britwalsh16's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was such a sweet short read & perfect for spooky season! I really enjoyed it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
torilovesheas's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I finished this and immediately was so sad that Alexis Daria hasn't written anything else in this world?? If Encanto had a baby with a 2000's rom-com, it would be this. A magical island full of Latinx brujas and brujos + a wedding between the FMC and MMC's siblings + they're former high school rivals trying to exorcise the demonically possessed groom and save the family? Adorable.
I eyeball read this and I think that's what made my enjoyment lower than it would have been doing it on audio? It did feel at times like a lot of information was thrown around and became a bit confusing. But overall this is a perfectly fun, witchy novella to start off spooky season!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
dianaschmidty's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
ylime620's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
dolores_madil's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I enjoyed it this was it was a nice short quick story. I love how the magic was intertwined in everything even the sexy time. It was not deep or would I say this was erotica because there was only two sex scenes but it was nice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
cooperlentz's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
allisonwonderlandreads's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
There's so much packed into this sweet, steamy, magical little novella. It's an audiobook with some of my favorite narration I've yet experienced. This is also my first Alexis Daria romance, but it will certainly not be my last. In fact, I am over here hoping she will grace us with more stories from Isla Bruja or at least more paranormals because it was the best one I've read in a minute.
The story centers on a heroine I immediately cheered for. Catalina comes home to Isla Bruja for her sister's wedding, only to discover her whole family in a demon's trance. Her magic burnt out years ago when her ambition and competitive spirit ran her ragged. Luckily, she teams up with the brother of the groom, her once arch-nemesis, who is also as yet uncaught by the demon's spell. A wedding day exorcism is in order. And maybe Catalina can rediscover her magic and her art as a healthy extension of herself.
The romance includes fake-dating & former high school enemies/competitors-to-lovers. It's one of the few romances where I actually appreciate this kind of deep, off-the-page history. It kept the angst low and made the faster pace of a novella feel more natural and reasonable. It's also steamy without trying too hard, and it infused the whole story.
The paranormal aspects are fun, and though the world-building is light, it's enough to conjure up a whole society of magic overlapping our own. I love that it's about an island of Latinx witches, and Spanish is peppered throughout. The humor is gold, even the cheesy jokes come off as cute and silly rather than cringe-inducing.
Basically, I looked forward to my commute knowing this book came with it. What a complete joy.
The story centers on a heroine I immediately cheered for. Catalina comes home to Isla Bruja for her sister's wedding, only to discover her whole family in a demon's trance. Her magic burnt out years ago when her ambition and competitive spirit ran her ragged. Luckily, she teams up with the brother of the groom, her once arch-nemesis, who is also as yet uncaught by the demon's spell. A wedding day exorcism is in order. And maybe Catalina can rediscover her magic and her art as a healthy extension of herself.
The romance includes fake-dating & former high school enemies/competitors-to-lovers. It's one of the few romances where I actually appreciate this kind of deep, off-the-page history. It kept the angst low and made the faster pace of a novella feel more natural and reasonable. It's also steamy without trying too hard, and it infused the whole story.
The paranormal aspects are fun, and though the world-building is light, it's enough to conjure up a whole society of magic overlapping our own. I love that it's about an island of Latinx witches, and Spanish is peppered throughout. The humor is gold, even the cheesy jokes come off as cute and silly rather than cringe-inducing.
Basically, I looked forward to my commute knowing this book came with it. What a complete joy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
candidceillie's review
funny
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Possession of non-main character