Enjoyable follow up to book one. Felt slow in some places but not to the point where you don't want to continue. I like the representation and familial magic in this story. Not usually a period/historical reader but I find these fun and interesting, I do wish the characters had a little more depth.

I chose this book due to the 1920s time period and the Latina viewpoint character.

The author is great at giving the reader a good picture of the characters. They are well fleshed out and it’s easy to get a feel for who they are no matter whether they are friend or foe. All characters are three dimensional. No one is 100 percent good or evil. (Although Sol and Idoya are close to being 100 percent evil, but it’s questionable if any of their humanity remains.) I found Heck Kessler particularly engaging.

The other strength of this writer is being a proponent of the underdogs in society - those who suffer discrimination due to ethnicity or sexual orientation. The viewpoint character, Rose, is a Latina who can pass for white. It’s a great method for showing the differences in how she is treated versus how her brown family members and black friends are treated.

Rose’s brother, Javi, and her best friend and husband, Heck Kessler, are secret lovers. Heck’s marriage to Rose gives this wealthy man the air of legitimacy he needs in high society.

I loved everything about her characters and her compassion for those who are treated poorly at the hands of the dominant white society.

All of that said, at times I found the descriptions of surroundings or actions a bit hard to follow. I found myself re-reading, which took me out of the flow of the story. It made certain sections a chore to read. And it is because of this, I am ambivalent about reading another book from this author. That said, Bindle Punk Jefe is only her second book and this issue may be something that will improve over time. I hope so. I think this author has valuable messages to share, and messages that need to be heard.

A worthy and solid sequel!
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and couldn't wait to read this. I love this world and was so excited to return to it.
I think this novel took everything I loved from book one and made it so much better. I loved the plot and character development.
I really think the setting is the breakout star here. Kansas City is criminally underrated and to see it in this point in time is absolutely amazing.

Prohibition is in full swing, and even though Luna got what she wanted, it's difficult to keep all the plates spinning in the air. In Bindle Punk Bruja, we met Luna, a novice Earth witch whose Mexican heritage is at odds with her desire to make it big in Kansas City. Her family tugs her one way, the booze business another, and in the end, she seemingly managed to reconcile everything. But maintaining something is many times more difficult than achieving it in the first place.

Now a socialite who goes by Rose, and married to her brother's lover for appearances' sake, she finds refuge in her grandmother's magical teachings and in her relationship with her boyfriend. But life in Kansas City is not easy, with the rich doing what the rich do, i.e. roll over everyone to get their way, and Luna/Rose and her loved ones may be part of the casualties.

I loved going back into the world of Bindle Punk Bruja and Luna is such a wonderful protagonist. I found her struggles with not knowing where she fits in relatable, and wanted her to triumph in the end. There is joy, there is grief, there is booze, and I really hope we haven't seen enough of Luna.

"From award-winning author Desideria Mesa comes the glittering sequel to Bindle Punk Bruja in which Earth witch Rose (Luna) Lane's secret life comes to a breaking point as outside threats lurk - perfect for fans of Trouble the Saints by Alaya Dawn Johnson, Libba Bray's The Diviners, and Chloe Gong's These Violent Delights duology.

Prohibition is in full swing, and the glamorous life of upper-class Kansas City is everything Rose (Luna) Lane ever hoped it would be. Being married to her best friend isn't so bad either, considering their agreement to keep their real love lives out of the public eye. However, try as she might to continue her life of anonymity, her popularity as a land developer's wife - and as a successful club owner - draws even more attention to her personal endeavors. Soon, the balancing act between the life of Luna and Rose becomes a full-time job itself, making visiting home harder than ever before.

However, her haven, which once offered a place of acceptance, is growing more hostile. Her community of brujas criticizes her methods of using magic for economic and social gain while consorting with nefarious witches of the North. Meanwhile, the Pendergast Machine is running at full force, pushing his will and money all over the city. Keeping her true identity and powers a secret while posing for the society papers gets all the more dangerous as new enemies start to question her origins...and old ones creep up from dark realms.

The pressure could force Rose to do questionable things for the greater good, distancing herself from her loved ones and who she wants to be. She may have mastered her earth magic, but she still has a lot to learn about the heart..."

Don't be making me feel bad about books I've been planning on reading. So now I have to read The Diviners before I read this because it's been on my TBR Pile for years...

This book slayed. Thank you for the gifted copy! Genuinely the roller coaster this was had me rolling. Swoony, beautiful, and mysterious. I love everything about this.

I enjoyed this book, but it did take me longer to get through than I thought it would. It was a solid follow up to Bindle Punk Bruja, however, and very well written, just like the first book! I'm not sure if the story just didn't draw me as quickly this time, or if it was the pacing.

I will try to re-read this book again, because it was possibly just not my vibe at the time of reading it.