empearl1's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
books_plan_create's review against another edition
4.0
I love this series very much and was so happy to get a review copy of the audio thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. The narrator is perfection with the characters in the story.
After the events of last summer, people grow and change and Dante isn't quite the friend he use to be, Paola has drifted apart from Emma, AND her mom has a boyfriend?! This is all too much for Pao! As Dante's grandmother falls into a coma, Paola again comes face to face with the paranormal world that seems to be calling her home to her father. So with an unwilling Dante, she heads off in search of her father. Along the way Pao learns more about her past and her connection to the Void, but will it be enough to save the day in the end?
I thought this book tackled growing pains very well, both the good and bad side of it and how we can work to fix things. It also gave the harsh reality that some things can't be fixed...I appreciate Tehlor Kay Mejia taking that on and doing a good job with it. I also like that Emma has taken on a role of super ally and support to a whole new level and rocks it.
I am very excitedly awaiting book three and don't want to wait till 2022!
After the events of last summer, people grow and change and Dante isn't quite the friend he use to be, Paola has drifted apart from Emma, AND her mom has a boyfriend?! This is all too much for Pao! As Dante's grandmother falls into a coma, Paola again comes face to face with the paranormal world that seems to be calling her home to her father. So with an unwilling Dante, she heads off in search of her father. Along the way Pao learns more about her past and her connection to the Void, but will it be enough to save the day in the end?
I thought this book tackled growing pains very well, both the good and bad side of it and how we can work to fix things. It also gave the harsh reality that some things can't be fixed...I appreciate Tehlor Kay Mejia taking that on and doing a good job with it. I also like that Emma has taken on a role of super ally and support to a whole new level and rocks it.
I am very excitedly awaiting book three and don't want to wait till 2022!
phyrre's review
4.0
You can read my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.
Many thanks to Rick Riordan Presents and Rockstar Book Tours for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Overall
I knew the moment I finished Paola Santiago and the River of Dreams that I was going to read this book. I was nowhere near done with Paola’s story and this world Mejia has created. I’ve waited foreverrrr to see Mexican folklore used in an adventure like this, and I haven’t been disappointed yet. I confess, I was a little concerned with where this series was going after that first book, but I shouldn’t have been. This was a fantastic sequel that not only brought back old, beloved characters but introduced some thrilling (and chilling) new folklore!
Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares ups the stakes from the first book on both the mythological and emotional level. The threats are bigger, badder, and harder on the feels, with some new thrilling supernatural creatures and some unexpected help along the way.
Not gonna lie, did not like Dante in this one, from the very beginning, and that’s really my only complaint. Of course, this is book two, and it’s obviously going to come up again in book three. Still, all I can say is if Dante was one of your favorite characters, you will be crushed without knowing why until the next book (I hope) because nothing is explained here.
My Thoughts
- Just when you finish Paola Santiago and the River of Dreams and think there’s no way Mejia will be able to top herself in terms of adventure, character building, and folklore . . . she does. I absolutely loved seeing the folklore Mejia brought to life in the first book, and I was a little unsure what would pop up in this book, but I wasn’t disappointed! Between cadejo and duendecillos and other folklore that shall not be named, there are plenty of fun new entities for readers to discover! I’m actually even more excited about what the third book will bring now, because this one raises the stakes so much on the lore and the creatures Paola finds herself faced with.
- Paola did a lot of growing up in the last book, especially around understanding what it means to be a good friend, but she’s not quite done yet. I don’t remember Paola being this funny in the first book, okay? I mean, it’s been a while since I read it, so she probably was, but I legit snort-laughed at several moments. Mejia really captures the twelve-year-old attitude here. I see a lot of my ten-year-old in Paola, and it made me laugh. Because who doesn’t love a protagonist with a bit of an attitude? Middle grade readers will especially find this relatable, I’m sure!
You’d think that with everything she had been through in the first book, Paola was super confident in herself. That isn’t the case at all, though. And thank goodness, because that’d be kind of weird. There’s still a lot of soul-searching and personal growth that happens throughout this book, and I look forward to seeing how Paola grows even more in the next book, too.
- Paola finds herself faced with some new (likely relatable) threats, like her old friends finding new friends and her mother getting a boyfriend. At the end of the day, Paola is just trying to find where she fits in. And if that’s not an entirely relatable struggle, I don’t know what is. Paola struggling with her mother’s new boyfriend is especially relatable, because been there, done that. Had many of the same thoughts as Paola. It’s even funnier to know everything that Paola went through already and the fact that she’s waylaid by something like mother troubles is especially reassuring and really helps ground her character, in my opinion. I appreciated the balance between the mythical/fantastical challenges along with the mundane.
- Something’s up with Dante . . . and it’s not just maybe-girlfriend/boyfriend awkwardness. His grandmother’s acting weird, too. What’s up with that? I mean . . . I’ve read it, so I know. But you don’t. On the one hand, I appreciated the tension of this situation, especially considering how close they grew in the first book. Friendship is hard, and sometimes things go awry in weird ways. On the other hand, I’m a little annoyed that there wasn’t more explanation or build up or grounding to this? *shrug* In any case, Paola finds herself struggling yet again to decide how to be a good friend, but in an entirely different way from the first book. It’s easy to see how she’s grown, even while she’s still trying to decide who she wants to be.
- There’s a really solid mystery and adventure element to this story, alongside all the folklore and personal growth, which hooked me right from the start. Mejia knows how to grab a reader’s attention! I didn’t want to put this book down until I’d solved the mystery with Paola, and there were plenty of surprises along the way to keep me guessing. There was action in the first book, but I feel like this one ups the stakes. You know, as sequels will do. There were plenty of times I was very concerned for Paola and her friends, and the creatures she faces feel much scarier. This book just flew by it, and before I knew it, I was sitting there sad that I didn’t have book three in my hands already (which, if I’m honestly, is almost a regular state of being for me at this point!).
Many thanks to Rick Riordan Presents and Rockstar Book Tours for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Overall
I knew the moment I finished Paola Santiago and the River of Dreams that I was going to read this book. I was nowhere near done with Paola’s story and this world Mejia has created. I’ve waited foreverrrr to see Mexican folklore used in an adventure like this, and I haven’t been disappointed yet. I confess, I was a little concerned with where this series was going after that first book, but I shouldn’t have been. This was a fantastic sequel that not only brought back old, beloved characters but introduced some thrilling (and chilling) new folklore!
Paola Santiago and the Forest of Nightmares ups the stakes from the first book on both the mythological and emotional level. The threats are bigger, badder, and harder on the feels, with some new thrilling supernatural creatures and some unexpected help along the way.
Not gonna lie, did not like Dante in this one, from the very beginning, and that’s really my only complaint. Of course, this is book two, and it’s obviously going to come up again in book three. Still, all I can say is if Dante was one of your favorite characters, you will be crushed without knowing why until the next book (I hope) because nothing is explained here.
My Thoughts
- Just when you finish Paola Santiago and the River of Dreams and think there’s no way Mejia will be able to top herself in terms of adventure, character building, and folklore . . . she does. I absolutely loved seeing the folklore Mejia brought to life in the first book, and I was a little unsure what would pop up in this book, but I wasn’t disappointed! Between cadejo and duendecillos and other folklore that shall not be named, there are plenty of fun new entities for readers to discover! I’m actually even more excited about what the third book will bring now, because this one raises the stakes so much on the lore and the creatures Paola finds herself faced with.
- Paola did a lot of growing up in the last book, especially around understanding what it means to be a good friend, but she’s not quite done yet. I don’t remember Paola being this funny in the first book, okay? I mean, it’s been a while since I read it, so she probably was, but I legit snort-laughed at several moments. Mejia really captures the twelve-year-old attitude here. I see a lot of my ten-year-old in Paola, and it made me laugh. Because who doesn’t love a protagonist with a bit of an attitude? Middle grade readers will especially find this relatable, I’m sure!
You’d think that with everything she had been through in the first book, Paola was super confident in herself. That isn’t the case at all, though. And thank goodness, because that’d be kind of weird. There’s still a lot of soul-searching and personal growth that happens throughout this book, and I look forward to seeing how Paola grows even more in the next book, too.
- Paola finds herself faced with some new (likely relatable) threats, like her old friends finding new friends and her mother getting a boyfriend. At the end of the day, Paola is just trying to find where she fits in. And if that’s not an entirely relatable struggle, I don’t know what is. Paola struggling with her mother’s new boyfriend is especially relatable, because been there, done that. Had many of the same thoughts as Paola. It’s even funnier to know everything that Paola went through already and the fact that she’s waylaid by something like mother troubles is especially reassuring and really helps ground her character, in my opinion. I appreciated the balance between the mythical/fantastical challenges along with the mundane.
- Something’s up with Dante . . . and it’s not just maybe-girlfriend/boyfriend awkwardness. His grandmother’s acting weird, too. What’s up with that? I mean . . . I’ve read it, so I know. But you don’t. On the one hand, I appreciated the tension of this situation, especially considering how close they grew in the first book. Friendship is hard, and sometimes things go awry in weird ways. On the other hand, I’m a little annoyed that there wasn’t more explanation or build up or grounding to this? *shrug* In any case, Paola finds herself struggling yet again to decide how to be a good friend, but in an entirely different way from the first book. It’s easy to see how she’s grown, even while she’s still trying to decide who she wants to be.
- There’s a really solid mystery and adventure element to this story, alongside all the folklore and personal growth, which hooked me right from the start. Mejia knows how to grab a reader’s attention! I didn’t want to put this book down until I’d solved the mystery with Paola, and there were plenty of surprises along the way to keep me guessing. There was action in the first book, but I feel like this one ups the stakes. You know, as sequels will do. There were plenty of times I was very concerned for Paola and her friends, and the creatures she faces feel much scarier. This book just flew by it, and before I knew it, I was sitting there sad that I didn’t have book three in my hands already (which, if I’m honestly, is almost a regular state of being for me at this point!).
booksandpops4000's review
4.0
* I got this book for review form the publisher for my honest thoughts*
I thought this was a super fun instlement in this series. Sort of like the last fallen star series. This book 2 def changed the game. It was a very informed read so much info was given to the audience in a very digestable away. In addition to the quest like element that was at the heart of this read. Like so many other books in this imprint this book also had a balance of friendship and family issues. This story also deals with the fall out from book 1. I am super excited for book 3!
I thought this was a super fun instlement in this series. Sort of like the last fallen star series. This book 2 def changed the game. It was a very informed read so much info was given to the audience in a very digestable away. In addition to the quest like element that was at the heart of this read. Like so many other books in this imprint this book also had a balance of friendship and family issues. This story also deals with the fall out from book 1. I am super excited for book 3!
antoinettepowb's review
4.0
Whew! Paola went through a lot in book 2!! From barely talking to Dante and Emma, to her mom's new annoying boyfriend to her nightmares coming back worse and full of her estranged father. As weird as it is to say, I enjoyed watching Paola struggle with her friendships; it shows miscommunication happens at any age. My favorite folklore in this book is Estrella, a duendecillo, who helps Paola and her friends in the forest. This was a great story about learning to embrace all the parts that make you an individual, even if you are unsure about who you want to become. Just what middle school students need!
Thanks NetGalley!
Thanks NetGalley!
allyem_reads's review
4.0
7.00 CAWPILE score
I thought this was a great sequel! I like how Paola was struggling with her identity and her friendships, and I feel like the stakes were definitely raised higher from the first book. I’m not sure if this is a trilogy or not, but if it is I can see how the next book could be the epic conclusion we’re leading up to.
I thought this was a great sequel! I like how Paola was struggling with her identity and her friendships, and I feel like the stakes were definitely raised higher from the first book. I’m not sure if this is a trilogy or not, but if it is I can see how the next book could be the epic conclusion we’re leading up to.
ladygetslit's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
This was a reasonably fast-paced story and we get to see Pao really grow a lot. That being said, I wasn't as into this part of the saga as I would've hoped. There's a big emphasis on her tracking down her father, but very little time in the book is actually spent resolving that storyline. I was also really bothered by Dante's behavior, and while I get that's an important part of the plot, I would've wished that it was less... angsty? That being said, this is still a great series, and only somewhat succumbs to second book slump.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Toxic friendship, Stalking, Racism, Kidnapping, and Abandonment
dandelionsteph's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know how to feel about Emma coming out to her parents in between books. On one hand, this sort of thing is common in real life, and this is a story about a girl trying to reconnect with her long-lost father in a dangerous fantasy action-adventure context, not some kind of LGBTQ+ coming-of-age story, exactly. It's also possible making Emma LGBTQ+, and specifically an enthusiastic local-level teen activist, gave her more of a personality than just being pretty, White and financially well-off, which were big traits of hers in the previous book. It is good that Emma has an expanded role here (though still a pretty minor one). On the other hand...it did feel like an abrupt, as-you-know sort of detail, almost as if I was missing a chapter that was getting referenced the first time it was brought up. Perhaps, as a compromise to emphasize Paola and her concerns and adventure but reduce the abrupt feeling, the book could have started immediately following Paola helping Emma.
I also don't know how to feel concerning Paola's father surviving after the spirit-splitting. I believe her father said, or heavily implied, he didn't expect to survive the process, and, at first, the characters and the narrative suggest he is dead. He lives, though, and with his return, Paola's mother's new boyfriend is out of the picture. On one hand, it is nice that she gets to connect with her dad. On the other hand, it feels just a tad too sweet and implausible. I don't have the book on hand now, so I could be wrong, but I'm not sure if there were lasting physical side effects from her father's experiences, such as being tired all the time and sickly. If there was, perhaps it could be a good compromise in tone and plausibility.
I also don't know how to feel concerning Paola's father surviving after the spirit-splitting. I believe her father said, or heavily implied, he didn't expect to survive the process, and, at first, the characters and the narrative suggest he is dead. He lives, though, and with his return, Paola's mother's new boyfriend is out of the picture. On one hand, it is nice that she gets to connect with her dad. On the other hand, it feels just a tad too sweet and implausible. I don't have the book on hand now, so I could be wrong, but I'm not sure if there were lasting physical side effects from her father's experiences, such as being tired all the time and sickly. If there was, perhaps it could be a good compromise in tone and plausibility.