Labyrinth Lost: Or, Brujas in Wonderland

Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas) - Zoraida Córdova

There are a lot of things to love about this book. The excellent use of Latin American mythology and cultural touchstones lend the story a distinct flavor that makes this book stand out among the numerous teen fantasies on the market. It's a colorful Latin spin on Alice in Wonderland with lush imagery and dark threads. I also appreciated the complex relationships between the characters, especially the main character and her sisters, as well as her potential suitors. I find it interesting that I haven't seen more said about the fact that this book features a well developed bisexual love triangle, which feels authentic rather than salacious.

 

My main issue lies with the prose rather than the story itself. There were several times where I would be reading and think I had skipped a page, or missed a transition. The writing is stylistically choppy, with set-pieces and scenes jumping around with little to no connective tissue. For example, characters might be mid-conversation, then without warning they are in combat or running through the forest. I would find myself re-reading, thinking I had missed something, and it was distracting. Part of this may be due to editing - I read an ARC - so it is my hope that much of this gets clarified before the book hits shelves.

 

Assuming the choppiness gets sorted out, or that it doesn't bother others (I have two friends who read this ARC and loved it unequivocally), I have high hopes for this book. It's fantastic to see characters that encompass different backgrounds, colors, and orientations than we usually get to see in the teen genre. The diversity and flavor alone make this book worth picking up, technical issues aside. I look forward to seeing where this series, and Cordova's writing, go in the future.