Book Review | Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera

Source: preordered purchase. This is a review of my reading experience.

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls is a debut middle grade fantasy/horror novel by Kaela Rivera.

Living in the remote town of Tierra del Sol is dangerous, especially in the criatura months, when powerful spirits roam the desert and threaten humankind. But Cecelia Rios has always believed there was more to the criaturas, much to her family’s disapproval. After all, only brujas—humans who capture and control criaturas—consort with the spirits, and brujeria is a terrible crime.

When her older sister, Juana, is kidnapped by El Sombrerón, a powerful dark criatura, Cece is determined to bring Juana back. To get into Devil’s Alley, though, she’ll have to become a bruja herself—while hiding her quest from her parents, her town, and the other brujas. Thankfully, the legendary criatura Coyote has a soft spot for humans and agrees to help her on her journey.

With him at her side, Cece sets out to reunite her family—and maybe even change what it means to be a bruja along the way.

I fell in love with Cece Rios right away. We quickly learn about Cece, her town, the local criaturas, her family, the folklore... we learn so many things right off the bat, and I was pulled right into Cece's story. I was so invested in her future and her familia.

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls is filled with Mexican folklore. You will likely recognize the names of the criaturas that were inspired by legends such as La Llorona, El Cucuy, El Chupacabra, While Kaela Rivera doesn't provide much information on the legends of the criaturas, it's not necessary to know the folklore in order to understand Cece's story.

I adored Cece's character and the unlikely friendships she made in this book. Cece shows the reader how patience, kindness, and showing love to others are qualities that make you strong. It's not always physical strength or fury that makes you strong.

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls is the first book in a planned series. This book can certainly stand on its own, but there's a lot I'm looking forward to (hopefully) getting to see in the rest of the series (like darker settings and specific characters we didn't get to meet).

If you are a fan of the Rick Riordan Presents books (especially Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia), I think you'll love Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls.

⭐⭐⭐⭐★
4/5 stars

Content warnings: kidnapping, parental abuse, alcoholism

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On My Wishlist | A Prayer for the Crown-Shy (Monk & Robot #2) by Becky Chambers

I don't think I showed any love on the blog last year for A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. As someone who has been suffering major burn out at work, I could really relate to Dax. I appreciate Becky Chambers and the things she writes so much. She puts me in a great headspace. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the Monk & Robot series - A Prayer for the Crown-Shy.

 

After touring the rural areas of Panga, Sibling Dex (a Tea Monk of some renown) and Mosscap (a robot sent on a quest to determine what humanity really needs) turn their attention to the villages and cities of the little moon they call home.

They hope to find the answers they seek, while making new friends, learning new concepts, and experiencing the entropic nature of the universe.

Becky Chambers's new series continues to ask: in a world where people have what they want, does having more even matter?

Have you read anything by Becky Chambers?

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This post is being shared as part of Can't-Wait Wednesday over at Wishful Endings.

Most Anticipated Books Releasing In the First Half of 2022

Top Ten Tuesday is a feature hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. 

Where the Drowned Girls Go (Wayward Children #7) by Seanan McGuire

Real Easy by Marie Rutkoski

Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

Sundial by Catriona Ward

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega

Hunters of the Lost City by Kali Wallace

Book of Night by Holly Black

Seasonal Fears (Middlegame #2) by Seanan McGuire

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

The Clackity by Lora Senf

Recent Updates and Currently Reading | January 2

Happy new year!! I hope the new year has started out right for you. We watched Encanto last night, and I loved it. It was such a beautiful movie. I didn't know going into it the songs were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, but I figured it out once the songs started!

Do you spend time selecting your first book of the year or do you just continue on/dive into whatever is next on your TBR?

Posted Last Week

Book Review | Cackle by Rachel Harrison ⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Favorite Books of 2021

On My Wishlist | Where the Drowned Girls Go by Seanan McGuire

Book Review | Ghost in the Headlights by ⭐⭐⭐⭐★

Finished Reading

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson ⭐⭐⭐⭐★ - I think this is my rating. I started reading The Way of King January 1, 2021, and I finished it December 31, 2021. 😆 I enjoyed it, but it was a struggle.

Currently Reading

Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney - I put this one on hold to finish up The Way of Kings before the end of the year. I will get back to it soon because I'm really liking it.

A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw - This was my pick to start the new year. I'm on the fence as to whether that was a good decision or not.

Added to the TBR

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse - I've seen this on so many favorites lists. I'm hoping to read it before the sequel is released in April.⁠

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris - My friend Audra recommended this to me, and I've been anxious to pick it up!⁠

Lesser Evil by Timothy Zahn - I just finished rewatching all of The Mandalorian again. It puts me in such a deep, deep Star Wars mood.

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston - You all know I love middle grade, and this book seems to be universally *loved* so I had to have it.⁠

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick - My youngest son just read Hugo Cabret from his school library, and he certain we needed to own this. I have never read it so now I can! ⁠

A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw - I bought A History of Wild Places to kick off the new year of reading.

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This post is being shared as part of Book Date, Unleashing Readers, and Teach Mentor Texts It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Caffeinated Book Reviewer's The Sunday Post.

Book Review | Ghost in the Headlights by Lindsey Duga

Source: Preordered purchase. This is a review of my personal reading experience.

Ghost in the Headlights is Lindsey Duga's latest middle grade horror novel.

In this modern-day retelling of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," an angry ghost haunts a small-town road in search of revenge...

When Brianna Jenson agreed to move in with her cruel uncle Shane in rural Pennsylvania, she didn't expect to find herself in the middle of a terrifying town legend.

Every afternoon on her walk home from school, as the sun begins to set behind the overhanging branches of Shadowrun Road, Brianna hears footsteps following her -- footsteps that belong to no one. Then there's the car that races along the narrow country road with blinding lights and almost runs her over! That's when Brianna realizes... there's no one driving. It's almost as if someone -- or something -- is trying to get her attention.

As Brianna investigates what happened on Shadowrun Road, she discovers a town tragedy that has never been resolved. Can Brianna get to the bottom of this ghostly mystery before it's too late?

Ghost in the Headlights is the perfect book to give a young reader starting out on their horror journey. This is exactly the type of book young Jen would have loved to read.

In Ghost in the Headlights, Brianna has to stay with her uncle while her mother is away training for work. Brianna finds herself wrapped up in the mysterious local legend of a missing girl.

I loved Brianna and her friendship with Jacob as they try to solve the mystery of the ghost girl.

As an adult who loves middle grade fiction, Ghost in the Headlights is not one I would really recommend to other adults. Like The Haunting, Ghost in the Headlights is filled with classic tropes that most adults have experienced numerous times but are absolutely perfect for an younger audience.

My youngest is entering the realm of middle grade reading, and Ghost in the Headlights is a book I am excited to pass down to him.

⭐⭐⭐⭐★
4/5 stars

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