Publishers Weekly
07/11/2016
Seventeen-year-old Alejandra “Alex” Mortiz comes from a long line of brujas, and her family is eager to celebrate Alex’s Deathday, where she’ll summon her ancestors and receive their blessings. Alex’s sisters and mother believe that she hasn’t discovered her power yet, but she has actually been hiding it—and she’ll do anything to get rid of it. Alex is an encantrix, one of the most powerful brujas, and a brujo named Nova Santiago claims to know how she can banish her power for good. When the spell goes sideways and her family disappears, she must journey to the dangerous “in-between world” of Los Lagos, once a land of wonders, to get them back, enlisting Nova as her guide. First in the Brooklyn Brujas series, Córdova’s (the Vicious Deep series) magic-infused, delightfully dark story introduces readers to an engrossing, Latin American–inspired fantasy setting and an irresistible heroine who longs to be “normal” and pines for the father that left their family behind years ago. A final twist will leave readers eager to revisit Córdova’s immersive world. Ages 14–up. Agent: Adrienne Rosado, Leibo Literary. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
"This work is a magical journey from start to finish... A compelling must-have for teens." - School Library Journal, STARRED review
"First in the Brooklyn Brujas series, Córdova's (the Vicious Deep series) magic-infused, delightfully dark story introduces readers to an engrossing, Latin American—inspired fantasy setting and an irresistible heroine who longs to be "normal" and pines for the father that left their family behind years ago. A final twist will leave readers eager to revisit Córdova's immersive world." - Publishers Weekly
"Labyrinth Lost is more like reading Paradise Found. Zoraida Córdova brings us a new generation of witches, enchanting and complex. And every page is filled with magic." - Danielle Paige, New York Times bestselling author of Dorothy Must Die
"A brilliant brown-girl-in-Brooklyn update on Alice in Wonderland and Dante's Inferno. Very creepy, very magical, very necessary." - Daniel José Older, author of Shadowshaper
"Córdova's world will leave you breathless, and her magic will ignite an envy so green you'll wish you were born a bruja. Delightfully dark and enchanting. An un-putdownable book." - Dhonielle Clayton, author of The Belles and Shiny Broken Pieces
"Zoraida Córdova's prose enchants from start to finish. Labyrinth Lost is pure magic." - Melissa Grey, author of The Girl at Midnight
"Labyrinth Lost is a magical story of love, family, and finding yourself. Enchanting from start to finish" - Amy Tintera, author of Ruined.
"Magical and empowering, Labyrinth Lost is an incredible heroine's journey filled with mythos come to life; but at its heart, honors the importance of love and family." - Cindy Pon, author of Serpentine and Silver Phoenix
"Brujas! Family love! Creepy monsters! Girls who love girls! A boy made of sunlight! Zoraida Cordova's Labyrinth Lost was a fun and fast-paced venture through another world. After trying to eradicate her magic during her Deathday celebration, bruja Alex is forced into Los Lagos to rescue her family. Alex's quest is as much a poignant discovery of herself and her place in the world as it is about saving her family, and combined with a beautiful splash of romance, made for the perfect summer fantasy read." - Nicole Brinkley, Book Riot
"Zoraida Córdova's stunning storytelling and wondrous world-building make this one to remember, and bonus: there's a multicultural, bisexual love triangle to give you the swoons." - Bustle.com
"This was a unique and interesting twist on magic from a cultural perspective that I am not very familiar with. It was fascinating, dark and compelling. I highly recommend it." - SLJ Teen Librarian Toolbox
"Dark enchantment in a witchy coming-of-age tale...Labyrinth Lost, brings a new perspective to the fantasy genre. Drawing on her Ecuadorian heritage, Córdova tells a story that is both culturally new yet hauntingly familiar." - BookPage
"Fans of darker YA filled with adventure will definitely enjoy this read." - BuzzFeed
"A terrific, galloping adventure through a vivid and wrenching underworld. " - Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
"Córdova weaves Latin American religions and cultures, spellbound creatures, and a bit of a love triangle into her unique world. This one is sure to intrigue lovers of fast-paced fantasy" - School Library Connection
"Although YA readers will likely be used to books featuring magic, Córdova has created something distinct with cantos, Deathday celebrations and the fantastical in-between realm of Los Lagos. Córdova's rich exploration of Latin American culture, her healthy portrayal of bisexuality and her unique voice allow this novel to stand out among its many peers. 4 Stars." - RT Book Reviews
School Library Journal
★ 07/01/2016
Gr 9 Up—Alejandra Mortiz comes from a long line of powerful brujas (witches), although she has unsuccessfully tried to hide her powers from her family. They dismiss her disinterest as typical teenage behavior and continue to have high expectations of her and her abilities. At her Deathday celebration, a special ceremony where she is expected to take her place as a bruja and embrace her abilities, Alex rebels. Seeing magic as a curse, Alex rejects her destiny by secretly casting a canto (spell) to strip herself of magic but instead banishes her entire family to Los Lagos, the underworld. Horrified by what she has done, Alex is determined to make things right and free them. She embarks on a dangerous quest into the deadly underworld with the aid of the untrustworthy and handsome Nova and her nonmagical BFF Rishi. What they find is certainly more than any of them bargained for. This work is a magical journey from start to finish. Córdova's realistic world-building is the backbone of this engaging read. She spins a fantasy tale based in Latin American culture, with original mythology that rings true. Her focus on family and relationships, along with themes of loyalty, friendship, love, revenge, and being true to oneself, comes across effortlessly. A complex cast of characters drives the plot while keeping readers captivated. VERDICT A compelling must-have for teens.—Donna Rosenblum, Floral Park Memorial High School, NY
Kirkus Reviews
2016-07-20
A Brooklyn bruja who doesn't want her powers must journey to another dimension to save her family.Alejandra Mortiz wishes she were a typical Brooklyn high schooler, but the Ecuadorian–Puerto Rican teen comes from a long line of Latina brujas (witches). Her mother and older sister, Lola, are healers, while her younger sister, Rose, is a dream-walking psychic. Alex, meanwhile, is revealed to be an encantrix—the most powerful kind of bruja, with the potential to master all forms of magic. Believing her magic to be a dangerous burden, she dreads her upcoming Deathday ceremony (a bruja or brujo's coming-of-age rite) until Nova, a mysterious (and gorgeous) brujo, informs her she could probably find the right enchantment to block her ceremonial blessing or even spell away her powers. When an evil supernatural force kidnaps her entire family during her Deathday, Alex must summon her powers—and Nova's knowledge of Los Lagos (the magical underworld)—to find her family and defeat her enemies. The author's blending of Latin American traditions, matriarchy, and religions makes the premise interesting, but the story is ultimately a predictable chosen-one quest. Props to Córdova for Alex's diverse family heritage, but readers will likely spend more time trying to keep track of the Los Lagos geography, various supernatural rules, living (and dead) characters, and off-putting animal sacrifices to feel invested in the multicultural bisexual love triangle. Underwhelming bruja adventure is fine for fans of diverse or urban paranormal stories. (author's note, map) (Fantasy. 13-17)
