. The knowledge of what everything is and who everyone was is overwhelming. Trying to remember what happened in the first book while balancing what's going on in the second one, was again, overwhelming. This is a great book to read right after finishing Lobizona because I promptly forgot everything and couldn't find myself back in this world. But if you're just jumping in after reading the first book over a year ago, like I was, it might be a bit of a shock to the system.

Another issue I had, which is ironic too, is the repetitiveness. Usually, if I'm struggling to remember what happened and what everything is, I would appreciate characters repeating themselves or giving insight on the past events. But the things being repeated wasn't the important information I forgot or needed to be reminded of. It was all the small, inferential stuff that I could pick up on my own. At least, personally. Which can be annoying, but I usually overlook. For some reason, I couldn't overlook it in this book.

Now, the actual plot itself was okay. I didn't have any issues with the events of the book, but it wasn't enough to keep my interest unfortunately. Though, the way new things were explained to the reader was a bit odd. I'm all for giving the reader clues, but flat out explaining what everything is all the time is a bit boring.

While I struggled with this book and had to put it down, I hope to try and reread this book in the future. Maybe after rereading Lobizona, so I can understand things better. But as of right now, I have to DNF this book and just hope that I'll want to pick it up in the future.

I really enjoyed this sequel! One thing I love about Garber's work is the integration of the Spanish language. It makes things feel much more real. And it helps me brush up on my Spanish so, no complaints from me.

These characters have my whole dang heart. It took me a minute to remember some of the secondary characters from the first book, but our four MCs were there for me right from the start. The way these kids are fighting against their patriarchal and at times archaic society gives me all the happy feels. I want these kids to succeed in all things.

I was NOT expecting this ending. For some reason, my brain thought this was a duology (maybe due to the popularity of duologies these days?) so having an open ending was like a lightbulb moment. 'OH! There's more!'

And that ending was INSANE. I'm so excited to see how book 3 plays out!

In the first book of the series, Lobizona, author Romina Garber introduces the reader to a world not unlike Harry Potter. There are witches, werewolves, and even a school of magic. But that is where the similarities end. This series really explores Latin American culture, and addresses issues of gender, and gender roles, that is gaining in importance. Hispanics (and I myself am one) have been raised to believe in two genders with very rigid roles for each. Those beliefs and roles are being challenged now, and the author cleverly uses the YA fantasy genre to explore what this means.

I loved Cazadora. Besides the very important themes, the world-building is creative and whimsical, and the characters and story had me completely hooked. I can't wait for the conclusion in this trilogy.

What I Liked:

Themes:

In the world of this novel, all magical people are wither men, who are werewolves (lobizones), or women, who are witches (brujas). There are no grey areas . Each role, male or female, has a rigid set of roles in the society. When Manu arrives in this world (after being in hiding in the human world), she shows that she is a female werewolf. How can this be? Her existence is illegal and challenges the whole society's social order.

Although Manu does not identify as LGBTQ+, the parallels are obvious. There are also female characters who do identify as lesbians, and must hide themselves. Since there are so few of the brujas and lobizones, there is intense pressure for women to have children. One reason that the society doesn't tolerate homosexuality. But this pressure to reproduce is also very troubling for anyone who doesn't wish to become a parent.

Manu meets several characters who see an opportunity to change long-held norms when it comes to gender, and gender roles. It's an uphill battle, as this is so ingrained in this culture. As with Spanish, where there is no gender neutral word for a person, there is no word for a female werewolf, so Manu is known as a Lobizona. What will it take to make such profound changes in this culture?

World-Building:

We learn much more in Cazadora about this world's society and it's gender roles. Brujas take on tranditional roles of healing and caretaking, while werewolves have leadership roles such as in the military and the police. We also learn of other ways in which the society functions. There are public confessions, as well as public mourning when someone dies. It's a society that is strongly rooted in the traditional family. This can be great, if that is what you want. But for anyone who wants to walk a different path, there is no support.

The various places where the action takes place are really inventive and whimsical. The Coven is actually an underwater sea vessel, and looks like a giant seashell. It reminded me of a magical submarine. The different places each have a magical twist that creates a dreamlike feel to the book, complete with creative flora and fauna.

Characters:

Manu continues to take risks in order to fight for her right to exist. She runs away from the magic school, along with several other students, to try and find a way to get the government to recognize her as not being illegal. While she is really brave, she also begins to understand the sacrifices that others are making for her. Can she live with herself when her friends may possibly be throwing away their futures? It's a constant tug of war, between wanting to assert herself, and not being selfish.

Manu's friends, Cata and Sasya are a same sex couple who must hide who they are. Homosexuality is not just frowned upon, it's not even acknowledged in this culture. They have learned to hide who they are by pretending to like boys, and by trying to be perfect daughters. It has mostly works, but they are constantly threatened with exposure. This puts a huge strain on their relationship, with Sasya wanting to be more open about showing the world who they are, and Cata trying desperately to keep her parents approval. Basically, one is ready to come out, while the other isn't. This plays out with Sasya (who is a witch who can manipulate plants and life forces) becoming more and more aggressive. When she nearly kills someone with her anger, she and Cata have to reach some kind of peace with their situation.

Story:

I appreciated the story's many layers. Besides the fast-paced action, Manu begins to understand that several different factions want to use her notoriety for their own means. Th only female Cazadora (police woman), wants to trap her so she will gain fame and credibility. Her female friends hope that she can change things enough to allow them more choice over lives. And the Coven (a group of revolutionaries) wants her to overthrow the government! Manu really has a lot to navigate. She needs to decide who she can trust, and what it is that she really wants.

There are plenty of people who are neither good or bad. They simply have their own agenda and wish to use Manu to further it. But Manu can't be the only person sticking her neck out to enact change. This is something that's going to take many people, and several years, to do.

3.5/5 stars

I love Garber's atmospheric writing and how vividly she can describe a scene and transport the reader into the fantastical world she has created. That being said, this sequel to Lobizona felt a little bloated in terms of ideas and concepts. I wanted the narrative to be a bit tighter and felt like there were too many plot points competing for my attention at times. However I still find the book's overall message to be a really powerful one and I think Garber is doing something really special here by weaving together this fantasy world with the struggles of undocumented immigrants in America.

Big thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced copy of Cazadora!

Though I don't read a ton of fantasy, I really enjoyed Lobizona and I would have been obsessed with it if I'd read it when I was the actual age demographic for YA, so I was excited to get an ARC of the next installment.

Cazadora picks up right where Lobizona left off, which would have been ideal if I hadn't let several months go by between reading the two. I spent a good chunk of the beginning of the book being pretty confused-- not fully remembering what was going on or what the stakes were, so part of me wishes there was a bit more of a recap, but I can totally respect not having it for future readers who jump from one to the next.

This book has a lot of the same great themes from book 1-- identity, illegality, humanity, etc. and my personal favorite, found family. I enjoyed getting to see more from the pack of friends as they rally around Manu and her cause. There are some secondary characters introduced (or reintroduced from book one) but it was a bit difficult to keep everyone straight, but it doesn't really hinder the plot.

I had similar issues with this one that I did with Lobizona, and I can't tell if it's Garber's writing style or my lack of fantasy reading. Most of the world is built in book 2, but a lot of things were left a little vague and up to the readers to fill in the blanks-- there are a lot of secrets in this book and it was hard to differentiate with who knew who and who was on who's side. I won't say too much for fear of spoilers, but it took until the second half when things become a bit more plot-focused to get really engrossed in this one.

At its core though, this book has a lot to love for readers who devoured Lobizona. The ending was thoughtfully done and though the series could end here, I would definitely read more of this story.