I had the honor of moderating for Tehlor’s debut, We Set the Dark on Fire, and that award winning groundbreaking fantasy made me a fan for life, so I am thrilled to be a part of this TBR & Beyond Blog Tour by sharing my 5 Reasons to Read – Lucha of the Forgotten Spring by Tehlor Kay Mejia, the final book in this fantasy duology. Lucha of the Forgotten Spring is available now!
5 Reasons to Read:
1. Sapphic YA Fantasy Duology – I just love when a fantasy has just enough for 2 books, I don’t feel like I am on the hook for 4-8 books. Somehow 2 feels just right, especially when I wanted more once I finished Lucha of the Night Forest! We get a clear and wrapped up ending. Also did I mention it was sapphic?
2. Transition from battle to leadership – we have a nice pace of what it means to save her sister, and to conquer the evil drugs that plagued the first book, and the struggles of classism and corrupt governments, but also what comes next holds value, our community, leadership, and rebuilding.
3. The magic system is unique – and well that is rare these days, with touches of Latine inspiration and sprinkled in doses of mythology, it was very interesting.
4. Lucha is a chosen one archetype – and what’s so bad about a kick-ass girl and her dagger? Nothing…but she also wants to be free from her responsibilities, but she has to weigh her options and join with the syndicate (the rebels) in order to defeat the corrupt government that benefits from keeping the people addicted to the forgetting drugs.
5. The beautiful prose – is absolutely the strong feature that really helps you get lost in the pages of this fantasy.

Atmospheric and lyrical writing, angsty and emotional love story. I didn’t fully believe the love triangle, though. And the pacing was a little inconsistent, would’ve been a 5 star read otherwise!

Thank you to TBR & Beyond and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)

This was such a strong conclusion to the duology, delivering closure to many lingering questions from the first book while continuing to expand on its rich themes of power, responsibility, and resilience. Lucha of the Forgotten Spring doesn’t just wrap up a story; it challenges its heroine to once again step into a role she never asked for, making her journey all the more compelling.

Lucha’s struggle with being seen as important to a cause—whether or not she consents to it—was one of the most gripping aspects of the book. She returns home intending to eliminate olvida once and for all, believing this is her final mission, but quickly realizes that her fight is much bigger than she ever imagined. The story does a great job of balancing her internal conflict with the larger external stakes, making her an incredibly relatable and layered protagonist.

I especially loved the themes of community, resilience, and both the power and fragility of hope. The novel also takes a hard look at corruption from multiple angles, particularly in systems of faith and power structures. While I appreciated this theme, it did feel a little heavy-handed at times, and some of the related plot twists were fairly easy to predict.

As for the romance, I was pleasantly surprised by how naturally the love triangle was woven into the story. Rather than being the central focus, it felt like an organic extension of Lucha’s complex emotions about everything unfolding around her. It never overshadowed the plot but instead added to her personal growth and internal struggles.

Final Thoughts:
This book delivers an emotionally satisfying conclusion that reinforces the power of community, self-discovery, and fighting for change, even when the burden feels overwhelming. While some of the themes were a little on the nose, the overall execution was compelling, and I loved seeing Lucha’s arc come full circle.

Lucha and the Forgotten Spring picks up right where the last book left off, and Lucha heads back home to Robado to finish what she started. I loved how this second book expanded the lore of this complex and detailed world. I also really enjoyed how Lucha and the other characters within the story grew, changed, and began working toward a greater goal.

This conclusion was an amazing addition to the first book, keeping me invested in the story of Lucha, Robado, and its citizens from page one. Although the story is dark and filled with dangerous situations, it also contains hope and the promise of something better.

I thoroughly enjoyed this duology, and I can't wait to explore more books by this author.

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I LOVE Lucha of the Night Forest so I was so happy when I found out a sequel was coming! This book picks up pretty much right where its predecessor left off as Lucha returns to Robado to destroy Olvida and Los Ricos.

I am beyond satisfied with the story progression, character development, and thematic growth this book brings! Everything becomes so much more complex and the execution is everything I could have wanted. Pacing-wise, there were a couple parts that happened so quickly that I almost didn’t register them, but other than that I highly enjoyed this book. It’s a must-read if you read and loved Lucha of the Night Forest.