I'm adding this to my physical tbr, but unfortunately wasn't able to finish the audiobook. It had nothing to do with the narrators, but I'm auDHD and found the immersive aspect to be overstimulating. Based on reviews, I'm rating it a 4 star since I'm rating audio but am certain that I'll love the book.

I wish I could give this book a proper review, but unfortunately the audiobook ARC that I was sent from NetGalley seems to have some issue with it which meant I was only able to get about 56% of the way through. Whenever I tried to listen from Chapter 23 onwards, the audiobook would freeze and then crash.
However, I am able to comment on what I read up to that point. I was excited about the premise of this book, as it seemed to have everything I love - ancient evil spirits, undiscovered magic, and a quest to save the world. But unfortunately, I felt that the story really fell short.
First of all, the two main characters - Miry and Ada - are whiny. The two of them are constantly griping at each other, both out loud and in their head, and it gets tiresome pretty quickly. It feels as though they are being purposely obtuse just for the sake of continuing the plot, and it can be irritating.
Also, the magic that the two girls learn is... weird. Ada is able to grow one of her nails extra long (almost like a cactus needle) and then shoot the elongated nail as a projectile. But it was when she grew it even longer and started wielding it as a blade instead that I had to take a step away. Miry's magic is just as odd though - she shoots individual strands of her hair as projectiles, but it got weirder when she started using her arm hairs.
There were a few things that I did like though, and that was the deities who controlled the magic, and the way that different magic users recharged their magic through different means, e.g water or sunlight, but unfortunately this wasn't enough to turn the story around.
The narrator's voice for the audiobook was also grating, and there were unnecessary sound effects thrown in throughout.
All in all, I'm not that upset that I haven't been able to finish this book, and I won't be recommending it to others.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I did not finish this, I got about 30% through and really just couldn’t get into it.
Apologies

If you loved the Percy Jackson books, you'll love this book.
Our main characters are two 15 year old cousins who race to save the city from an ancient evil, while figuring out their identity as a person and connecting with their roots.
It's premise of Mexican mythology makes it a very interesting read.
Overall I loved this book.
PS: Both of them are BTS army!

I was drawn into The Sunlit Ruins by the cover of the two protagonists in front of a Teotihuacán pyramid in Mexico. And I have to say this was an enjoyable adventure to go on as the cousins discover the magical side of the ancient Teotihuacán culture. I was so happy I gave this book a chance.

We follow cousins Ada and Miry (which I thought were spelled different based on how it's pronounced), both born on the same day as an ordinary trip to the Teotihuacán pyramids turn into a fight for their lives, and forced to discover the depths of their newly awakened magic tied into the Teotihuacán culture before disaster strikes.

Along with that, the girls explore their fractured relationship and their place in their culture as both Mexican and Americans, being mixed heritage. The interjection of Mexican culture was done well, and relates to the characters culture clash, as well as how it helped with character growth. I enjoyed getting to know these two as they are forced to work together through the adventure, deal with comparison traps, as well as how they contrast with each other, which is always a fun dynamic to read about. The other characters the two encounter were also fun to learn about and were fleshed out, especially older cousin Fernando. I love the bonds of family that's pervasive throughout. Small heads up, there's mentions of a bad touch moment in one character's past.

The world building was done well, both with current day Mexico City and the Teotihuacán culture. I felt like I was there most of the time and immersed in the magic and lore of the ancient culture, and it's link to the current day. The story was engaging from start to end and it didn't feel like there was a lot of drag to the story. For the most part, the pacing was great, with a few twists to keep things going. There was a bit of an info dump when things are being explained, but it's not super bad.

I listened to the audiobook, which was easy on the ears. Though the two main ladies voices sounded very similar that at times I thought it was the same person, so it was a minor issue, but not too bad, considering they are a sense twin cousins (it makes sense). I do like that the presentation steps it up a notch with sound effects for scene transitions and other events throughout that made it feel like an audio drama.

The ending was quite interesting and I can't wait to see how everything is wrapped up in the second half of the duology. This is a fun read for YA readers looking for something with a Percy Jackson vibe that can't be missed.

DNF, the writing style is that of a teenager which is exactly what these kids are! It just wasn’t for me, I think I expected too much and don’t properly look into the age recommendation for the books.

A spirited journey centered around two teenage cousins who, despite their apparent differences, discover their shared core values. This middle-grade fantasy is rich in Hispanic mythology, girl power, and the nuanced dynamics of young adults learning to communicate and overcome jealousy.

As Ada and Miry accidentally unleash an ancient evil spirit, their adventure takes them through Mexico City and into a hidden, fantastical world rooted in the philosophy of Teotihuacán. The story beautifully weaves cultural elements and mythology into a fun and engaging narrative, making it an enjoyable read for the reader.

The exploration of family dynamics, particularly between the cousins, adds depth to the narrative. Their journey becomes not only about sealing the unleashed spirit but also about understanding and appreciating each other. The themes of girl power and empowerment are subtly threaded through the plot, making it a positive and uplifting read for its intended audience.

I was gifted an advance listener copy and while the story was compelling, the accompanying sound effects were a bit cheesy and, at times, distracting. Yet, it's worth noting that for the target age group, these sound effects might enhance the overall experience, providing a vivid backdrop to the fantastical elements and a way for a young reader to help distinguish the setting.

A delightful mix of adventure, cultural exploration, and lessons in family bonds. Despite a minor distraction in the audiobook, the book's positive themes and engaging narrative make it a recommended read for young readers interested in magical quests and the richness of Hispanic mythology.

Huge thanks to netgalley for this arc.

This book was so fun. I always love a good mythology story and even though I had no clue that this panteon existed, this book and this story was entertaining and interesting.

I loved that the main relationships disscussed in this book were the platonic/familiar ones. As a person who has a close relationship with their cousin this hit close home and I adored our 2 main characters.

Overall great audiobook and I'm excited to continue with this series.

I stopped listening to the audio about 40% because I didn't really like the characters. The plot is fun, but some of the language is really problematic for me.

I really wanted to listen to the rest of the book, I even gave myself a week break to come back but...I just can't.

Some of the characters thoughts are so problematic I can't get past it and I really wish it wasn't a story for young people.

One of the worst sentences:
"Call me whitewashed all you want, but at least I never pretend to be more mexican than I am"...

I NEVER PRETEND TO BE MORE MEXICAN THAN I AM!?

...to see this written down for a kids book really hurt. Who defines how "mexican" you are???? Are we not past that, did her family not instill an ounce of pride? And as the character visits her family in Mexico EVERY year, you're telling me she can't understand any Spanish? Not even contextually? Not even say her name without an American accent? Come on... and to top it off Ada hates her name because it's "too mexican"???

I'm sure she has a redemption arc of appreciation of her culture by the end of the book but I really hated the first third of the book hating on herself and her roots and thats not something I can get past.

This was a fun fantasy incorporating the ancient pantheon of Teotihuacán. I enjoyed watching Ada and Miry develop their powers and deepen their relationship. I appreciated how each of the main characters was exploring their identities and I liked to learn a bit about the gods of Mexico beyond Quetzalcoatl and the way Septien incorporated the mythology was cool. I look forward to more in this series!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bandele Books for this audio copy for review purposes.

The Sunlit Ruins is a fun twist on the gods affect the human world trope ah la Percy Jackson. Although this story is square in teen territory, as opposed to middle grade.

The story follows two Mexican-American cousins, Ada and Miry, who have become so different as teenagers they can’t remember how they were so close as kids. Their tension keeps up as they make their way across Mexico City trying to use their newfound godly powers to stop a terrible power from destroying the city. With the help of their older cousin and a group of mysterious magic users, Ada and Miry will have to work together to have any hope of succeeding.

The way the powers manifest in this story are surprisingly unique and discovering them along with the girls is fun. The gods of this story are also presented in an intriguing way and I liked their interpretation. Plus, the use of ancient Mexican cultures as a base is cool.

I also appreciated the way Ada and Miry are both developing into themselves and how their life experiences affect their choices. As a side note, I also think it’s funny that they use their older cousin’s good kid status to basically have their parents ask zero questions. It’s a clever way to have family included without pulling them all into the adventure.

The audiobook has solid narration and includes extra sounds to highlight new scenes. It’s worth a read for anyone looking for a fun summer adventure.

I enjoyed listening to this book. I’m not usually a fan of the “graphic audio” style, but the added sound effects enhanced the story without overpowering it!

I started listening to this with my 10 year old (advanced reader), as he’s obsessed with all mythology.. I finished listening to it on my own though. I think some of the themes were a little too mature for him.

I don’t think you need to know Spanish in order to enjoy the book. Context clues allow you to follow what’s happening when they do speak Spanish. It’s a pretty large theme that one of the girls doesn’t speak Spanish, so I think it can allow more connection with her character.

Overall, I found it to be an enjoyable book & the audio was very well done!

At its heart, this is a book about discovering one's own identity and taking pride in one's authentic self. An enjoyable read for those who love a bit of action added to their fantasy! With two strong female leads, who need to learn to work together instead of against each other, the story is a great parable for young teen girls.

The audiobook bounces back and forth between two narrators, giving each girl a distinctive voice. The addition of transitional sound effects will hook younger listeners, especially those who are new to audiobooks.

I struggled with the narrator here, but I’m not sure why. The actual story is wonderful and very enjoyable, I shall be picking up a physical copy and recommending it to others

I really enjoyed this story. It beautifully highlighted the connections and power of oral histories as we acknowledge and pay respect to our ancestors, deities, gods, etc.

The audiobook was done really well and i thoroughly enjoyed the voice actors. That said, i felt at the beginning of the book that some of the interpersonal conflict felt juvenile. I originally thought the characters were 10-12 but they were actually 15-19. I think some of the plot justified this but do wish the girls came off a bit more mature in language and though. All in all, i loved the culture and values woven throughout the story and will check out the sequel.

Mexican-American cousins who discover they have magical powers and are the only ones who can trap an evil that was originally trapped by their grandparents. It's a family affair.

Thank you netgalley for an advanced ARC on audiobook.

I listened ro rhis over a few days and I thought the narration for the audiobook was nicely done, this is a middle grade book full of magic, mythical creatures. Hispanic mythology & discovering ones self all things I am interested in & even though I got enjoyment from reading it I didn't see it as a book for me but I did appreciate the story & The direction it toke keeping intrigue for younger audiences & fulling their imagination.

I think over time my reading tastes have started to change because afrw years ago I would of eaten rhis story up , but in the audiobook the added sound effects I found for me was distracting and toke me out of submersion. Also I don't speak Spanish (yet) because I am still learning but for people that don't know Spanish I can see this also breaking submersion.

It was enjoyable but not enough for me to continue with the duology.

Disclaimer: I received this audiobook from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Miri (Miranda) and Ada (Guadalupe) are 15-year-old cousins. Miri was born in Mexico and Ada was born in the US on the same day. At the same time. They were very close when they were younger but after some time they started to grow apart and now all they do is fight when they're together.
Ada comes to visit over the summer with her family and something mysterious happens. They get transported through a portal to the ancient city of Teotihuacan while visiting the ruins. Thus setting off a series of events that can end the world. Can they get over their differences and make it before the world is destroyed?

Narrated by: Luzma Ortiz and Martin Martinez
Ortiz does a wonderful job at distinguishing between characters. I can always tell when Ada and Miri are talking because Ada's voice is higher and has an accent when she speaks Spanish. I also really like that she was able to switch so easily between the languages. It made it very realistic. (I do this a lot.) The audio was immersive and fast-paced. The added sounds of busses the city people talking and Pum-eagles (Puma with eagle wings [ Puma Alado ] ) roaring really gave a surreal feeling to the story.

This story is very fast-paced and I had trouble putting it down to go to sleep. There are very emotional moments and a few trigger warnings (below). Ortiz did great at expressing emotion and made me cry twice. I like that the characters complain about each other but they can also see each other's strength.

Trigger Warnings:
Sexual Assault (Groping)
Death
Chronic Illness
Bullying

Overall this was a wonderful debut novel and I can't wait for book 2.
There is a prequel that I am going to read next, it is a short novella.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bandele Books for the opportunity to listen to the Audiobook ARC of The Sunlit Ruins: An Old Gods Story by Andrea Septién. All opinions are my own.

This story was captivating from start to finish. I immediately felt pulled in by the combination of folklore and very real family dynamics. The adventure and plot twists kept me invested even when there were moments that felt slower than I expected. That balance between tense action-packed scenes with funny or emotional interactions between the characters was top notch. I had to know what would happen next and if Ada and Miry would make it out okay.

While this is targeted toward younger readers, so the dialogue and general story is at that reading level, I’m 30 and found it enjoyable. The nature of Ada and Miry’s relationship and the process of healing that bond while handling their own personal troubles felt very authentic. The author masterfully approached tough topics such as colorism, cultural identity, and dangerous adults honestly and in a way that young readers can relate to and understand.

The audiobook’s use of sound effects makes it unique. Sound effects sometimes take me out of the story a bit, but the producers did a great job with timing and frequency so that it was not as disruptive. The dual narrators to represent each POV was a fantastic addition as well.

This book is perfect for readers who want an action-packed magical adventure but also are looking for an extra layer of depth that comes with complex family relationships and true to life experiences for Latine individuals and women alike.

This book was so good, OMG. I got the audiobook over on Netgalley and I wasn't expecting much, but it did sound like a good read. Baby, this book had me hooked and I listened to it within two days. I love how there are consequences for using magic and that they weren't perfect fighters right off the bat.

I especially love the dynamic between cousins. You understand why both of them act the way they do, and watching them grow and learn together was perfect. The ending was a happy one but not a happy one at the same time. It's the first time that I've encountered an ending like this and I can't wait to read the next one.

N.B. Whoever did the voice for their grandfather can get it, lol.